Hollow Brook Golf Club Wedding // Shira + Haig

Hollow Brook Golf Club in Cortlandt Manor, New York has hosted some wonderful weddings that I’ve had the joy of being a part of, and Shira and Haig's was no exception. Their Sunday wedding closed out the last triple wedding weekend I ever photographed (three weddings in three days!) and it was a genuinely great way to wrap up that chapter. Here's a look inside their day.

The Couple

Shira and Haig met in college, and by the time their wedding day came around, it was clear how much thought and care they'd put into it. Shira is Jewish and Haig is Armenian, and they brought both of their traditions into the day in a way that felt natural, fun, and exciting.

When they got married, they were living in NYC, and it was so clear that community was a core value for them. That showed in the guest list and in the energy of the day overall. Shira's brother performed during the ceremony, which was one of those moments that made the whole thing feel so personal and generous rather than staged.

Both of them were easygoing all day. A little rain came through at one point, and instead of letting it throw them off, they just laughed it off and kept going. We couldn’t change it, so it was embraced.

The Venue

Everything happened right at Hollow Brook, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one place, which made for an easy, unhurried day. The venue handled the rain without any issue, and honestly, it just became part of the story rather than a problem anyone needed to solve.

The Details

Haig's side wore black suits, and Shira's side wore warm red, orange, and gold tones, which gave the wedding party a striking, layered look. The florals and reception decor picked up those same warm tones, tying everything together nicely with the end of September setting.

The blending of traditions carried through a lot of the smaller details of the day too, and it was clear how much both families wanted to honor where they come from while building something new together.

The Reception

The reception was full of traditions from both sides, and the guests threw themselves into all of it. Big smiles, a lot of laughing, and a crowd that was genuinely fun to be around from start to finish. It's rare to have a guest list that's uniformly this easygoing and up for anything, and it made for one of those receptions that just carries its own momentum all night.

Shira and Haig's wedding was full of heart, and it showed in every part of the day, from the ceremony to the last dance. Two people who clearly know how to build a life, and a party, that reflects everything and everyone they love.

Shira and Haig made it look easy to build something that honors your history while still being entirely your own, and it was a pleasure to spend the day with two people who do it so well. I miss this day, and I miss these souls. This was a fave. 🥰

From the Couple

“We first saw Erica’s beautiful photos when touring our venue and immediately asked who this amazing photographer was. When we reached out to Erica, it felt right immediately. She made an effort to get to know us as a couple, was so responsive and generous with her time and even sending us little gifts, and super helpful leading up to the wedding, and connected me with other vendors she trusted. We felt so connected to her as a person that I even texted her about my excitement of finding my wedding dress, and she was always there to share in our joy.

Erica also included an engagement shoot in the package and it was such a special experience - though it was storming heavily when we got there, we sat in our cars chatting and as the rain cleared, we ran out to catch the rainbow and got the most beautiful sunset. We loved her attitude toward things we can’t control like the weather - her ability to see the beauty and joy in all circumstances was infectious. And then - our wedding day - she never made us feel stressed even though we were running an hour late and had to take photos in the rain. She kept the energy and humor high throughout the day and was just a lovely person to have around. Our family and friends just adored Erica and [her second photographer] in the way they guided everyone through photos, gave positive affirmations, and just made everyone laugh and feel comfortable. Erica then worked overtime to get us our sneak peeks a couple of days later and we were just SHOOKETH at how incredible they were.

We got the full album of photos only a couple months after our wedding and every single one was amazing. We were brought to tears, we laughed, we just remembered every single thing. The photos are stunning. She captured the beauty and essence of everyone in our lives; she somehow caught all these tiny, brief moments that made our wedding day so special. Our friends and family still talk about how obsessed they are with Erica as a person and photographer - she is not only enormously talented but also an incredible person. I will never find the words to truly express my gratitude!! Hiring her to photograph your wedding will be the best decision you will make.”

Hollow Brook Golf Club Wedding Vendors

Photography: Sweet Alice Photography // Venue: Hollow Brook Golf Club, Cortlandt Manor, NY// Florals: Bree in Bloom // Gown: Stella York from Lotus Bridal // Hair: Jennifer Victoria Beauty // Makeup: Makeup by Monique // DJ/Entertainment: Bravo Sound

Wedding Date: September 29, 2024

Looking for a Hollow Brook Golf Club wedding photographer? Contact me so we can chat more about your big day!