A Modern Warehouse Wedding in Upstate New York

Back in 2008, one of Elizabeth Dilk’s friends was dating a pal of Garrett Morin’s, and the relationship caused both friend groups to collide. While that love story didn’t last, it did lead to a new one: Liz and Garrett’s. Five years later, as 2015 was coming to an end, Garrett and Liz headed to the Hamptons for a long weekend to celebrate the new year. “The morning of New Year’s Eve, Garrett and I went for a run on the beach,” Liz remembers. “As we got to the end of the beach, Garrett proposed! We made our way back to the house, and our friends had filled the house with balloons. We got to celebrate with them all weekend!”

Though they’d dreamed of an outdoor wedding, Liz and Garrett will both tell you that they have bad luck with weather, so they figured a unique indoor space would keep their guests comfortable and dry. They loved that the Basilica in Hudson, New York, could really take on whatever personality they brought into the space—and just as they’d expected, it started to pour once the dance party was underway! “We were very happy to be dry inside,” says the bride.

“We kept planning easy by booking things as soon as they felt right, instead of overloading on options,” Liz explains. Photographer James Autery of Within This Day was on-hand to capture the finessed, colorful, and eye-catching details that made Garrett and Liz’s wedding day their own. The couple invited 150 guests to join them upstate on August 12, 2017, where the creative couple (she’s a designer, and he’s a creative director) art-directed the best party they’ve ever planned. Keep reading for more!

Garret’s illustrations were used throughout the invitations, and also turned into confetti that was tucked into the save the dates. “We designed all of the printed elements together,” Liz says.

The bride wore a tailored silk Naeem Khan gown with a low back and beading around the bodice. “It was exactly what I wanted," she says. "My mom and I went to get a glass of wine to ‘decide’ so it wouldn’t feel like an impulse buy, but we both knew we’d be going right back to the salon to purchase it as soon as we were done!”

Garrett wore a Paul Smith suit, which he paired with a tie decorated with mushrooms and rainbows.

The couple’s flower girl wore a peasant-style white dress and leopard-print flats for her trip down the aisle.

“I told my bridesmaids to wear whatever they wanted, and they ended up choosing perfectly coordinated floral dresses. It worked out so well!” says the bride.

Liz and Garrett wrote their own vows, and actually exchanged them twice. “We read them to one another in private the night before our wedding,” she says. Before the “I do’s,” there was a much-needed moment of levity: The best man’s phone started to ring in the middle of the ceremony!

Wooden fans kept guests cool in the August heat, and also served as escort cards.

A bouquet of crisp white calla lilies was the perfect pairing for Liz’s sleek wedding gown. They newlyweds couldn't resist posing for portraits during golden hour.

To make the large warehouse space feel more intimate, Liz had her coordinator hang 100 paper lanterns from the ceiling, between the venue’s strands of café lights. The tables were kept modern to contrast with the rustic setting, with sideswept arrangements of orchids and grasses in gold and copper vessels, all set on simple white linens.

After a South American–inspired meal (and a few spicy cucumber margaritas!), Liz and Garrett took to the dance floor. The pair danced to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, then each danced with their parents. Liz and her dad chose “In My Life” by the Beatles, while Garrett and his mom chose “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison.

In addition to a DJ, the couple and their wedding party served as the live band. Liz played bass, Garrett sang and played guitar, and their friends (many were Garrett’s actual band-mates!) filled out the rest. “The cast rotated throughout the night as we played ‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘Say You Love Me’ by Fleetwood Mac, and ‘Crimson & Clover,’” says Liz. “We even passed out tambourines so the other guests could get in on the fun!” (Talk about putting a personal spin on your wedding reception!) The night came to a close as the entire band played “Bigmouth Strikes Again” by the Smiths, making months of planning (and band practice!) worth every moment.