Timeless New York Wedding at Historic Ill Eagle Taphouse || Kaylee and Matt
It was a sparkling February afternoon for Kaylee and Matt’s magical day, and their timeless New York wedding at historic Ill Eagle Taphouse was filled with much warmth and all the Downtown Abbey vibes.
Kaylee is one of my oldest and dearest friends, so when she and Matt asked me not just to be a bridesmaid, but also their wedding photographer, the answer was an instantaneous yes. The elegance of their day was so wholesome, and even though I was only five months postpartum with my sweet babe at home, playing such an integral role in their day was a wedding experience I’ll always treasure.
I have known Kaylee since I was four years old. We grew up in the same daycare, played dress-up together, dreamt of our “someday” weddings, and shared a beautiful, untamed sense of childhood imagination.
Our friendship flourished into high school besties, basketball co-captains, and big-time dreamers and doers. Basically every milestone you can think of – first sleepover, first road trip, first out-of-state adventure – she and I shared together. The sisterhood we had was an Anne-and-Diana type of bond that you can only dream of, which is why I felt so much joy when her love story began unfolding with Matt. Their relationship blossomed so effortlessly, and watching their connection deepen was like watching a garden come into full color – it bloomed with such beauty, bounty, and vibrance.
When Matt and Kaylee got engaged and began planning their wedding, they knew they wanted to cultivate an elegant, timeless wedding experience, so they chose HISTORIC Ill Eagle Taphouse for their wedding venue.
It had grand architecture and beautiful interiors, and its historical charm gave all the Downtown Abbey vibes. Boasting coffered ceilings with gold leaf gilding, a marble wraparound staircase with black wrought iron railings, and ornate victorian rooms with heavy wooden accents, this New York wedding venue offered a unique space with historical significance and architectural character.
Known formerly as the Elmira Federal Building, Ill Eagle was built in 1902 and was once used for government purposes. But before its purchase and revitalization in 2018, it sat vacant for decades.
Now it serves as a timeless New York wedding venue in the heart of Elmira’s business district, and it features a cozy bar and barrel room for intimate events, a spacious courtroom for larger receptions, a newly renovated bridal suite with a private bathroom and kitchenette, and an outdoor patio with panoramic views of the Southern Tier of Elmira.
Kaylee and Matt chose this venue not just for its charm and aesthetic appeal, but because they love supporting local businesses. Kaylee, another female business owner (who actually manages my books; check out her amazing business here!!!) was passionate about designing her wedding in a way where she could support local establishments, and I love how they built their wedding team so intentionally.
They worked with other wonderful New York weddings vendors as well, including:
Bridal Boutique: Bonjulie’s
Specialty Rentals and Design: A’La Carte Decor
DJ: DJ Duo
Video: Max Comfort Films
Vintage Audio Guestbook: After The Tone
It was a priority for Kaylee and Matt that their wedding felt relaxed and timeless, so they leaned into a soothing color palette of navy and sage green.
They incorporated all the greenery and eucalyptus in the courtroom that doubled as their ceremony and reception space, and both their sweetheart and guest tables featured brass lanterns, hanging globes, and tea-light candles to create a soft, romantic ambiance.
Another thoughtful touch of Kaylee and Matt’s wedding was the layout of their ceremony space.
Knowing that the room would need to be flipped post-ceremony into their reception area, Kaylee and Matt just opted to simplify things; they designed a ceremony layout that allowed guests to sit at their designated seat for the ceremony AND the reception – no flipping necessary. It was a simple gesture, but one that allowed their guests an effortless transition from ceremony to reception.
It was clear that intentional details like this were a priority for Kaylee and Matt. Not only did they choose to do a first look to share private vows together, but afterward, they personally greeted EACH and EVERY guest at the entrance of the ceremony with a handwritten letter. This was such a beautiful sentiment, which moved so many of their friends and family to tears — myself included. ❤️
Kaylee and Matt also made a creative choice for their bridal party gifts. They chose a gift that would double as part of their bridal party’s wedding day attire:
Nike Court Vision Low Basketball Sneakers.
This was such a fun touch, especially since sports and outdoor activities are a huge part of Matt and Kaylee’s origin story. The shoes elevated their otherwise elegant wedding with a fun pop of pizazz.
I could go on and on about their timeless New York Wedding at Ill Eagle and the other ways that Kaylee and Matt incorporated thoughtful detail and meaningful touches into their day, but it’s the beauty of their marriage that excites me the most. I truly believe that marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to us – a relationship and structure that gives us the simplest, yet sweetest security of lifelong companionship, friendship, and intimacy. Marriage is a beautiful mirror of Christ’s own love toward the Church – so fierce, relentless, and faithful – and to witness and affirm my precious, lifelong friend stepping into her own fairytale was such a joy.
TO BE CLEAR, Marriage is not promised to be an easy journey; in fact, from my own personal experience, it can be quite hard and require a lot of work, tenacity, and perseverance.
But I wholeheartedly believe that it's the context of marriage that allows a couple’s passion to grow wiser, richer, and deeper over the years. Marriage gives us the safety net of a covenant commitment, a promise of future love, where we can love our spouse with reckless abandon and cleave to them with wholehearted devotion. I’m so excited to champion Kaylee and Matt as they walk this wonderful, wild journey of marriage, and to watch their relationship bloom into something even more beautiful, more pure, and more sacred.
