Keeler Tavern Museum, Ridgefield, Ct. I love the Hudson Valley. I am quite satisfied living here and photographing here. However, if there is one place I will jump to shoot a non-Hudson Valley Wedding it would be the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield, CT. Granted it is not that far from me - only about an hour from my home. I photographed a wedding at the Keeler Museum back in May 2014. It was actually one of my first weddings. Now that I am a more seasoned wedding photographer, looking back at this wedding location, I have come to appreciate the location even more.
The Keeler Tavern Museum was originally built as a private residence in 1713. Shortly after it became an inn with a tavern, then later again a private residence. In 1965, it was purchased by a local preservation society and opened as a museum. The Garden House is used as the reception hall for weddings and events. The lovely, light-filled, quaint space can accommodate up to 100 guests and retains many of it original charms. A lovely garden out back is easily accessed through multiple French doors.
The Keeler Garden is lined by brick walls, seasonal plantings, a reflection pool, and a fountain. Not only is it a spectacular place to host a wedding ceremony but also an amazing location to photograph a wedding couple - the garden's many lovely nooks and crannies provide an amazing backdrop.
The Keeler Tavern Museum is a magical place to host a wedding
I actually had the opportunity to photograph the bride and groom's, Katherine and Justin, marriage twice! Their first marriage was a month before at the Manhattan Wedding Bureau. I have always enjoyed photographing at the marriage bureau and shall blog sometime about my award-winning long-term photo project about couples getting hitched there. Photographing Katherine and Justin on two separate occasions was a double treat as they were both extremely sweet, genuine, and clearly head over heels in love.
Katherine's dress was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen firsthand. So simple. She just slipped it on in an instant. The blush pink color detail on the bottom was dreamy. Katherine and Justin also had my favorite wedding flowers. The color combination and selection were lovely and fit well with the overall wedding. Ironically, the flowers were not done by a florist but by Katherine's aunt! No doubt Katherine and Justin are still going strong, now almost three years later. Happy (almost) anniversary, Katherine and Justin!
