A magical mountain celebration for gem & jules

Jul 10

A Spellbinding Wedding in the Catskills: Gemma & Julian’s personalized weekend getaway

Gemma & Julian’s wedding weekend at Hotel Lilien was magical… nestled in the slightly soggy heart of the Catskills in the month of May. Inspired by the spirit of Stevie Nicks, the vibe was moody, mystical, and effortlessly cool, just like these two ;)

From the beginning, Gemma and Julian had a vision — something that felt true to the two of them while gathering all of their family and friends in one of their favorite places. With nods to 1970s rock & roll, vintage floral prints, and a little je ne sais quoi, I think we achieved just that ;)

Hotel Lilien was the perfect setting given the historic charm and natural beauty. Guests were greeted with the chillyness that calls for outdoor fires and craft cocktails… and a little bit (ok, a lot a bit) of rain)! But we made the absolute most of the weekend and embraced the moodiness of the weather.

The Ceremony + Cocktails: THOUGHTFUL, INTENTIONAL, and So Them

Tucked into a quiet clearing behind the hotel, Gemma and Julian exchanged vows in front of a light pink velvet tapestry — inspired by a photo studio backdrop and plopped into nature. The backdrop was perfectly accompanied by florals by Justin Reis Designs. A forest path led guests to the ceremony set-up with pashminas draped over the backs of the chairs for warmth and texture. Tess Schilke Photography captured it all so beautifully!

After the “I do’s”, guests were escorted to the front lawn of the hotel for cocktails, a classic Spanish tapas-style spread, and a customized Riesling wine tasting and live music — it was thoughtful, intentional, and the perfect segue from ceremony to reception.

The Reception: Dinner, Dancing, and LATE NIGHT SNACKS

Under a sailcloth tent from Columbia Tent & Event Rentals, guests gathered for an intimate, family-style meal by Fig & Pig Catering. Long tables were set with colorful candles, floral-rimmed plates, and table numbers made with vintage seed packets. After dinner, guests were escorted inside the hotel for dancing, billiards, a cake cutting, and some late night chicken tenders and a candy bar.

Overall, it was a weekend full of attention to detail, incredible vibes, and an aura of spring in spite of a rainy season.

To Gem & Jules: thank you for trusting me with your vision, your vulnerability, and your day!

To the dream team that made it all happen: