Location: New York, US
Time of planning: 1,5 years
Number of guests: 115
Setting: Thousand Islands
Season: Summer
That sense of duality shaped not only their life together, but the way they approached their wedding, blending the intimacy of The River with the energy of the communities they’ve built along the way. The celebration felt deeply personal, layered with meaning, and grounded in the rituals that brought them together in the first place. Every moment was captured by Hiller Photography on both digital and film, preserving the warmth, texture, and quiet emotion of a weekend that felt entirely their own.
Day 1: Rehearsal Dinner
Blake and Patrick spend their summers in the Thousand Islands, a place locals simply call “The River.” For many of their guests, it was a first introduction to the area, something the couple intentionally wove into the experience. They envisioned the wedding as “a taste of our life at The River,” inviting friends and family into the rhythm of their summers shaped by slow days on the water, long evenings, and an effortless sense of escape.
The weekend began with a peaceful morning walk followed by a rehearsal dinner.
Their rehearsal dinner took place at a friend’s home on Bluff Island, unfolding as one of the weekend’s most intimate and heartfelt moments. It centered around delicious homemade food and a table set on the terrace, softly adorned with blooms. Guests gathered around an outdoor fire, sharing stories, laughter, and quiet conversations, a celebration of love that felt deeply personal and effortlessly warm.
Day 2
Rehearsal & Boat Ride
The entire wedding weekend unfolded in August, intentionally set around the full moon on the 9th, at the peak of summer. Drawn to long sunlit days, ripe seasonal produce, and years of memories from full moon gatherings by the river, the date felt both meaningful and instinctive. There’s even a touch of local lore that rain never falls on a full moon. Whether true or not, the skies held clear.
The second day leaned into a slower rhythm, centered on ease and connection.
A relaxed rehearsal flowed into a boat trip, a swim, and a beautifully set welcome dinner that carried the glow of the evening well into the night.
Welcome Dinner
The welcome party took place at the couple’s home on Round Island, a setting that felt deeply personal and effortlessly intimate. “Dinner parties are how we found community at The River,” they shared, inviting guests to bring friends and a dish to pass around the table. The evening carried that spirit throughout, warm, generous, and quietly celebratory.
The entire wedding weekend was beautifully captured by Hiller Photography, reflecting the softness of the light, the ease of the moments, and the quiet, enveloping sense of warmth and love that surrounded the couple.
Wedding Morning & Fashion
The morning began, as it often did, with a refreshing swim with friends and family, setting an easy, joyful tone for the day ahead. It was a simple ritual, but one that felt especially meaningful, a quiet moment of connection before the celebration began.
After searching for the right look, they found themselves drawn to Cobra S.C, appreciating “the balance of timeless design with a twist.” They chose matching iridescent fabrics in different colorways, each reflecting their own personality while still feeling cohesive. “We loved the way they caught the light and the boxy but structured look,” they shared.
Blake wore a brown tone with purple and yellow undertones, while Patrick opted for green with yellow and blue undertones, creating a subtle interplay of color that shifted beautifully throughout the day. A friend introduced them to La Bowtique Bowties, where they selected distinct styles, “Patrick in a Dropped bowtie and Blake in a Laurent bowtie,” adding another layer of individuality.
Their details carried a sense of sentiment and playfulness. Vintage Tiffany Elsa Peretti Bean cufflinks, nodded to a phrase they often say to each other: “you’re my favorite human bean.” Though initially unsure about boutonnieres, they ultimately embraced them, later reflecting, “we were so glad we did – they really elevated the outfits and made the day feel even more festive.” Katrina refined them on-site, ensuring the florals subtly echoed the yellow undertones of their suits, bringing everything together with a thoughtful, cohesive finish.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place in a shaded side yard on the property, surrounded by trees and overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The setting felt both intimate and expansive, with nature softening every moment. The wedding party walked down the aisle to Frank Ocean’s rendition of Moon River, while each groom was escorted by their parents to the live version of Bruises from The Peach by Ryan Beatty, “a highlight from one of our favorite artists.” The ceremony was led by two officiants, their neighbors and close friends, The Reverend Thomas N. Mousin and The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown, adding a deeply personal layer to the experience.
The readings brought together a thoughtful blend of voices and meanings, from “Where The Hell Is The Love of My Life?” by Roxane Gay to a composite passage from Ocean Vuong, alongside the Supreme Court’s concluding statement of Obergefell v. Hodges and Blessing for a Marriage by James Dillet Freeman. A tender surprise came as two of Blake’s nephews read Love Makes A Family. Music wove through the ceremony with equal emotion, including a piano rendition of “Slip Away” by Perfume Genius, performed by their friend Hayden.
"We had put a lot of time and thought into the ceremony, and were so glad we did. It was so memorable and special for us to include people special to us in the ceremony."
The emotion continued to build, reaching a heartfelt surprise, when Blake performed Elton John’s “Your Song,” accompanied by his sister, Jenna, on piano. “Every guest mentioned crying at least once,” they shared, reflecting on what became the most meaningful part of the day. As the ceremony came to a close, Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES played for the recessional, a nod to a beloved scene from Heartstopper.
“With all the other logistics and vendor planning, it could’ve been easy to forget to put a lot of thought into the ceremony—but we were so glad we did. It’ll be such a special memory for us for a long time.”
Cocktail Hour
The reception took place at the couple’s friend’s home, with each part of the evening thoughtfully unfolding across the property. The cocktail hour began on the front lawn, dinner followed on the wrap-around porch, and as night fell, guests gathered under a tent by the water for dancing and celebration. The setting moved naturally from one moment to the next, carrying a sense of ease and intimacy throughout.
Wines played a central role in the evening, with a curated selection featuring some of their favorite producers, including Remi Poujol, Julien Peyras, and Le Coste. The cocktail menu felt equally personal, with signature drinks like a Vermouth Spritz inspired by Café Triste’s recipe, a Northern NY Negroni, Pepper Paloma, Marlow Margarita, and an Abbey-tini.
"We wanted our wedding to feel like an extra special home dinner party, and being able to have our events at these island homes really made our dream come to life."
Dinner
The design leaned into a thoughtful mix of heritage and texture, with porcelain plates, oak wood folding chairs, vintage silverware, and brass vases bringing a sense of quiet richness. A subtle mismatch ran throughout, from varied napkins at dinner to playful, patterned tablecloths during the cocktail hour, echoing the ease and personality of a home setting.
Florals carried that same warmth, embracing the colors and abundance of peak summer. Their floral partner, Katrina of Ridge To River, understood the vision instinctively, creating arrangements that felt joyful, expressive, and completely in tune with the season. “We were so happy with how the flowers turned out. We didn’t want an all-white wedding that felt bridal coded, and it meant a lot to work with a partner who got that.”
For dinner, the couple opted for a family-style set on the home’s wraparound porch, creating an atmosphere that felt intimate, generous, and deeply connected to the setting. The table was layered with as many vintage serving pieces as they could source, reinforcing the feeling of a gathering that had grown organically over time rather than something overly styled.
Reception
It was exactly what they had imagined: “an elevated house party that felt homey and one-of-a-kind at the same time.” Between courses on the porch, four toasts unfolded from Blake’s sisters together, each of their fathers, and a member of Patrick’s wedding party who couldn’t be there in person. The wrap-around porch naturally drew guests closer, friends gathering around to see and listen, creating a feeling that was deeply communal and quietly moving.
Music carried the energy of the evening from the very beginning. Shine was the first vendor they booked, drawn to the unmistakable atmosphere the band brings to every performance. Their first dance was set to 10/10 by Troye Sivan, a moment that felt both personal and lighthearted, followed by a dance with their mothers to Forever Young by Rod Stewart, adding a layer of nostalgia and tenderness to the celebration.
Dinner flowed into something sweet and simple, with HERA creating an olive oil cake served with fresh whipped cream, alongside Canyon Coffee. As the night came to a close, guests boarded boats for an open-air cruise under the full moon, returning to Clayton in a moment that felt almost cinematic.
Advice from the couple:
• Don’t shy away from investing in the ceremony and asking guests to contribute to it. We have the sense that it was as special for us as it was for the people we asked to be included. It was our favorite part of the day.
