Earthy and Romantic Catskills Wedding | Madi and Eric
Where to even start with Madi and Eric’s earthy and romantic Catskills wedding?
Their day was one of intentionality, community, and rustic charm, and I won’t ever get over their gorgeous wedding aesthetic, their down-to-earth demeanor, or the way their group so solidly turned out to celebrate them. From the minute Madi and Eric reached out, their passion for a good time and fun experience was so evident, and this cascaded into the very soul of their wedding weekend in the Hudson Valley. It was such a special celebration, and I’m so thankful they welcomed me into their crew to tell their love story in such a heartfelt way!
Hi, I’m Emilee
If you’re looking for joyful, artful, emotion-rich imagery, then I maaaay be your gal!
I’m an Upstate NY Wedding Photographer who specializes in a laid-back photography approach, and I’d love to help tell your love story!
Madi explained on her inquiry form how she and Eric met through a mutual friend at a Yankee’s game in 2018—which left us with no shortage of things to talk about since the Carpenters are die-hard Mets fans. 😝
One year later, Eric moved from San Francisco to NYC. At their second Yankee’s game together, he slipped Madi his phone number, and the rest is history. Madi told me: “We are just casual people who enjoy hosting BBQs, playing Catan, going to local restaurants, watching and playing sports, and hanging with our pups.” Say less. Their fun, relaxed MO was one I could 100% relate to, coming from a similar love for all-things board games, sports, and living a sweet and simple lifestyle.
Psst… in case you haven’t noticed, awkward photos aren’t really my vibe.
My goal is to get you feeling comfortable and yourself, so you can enjoy personality-driven imagery for years to come!
If you’re looking at this gallery, thinking, “YASSSSS!”, then we need to talk… like yesterday!
Keep scrolling to see Madi and Eric’s full wedding gallery ↓
Living in NYC in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, they desired a wedding experience outside the hustle and bustle of the city, so they traded the thrum of footsteps and horns for the soundtrack of a quiet Catskills wedding – a babbling creek, whispering treetops, and the distant chatter of songbirds.
The Catskill Mountains are located in the central region of the Hudson Valley and make for about a 2.5 hour drive from NYC – a doable distance for Madi and Eric. The Catskills are known for their majestic mountain views, lush landscapes, and crystal clear waters, all of which paint a vivid picture of natural beauty and quiet grandeur (but don’t just take my word for it – see Kelsie and Mike’s adventurous Catskills wedding as proof!)
Truly, this area made for the perfect Upstate NY wedding destination for Madi and Eric’s earthy and romantic wedding, and best of all, it fostered a retreat-like environment for their guests.
Multi-day wedding celebrations are becoming increasingly popular, where couples prioritize a revitalizing wedding experience for their loved ones, rather than an isolated, timeline-tight excursion. It becomes more about fostering connection, relaxation, and shared moments in a unique setting, rather than channeling allllllll the things into a set, 6-hour window. A wedding retreat is a wonderful way to extend the celebration beyond the traditional elements of the day, and the Hudson Valley specifically is on the rise for making this possibility a reality for NYC couples like Madi and Eric.
The Catskills is home to many luxury wedding venues and nature retreats, many of which offer all-inclusive wedding packages with catering, lodging, ceremony and reception locations, and sometimes even a day-of wedding coordinator!
The Hudson Valley and Catskills region is actually listed by The Knot as one of the best destination wedding locations in the world. At its core, the Catskills area simply has a way of slowing time, up-leveling an average wedding into a magical weekend-long event, and transporting guests from city humdrum to a lush, tranquil oasis. Through its scenic and wild landscape, it creates a true destination wedding experience by inviting guests on a mini-vacation.
Surrounded by rich, velvety forests and a cathedral of greenery, the setting of Madi and Eric’s wedding reminded me of an article that I recently read on the Gospel Coalition by Brett McCracken. Speaking to the beauty of the natural world as well as city gardens, national parks, and (in my own words) destination wedding locations such as the Catskills, Brett explains how such transcendent, soul-filling locations and euphoric experiences like Madi and Eric’s wedding are a literal foretaste of heaven.
“It’s like the joy of spending a day wandering a vast, vibrant, bustling city—each alley and plaza whispering of a heavenly metropolis.”
To me, Madi and Eric’s wedding– from their location, to their tribe, to the very essence of their marriage– spoke to that same, Eden-like beauty. Their community especially was so endearing and enriching to me. Not only did I instantly feel like part of the crew, but more than that, I felt like they even gave me a unique, keyhole view into Madi and Eric’s dynamic. It was as if the host of speeches, toasts, and readings throughout the weekend allowed me to see more clearly into their world of hospitality, cozy cookouts, and vibrant, ride-or-die energy.
Madi and Eric’s tribe– some given family and some chosen– were so fiercely supportive and celebratory of Madi and Eric’s love that it was not only heartwarming, but it echoed a beautiful reality for all of humanity- that is to say, that we need community. John Mark Comer speaks to this in his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, when he says:
“In our culture of individualism and independence, choosing to live in community is an act of resistance. It’s saying, ‘I need people. I can’t do this alone.’”
The bond that Madi and Eric shared with their crew echoed that very sentiment. It was a kinship that had clearly been forged by fire– through parental loss and cross-country moves– and best of all, it was a laugh-until-you-cry, show-up-without-being-asked, through-the-thick-and-thin type of comradery. In a recent Hosanna Revival blog post that speaks to desirable qualities in Godly friendships, Leah Jolly paints this as a picture of true friendship: “rejoicing with them in happy times and grieving with them in difficult times.”
Throughout the weekend, Madi and Eric’s community pointed me to an even deeper Gospel truth:
That per Jesus’ own example of earthly friendships, to repattern our lives around relationships is to follow Christ’s very blueprint of human flourishing. Jeremy Linneman highlights this in a recent Crossway article: “Jesus’s earthly life demonstrates a deep commitment to relationships. He was never in a hurry, he embraced meals with others, and he accepted nearly every invitation that was made to him. If this is how the Son of God ordered his life on this earth, what would it look like for us to follow in his ways?”
Madi and Eric’s wedding weekend was a celebration of this very thing– a tribute to the deep, world-altering friendships that they had fostered with their loved ones not just over months or years, but over decades.
They brought together the most fun, vibrant, and diverse group of people, all of whom had been grafted into their circle at one point or another, and the entire wedding atmosphere was a credit to Madi and Eric’s fun-loving, down-to-earth, never-ending generosity of spirit (which Jon and I even experienced firsthand when we– with two young kids in tow– crashed at their apartment in Brooklyn after I photographed their NYC engagement session.)
With friendship as an anchor point for their wedding, Madi and Eric leaned into a giant bridal party for their day, and I was not one bit mad about it– 7 bridesmaids on Madi’s side and 8 groomsmen on Eric’s. Praise! Their wedding party was truly the most fun crew ever, and they were a mixed bag of siblings, in-laws, childhood friends, and college friends. When paired with Madi and Eric’s adorable dogs, Luna and Abby (honestly, the real wedding MVPs!), their bridal party was absolute goals.
Embracing rhythms of their everyday life– board games and not-so-low-key competition–
Madi and Eric wove games into the very fabric of their wedding weekend, including customized wedding cornhole boards! (Past clients of mine, Lindsey and TJ, also did this by having a newlywed cornhole toss-off at the end of their reception!) Lawn wedding games (including croquet, bocce ball, jenga) and even group wedding games (like the infamous shoe game and/or a customized crossword puzzle) can make a really unique, personal touch at a wedding. Feel free to browse more inspiration here!
Madi ordered personalized, satin-silk pajamas for her bridesmaids, embroidered them with each girls’ first and last initial, and designed them in the same taupe-champagne color as their bridesmaids dresses. The two-piece pant sets had buttons down the front with a left pocket on the side, which are such sentimental keepsakes for her gals! What a cute, creative gesture, a perfect testament to Madi’s thoughtfulness, and a unique way for any bride to spoil her bridesmaids. 🫶🏼
Madi and Eric’s Catskills wedding venue, Full Moon Resort, is a cozy collection of farmhouse-style buildings, rustic cabins, and a warm, barn-inspired reception space. It offered a laid-back luxury that fit Madi and Eric’s style perfectly— modern countryside with a hint of whimsy.
It was tucked away among the trees, kissed by the melodic hum of the nearby creek, and it felt so peaceful with its surrounding mountain views and leaf-strewn trails. The vibe of their entire wedding was relaxed, low-key charisma, and when blended with the timeless, earthy elegance of the day? Everything felt intentional and effortlessly beautiful.
It’s the very sense of rustic charm that has drawn so many NYC couples away from the city and into the heart of Hudson Valley for their wedding. While only a hundred-some miles from NYC, Full Moon makes couples and guests alike feel like they’re a million miles away from city limits. (Such was the case with another of my couples, Kat and Nitzan, who also opted for a Magical Catskills Wedding at Full Moon!)
Full Moon spans 100 acres of forests, streams, and fields, and it’s a place that whispers of transcendental beauty– untouched, expansive, and indulgently alive.
I felt this on my drive there alone. To get to Full Moon, it’s all winding country roads, clusters of wildflowers and ferns, and forests that are a million shades of evergreen. Hills and mountains come in and out of vision with every twist and turn, and it honestly feels like an unending drive of and sun-dappled moss amidst a lush, natural oasis.
With this scene as their wedding backdrop, Madi and Eric embraced organic textures, lush greenery, and warm neutrals for their wedding day. Madi’s bridesmaids wore muted, taupe-champagne satin dresses, Eric rocked a rich brown suit, and their wedding florals were grounded in tones of peach, blush, and ivory– a soft, soothing color combination that gave off woodland fairytale vibes. Nothing about their day was too matchy-matchy, but rather, their entire wedding felt rooted in a warm, cozy aesthetic.
Their ceremony arch alone was a total showstopper. Designed by Matterns Floral with asymmetry in mind, it featured an artful mix of garden roses, dahlias, chrysanthemums, and a smattering of eucalyptus.
The other florals – both the ceremony aisle ground arrangements of snapdragons, delphinium, and lisianthus and the bridesmaid bouquets that were made entirely of baby’s breath– gave a soft, ethereal finish. Altogether, Madi and Eric’s florals were both effortless and elevated, and the mix of textures, muted color pops, delicate blooms, and natural greenery tied their celebration together with a woodsy beauty.
Madi embodied this very sense of outdoor elegance in her Amsale wedding gown, creating a look of understated grace and unfussy beauty. She absolutely owned the age-old, timeless bridal look in her strapless, sweetheart-neckline dress- with all its delicate lace overlay and down-the-back buttons- and her dress gave her such a refined look. Paired with her tulle, cathedral-length veil, Madi was the picture of modern-bride meets fairy-nymph.
Madi and Eric opted for an outdoors ceremony and actually scored a first quarter moon overhead (which believe it or not, rose around noon and didn’t set until midnight or so— such magic! 🌙✨)
Married by Eric’s sister-in-law, they said their vows under a canopy of trees and their ceremony was filled with heartwarming anecdotes, hilarious memories, and beautiful encouragement. I especially loved a special reading done by Eric’s nephew, “How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali. It was the perfect tie-in to their very own loveable pups, Luna and Abby, and it gave their ceremony such a sweet and sentimental spin.
Because Madi and Eric’s wedding was mid-November, many of the leaves had already been lost, but the undertone of their Upstate NY wedding was still one of coziness and warmth. They wanted this rich, inviting undertone channeled into the very essence of their photography, too, which Madi shared with me early on:
“I want to remember the love and joy that we’ll feel on our wedding day. I want our pictures to look natural, casual, in-love, happy, and authentic to us.”
Obviously, as you know, I’m all about this idea and highly value laid-back, authentic storytelling! With every single couple, it’s my priority to cultivate a relaxed, down-to-earth photo environment so that you can feel at ease in front of the camera! It’s a style of storytelling that is rooted in honesty and warmth, and captures real connection and emotion (and as you can see in the photos below, translates to a pretty fun time at receptions, too!)
See Madi and Eric’s full team of Catskill wedding vendors here:
Venue: Full Moon Resort
Videography: Wedding Stories by Jesse Ovalles
Photography: Emilee Carpenter Photography
Florals: Matterns Floral
Gown: Amsale
Makeup and Hair: Studio One Hair Design
Suit: State and Liberty
Madi and Eric’s earthy and romantic Catskills wedding was the kind of weekend experience that felt both luxurious and deeply personal where every element mirrored the beauty of nature.
Their celebration was anchored in community, grounded in the landscape of the Catskills, and teemed with so much heart. From their wildflower-inspired arrangements, to their cozy outdoor ceremony in the woods, to the layout of their modern-rustic wedding venue, they struck the perfect balance of an earthy-chic charm. When set against the backdrop of the endlessly romantic Catskills region? Their wedding felt like a gorgeous blend of tranquility, serenity, and a type of relaxation that made each of their guests breathe a little more deeply over the course of the weekend.
I will forever be reeling from the beauty of Madi and Eric’s day, and I’m so thankful that they invited me into their crew to tell their love story and celebrate their marriage.
Their wedding dripped with so much goodness and so much beauty, and in and of itself, was such a rich and raw reflection of God’s very own goodness to us– that which He’s lavished upon us in nature, in community, in marriage, and best of all, in His Son, Christ Jesus. (Eph. 1:3-14) Here’s to Madi and Eric, to deep, intentional friendships, to God’s rich beauty revealed throughout creation, and to wedding weekends that are, at the very heart, revitalizing and soul-filling experiences. Cheers to the Benyak’s! 🥂