A Colorful, Secret-Garden-Themed Wedding at Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor, New York

Inspired by their love of the outdoors, Susan Patel (33 and a project manager) and Sagar Parikh (33 and a physician), with the help of A Votre Service Events, planned a summer wedding bursting with vibrant color and natural, organic touches. Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor, New York, offered the perfect setting for the event, with its expansive lawns, wooded surroundings and rolling hills. A traditional Indian ceremony kicked off the festivities, the couple’s colorful mandap overlooking acres of trees and calm waters, followed by a fun-filled night of celebrating under an open-air tent. A Votre Service transformed the couple’s secret garden vision into reality, using a selection of florals, from blue cornflowers to air plants and everything in between, to create three distinct tablescapes. Each one gave the space an organic, fresh feel. Silvery mercury glass and small animal statues were scattered throughout, injecting an air of whimsy into the decor, while pale blue table linens with bold floral patterns added depth and texture to the overall design. Lawn games were a fun way for guests to interact and enjoy the venue’s beautiful grounds during cocktail hour, and an energetic mix of Bollywood, '80s and wedding classics kept guests glued to the dance floor, with Susan and Sagar’s families performing special dances. A tip from Susan and Sagar: “Start your guest list as soon as possible. The more time you have to send out invites and receive replies, the better. We had a created a group-one and group-two list, so if any guests from group one weren’t able to attend, we invited guests from group two. This is important if your venue charges an up-front site fee according to the guest count.”