photography

NEW YORK + DESTINATION
est. 2008

The Ausable Club is a hidden gem in the Adirondacks. This historic mountain escape hosts beautiful wedding weekends. Rebecca + Eddie’s was one of them. In autumn the mountains come alive with color.

The Ausable Club is one of the best Adirondack venues to host a Wedding Weekend.

See our other favorite Adirondack Wedding Venues.

This private club sits on the Adirondack Forest Preserve, maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club. The Ausable Club has a rich history and focus on environmental conservation. It is committed to preserving the area’s pristine wilderness.

From the club guests can enjoy views of the High Peaks region in every direction. Clubhouse rooms and near-by cottages hosted guests for a weekend retreat. Onsite activities include boating, golf, tennis and hiking. The large porch and multiple balconies offer sweeping mountain views. Here you are tucked into the high peaks.

Choosing a wedding venue that holds personal significance.

From the bride : “We chose our venue, the Ausable Club, because the High Peaks region and Keene Valley have always been an important place for us. It is where I spent every summer of my youth. It is also a place Ed grew to love throughout our college years and during our courtship.

Our top priority for our wedding weekend was creating a weekend that was laid back and fun above all else. When choosing a wedding photographer, we had similar aims in mind. We looked for someone who was familiar with the area and its natural beauty. Also we wanted photographs of authentic, memorable moments that would remind us of the fun and meaning of this weekend for decades to come.”

Meet Mary Dougherty, Adirondack based and destination wedding photographer.

Since Rebecca and Eddie live in California, we meet the Thursday before their Saturday wedding. I came from nearby Saranac Lake to meet the couple and hike Indian Head. Starting from the Club makes the hike significantly shorter. Otherwise you must park outside of the gate and walk a few miles to work your way in to the trail.

This engagement shoot gave us the opportunity to capture images in a breathtaking location. Additionally, it gave Rebecca and Eddie a chance to feel at ease. I always recommend a pre-wedding session since it makes the wedding experience that much better. Most people need the opportunity to confront how they feel with a camera around and build trust with their photographer.

Early October is typically peak foliage for the Adirondacks, perfect for an Ausable Club Wedding Weekend.

The fall foliage was on full display, encircling the venue in breathtaking color. On the morning of their wedding, a group hiked to Indian Head. Some enjoyed paddling around the Lower Lake before returning to the clubhouse for lunch and a round of golf. The wedding party got ready in side-by-side cabins later that afternoon. Privately, Rebecca and Eddie met for a first look. Down at the boathouse, on the water, they had a few moments to themselves and another gorgeous view.

Giant Mountain, towering over Keene Valley, provided the majestic backdrop for the wedding ceremony on the golf course. Trillium Florist created the arrangements that defined the space and added more color to the beautiful day. The ceremony was officiated by Ed’s uncle, and several friends and family performed readings.

The clouds cleared as the day unfolded. Rebecca + Eddie joined guests for cocktail hour on the expansive lawn in front of the clubhouse. Everyone enjoyed folk music by Mixtape Cover Band, a friend of the couple, with a stocked beer canoe and lawn bowling nearby.

A romantic and old world atmosphere invited guests inside for the reception. After dinner and a tear-jerker of a toast by the mother of the bride, Rebecca and Edward made their way onto the dance floor. Their first dance to Regina Spektor’s “Us” was followed by hours of kicking up their heels. In fact, they were having so much fun they never got around to officially cutting their cake! The night ended with midnight snacks–sliders and grilled cheese–by the fire in one of the club’s cabins.