Intimate Church Ceremony and Wedding Photographs at Untermyer Gardens | Kelly + Jahan

Elopement
Written By Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels

An intimate church ceremony and wedding portraits at Untermyer Gardens created the perfect setting for this Hudson Valley intimate wedding - a day rooted in intention, connection, and quiet elegance.

Kelly and Jahan chose to celebrate their marriage in a way that felt true to who they are: a traditional church ceremony surrounded by their closest family, followed by romantic portraits at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and an intimate dinner to end the evening. For couples considering a Hudson Valley intimate wedding or elopement, their day is a beautiful example of how meaningful a smaller celebration can be.

There’s something deeply special about weddings like this. Without the pressure of a large guest list or timeline, the day unfolds naturally - with space to breathe, to be present, and to fully experience each moment as it happens.

From a heartfelt Catholic ceremony at Parish of the Annunciation to quiet, sunlit portraits overlooking the Hudson River, every part of this day felt intentional and deeply personal.

If you’re planning a Hudson Valley intimate wedding, elopement, or small celebration, this wedding offers inspiration for creating a day that feels both timeless and entirely your own.

A Love Story That Began with a Simple Hello

Kelly and Jahan’s story began in the most unexpected way - at the gym, beside a pulldown machine.

For months, they had noticed each other in passing. Shared glances, familiar routines, the quiet awareness of someone who felt just out of reach. Both wearing oversized headphones, both unsure how to break the silence.

Until one day, Jahan did. He motioned for Kelly to take off her headphones, and instead of asking for the machine, he introduced himself - and asked how she cleaned her headphones after workouts.

It was unexpected, a little funny, and completely perfect. From that moment on, they were inseparable.

A Proposal Rooted in Quiet Intention

Their engagement felt much the same - personal, intentional, and deeply meaningful.

On the rooftop of Jahan’s apartment, a place they often went to watch sunsets and fireworks, the energy shifted. Kelly noticed he was a little nervous, a little fidgety. And then, in a moment that felt both simple and profound, he told her how much he loved her - and that he couldn’t imagine life without her.

Just the two of them.
No audience.
No distractions.

Exactly as it should be.

Choosing an Intimate Wedding Day

When it came time to plan their wedding, Kelly and Jahan faced the same question many couples do - how big, or how small?

Coming from a large family, and with many friends between them, the options felt endless. But at their core, they knew who they were.

Quiet. Thoughtful. Introverted.

So they chose something different.

An intimate wedding day, surrounded only by their closest family and a few dear friends - the people who had truly walked alongside them in their relationship.

A day where they could relax.
Where they could be fully themselves.
Where nothing felt performative.

And once they made that decision, everything began to fall into place.

How you decided to have an intimate wedding ceremony and dinner?

“We are verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry introverted people. Jahan more so than me. We were engaged for a long time because we couldn’t decide how small or big we should have our wedding. I come from a very big Hispanic family and culture, and Jahan has a lot of friends. In the end, in early 2025, we decided lets just have an intimate wedding with our immediate family and a few friends. People that have supported us throughout our relationship and that we could really relax and enjoy our night to celebrate our marriage. I called up our church and asked for the next available Saturday in September and they said September 6th so September 6th it was.”

Meaningful Moments, Big and Small

“One special moment I really wanted to create was sharing a drink with my dad on my wedding day. My dad isn’t much of a drinker—he usually only has one on big, meaningful occasions—so I thought, what better day than this to raise a glass together. Ever since I was little, I’ve known his go-to is Johnnie Walker Black. For our moment, I wanted to make it extra special, so I surprised him with Johnnie Walker Blue Label instead. It was such a simple, perfect pause in the middle of everything. I’m so glad we got a photo of it—his expression in that picture says more than words ever could. My dad has always been a man of few words, but the look in his eyes that day felt like everything.

A Sacred Beginning at Parish of the Annunciation

Their wedding day began with a traditional Catholic nuptial mass at Parish of the Annunciation in Yonkers, NY.

Kelly wore an elegant lace gown with long sleeves and a high neckline - a look that felt both classic and deeply personal. The silhouette was timeless, with an extended train that moved beautifully through the space.

As she stood at the altar, there was a quiet nervousness - the awareness of being seen.

But the moment they reached for each other’s hands and began their vows, everything else faded.

It was as if the room disappeared.

Just the two of them.
Their promises.
And something deeper holding it all together.

Kelly later shared that even the sound of thunder during the ceremony felt like a sign - a reminder of something greater in that moment.

Wedding Portraits at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy

After their ceremony, we made our way to Untermyer Gardens Conservancy for portraits - one of the most breathtaking locations in the Hudson Valley.

The Temple of Love was the perfect setting for thoughtful portraits with just the two of them.

With its formal gardens, stone architecture, and endless greenery, the space feels almost transportive - like stepping into another world.

Light moved softly through the gardens as Kelly and Jahan walked together, finally able to take in the day.

This is one of the things I love most about intimate weddings - there is time.

Time to slow down.
Time to wander.
Time to feel everything as it’s happening.

Their portraits felt effortless.
Natural.
Full of quiet joy.

The kind of images that don’t just document a moment - but hold onto it.

When Everything Falls Into Place

One of the most beautiful parts of Kelly and Jahan’s story is how everything came together.

Planning a wedding in just a few months - finding the right photographer, the right dress, the right team - it could have felt overwhelming.

But instead, everything aligned.

The dress she found just weeks before the wedding.
The vendors who were unexpectedly available.
The quiet certainty that this was exactly how it was meant to be.

And in the end, their wedding became a reflection of that trust.

An Evening Celebration at Via Garibaldi

The day ended with an intimate dinner at Via Garibaldi, surrounded by their closest people.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting - filled with conversation, laughter, and the kind of energy that only comes from a room full of people who truly know you.

Instead of a large reception, the evening felt like an extension of everything that came before it.

Intentional.
Connected.
Relaxed.

Jahan had one special request for the day - a song he had discovered years earlier that he knew would one day be part of their wedding. They honored that request with a live violin and piano performance, creating a moment that felt deeply personal and entirely their own.

A Day That Felt Like Them

Kelly shared something that I think will resonate with so many couples:

Make your wedding a reflection of you - not expectations, not trends, not what it’s supposed to look like.

And that’s exactly what they did.

An intimate church ceremony and wedding portraits at Untermyer Gardens, followed by a meaningful dinner with the people they love most.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings?

“The biggest piece of advice I’d give any couple planning their wedding is this: make the day a true reflection of you two—not what anyone else expects or what Pinterest says it 'should' be. Sit down and decide your top 3 priorities. For us, it was meaningful moments with family, feeling comfortable and natural in photos, and just soaking in the joy of marrying each other. Don’t let obligations or even family traditions steal your peace.”

Any wedding planning/vendor decisions you hope to share

“Go with your gut and if its meant to be it truly will be. When I say everything fell into place EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE. After choosing the date with the church my next to do list was find a photographer, makeup artist and get a dress. I have been following Caitlinn for a few years. When I saw my friends engagement photos I knew I had to book her. However once I booked my church in April 2025 I was thinking THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL Caitlinn will be available for my wedding in September (which was 5 months away!) My best friend, Jess told me just reach out “at least youll have it in writing it’s a definite no, shes booked.” So I said fine! Just so I can say I tried and move on. LO AND BEHOLD Caitlinn was free! It was truly meant to be and I believe that wholeheartedly. After that I found my makeup artist who also had my date available. PERFECTION. I did not think I would be able to find my first choice vendors available for a Saturday especially in September. And then my lovely dress, everyone says you need to find your dress at least 9 to 12 months before your wedding. Well jokes on them because I found my dress 8 weeks before my wedding. I went to 4 different bridal shops all over the tri-state area. I even drove to NEW JERSEY and most people know I don’t like to drive anywhere outside of Westchester County. Funny thing is though I ended up finding my dress at a boutique in White Plains, NY; 4 blocks from my now husbands apartment. It was the first dress I tried on and it fit PERFECTLY I didn’t even need many alterations. This wedding planning experience truly taught me when something is meant to be everything will line up no matter what.”

How you chose your dress, suit, shoes, hair/make up, anything you want to share about your wedding looks and inspiration!

“When choosing my dress my goal was to find something conservative since we were having a catholic traditional nuptial mass but at the same time form-fitting. Sleeves were a MUST because why not!! And having a high neckline just took the cake! I wanted an elegant and lacey dress and was so happy to have found a dress that had all that and an extra long train.”

Your favorite memories from the day, and anything else you wish to include.

“One of my favorite memories from my wedding day I would say is hearing Jahan say our wedding vows. Even though we had a very small, intimate wedding I was nervous standing at the altar and having people look at us. But once we started saying our wedding vows and holding each other’s hands it felt like we were the only ones at church. Having us say our promises to God felt magical and unbreakable. The sound of lighting during our ceremony also made me giggle because it was a way of reassuring God’s presence at our wedding.”

How did you find me as a wedding photographer? Why did you choose to work with me?

“I was so fortunate to know another couple who had worked with Caitlinn. The moment I saw their engagement photos, I was completely blown away—I knew instantly that I had to have her photograph our wedding! With only six months to plan everything, I was incredibly nervous that she’d already be booked and I’d missed my chance. But God was so good to me—when I called, she had our date open, and I just knew it was meant to be. Beyond her stunning photos, Caitlinn was incredibly sweet, comforting, and easy to work with. My husband, Jahan and I are both pretty shy and timid, so I was worried about ending up with awkward or stiff images. I wanted photos we could cherish—not just for our future children, but for our grandchildren too—so they had to feel perfect and authentic. Caitlinn didn’t disappoint! I’ve always hated having my picture taken, but she made the whole experience seamless, stress-free, and actually fun. She knew the best backgrounds, lighting, and poses that brought out our real personalities. What I loved most were the candid, unplanned moments—the ones that truly capture the joy and love between us. Those random, genuine shots of me laughing with Jahan are priceless. Pictures last forever, so why not hire the absolute best?”

Vendors :

Planning Your Own Intimate Hudson Valley Wedding

If you’re dreaming of a wedding day that feels intentional, relaxed, and deeply personal - something like an intimate wedding ceremony and portraits at Untermyer Gardens might be exactly what you’re looking for.

A day with space to breathe.
To be present.
To feel everything.

And to create photographs that you don’t just see - but return to.

✨ If you’re planning an intimate wedding or elopement in the Hudson Valley, I would love to hear your story.

Inquire here to learn more about working together.

Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels
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Hudson Valley Wedding at The Garrison - Tori + Drew