Kelsey & Christopher | Falkirk Estate | Central Valley, NY

“Ultimate Hospitality”

Kelsey: Chris and I met in 2015 while in school at Mt. Saint Mary College. I was earning my bachelor’s while he was earning his MBA. He played on our college’s soccer team and I would often go to the home games. He caught my eye on the field, and word got out to one of his best friends, Sean, that I had a crush on #15. Sean somehow convinced Chris to come and talk to me.

Chris: We were dating for seven years before finally getting engaged. I planned a surprise beach proposal during sunset in Maui, Hawaii, and hired a photographer to capture the moment. This was our third trip to Hawaii and each time we planned this trip, Kelsey and her family thought a proposal was coming.

Kelsey: We had our ceremony at the church on our college campus since it was where we started our love for one another. While looking at places in the area, we visited Falkirk. I was in awe. The terrace’s views of the gazebos and waterfalls were a perfect backdrop for photos and created such a beautiful ambiance for our guests to enjoy. The indoor space was beautiful as well, with floor-to-ceiling windows in the reception hall and a large dance floor.

Chris: We loved that we could enjoy both the outdoor and indoor spaces and that you are the only wedding that day. The estate covers 100-plus acres that includes an 18-hole golf course. A foursome for golf is included in Falkrk’s wedding package. During your wedding day, you’re also given access to a stone building nearby and an amazing barn where you can take pictures.

Kelsey: From the moment you walk in, you are treated with the utmost hospitality. We mostly worked with Bridget Orlando, the maître d’, who is an angel on earth. She made this stressful process fun! She gave us a detailed breakdown of what to expect, answered all questions, and put us at ease throughout the planning process. When we left the tour, I looked at Chris and said, “This is our place. We’re getting married here.”

Chris: The food choices offered such a great variety of options that it was hard to select only a few. I am a huge fan of Chinese food, so the Asian station was an absolute must. It was a huge hit for our guests and was served in authentic rice cartons with chopsticks. We also had a Peter Lugar station and a pasta station, which were excellent.

Kelsey: Dinner started with a salad and then an intermezzo, a delicious gourmet lemon sorbet. For entrées, we had chateaubriand, which just melted in your mouth. We also served miso-glazed salmon which our guests said was delicious. Then there was the Falkirk chicken, French-cut and stuffed with asiago cheese and spinach.

Chris: For dessert, we had a four-tier chocolate wedding cake with buttercream icing, an ice cream sundae bar, and a table full of “serve yourself” candy where guests could fill up “to-go” bags that said, “A sweet ending to our new beginning.”

Kelsey: For our reception, we had 18 guest tables that spanned out perfectly across the ballroom. Our sweetheart table was spacious and gave us the perfect opportunity to watch everyone killing it on the dance floor. We had candles surrounded by beautiful greenery, white roses, and blue hydrangeas for our centerpieces and sweetheart table. The fireplace was the perfect place for our memory table which showcased photos of our loved ones who were dancing with us in heaven.

Chris: We had a surprise for our guests near the end of the night. We went outside near the waterfall while the DJ invited everyone to the balcony overlooking the terrace. When Kelsey’s mother, Maureen, gave Bridget the “ok,” an eight-minute fireworks show began. It included an amazing finale and was a spectacular show that ended the night with a bang. Falkirk outperformed all expectations. The staff took great care of us and of our parents, grandparents, Matron of Honor, and Best Man. They all said they never felt so important in their lives. A shout out again to Bridget, to Steve Ferina, the general manager, to Toni, head waiter, Ryan, the bar manager, Michelle, the bridal attendant, and Peter, at the golf course, who seemed to do everything. They were all crucial in making our wedding day perfect!

Kelsey: We also want to thank our parents for their support during the planning and for being our role models and inspiration, since they’ve both been married for 30-plus years.A huge thank to my sister for being an amazing Matron of Honor and to Sean for being our Best Man. They both gave touching speeches that made me cry. A lot of people are glad when the stress of wedding day is over, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Thank you Falkirk for the best day of our lives!

Falkirk Estate & Country Club, Central Valley, NY, 845.928.8060, falkirkestate.com