A Riverfront Wedding with Creative Food, Music, and Decor Choices
Sean and Colleen Barton tied the knot on October 22, 2022. Their celebration was an intimate mix of rustic charm, industrial vibes, and heartfelt DIY touches, all set against the scenic beauty of the Hudson River at Hutton Brickyards. The couple, originally from Monroe and Newburgh, New York, chose Hutton for its breathtaking riverside location and its nostalgic industrial architecture. The wedding took place on one of the expansive fields with a stunning Hudson river backdrop. Sean and his father handcrafted a wooden archway for the ceremony, repurposing wood from their decades-old deck — a sentimental centerpiece that now hangs in their home. Guests enjoyed cozy fire pits and the historic charm of the venue. Their personal style extended to the food, drinks, and music: The menu featured locally sourced IPA beers and Cardoso Cookies instead of a wedding cake. And a childhood friend performed live music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. Coldplay’s “Yellow” marked Colleen’s unforgettable walk down the aisle.
Name of Bride and Groom
Sean & Colleen Barton
Date of Wedding
October 22, 2022
Location
River Pavilion
Number of Guests
160
Budget
”I think our top dollar at the time that we wanted to spend was like $70 or $75,000 and ended up being like $180. It was like just under $200,000.”
First Steps
How did you two meet, and how long have you been together before getting married?
We met at work. We started working at the same financial planning firm within like five months of each other. And we were just friends for probably four or five years, and then we started dating for maybe two years, and then we got engaged. Now we have our own business. a financial planning firm called Coney Financial Group.
Venue & Planning
Why did you pick this venue?
We originally did it because it was on the Hudson River. And knowing that we wanted a fall wedding in the Hudson Valley. It provided kind of everything that we wanted.
What was your favorite room or area at the venue, and why?
We stayed in the larger kind of house, the cottage with the fenced-in backyard with fire pit. I'm a fan of nostalgic, vintage things, so the old bricks and the way that they’re used.
Were there any unique or special touches about the venue that stood out to you? (the 100-acre grounds, surrounding nature, the river, historical background, the cabins, central location, privacy, etc.)
The North lawn, where they used to make the bricks, that's where we got married. And for me, my favorite picture is us, after we got married and said our vows, just a picture of me and her with the background, the wooden archway that my father and I made from our old deck wood that was like 30 years old. We refurbished it and turned it into our wedding backdrop. So to me, that's the best memory. It is my favorite. And I have it everywhere. We have it hanging up on our wall in our bedroom,
What was the deciding factor for your wedding date/season?
We wanted a fall wedding in the Hudson Valley.
Style and Aesthetics
How would you describe the theme or vibe of your wedding? Check all that apply.
✔ DIY
✔ Rustic
Did you incorporate any personal or cultural traditions into your wedding?
No, we went kind of the exact opposite way. We're more spiritual than religious. So we didn't do the church thing, or anything like that. And we actually had a good friend of ours marry us, who was Colleen’s business partner at the time.
Vendors and Details
Which vendor (e.g., caterer, photographer, florist) exceeded your expectations the most, and why?
Definitely our photographer. She was awesome. She just made us feel super comfortable and relaxed. And you know, on the day of your wedding, you have people with a bunch of opinions, and she helped us forget about all those people and really be with ourselves.
What was your favorite dish or drink served at the wedding (did you have a custom cocktail for example)?
The signature drink was a Paloma. And a lot of people in my family like good IPAs. So we made sure that there was some good beer there too. It came from the Hudson Valley. I'm a big fan of buying local and getting local.
What music or entertainment did you choose, and how did it enhance the celebration?
So for the ceremony, a girl that I've known since I was in seventh or eighth grade, she's a musician, and she and her partner did the music for our ceremony and for the cocktail hour. And the acoustics coming off the brick were really cool. And then we had a DJ for the dinner and after.
Were there particular wedding songs played?
Yellow by Cold Play, that's what I walked down the aisle to. And that's what Colleen walked down the aisle to. And that's the only one that I actually remember.
What kind of cake did you serve?
We didn't do a cake, we did cookies from Cardoso cookies, which everybody loved: peanut-butter cookies, chocolate-chip cookies, black-and-white cookies. Our food vendor, they were also incredible. People still talk about it to this day.
Who made the dress?
Bride’s Dress: @wildbloomsbridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: @blush_bridal_btq
Who made the suit?
Suits: @stateandliberty
The Experience
What moment of the day stands out the most in your memory?
We did a private first look, and I didn't realize that that was going to be as valuable as it was. Our photographer talked us into doing that, and that turned out to be my favorite moment of the whole day. I got ready in the the cottage, and Sean got ready in his parents’ cabin, and we hadn't seen each other since early that morning, because Sean was golfing, so it just sort of ended up being a chaotic morning. And then the photographer took some pictures with me and gave me a card that Sean had written. And then did the opposite with Sean. And then we met up on that little trail at Hutton with where the old brick archway is.
Sean had his back turned. And then I got off the golf cart, and I got to walk up to him, and our photographer took a couple of pictures of us having that moment. But then she put her camera down, and she walked away, and she let Sean and me just have some private time, just to talk to each other and have a quiet moment together before the day really got started. And then we had a few minutes together, and she picked the camera back up, and we did a bunch of shots at the iconic archway, and in the foliage and stuff.
I didn't realize that we wouldn't really get as much time together throughout the day. So reflecting on our wedding, having that, I think it was 30 minutes together. It was the best time of the whole day.
What advice would you give to other couples planning their wedding?
I would make sure that the partners, the couple, they are putting their needs and wishes above anything else. I think a lot of opinions come into the mix from different vendors, from different family members, and I think it's really easy to lose sight of what the day is about and who the day is about. So I would recommend that the couple is really clear on what's most important — to them.
Reflections
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Colleen: I would've made it smaller.
Sean: I wouldn't have golfed in the morning. That just put too much stress on me, trying to get back and then wanting to get ready and do things. We had a tight timeline. The golf course was frozen when we got there, there was a frost delay, so we had to wait like a half hour. So it would've been fine, but it wasn't. I wouldn't have done that and I would've just stayed on property.
What do you want people to remember most about your wedding?
We were really intentional about the choices we made in terms of supporting local vendors as much as possible. Aside from Sean's suit, everything else was from a local vendor that was important to us to help our local economy. We were also really intentional about the music that we used throughout the day and that sort of created a soundtrack to the day. Now different people in our lives hear songs that we used during our wedding and it transports back to the moments. And some of them stole them for their own weddings! I’m not gonna mention any names, but some of them did.
The Future
Where did you go or where will you go for your honeymoon?
We went to Hawaii for 10 days. We loved it.
The Wedding Vendors
Planning and design: @eliteweddingplanning … now renamed to Christofora Events @christoforaevents
Photography: Monika @monikaeisenbart
Florals: @athabold
Dresses: @wildbloomsbridal
Hair: @oneononesalon
Make-Up: @blushsparrow
Catering: @figandpigcatering
Dessert: @cardosocookies
Ceremony music: Mary & Noah @moonlight_revival_duo
Reception Music: Nick @apbentertainment
Bridesmaids Dresses: @blush_bridal_btq
Suits: @stateandliberty
Stationary: @flyaway_paper_co
Rings: @brittanypatadesign @nature_sparkle
Venue: @huttonbrickyards
