Hollow Brook Golf Club Wedding // Ellen + Walter
Ellen and Wally met the way a lot of the best couples do, through everyday life. They both work and live at the same day camp,and somewhere in the middle of ordinary camp days they found each other. They got married on a gorgeous October day at Hollow Brook Golf Club in Cortlandt Manor, with the Sweet Alice Studios photography team on hand, led by Erika that day.
The Couple
Ellen and Wally are about as easygoing as couples come. They love a good concert, but they're just as happy staying in, and that mix of adventurous and homebody gave the whole day a really comfortable, unhurried feel. They share their home with two goldendoodles, Penny and Rex, who clearly have the run of the place. A good chunk of their guest list came from a tight circle of friends, several of whom I've had the pleasure of working with before, since they've been kind enough to send couples my way over the years. It's always a nice full circle moment getting to photograph people who feel like an extension of past weddings I've loved.
The Venue
Hollow Brook Golf Club is a venue I know well. We photograph there often, and every time, we somehow find a new detail or a different pocket of light that makes the day feel distinct from the last one. Ellen and Wally kept everything on site, ceremony, portraits, and reception all in one spot, which let the day move at an easy pace without too much travel breaking up the flow. What made this one feel different wasn't the backdrop so much as the two of them in it, how relaxed they both were, how little they seemed to need the day to be anything other than exactly what it was.
The Details
Ellen wore a lace gown that suited her completely - soft and detailed without a hint of fussiness. Wally's suit jacket had this incredible inset lining that looked like a galaxy, a quiet nod to something a little unexpected under a classic exterior. Their florals were sunflower and white rose forward, warm and bright without leaning too sweet. The wedding party wore deep sage green and gray, a palette that photographed beautifully against the October light. For favors, guests went home with cookies from Beascakes.
The Reception
The reception stayed true to who Ellen and Wally are as a couple; it was warm, unpretentious, and full of people who clearly adore them. There wasn't a lot of performance to it, just good music, good food, and a room full of friends who've likely been rooting for this day for a while. Watching their circle celebrate them, especially knowing how many of those same faces we’ve photographed at other weddings over the years, made the whole evening feel more like home than a wedding.
Ellen and Wally's wedding didn't need any extra flourish to feel completely their own. It was easygoing, warm, and full of the people who've known them for years, which is really all a day like this needs to be.
From the Couple
“Words can't even begin to express how grateful we are that we chose the Sweet Alice Studio team to photograph our wedding. Erica, the incredible owner, has been beyond communicative from day 1. Erica truly puts her clients first, even just getting to know us during her consultation call, and checks in periodically leading up to the wedding to ensure that everything will run smoothly on the day of. We have only met once in person (officially), but she quickly became a huge cheerleader for us throughout our whole planning process. She is SO easy to communicate with, and is so great about keeping in touch.
For our wedding, Erica was unavailable to shoot, but her incredible team, Erika and Rachel, were with us on our day, making us feel SO comfortable…everything felt so natural and nothing was forced. We were in SUCH incredible hands with these two. We will be forever grateful of the amazing memories that they so beautifully captured. Erika and Rachel truly captured such incredible shots, that we don't think we will ever find the exact words to truly thank them for how grateful we are.
Erika [and the team] knew our venue like the back of their hands, and they took us to all the best shots - and don't even get me started on how BEAUTIFULLY they captured the lighting of the day! Most of all, they were so kind, comforting and friendly throughout the day, that we truly enjoyed spending our special day with them. They truly nailed our personalities on the day of (we are rarely in front of the camera) and made it as easy as they could for us. Our gallery is ABSOLUTELY stunning, and there isn't a single picture that we would hesitate to frame in our house. Everything down to the lighting, the details, the portraits...just everything is absolute perfection. These are memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives, all thanks to the incredible Sweet Alice Team.
If there is one piece of wedding advice that we'd give anyone, it's easily ‘book our photographer.’ (In fact, that's exactly how we heard about the Sweet Alice Team after referrals from not one, but two, of our friends). Erica and her crew are 100% in it for the people that they are photographing, and capturing love, friendship, joyous times, and their beautiful memories of their special day. It's so clearly evident in their photography and the way they carry themselves - down to their emails, their check ins, we can go on and on. You are in absolutely incredible hands with anyone on the Sweet Alice Studio team. We love you guys so much, and THANK YOU so much for all that you did for us! <3”
Hollow Brook Golf Club Wedding Vendors
Photography: Sweet Alice Photography // Venue: Hollow Brook Golf Club, Cortlandt Manor, NY// Florals: Arcadia Floral // Suit: Indochino // Gown Boutique: Virginia’s Bridal // Hair & Makeup: Haven Hair Studio // Videography: Montague Films // DJ: Peter Rubeo Entertainment // Favors: Beascakes Bakery
Wedding Date: October 5, 2024
Looking for a Hollow Brook Golf Club wedding photographer? Contact me so we can chat more about your big day!
