When Their Fall Wedding Was Rained Out, This Couple Found Unexpected Joy in a Quick Pivot

After driving cross-country from Utah to New York City in October 2020, Brandon Beck planned to spend a few days on the East Coast before turning around. But then a mutual friend introduced him to Catie Cole, and his schedule shifted: “He ended up sticking around for a bit,” says the couple. Two years later, Catie and Brandon decided to stick around with each other forever when he proposed and she accepted.

For their 215-guest wedding, the couple wanted a venue that could accommodate all of their friends and family, was easy for their New York guests to access, and offered a nod to the pastoral landscapes of Utah. “We wanted a place where we could truly immerse ourselves with our loved ones for the entire weekend,” says Catie. The couple chose luxury resort Inness in Accord, New York. “Taking over the cabins and farmhouse there allowed us to spend maximum time with our favorite people and gave our guests the chance to get to know each other better,” says Catie. “The Hudson Valley in autumn also provided the perfect backdrop for our wedding, with its stunning foliage and rolling hills.”

Catie, director of business development at Concieve, and Brandon, a partner at Tapestry Capital, knew what type of wedding they wanted. “Our vision was to create the most fun and memorable weekend, capturing and highlighting Inness’s natural ethereal beauty,” says Catie. “We aimed for a communal atmosphere that allowed our guests to relax, enjoy, and create lasting memories with us.” They invited their immediate family members to play key roles—their siblings were bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the officiant; family members wrote and performed the couple’s favorite songs during the ceremony; and Catie’s father, designer Kenneth Cole, provided bespoke menswear and shoes. “We personalized our wedding by including all our family members in various capacities throughout the day,” says Catie.

Cassandra Bette Events kept the couple on track for their October 7, 2023, wedding. “The planning process was intense! There were endless tasks to complete at every step, many of which I had not even thought of or anticipated,” says Catie. “It was a whirlwind of decisions, coordination, and details, but seeing our vision come to life made it all worthwhile. Having an all-star, supportive team, including our planner Cassandra, my mom, and my fiancé, definitely helped too!”

But even the most meticulous brides and planners can’t guarantee good weather, and a day-long rainstorm forced the couple to move their ceremony indoors just hours before they exchanged vows. “While I definitely felt some sadness about not being able to fulfill what we had meticulously planned, it ultimately did not matter,” says Catie. “I was marrying the man of my dreams, and that was all I cared about in the moment. Plus, it was still beautiful, and the guests likely didn’t know it was supposed to be any different than it was!”

With a full dance floor, an all-night after party, and a guest list filled with their nearest and dearest, Catie and Brandon’s wedding turned out just how they envisioned. “Rather than being tied to what others have done or tradition, focus on what would make the day most fun and enjoyable for you both,” they say. “Start with, ‘What would be the most ‘us’?’ and work backwards from there, instead of feeling like you need to do certain things just because others have.”

Catie and Brandon had no second thoughts about booking Inness, which offered guest accommodations, tennis, swimming, and pickleball. “Choosing a venue was the easiest part,” says Catie. “We wanted a place that blended Brandon’s world of Utah mountains with the proximity to New York City, and a place that could really bring our community together for the weekend!"

The couple’s “ethereal and autumnal” aesthetic came to life in their invitation suites, where a weathered sage envelope, custom earth-toned illustrations, and dried flowers created a lush and textural end-of-summer mood. Welcome bags filled with chocolate, almonds, graham crackers, cocktails, and a travel book also showed off the couple’s custom logo on totes, canned water, caps, and matches.

The weekend began with a welcome dinner for all of the couple’s guests at Inness. In line with the “cookout casual” dress code, Catie wore a frayed-silk column dress from Danielle Frankel, while Brandon donned a beige corduroy blazer from Theory. 

“Seeing all of the people from all over the world that we love in one place at one time made us speechless and happier than we knew was possible,” says the couple. “The High and Mighty Brass Band was absolutely incredible on Friday night, facilitating an unbelievable dance party, which was our ideal way to kick off the weekend. We also had a few close friends make speeches that were both hilarious and heartwarming, making us feel so loved and grateful. It was the best start to a magical weekend."

Brandon dressed for the ceremony in a three-piece navy suit—custom by Kenneth Cole—with brown Kenneth Cole dress shoes and a navy bow tie.

Catie tried almost too many gowns before choosing her A-line Vera Wang: “The more options I had, the harder it became!” she says. “However, it turned out to be a fun time to bond with my mom and sisters, as well as to include other family members and friends in the wedding process. It was a special experience to share with my loved ones, making the journey to finding the perfect dress even more memorable.”

The winning gown, made of Italian and French tulle, included a “hand-draped spiral design on the bodice” and an asymmetrical neckline. “It wasn’t necessarily what I was originally looking for, but it had just been released and felt so different, unique, and ethereal, which made me realize it was the perfect dress for me!” she says.

Final touches on her wedding-day look included custom Kenneth Cole heels, a Vera Wang veil, and the heirloom pearl earrings that Catie’s grandmother wore on her own wedding day. She chose a “natural, elevated” hair and beauty look, with loose waves and subtle makeup. “I wanted to still feel like myself by wearing my hair down while also incorporating the casual, ethereal vibes of our wedding and Inness,” she says. “It was important to me to maintain a natural look that blended seamlessly with the serene and beautiful surroundings.”

Catie and Brandon shared a one-on-one first look before their ceremony. “It was the first time we had seen one another after a hectic and exciting day and was a special moment to reset and breathe together, processing what was happening and sharing a quiet, intimate moment before the ceremony,” they say. “It also allowed us to experience the raw emotions of seeing each other for the first time privately, making the moment down the aisle less overwhelming.”

Catie asked her two sisters to be co-maids of honor, while Brandon’s co-best men were his two brothers. “Emily and Amanda wore brown gowns they each chose, which complemented the organic wedding theme beautifully. Jeff and Ryan looked sharp in matching Kenneth Cole navy suits,” says Catie.

The couple also invited their youngest family members to join their wedding party, with two of their nephews stepping up as ring bearers and four of their nieces walking down the aisle as flower girls—alongside Catie and Brandon’s dog. “I loved choosing [the girls’] outfits—adorable dresses in neutrals and whites, along with cute flower crowns,” says Catie.

Though the couple had planned an outdoor event with the property’s sweeping landscape in the background, the weather had other ideas. “It poured all day long on Saturday,” says Catie. “The beautiful outdoor ceremony we had been envisioning for the past year quickly became a non-option, and even the tent we set up over the ceremony circle was unusable due to flooding.” With just hours before the wedding, the couple’s team pivoted to hold their ceremony and reception inside. Arrangements of dried and fresh flowers in a palette of beige, white, and muted green and pink marked the entrance to the ceremony, while wildflowers lined the aisle leading to an altar defined by a floral arch.

The bride and groom each walked down the aisle with their parents as family members provided the music. “My sister, Amanda Cole, and Brandon’s brother, Ryan Beck, are talented musicians and worked hard to create their own version of ‘You Are The Best Thing,’ which they performed,” says Catie. “Two of our nephews, Jackson Beck and Boston Beck, played the violin and cello.” 

Brandon’s oldest brother, Jeff, officiated the couple’s ceremony—and was the only person to see the their custom-written vows in advance. “We wrote our own vows that represented our unique styles—mine were a bit more emotional, while Brandon’s were more humorous,” says Catie. “We both reflected on our initial impressions of one another and how they’ve evolved over time, weaving in humorous anecdotes and sincere commitments. Exchanging our vows during the ceremony was a highlight for both of us, as it reminded us of the journey it took to get where we were in that moment and how deeply we care for one another.”

After the ceremony, a break in the rain allowed the newlyweds to take advantage of the venue’s scenic overlook for a few sunlit photos.

Torn-edge paper escort cards and dainty dried flowers helped guests find their seats under an array of woven lanterns. “Our reception décor featured tea lights with tall candelabras in the center, creating a warm and intimate ambience,” says Catie. “We had varied, dynamically shaped floral bouquet centerpieces that added an artistic touch to the tables, as well artisanal breadsticks in wooden containers, adding a rustic, charming, and edible element!”

Musicians from the Dane Wright Band performed “Beyond” by Leon Bridges for the couple’s first dance, a song that Catie and Brandon listened to from the earliest days of their relationship. “They are such talented musicians and were easy to work with,” says the couple. “We communicated our music preferences with them leading up to the wedding to ensure everything was perfect. They were amazing at keeping the energy going throughout the reception and on the dance floor!”

A seasonal menu provided by the venue’s chefs began with burrata and delicata squash, followed by a family-style meal of trout with heirloom beans and salsa verde; braised short ribs with polenta and root vegetables; roasted carrots; and cacio e pepe pasta.

The bride’s and groom’s parents gave speeches during the reception, and Catie and her father danced to Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are.” Of their intentions for the party, says Catie, “Our focus was on creating a joyful and lively atmosphere that reflected our love for fun and celebration!”

For the later part of the reception and the after-party, Catie changed into a Danielle Frankel mini-dress. Together, Catie and Brandon cut a four-tier ivory Funfetti cake decorated with pressed seasonal flowers.

Sharing the dance floor with their guests left Catie and Brandon with some of their favorite memories of the day. “Brandon, who is truly the life of any party, especially this one, spent much of the night being lifted by our enthusiastic guests. At one point, I joined him, and we were both hoisted into the air, surrounded by our friends and family, all cheering and dancing around us,” says Catie. “The joy and energy were palpable, and it was a surreal and exhilarating experience—perfectly capturing the lively and joyous spirit of our wedding.”

The evening ended with an after-party and a late-night dip. “The after-party was particularly incredible because all the stress and programming were behind us at that point, and we could really just enjoy dancing with our best friends,” says Catie. “We ended the night in the pool at the Farmhouse at Inness with a small group of family and close friends, enjoying one another’s company and reflecting on the night.”