Marisa & Chris's Microwedding at Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden


Marisa and Chris got married on August 1st in front of about 25 people, exactly the size they wanted. After years of building a life together, they weren't looking for a production. They wanted their closest people in one room, a beautiful setting, and a day that felt entirely like them.


How They Met

Marisa and Chris first met in high school, introduced through Chris's cousin, and had a crush on each other back then that never quite went anywhere. Life took them in separate directions, including separate marriages, before that same cousin reconnected them years later. This time, it stuck. They got engaged seven years ago, and eventually moved to Westchester together, Chris returning to the area he grew up in around Mt. Kisco, Marisa having grown up in Brooklyn. Today they share their home with two dogs.


Before the Ceremony

There wasn't a traditional getting-ready portion of the day. Marisa and Chris arrived already dressed and came together at the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, where Marisa's three kids and the rest of their family and friends were waiting in anticipation. They'd asked for a documentary approach rather than a heavily posed one, so most of this part of the day was spent photographing them greeting guests as everyone arrived, with just a few quiet portraits worked in beforehand.

Outdoor wedding ceremony in Japanese Stroll Garden with guests seated on white chairs watching couple exchange vows in North Salem, NY.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was officiated by a close family member, Marisa's cousin's wife, who spoke about the two of them finding their way back to each other and getting a second chance at love. Museum staff had arranged the chairs in the shade, facing the couple, and the garden setting did the rest of the work. It was a warm, clear day, and Marisa and Chris, both dedicated gym-goers, looked every bit the part in their wedding outfits.


One detail made the day even more meaningful. Chris was adopted, and reconnected with his biological family years ago. At the ceremony, the family who raised him and his biological family sat side by side to watch him get married, together in the same place for the first time. Marisa had her own full circle moment too, surrounded by her three kids, cousins, and friends going back to high school and college.


The Reception

Instead of a traditional reception, the group moved to Badageoni, a Georgian restaurant in downtown Mt. Kisco, for casual cocktails and lunch. The connection here was personal: Marisa recently opened the Bar Method, a barre studio in Mt. Kisco, and met Badageoni's owner, Inga, through the town's chamber of commerce. One meal at Badageoni was enough to convince her this was where the reception needed to happen.


Guests were served homemade Georgian dishes, including khinkali, a soup dumpling, alongside Georgian wine. The afternoon stayed relaxed, mostly conversation and good food, with a handful of toasts mixed in. It was exactly the tone Marisa and Chris had been picturing: intimate enough to actually spend time with everyone there, instead of moving through a receiving line all day.


Congratulations, Marisa and Chris

A wedding built entirely around the people who mattered most, without anything extra in the way. Congratulations to you both and sending wishes for many years filled with love and joy together!



Their Wedding Team


Group of people raising glasses in a toast at a wedding dinner celebration with floral centerpieces at Badageoni in Mt. Kisco, NY.

Planning a Microwedding at Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden

The Hammond Museum & Japanese Garden is an excellent location for a small wedding ceremony, a proposal, or portraits.

The garden setting gives you built-in scenery without needing much additional decor, which suits a smaller, more relaxed wedding well. Shaded seating is worth requesting if your date falls in peak summer, museum staff arranged it for Marisa and Chris and it made a real difference in guest comfort during the ceremony. Pairing a nearby restaurant like Badageoni for the reception, rather than a full second venue, kept the day simple and let the group actually enjoy each other's company instead of managing a long transition.

FAQ

Is Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden a good fit for a small wedding?

Yes, particularly for an intimate guest count. The garden setting provides natural scenery, reducing how much additional decor a couple needs to bring in.

Can the ceremony be set up in the shade?

Yes, museum staff can arrange seating in a shaded area, worth requesting for a summer wedding date.

Do you need a photography permit for Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden?

If you are getting engaged or taking portraits in the Japanese Stroll Garden, you don't need a permit - just pay the typical $12 admission fee. However, if you're hosting an event here (such as a wedding ceremony), you will need to be formally in touch with the staff.

Is Badageoni a good option for a reception nearby?

Yes, it's a short distance from the museum in downtown Mt. Kisco and offers a full Georgian menu, a distinctive option for couples who want their reception to feel different from a typical wedding meal.

Bride in white gown hugging older woman holding sunflower bouquet outdoors at wedding ceremony with white chairs.
Bride holding vibrant wedding bouquet with sunflowers, orange roses, green craspedia, and blue thistle in yellow and orange tones.
Bride in strapless white mermaid gown holding yellow and orange bouquet, standing on gravel path surrounded by lush green trees.
Smiling bride in white mermaid gown holds sunflower bouquet outdoors among lush green trees on gravel path.
Smiling bride in white mermaid gown holding sunflower bouquet walks along gravel path surrounded by lush green trees.
Smiling bride in strapless white mermaid gown walks outdoors holding colorful bouquet, shoulder tattoo visible.
Bride in white gown and groom in blue suit walk hand-in-hand on a gravel path surrounded by lush green trees.
Bride and groom sharing a kiss on a gravel path surrounded by lush green trees, bride holding vibrant orange bouquet.
Bride and groom embrace on a gravel path surrounded by lush greenery, bride holding sunflower bouquet in white gown.
Bride and groom share a romantic moment outdoors, with sunflower bouquet, lush green trees in background.
Bride and groom sharing a kiss outdoors, holding a vibrant sunflower bouquet, bride in white dress with tattoos, groom in navy suit.
Bald man in a blue suit standing on a gravel path surrounded by lush green trees and bamboo.
Bald man in blue suit with tattooed hands smiling outdoors among green trees on a sunny day.
Two men in suits chat outdoors at a wedding ceremony with white chairs and lush green trees.
Lily pads and white water lilies floating on a calm pond with green and yellow leaves covering the water surface.

Planning an intimate microwedding in Westchester or the Hudson Valley?


If you're picturing a microwedding of your own, intimate, personal, and built around exactly the people you want there, I'd love to help you photograph it.


I work with couples across Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and NYC, and smaller weddings like this one are some of my favorite days to photograph, since there's more room to actually document real moments instead of managing a big production. Reach out and tell me about the two of you and what you are envisioning, and I will be in touch within 24 hours!