Alexis & Anthony | The Garrison | Garrison, NY

“Ambiance, Beauty, & Breathtaking Views”

Anthony and I met at a family-owned restaurant in Wappingers Falls. I was bartending my way through nursing school when he convinced me to go on a date. It was super casual, at Bailey’s Smokehouse in Blauvelt, NY, and we’ve been inseparable ever since! We dated for two and a half years before Anthony proposed. On a Saturday afternoon after I came home from nursing clinical and was exhausted, Anthony surprised me with an MZ Wallace tote! I opened it quickly, taking the tissue paper out and throwing it in the garbage; little did I know my engagement ring was wrapped in that paper!  A few minutes later, Anthony rummaged through the garbage, got down on one knee, and proposed.

We fell in love with The Garrison from the moment we saw it! The ambiance, beauty, and breathtaking views of the Hudson paired with such warm and welcoming wedding planners made it the perfect choice. We dined at The Garrison’s Valley Restaurant several times and were blown away by the service and cuisine every time. Our experience was impeccable! The executive chef, Vinny Mocarski, was very professional and courteous, checking to see if our meal was prepared to perfection. We knew we had to have him cook for our wedding guests.

Bridget Bell, the special events manager, went above and beyond our expectations. She took my ideas and made my vision come to life, going the extra mile to ensure our day went as smoothly as possible. Bridget paid attention to every detail, no matter how small. We spent our wedding day having the time of our lives and making memories with our family and friends all thanks to her. She was with us every step of the way and we were grateful to have her!

Our ceremony, at Saint Mary’s, our parish church, was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Our December wedding was my dream; a holiday wedding during a magical time of year. Father Joe is our parish priest and also a family friend. We were so thankful to have him marry us and look forward to him baptizing our children one day.

Heading to The Garrison for cocktail hour, the presentation was incredible in the beautiful glass room with stunning views of the Hudson River. Passed hors d’oeuvres, an artisanal cheese and fresh fruit station, and an Italian station set the stage for a night of elegance and delicious food. We loved the baked brie and raspberry purses, the sushi was amazingly fresh, and the pulled pork sliders were a hit among our guests! The chef even sent out specialty appetizers of the evening, in addition to the wonderful spread.

Our décor had a warm Christmas feel with a palette of emerald, gold, white accents, and pops of red. A custom sign draped with garland directed our guests to take a rose gold ornament favor, which hung from a Christmas tree lit with white lights. Another Christmas tree was set up behind our sweetheart table, giving us a twinkling backdrop. The centerpieces were bundles of baby’s breath resembling big snowballs, and our florist provided bistro lighting to make the room shine and made a magnificent tree for our seating chart with red and white roses dusted with faux snow.

For dinner, we started with a warming winter squash soup followed by entrée options of grilled Wagyu flat iron steak or seared salmon with a pomegranate glaze. Both were served with seasonal roasted vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. Our guests are still raving about the food! All filled up, our guests were ready to dance and MSV entertainment was a hit! They created the perfect atmosphere for a dance party. The freestyle music was perfect and the entire night was spent on the dance floor.

We couldn’t have asked for a more special day. Thank you to all who helped create this memory that will last a lifetime. Our friends and family, the staff at The Garrison, our vendors; you all made our wedding dreams come true!’

The Garrison, Garrison, NY
845.424.3604, www.thegarrison.com