Rachel + Ian’s Summer Wedding at Le Chateau in South Salem, NY

Written By Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels

Rachel + Ian’s Golden Hour Love Story at Le Château

Rachel + Ian were married in August at Le Chateau on a warm, sunny, spectacular day. This magical wedding at Le Château, (a breathtaking hilltop mansion in South Salem, where history and romance intertwine in the Hudson Valley) had one of the most magical golden hours we got to document all year.

The bride, wore a timeless ballgown, and her radiant contagious smile, all day long. The groom, in a sharp black tuxedo, watched her with quiet awe, admiring how she lit up every dang room.

They were married by one of the bride’s brothers, and their vows, exchanged beneath the open sky, carried the weight of forever.

The guests had an amazing time during cocktail hour, and the celebration unfolded into an amazing party during the reception.

It was a stunning day, with timeless beauty at every turn.

Scroll down to read more about this amazing couple, and the vendor credits down at the bottom.

To inquire about me photographing your wedding, click HERE.

How we met: We’re a product of Hinge! We matched on December 4, 2020 (now known as our "aware-of-each-other's-existence-aversary"). But because of the upcoming holidays, we couldn’t find a day that worked, so we put a pin in it (and both hoped the other would reach back out). We didn’t meet up until January 14, 2021 and then we went on three dates in four days!  

How we got engaged: We went to Newport RI to celebrate Rachel’s "birthday” but in fact Ian had planned on proposing. A few weekends before, Ian had snuck off to NY to Rachel’s parents house to tell them he planned to propose and to show them the ring. It was a beautiful summer day that was only slightly stressful as Ian’s planned proposal spot was changed last minute due to Rachel’s insistence they check out a different part of town for the sunset. Whoops! 

How we decided on Le Chateau: “We were sold the moment we saw it. Having an outdoor wedding space that was truly dedicated to the ceremony (raised stage and all) was amazing and so different from the other venues we visited. And the contrast between the old estate house and the new modern ballroom with cathedral windows was so unique. It felt like we had three different wedding venues in one! We also loved the indoor ceremony option in the event of poor weather. The staff was AH-MAZING, it was easily accessible for our guests, and the food was incredible. We literally couldn’t have imagined a better place to get married.” 

Highlights of the Day: 

  • “We included Rachel’s brothers in the ceremony and it was really special for us to include them in this way. One brother officiated and the other two shared poems and readings that they found that represented the love and relationship they saw in us.“

“We can’t rave enough about our Florist, Lucille. She did such an amazing job, understood our (read: Rachel’s) vision right away, and was also so flexible. The venue had so much character already, that we didn’t feel like we needed to go overboard and Lucille was perfect in knowing where to accent and where to let the venue shine.”

Highlights of the Day: 

  • Honestly, we had so much fun taking photos. We’re so glad we did a first look because it gave us so much time to be together without feeling rushed, be goofy while doing different poses, and explore all the beautiful areas of Le Chateau. (And of course, huge thanks to Caitlinn, Laurel, and Ross for making this part so fun!) “

Highlights of the Day: 

  • “We really enjoyed socializing with our guests at cocktail hour (absolutely add on the spritz bar) in such a cool and intimate space. Also, the speeches given by Rachel’s dad and our Matron of Honor and Best Man, Jen and Stefan, were everything you would want from wedding speeches -- heartfelt, funny, and truly highlighted our entrance into each other's family. Those moments really brought together the feeling of having all of our loved ones in attendance for such an important event.”

Highlights of the Day: 

  • “The dance floor! Everyone absolutely raged. The goal was to bring Saturday energy to a Sunday wedding and our family and friends absolutely brought it. Our DJ, David Parks, never let the music lull and the dance floor never let up.”

Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels https://letsgetweirdstudio.com
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