Your Journey Together: Wedding at the Garrison

Living in New York, and working with so many international couples, I often come across brides and grooms who thrive on travel. This love of adventure is expressed in many ways. Most recently, Kimberly and Henry fully embraced their wander-lust in décor for their elegant wedding at the Garrison, a beautiful venue on the Hudson River, north of Manhattan.

Theirs was a unique story, but one that I wholly appreciated. They met through one of Kimberly’s college house-mates, who was also a friend of Henry’s from the UK. Henry was en route to Argentina when he first laid eyes on the woman who would become his bride. They clicked! So much so that eventually Kimberly joined him in exploring South America….and they’ve been trotting the globe ever since.

Kimberly has many talents, working in event planning and public relations, and she lovingly tended to every detail of their wedding. I arrived early at the venue, in preparation for the wedding, and I was able to savor her hand crafted labors of love.

Throughout the venue there were nods to their cross Atlantic love affair, with references to her American home and Henry’s motherland Britain. There were ample photographs from their trips to not only South America but the U.S., Western Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, and beyond. Maps and vintage luggage dotted the location. Table settings included vintage postcards and were seating arrangements were organized by various countries they had visited during their courtship.

For my part, we referenced their travels in the ceremony script. And I was so pleased that we were able to include a “blessing for travel” by one of my favorite writers John O’Donahue. In my experience, the love of travel is not just about “going places.” It embodies a curiosity about the world, the sense of partnership, and self-discovery that accompanies a trip to the unknown. There are great lessons to be learned—not just about other people and places—but about ourselves and our partners when we venture beyond our daily lives and the familiarity of home. I admire their spirit of adventure. To be honest, I’ve brushed off my old “Bucket List” goal of joining the Century Travel Club, visiting 100 countries over the course of one’s life. I now find myself poring over travel magazines and spending a lot of time on my Kayak app trying to figure out where my next adventure will be.

Bon Voyage! Below you will find some visions of their travel-inspired décor, as captured by the outstanding photographer Stefanie Kapra, as well as the thoughtful words of their closing blessing.

When you travel
A new silence goes with you,
And if you listen, You will hear
What your heart would
Love to say.
Your journey together is a sacred thing:
Make sure, before you go,
To take the time
To bless your going forth,
To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul
Might direct you toward
The territories of spirit
where you will discover
more of your hidden life,
and the urgencies
That deserve to claim you.
May you travel in an awakened way.
Gathered wisely into your inner ground
That you may not waste the invitations
Which wait along the way to transform you.
May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to the fullest;
Return home more enriched and free
To balance the gift of the days which call you.

Welcome

Whether your wedding is an impromptu affair or has been months, or even years, in the making, I want to help you fashion a ceremony that reflects your history, philosophy, creativity, personality, and style – as individuals and as a couple.

Let’s craft a wonderful, meaning-filled ceremony that expresses the most significant aspect of your lives…one that recognizes the profound commitment you are making, as well as the sheer joy of the occasion.