Eat. Drink. Be Married: Part I

If you haven't gotten excited about the craft brew craze yet, now's the perfect time. The Hudson Valley is chock full of breweries so check 'em out and make your local brewmasters proud by serving some   Hudson Valley suds at your wedding! Or even better yet, have your wedding at the brewery. Now that's really partying in style!

(c) Hudson Valley Green...at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY

Here's a list of some great Hudson Valley breweries (and some others close by!), categorized by county:

Dutchess County
Hyde Park Brewing Company: located in Hyde Park. Check out this brewery for live music and trivia - perfect for a girls (or guys) night out!

Otsego County
Brewery Ommegang: located in Cooperstown. Although not technically in the Hudson Valley, this brewery was too good to pass up. Ommegang brews are available in most grocery stores but the brewmasters there have not given up quality for quantity. Be sure to try to Hennepin and the Witte.

Ulster County
The Guilded Otter: located in New Paltz, relax with a Guilded Otter brew after a long day of climbing in the 'Gunks.

Keegan Ales: located in Kingston. This brewery is next on HVG's list of places to visit! Keegan does Trivia Tuesdays and live music five nights a week! Plus, on Thursdays, Keegan Ales says "thank you" to all of their local supporters with $3 mason jars.

Newburgh Brewing Company: located in Newburgh, the Newburgh Brewing Company is the newest brewery to establish roots in the Hudson Valley. Suds only available in kegs at this time but look for NBC in a restaurant near you!

Westchester County
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company: located in Elmsford, this is a Hudson Valley Green favorite! Two "must tastes" are the Family Meal and the Smoked Porter. Want to have a wedding that's totally unique? Have your wedding in Captain Lawrence's tasting room and outdoor beer garden. The tasting room holds 150 guests.

Peekskill Brewing: located in Peekskill. Try the Vanilla Bourbon Stout. Host your rehearsal dinner at Peekskill Brewing's dining room or better yet, have Peekskill come to you with their full service catering.

The Five Boroughs 
Brooklyn Brewery: located in, you guessed it, Brooklyn. Another Hudson Valley Green favorite. Host your private event, from 20 to 200 guests, right in the brewery. Brooklyn Brewery has partnered with several local restaurants to provide catering.

Chelsea Brewery: located on Pier 59, this brewery can host (what an amazing location this place would be!) or cater your event.

Heartland Brewery: several locations but HVG's favorite is right next to the Empire State Building. Check at the views at the top then head down to ground level to enjoy a homemade brew or two.

Long Island 
Blue Point Brewing Company: located in Patchogue (Suffolk County). Small tasting room but big taste. Try the Blueberry Ale!

What's your favorite New York brewery? Let us know by leaving a comment! 

Happy Planning, 

Lizzie

And one more thing....look for "Eat. Drink. Be Married: Part II" coming soon! 

Sustainable Wedding Garb...and HVG's First Press!

I was recently interviewed by Lisa Iannucci, freelance writer for the Poughkeepsie Journal. Lisa has written several articles regarding sustainability and contacted me for her piece about sustainable clothing. Lisa's piece, titled Sustainable Clothing Gaining Popularity, was published in the April 29th edition of the Poughkeepsie Journal and yours truly is quoted in it! So exciting! 

This is Hudson Valley Green's first press. Wooohooo! 

When Lisa interviewed me over the phone, I was prepared. I had written notes and replayed what I was going to say in my mind over and over again. I was going to be well spoken and intellectual and funny and basically all around amazing. And then I actually got on the phone with Lisa and all of my preparedness went right out the window. 

I was so nervous. I stumbled across my words, I think I ended up rambling about things that may or may not have been related to the topic.  But in the end, I think it went okay! Check out the article and let me know what you think!

(c) Everyday Beauty

As I was preparing for my interview with Lisa (and by the way, she was really very nice), I jotted a few pages of notes (a.k.a. scribbles) about what I think sustainable clothing really is all about.

Sustainability is such a buzz word right now and I think it can really get overused; however, I do think you can make very real, very sustainable clothing choices. The key to sustainability is limiting your role in consumerism and making smart consumer choices.

(c) Hudson Valley Green....Lizzie's back and her mom's hands!

Here are some simple ways to be more eco-friendly when it comes to your wedding garb:

• Go Vintage (or just gently used). My mother altered my grandmother's dress for me and I was able to proudly wear a family heirloom on my big day. If you aren't lucky enough to have a family dress, check out chic vintage and consignment shops for beautiful dresses. Many have been worn just once and some may have never been worn at all! If someone in your family isn't a gifted seamstress, research quality tailors to have to dress fit to your size and style. And if your local second-hand shop doesn't have anything in stock, check out websites such as RecycledBride.com and NearlyNewlywed.com for gently used (or new!) designer dress for a fracture of the cost of a new dress. Remember, a reused dress is always more eco-friendly than a new, organic hemp dress.  

(c) Helen Neafsey...at the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop

• Go Organic. If vintage isn't for you, pick a dress made with organic or eco-friendly materials such as cotton, hemp, or bamboo. Visit websites such as Etsy.com (check out NaturalBridals) and AdeleWechsler.com for really beautiful eco-conscious gowns. 

• Go Old. Having bridesmaids in your wedding? I bet many of them have been in several weddings before. Ask your lovely ladies to wear a dress that they already own. They will save a bundle of money and will save you (and them) the hassle of choosing a dress, the fittings, and the gas to and from the tailor.

• Go Black. If having your bridesmaids be color coordinated is important, ask your girls to wear similar black dresses of their choosing. A little black dress never goes out of style and can be worn multiple times to several different functions. Already own a LBD? Perfect! If not, your bridesmaid can purchase a dress that fits their shape, style, and budget AND can be worn again. That's a Win-Win in my book. 

(c) Hudson Valley Green

• Get creative. I was lucky enough to inherit some truly stunning strands of cultured pearls from a family member. Because many of the strands are a bit too long for my taste, I have been taking them to Beads of Westchester, located in White Plains (Westchester Co.), to have the extra pearls transformed into earrings for my friends and family. The lovely women at Beads are so talented and it costs virtually nothing to have the pearls redone into new pieces. By reinventing an old piece of jewelry into several new ones, I get to share a family heirloom with my loved ones as beautiful gifts and I save a bunch of money. Unfortunately I didn't think of this for my wedding but I wish I would have! Pearl earrings would have been perfect gifts for my bridesmaids. 

(c) Hudson Valley Green

Happy Planning, 

Lizzie

Focus on Photography: Daniel King

If you are looking for an eco-friendly photographer based in the Hudson Valley, look no further! Daniel King, located in East Fishkill (Dutchess County), NY, might just be the perfect photographer for you.

(c) Daniel King Photography

I was recently introduced to Dan's work through my wonderful friend, Angie. Dan did a photo shoot with Angie and her family and I immediately fell in love with his work (it helps that Angie has two incredibly adorable little boys!!). I soon after contacted Dan to find out what he's all about and I'm so glad I did!

(c) Daniel King Photography

Although Dan's professional background isn't in photography, his photos don't show it. The world of finance doesn't offer many opportunities for creativity, so Dan decided that he was going to pursue his passion and start Daniel King Photography. He now shoots everything from weddings to the occasional children's shoot. Dan is available for all types of work in the Hudson Valley and will travel for work as well. 

(c) Daniel King Photography

Not only does Dan capture amazing moments with his camera, he also offers eco-friendly wedding albums. The albums are handmade in the USA using as many natural, post-consumer, and recyclable materials as possible. Even the materials used to ship the wedding albums are green! 

Wedding photography packages start at $2,200. Feel free to visit Dan's website, http://www.danielkingphotography.com/, for more photos and other information regarding availability and pricing.

The most important thing about your wedding (or any event) is to have an amazing time with your guests. The next most important thing is having great photos to remember your special day. Years down the road, you'll want to share those wonderful photos with your grandkids. ;) 

Many thanks to Dan for working with HVG and providing such amazing photos! 

Happy Planning, 

Lizzie