Nestled in the heart of the Catskills, Emily and John’s wedding at Stone Tavern Farm in Roxbury NY brought together timeless romance with a modern, high-energy twist. Like their wedding day, this couple’s love story began quietly and grew into an extraordinary experience. Their modern, romantic wedding celebrated family, love, and lively after-party vibes in a breathtaking mountain setting. The day was filled with joy, elegance, and special touches that made their wedding uniquely theirs, capturing the essence of romance and the thrill of new adventures.

A Love Story Made for the Mountains

A Modern Meet-Cute

Emily and John’s connection started at a high school track meet. Emily had quietly admired John for some time, and although John was initially shy, a mutual friend gave him the nudge he needed to reach out. After John went off to Alabama for college, he wooed Emily with thoughtful gifts and patience. Over time, the pair shared countless outdoor adventures that deepened their bond.

Like many NYC couples, John and Emily enjoy weekend escapes upstate. Their proposal unfolded during one such Catskills getaway. Emily thought they were headed for a simple birthday trip, but John distracted Emily with the promise of making dinner while she unwound with a shower. But when Emily came back, there was John one one knee, surrounded by rose petals. He proposed by the fire, with their dog Tank by their side. They then spent the remainder of the weekend in the embrace of the Catskills. When the two returned home, Emily’s family was waiting with a pre-planned party, ready to celebrate all over again.

The Catskill mountains had served as the setting for so many of their milestones. It was only fitting that they brought their family and friends here to celebrate. Emily’s sister found Stone Tavern Farm on Instagram, and when they went for a visit, they knew it was the perfect place to meet their weekend wedding needs: woods, mountains, and plenty of space to gather together!

The Wedding Day

Emily and John’s modern, romantic Catskills wedding was a perfect blend of timeless style and intimate, personal touches. Check out some of the lovely details:

Note to partners: Even though it was John’s birthday(!), he made it a priority to include surprises. He reached out privately and asked that we bring red roses for Emily and autumn floral arrangements for each of their mothers. It was a such a sweet gesture that underscored the family-focused tone of their entire wedding. This kind of heartfelt, intentional moment is at the core of wedding we design.

A Misty Mountain Morning

The morning of the wedding brought a brisk autumn breeze and a palpable sense of excitement. Everyone was still glowing from their welcome gathering the night before, which included an intimate rehearsal dinner at a pub in town, followed by a tented party on-site with beautiful details crafted by Emily’s talented siblings.

Party vibes were evident even before the ceremony. Emily and her bridesmaids enjoyed a morning of glam and laughter in the stone house, while Jon and his groomsmen relaxed at one of the venue’s rustic cabins. Both getting-ready spaces were filled with excitement and anticipation, with the girls sharing champagne and stories, and the guys enjoying a laid-back morning with a Catskills view. This early start set the tone for a day full of celebration and unforgettable moments.

Details with a Story

Emily put her own spin on a number of bridal traditions. Her exquisitely tailored Anne Barge gown was a modern twist on her mother’s vintage dress. The illusion neckline and clean lines kept things modern and tastefully highlighted Emily’s beautiful figure. A mermaid silhouette, covered buttons and embroidered veil (her mom’s) kept things classic and elegant. Emily’s “something blue” channeled SJP with pair of iconic green Manolo Blahnik heels!

John’s style was timeless and dapper, featuring a black velvet tuxedo, which was perfect late fall attire. He also incorporated houndstooth socks as a nod to his alma mater, the University of Alabama. He also wore custom cufflinks engraved with Emily’s handwriting. This couple did not miss a single detail.

A Moment Alone

Emily and John chose to exchange private vows in a remote forest clearing at the venue. They had worked on the vows for months. Secluded in the woods, they could fully connect with one another before joining their larger ceremony. They also chose to have a separate traditional church ceremony the week following their wedding, proving that you get to craft your own wedding traditions.

Modern Romance and Vintage Elegance

A Rustically Refined Mountaintop Ceremony

The main ceremony took place beneath an enormous hilltop tree. Idyllwild Event Design’s floral team created an expansive grounded floral arch beneath. A grounded wedding arch is designed to reflect the natural beauty around the couple without blocking the views surrounding the venue. This type of floral arrangement can later double as head table decor. This blended the romance of the ceremony seamlessly into the reception.

The gents went for elegant black suits with ties and pocket squares in the signature green. The couple stressed that they wanted to exercise restraint in certain areas, and John opted not to use boutonnieres for his attendants. (We love this edit and think it looks super sleek.) Emily and her bridesmaids- all in hunter green gowns of various styles- carried textured bouquets of green and white with a hint of black. Emily went for a trending cascade-style bouquet, which makes a chic compliment to a fitted gown.

A Shimmering Candlelit Reception and Electric After-Party Vibes

Emily and John wanted a reception filled with joyful energy. A gentle transformation was in order, since the reception barn at Stone Tavern Farm is very large and decidedly rustic.

It was important to Emily that the table scapes blended vintage romance, natural greens and ivories, and modern, minimalist black and white. It was a tall order, as the reception space- like many Catskill mountain wedding barns- is woody and brown. But at Idyllwild, we love to “grow it in” with natural foliage, textured linens, and layered lighting!

Emily and John’s favorite color is green, so we decided on a green, black, and ivory palette. We wanted to take guests on a journey from the rustic hilltop into a celebration space that blended romantic dinner vibes with modern after-party atmosphere. A green, black, and white palette works with both modern and romantic wedding aesthetics, and helped us soften all the wood tones in the reception space.

We love a couple that enjoys getting into the details, and this crew had us create custom menus, displays, and oversized signage. They also had us bring in vintage furnishings, plants, books, and an antique typewriter to style a display of their family wedding photos.

My Girl Wants to Party All the Time

Afterparty vibes were a no-brainer. This couple are known party animals. Right from the wedding party entrances it was game on.

The dance floor buzzed with music, glow sticks, and laughter, with guests treated to a lively mix of live band and DJ sets. There was crowd surfing, there was air guitar, there were people disrobing. And in true party spirit, Emily’s brother surprised the couple by dressing in a BAMA elephant mascot costume—a playful touch that had everyone cheering.

After changing into a sleek second dress, Emily jumped onto a speaker and pumped up the crowd. This all set the tone for the rest of the night’s after-party revelry. The couple’s thoughtfulness shone through in every detail, from curated guest keepsakes to disposable cameras, to an audio guestbook station that let family and friends share in their love story.

Final Thoughts on this Modern Romantic Catskills Wedding

Every element of Emily and John’s wedding embodied the magic of the Catskills. Special thanks to Rock and Love Weddings for beautifully capturing so many details, authentic moments, and family memories.

Idyllwild Event Design was honored to make Emily and John’s vision come to life through collaboration and thoughtful artistry. From the intricate floral designs to the personalized keepsakes, this day was more than a celebration. It was a work of art.

Resources

If you’re loving the vibe of a modern, romantic mountain Catskills wedding, we’ve got a Pinterest board for that. Happy Pinning!

Want to get started designing your dream wedding weekend in the Hudson Valley or Catskills? Reach out to Idyllwild here.

Vendor Team

A super talented team of vendors helped bring Emily and Jon’s vision to life, each contributing to the seamless execution of this modern romantic Catskills wedding.