Hannah Cheng’s Summer Wedding in Upstate New York

Hannah Cheng (you know, the woman behind those addictive Mimi Cheng's Dumplings in New York City!) was committed to avoid day drinking on St. Patrick’s Day in 2012. “I actually got my hair cut instead!” she says, laughing. But her friends convinced her to meet up with them late in the day, and it’s a good thing she agreed. “We found a wallet at the bar and when we returned it, the woman insisted on buying us a drink," Hannah recalls. "As she came to find me with the drinks, she ran into one of Kenny [Osier]’s friends, and that’s how we met!” (Talk about some good ole's St. Patty's day luck, right?!)

Four years later, Hannah and Kenny headed to Ojai, California, for her 30th birthday weekend with family and friends. “It was a blast wine tasting, hanging by the pool, and going out for meals,” says Hannah. “It was pretty much the perfect proposal set-up, but I asked Kenny not to steal the thunder.” So once their friends and family left, the couple extended their vacay and drove up the coast to Big Sur, where a hike (and a run-in with a rattlesnake!) led to a breathtaking proposal with spectacular ocean views . “We shared celebratory beers, but still had over four miles to go in our hike!” the bride remembers.

For their wedding, Kenny and Hannah thought outside of the box when choosing their venue, and invited their 92 guests to Letterbox Farm in Hudson, New York, on August 26, 2017. “It’s an organic co-op, and all of the fees go back into the co-op,” says Hannah. “We loved the smells wafting from the herb gardens and the chickens clucking about!” The pastoral setting dictated the day's vision: a dinner party–style celebration full of natural accents.

Photographed by Eva Lin Photography, this upstate summer wedding was all about good food, great drinks, and an awesome dance party.

“I knew I wanted a dress with a plunging neckline, but that was still classic,” says Hannah. Her all-lace gown, by Made with Love, was just that: The sheer lace bodice gave way to a lace sweep train, giving the bride the best of both worlds. Hannah topped her waves with a floral crown instead of a traditional veil, and carried a lush bouquet of eucalyptus and white King Proteas.

Kenny looked handsome in a custom royal blue suit by Black Lapel. “We didn’t have a wedding party, and instead asked our families to stand with us at the altar,” says Hannah. The women wore blush dresses of their choosing, while the men wore navy.

The couple’s planner, Maria Bejarano, also did the floral arrangements. The rustic wooden altar was draped with eucalyptus garlands and accented with white proteas to match Hannah’s bouquet. “We wrote our own vows, and kept them short and sweet,” says the bride. “We wanted our ceremony to be meaningful, but not too long!”

One of Hannah and Kenny’s favorite moments of the day was the processional before the ceremony. Says the bride, “We spent time with our guests before the ceremony, then Kenny and I led them down to the ceremony together. Our guests said they felt so special to be a part of that moment.”

The reception took place beneath a tent in one of the farm’s fields. “The best part of Letterbox Farm was the view of the Catskills during magic hour,” says Hannah.

Talk about a DIY bride! Hannah made all of the table numbers, the seating chart, and the menu board using chalkboard paint and plywood.

Fire Roasted Catering provided the evening’s meal. “They cater parties for the Blue Hill team, so we knew the food would be good and we even put down a deposit before we even had a tasting,” says the bride. Everything—from charred carrots with chevre to a spit-roasted leg of beef—was cooked over an open fire.

Tables were simply decorated with garlands of seeded eucalyptus, while strands of café lights hung from the tent's ceiling. “I love Christmas lights, so we had to have strings of lights in the tent,” says the bride.

“My dad’s speech was incredible,” says Hannah. “He’s not particularly chatty, but he brought the house down. Absolutely everyone was in tears from laughter!”

Late in the evening, guests gathered around the caterer’s fire to roast s’mores. “Don’t stress too much or you won’t enjoy the moment,” says Hannah. “It really flies by, so try to soak it all in!”