Weddings at the Grounds for Sculpture

Planning a wedding at Grounds for Sculpture feels a bit like stepping into another world. Art, nature, and architecture blend seamlessly together to create a highly unique backdrop for your day. With over 40 acres of gardens and hundreds of sculptures lining pathways and mixed into the landscape itself, the entire park becomes an open-air gallery for you and your guests to explore. Couples can host both their ceremony and reception on-site, and every guest gets full-day access to enjoy the grounds from the moment they arrive. 

Because of the incredible art throughout the park, one of the best things about weddings at the Grounds for Sculpture is the range of spaces to choose from. Not only is there always an indoor back up plan due to their large indoor galleries, event halls, and their Domestic Arts Tent, but you can choose to say your I Do’s standing amidst the art itself. Alison + Jesse held their ceremony in the stone Amphitheater lined with granite busts. However, you can also choose other gorgeous spots like The Nine Muses – a temple like structure reminiscent of ancient Greek statuaries representing each of the Greek Muses. 

Of course, a wedding isn’t complete without a delicious meal! The Grounds for Sculpture partners with Constellation Culinary Group to cater all of their events including receptions held in their Zagat-rated Rat’s Restaurant – lovingly named after Ratty from the beloved children’s classic storybook, The Wind in the Willows.  

A Wedding Morning at the Grounds for Sculpture

Alison + Jesse’s wedding morning began bright and early and filled with as joyful energy as Alison and her bridal party got ready in one of the on-site suites. The suite buzzed with music, laughter, and that fun, pre-ceremony excitement that made the morning feel like a celebration unto itself. 

After hair and makeup were done, the bridal party slipped on rich copper, clay, and terracotta gowns that perfectly accented Alison’s vision of bright pops of seasonal wildflower flowers. Meanwhile, Alison’s wedding day look came together with a sleek, modern two-piece gown and finished with a long flowing veil that elegantly trailed behind her. Once Alison and the rest of the ladies were ready, Alison shared a sweet first look with her dad and brother before heading out along the garden pathways for bridal party and family portraits. 

While the ladies were enjoying their morning festivities, Jesse and his groomsmen arrived at the venue and hung out in the foyer of Rat’s Restaurant, where the reception would be held that in the evening. The guys kept it casual and relaxed as they put together their final touches. They pinned boutonnieres, straightened ties, and adjusted pocket squares to make sure they were ready for the day before taking group photos and family pictures of their own. 

A Simple Ceremony at the Amphitheater

As the afternoon approached, guests began to fill the Amphitheater where Alison + Jesse chose to hold their ceremony. The secluded, semi-circular space was lined mostly with trees and partly with the foundation of the Wisteria Pergola – a natural tunnel of twisting wisteria, foliage and branches. When the guests arrived, they were greeted with a table of iced tea and fans perfect for the hot summer day. They filed into the chairs placed among the half circle of granite block seating built into the landscape. 

When the music began, Jesse led the way down the center aisle to the head of the Amphitheater. He was closely followed by the rest of the wedding party who took their places on either side of the stage. Then, as the music reached its crescendo, Alison appeared through the Wisteria Pergola being led along the walkway by her father. After a handshake between Jesse and Alison’s dad and a quick veil adjustment from Alison’s sister, they were ready. Their ceremony was short and meaningful – a simple, heartfelt commemoration to start of the next chapter in their lives. 

An Artsy, Editorial Newlywed Shoot Among the Sculptures

After they were officially married, Alison + Jesse greeted their guests at the back of the Amphitheater and thanked them for coming and being a part of their special day. Then, we moved right into the remaining family group portraits Alison + Jesse requested as well as full wedding party portraits. When those were done, we shifted into what turned out to be my favorite shoot of the day – Alison + Jesse’s newlywed photos. 

While planning their wedding, Alison had two requests. She wanted untraditional, “weird” wedding photos. To accomplish that, we settled on an artistic, editorial-style photography shoot. Her second request was to feature two of her and Jesse’s favorite sculptures in the park – The Daydream and The Awakening by Seward Johnson. Johnson once said, “I want my work to disappear into the landscape and then take a viewer by surprise.” Upon seeing these larger-than-life sculptures, Johnson’s words rang true. 

We started Alison + Jesse’s newlywed shoot in a meadow clearing along the pathway. The sunlight filtered beautifully through the treetops haloing the couple in a soft golden glow – perfect for capturing glowing, cinematic shots. From there, we continued along the pathway to find The Daydream. This sculpture depicts five figures in the throes of a dance, each lunging to grasp or keep hold of the next figure’s hands. Alison + Jesse posed between and around the figures in a striking showcase fit for a fashion magazine. Next, we moved to The Awakening – a half-buried sculpture of a giant awakening and emerging from the ground. The beautiful part of both of these sculptures is how they moved and changed with each angle we shot from. No shot was the same, but each one was modern, bold, and unique – exactly the vibe Alison + Jesse were aiming for. 

Wedding Reception at Rat’s Restaurant

While Alison + Jesse were taking their newlywed portraits, the rest of their guests moved to the Rat’s Restaurant patio for cocktail hour. They were treated to delectable hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in a setting reminiscent of a French countryside café. Alison and Jesse rejoined everyone just before the transition indoors, where the evening officially kicked off with their first dance, followed by sweet parent dances. A speech from the best man quickly became a highlight of the night, moving the room between tears of laughter to tears of happiness just moments apart. 

Dinner unfolded at an easy, unhurried pace, with guests free to wander between the dining room and patio as the evening cooled. The cake cutting brought a fun surprise. It was decorated like tree bark with Alison + Jesse’s initials in a heart and when cut, it revealed colorful confetti layers inside. Once dinner ended, the dance floor filled fast. The night came to a close exactly how it began – joyful, relaxed, and full of movement, with friends and family celebrating Alison + Jesse well into the evening.

Are you looking for an artistic, offbeat style for your wedding photography? Let’s chat! I’d love to crack open my creativity to its limits to create the wedding shoot of your dreams!

Hi there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography. I’m a New York City-based wedding photographer but I’m more than willing to travel wherever and whenever you need me to. While I never did figure out how to paint like Bob Ross, photography became my artistic outlet. One that lets me capture light illuminating a loved one’s skin or subtle movement flowing across a landscape and hold onto those moments forever. I am honored any time a couple trusts me to capture their love story from the biggest to even the most subtle details. If you’re newly engaged and looking for a wedding photographer, be sure to reach out! Just fill out my contact form to get started!