Autumn Wedding at The Garrison - Cynthia + Jonathan
Wedding days at The Garrison always hold something special, but Cynthia and Jonathan’s mid-October celebration felt particularly alive with emotion, music, and the kind of joy that’s deeply felt rather than loudly announced. Set against peak Hudson Valley fall foliage, their day unfolded with intention, warmth, and a beautiful blend of classic romance and their playful personalities.
From the moment I arrived, it was clear this wedding was about more than a stunning location (though The Garrison never disappoints). It was about honoring history, family, and the quiet knowing that these two have carried with them for nearly a decade.
How you met : “Nearly 11 years ago, we were both graduate students at UMass Amherst and happened across each other’s profiles on an online dating app. Jonathan asked me to dinner, but I was out of town. Even still, we continued to exchange messages back and forth. After a couple of weeks had passed, I wanted to take Jonathan up on that dinner offer, but was too nervous to bring it up, since it had been a while. One of my friends ended up taking my phone and messaged Jonathan for me, thus setting up our first date. Neither one of us remembers much about the food, but we did end up talking until the restaurant was nearly empty. Just a few days later, we met up for our second date and this time we shut the restaurant down.”
How you got engaged : “July 2023: While on a family vacation to Italy, Jonathan planned what he thought was a picture-perfect proposal in Florence, where I had studied abroad in college. It one of the hottest days on record, which put a wrinkle in Jonathan’s plan to propose in the Boboli Gardens that afternoon. He pivoted while everyone spent the morning at the Uffizi Museum and hatched a plan. Jonathan’s brother Shawn, asked for my phone to take a picture and I thought nothing of it. While in the Uffizi courtyard, Jonathan got down on one knee and proposed with my great-grandmother’s engagement ring! I of course said yes!”
Getting Ready Among the Autumn Hills
Cynthia got ready surrounded by her closest people, the mood calm and unhurried. She wore a long-sleeved A-line gown by Essence of Australia that felt timeless in every sense of the word. Paired with a dramatic cathedral-length veil, she embodied the kind of classic beauty that never competes with the person wearing it - it simply reflects her.
Her details were layered with meaning. A pearl necklace she’d owned since childhood. Pearl earrings gifted by Jonathan. And a surprise from her mother just days before the wedding: her great aunt’s ring, worn proudly as her “something blue.” These are the quiet heirlooms that turn a wedding day into a living story.
Jonathan finished getting ready in the cocktail hour space at The Garrison - with its abundance of natural light and panoramic views of the Hudson Highlands - equally thoughtful in his choices. His custom suit from 9Tailors featured a hidden lining of cats - a subtle, joyful nod to their beloved cat-child Lulu. Even his cufflinks were engraved with her face. It was a perfect example of how Cynthia and Jonathan balance elegance with heart and humor.
How you chose your wedding looks and what you’re inspiration was behind them : “For my dress, I knew I wanted an A-line dress with sleeves. I’ve always thought sleeves on a wedding dress was beautiful and classic. Ahead of my appointment at Vows Bridal, I selected a few dresses from their website as potential options and the first one I favorited ended up being my dress! The second I tried it on, I just knew it was the perfect one. And for my veil I definitely wanted the drama of a long veil. Putting those two together created the classic look I was going for. I found my shoes on Anthropologie and they were just a perfect little something that was a fun detail and went perfectly with my overall look.
For my jewelry, I wanted to keep it really simple. Besides my engagement ring, I had planned to wear a pearl necklace I’d had since I was a kid, and a pair of pearl earrings Jon had gotten for me. My mom surprised me two days before with her gift of “something blue,” which was my great aunt’s ring. I knew I had to wear it as it’s been passed down in our family.
For Jon’s suit, he was recommended 9Tailors by his barber. Jon’s barber also got his wedding suit there and Jon thought it looked great. He added the cat lining, since we’re both unapologetic cat parents and adore our fur baby Lulu. (This is also why we got Lulu cufflinks, because we couldn’t have our wedding without her being a part of it).”
A First Look Full of Joy and Stillness
Their first look took place on a hill at The Garrison, where the Hudson Highlands stretch endlessly into the distance. Jonathan’s reaction was immediate and full - pure excitement giving way to a long, grounding hug. The kind where time seems to soften. Where breath syncs. Where the rest of the day suddenly feels possible.
These are always some of my favorite moments to photograph - not because they’re posed, but because they’re honest. A deep exhale before everything begins.
How you decided to have the size wedding that you did : “We both have somewhat large families as well as many friends from high school, college, graduate school, and so on. We wanted to have a big party with everyone together. There are so many people who’ve meant so much in our lives, we couldn’t think of having our wedding without them.
How you decided upon The Garrison : “I always knew that I wanted to get married in the Hudson Valley during the fall. Growing up in the area, I always loved that time of year. Even living in New England now, I still believe the Hudson Valley to be the most beautiful place, especially in the fall. Given that, we wanted a venue that would put that fully on display. When we toured The Garrison, it was the rainiest, coldest, grossest December day. And yet it was still beautiful. We just knew that if it was that beautiful on an objectively not beautiful day, it would be amazing in good weather.
Additionally, we both grew up in families where food was a focal point to any family gathering. It was a priority for us to provide our guests not just with a good time, but a tasty one and The Garrison has a great reputation for providing both. And it did not disappoint!”
A Ceremony Framed by Fall and Music
The ceremony itself was everything a Hudson Valley autumn wedding dreams of being. October color at its peak. Soft overcast skies. The river quietly present in the distance.
Their families were woven beautifully into the day. Jonathan’s uncle officiated. Their siblings stood beside them. And in a thoughtful honoring of both their heritages, guests received Italian confetti and Vietnamese red envelopes as favors - traditions symbolizing sweetness, luck, and abundance.
After they were pronounced married, Cynthia and Jonathan walked back up the aisle to Lord Huron’s “She Lit a Fire” Music has always been central to their relationship, and this moment felt like them - cinematic, joyful, and completely sincere. It also happens to be one of my favorite songs, so that moment gave me goosebumps.
Any wedding planning/vendor decisions you hope to share :
“Photography: I’ve followed Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels for years and have always loved her artistic style and eye for gorgeous images that truly reflect the couple she’s photographing. I knew before we were even engaged that Caitlinn would have to be our photographer. Upon meeting her, it just solidified that decision. We have been absolutely blown away; we can’t stop looking at our wedding gallery!
Florals: When thinking about florals, I knew I wanted them but also didn’t want to distract from the gorgeous views at The Garrison. I stumbled across Rachel, Simplicity in Mind Florals Instagram and fell in love with her aesthetic and artistic style. In meeting with Rachel, she instantly figured out an absolutely gorgeous design deck, and it was even more amazing in person. I remember walking through the reception hall being absolutely floored by her designs. I absolutely adored my bouquet and am so grateful that I opted to have it preserved!
Hair/Makeup: I’m notoriously not a hair and makeup girly and I didn’t want to have a look that didn’t make me look like myself. I went with Ritual Beauty Bar. Ellie’s approach to bridal looks was just what I was looking for, and I felt so beautiful on my wedding day. (Fun fact, Ellie and I went to the same high school, just a year apart! Though because it’s such a huge high school we never crossed paths while we were there.)
Rings: For our wedding bands, we knew we want to get something special. I work in Somerville and drive by E. Scott Jewelers all the time. After looking them up and seeing that they do custom wedding bands, we made an appointment. From start to finish working with Emily was wonderful. She designed and made our rings perfectly. They both have the same design on the outside so that they’re always a pair, just like us.”
Golden Hour, Found
One of the things I’ve learned over the years as a Hudson Valley wedding photographer is that light is always moving - and the magic often lives in the in-between. After their ceremony, the sky grew heavy with clouds. But during cocktail hour, a sudden opening appeared. A thin break. A brief offering.
We moved quickly.
We RAN to the hill overlooking the Hudson Valley and the western horizon, and for just a few minutes, the sun poured through. Cynthia and Jonathan stepped into that light without hesitation. Those images - quiet, radiant, fun, and fleeting - became some of their favorites from the entire day. A reminder that sometimes the most meaningful moments are the ones you don’t plan for.
Dinner, Dancing, and a Celebration of Connection
The evening unfolded with warmth and ease. Delicate autumn florals by Simplicity in Mind filled the reception space with peach, scarlet, and wine-toned blooms. The food, the laughter, the constant motion of friends and family finding each other across the room - it all felt deeply lived-in.
And then there was the dancing. The kind that doesn’t perform, but participates. The kind that feels less like a reception and more like a gathering of people who truly love one another. A dance party where the couple and guests alike can let their freak flag fly, and dance their hearts out.
Why you chose your first dance song : “We both fell in love with Bleachers a few years ago, after seeing their set at Boston Calling and have since them again a few times. We chose “Wake Me”, as it really seemed to fit us as a couple since we’ve been together for so long and have gone through a lot together. It also is almost always one of our favorite parts of their sets when we’ve seen them live.”
Your favorite memories from the day : “One of our favorite memories of the day was running out for golden hour photos with Caitlinn during our cocktail hour. It had become somewhat overcast after the ceremony, so I thought that we wouldn’t get to do golden hour photos at all. But the sun peeked out just long enough and those are some of our favorite images of the day.
One of our other favorite memories of the day was also the first look. We enjoyed having that time just the two of us (and our amazing photographers!). I had kept everything about my look a secret for over a year (which as someone who hates waiting is an achievement) and it was completely worth the look on his face.
We loved both our officiant (Uncle Stan) and best man (Dan) speeches. They both took the job so seriously from the moment we asked (though Dan of course cracked a few jokes along the way). Everything they said was so touching and it really brought to light just how many people we have in our corner. They both made the day even more special.”
This wedding at The Garrison was classic without being formal. Romantic without being precious. Fun without ever losing its grounding. It was Cynthia and Jonathan, in every sense.
Advice to couples planning their weddings from your own experience and perspective : “The planner in me would say to start early, but also to take your time. We planned for a longer engagement so we could take our time and plan the wedding we really wanted. That didn’t stop me from reaching out and booking vendors over a year in advance! But by doing that, it made most of the planning less stressful and gave us the time to be thoughtful about the details.
Another piece of advice is to stay true to yourself. We wanted the day to be reflective of us as a couple, which meant lots of nods to our families (wedding photos on the welcome table of family members, the confetti, and red envelopes) as well as making sure our cat Lulu would be featured even if she couldn’t attend.”
Vendor Information
Venue + Coordinator The Garrison - Annie Rozycki
Ceremony Officiant Stanley Kowalski III, uncle of the groom
Hair + Make Up Ritual Beauty Bar
Dress Designer Essence of Australia
Dress Shop Vows Bridal
Bride's Shoe Designer Anthropologie
Suit Designer 9Tailors Boston
Bridesmaid Dress Designer + Shop Birdy Grey
Florist Simplicity in Mind Florals
Bakery The Pastry Garden - through The Garrison
DJ A Perfect Blend, David Nazario
Engagement Ring family heirloom (Great Grandmother's engagement ring)
Wedding Bands E. Scott Jewelers in Somerville, MA
Invitation or Other Stationery Minted
A Note from the Couple
“Working with Caitlinn was absolutely one of the best (if not the best) decisions we made when planning our wedding. I've followed Caitlinn's work for years and just knew that her artistic style and approach would be perfect for our wedding. We've only gotten our sneak peek, but Caitlinn has already blown us away. She was such a joy to work with from our initial meeting to the day of. One of our favorite parts of our wedding was when we ran out for golden hour photos. We'd recommend her to anyone if you want to have a blast and receive the most gorgeous wedding photos.”
Planning a Hudson Valley Wedding of Your Own?
As a Hudson Valley wedding photographer, I approach every wedding day with equal parts artistry and calm - paying close attention to light, energy, and the emotional rhythm of the day. Whether you’re planning a wedding at The Garrison, an intimate gathering, or something entirely your own, I would love to help document your story in a way that feels honest, beautiful, and deeply you.
If you’re planning your wedding in the Hudson Valley and are looking for a photographer who will care for your day as thoughtfully as you do, I’d love to connect.
Reach out here to inquire about availability and services.
