A Classic, Spring-Inspired Wedding at Patriot Hills in Stony Point, New York

Maria Tallman (29 and a high-school English teacher) and Eric Rudolph’s (30 and a high-school history teacher) wedding was all about classic elegance with a fun, personal twist. With a spring wedding date in mind, the couple set out to find a venue with a striking setting and the flexibility to host the ceremony and reception in one location, both indoors and out. Patriot Hills in Stony Point, New York, was just that, the perfectly manicured greens and surrounding woodland landscape providing a quaint, natural backdrop for the event. “We wanted to be outdoors as much as possible, but when planning a wedding, you want to minimize as many of the uncertainties as possible,” Maria says. “Patriot Hills had everything we wanted in one location.” Looking to the season for inspiration, the couple chose a color palette rich in cheerful coral and navy hues. Floral Fashions took care of all the couple’s floral needs, creating bright spring-inspired arrangements of roses, ranunculuses, stock and bells of Ireland that breathed fresh life into the ballroom at Patriot Hills. Good food was high on Maria and Eric’s priority list and the couple worked with Inn Credible Catering to design a top-notch menu with mouthwatering cuisine from all over the world. Before guests hit the dance floor, the couple treated them to a traditional Viennese hour to honor Maria’s late grandfather. Having initially bonded over their love for New Orleans, Louisiana, incorporating a little Nola flair into the evening was a must for the fun-loving couple. At the end of the night, Maria and Eric sent their guests home with spices and seasonings straight from the Big Easy. A tip from Maria: “Savor every moment of the planning process and the wedding day. You're working to create a beautiful celebration of your love—nothing is more important than the fact that you've decided to join your lives together.”