Jessica Kiniery Rose, a special events planner at Vogue, and banker Steven Rose met during her first week of college, when they both played on the men’s and women’s soccer team. “He was two years older than me and in my eyes, very far out of reach,” she says. While they spent time in the same social circles in college for years, it wasn’t until years after they had graduated that Steve finally asked Jessica out. “Out of the blue, he sent me a comprehensive list of things we had in common and ten reasons why I should go on a date with him,” she says. “Needless to say, I took him up on his offer and since that night we’ve been inseparable.”
Four years later, during an unseasonably warm April day in New York, the couple had just had lunch outside and decided to walk over to the west side of the city to watch the sunset. “On our stroll over, I kept saying ‘This is my favorite day,’” Jessica explains. “Steve turned towards me and said ‘I’d hope so,’ and then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so surprised that the first words out of my mouth were: ‘Are you sure?’” After he confirmed his intentions, the two jumped in a cab and headed to a restaurant by the water where both of their families were waiting to celebrate.
Like a lot of brides these days, Jessica found her venue while scrolling through her Instagram feed. The Handsome Hollow farmhouse and barn in the Catskills was just what she was looking for: a polished yet rustic location and close enough for their friends and family in New York. The couple immediately put a hold on it before even seeing the venue in person. “I never really considered or even saw another one,” she says. “We took the drive up on a Saturday morning and as soon as we arrived at the property we were reassured, it was magical and we never looked back.” Since she had ample experience organizing events, Jessica also took the planning matters into her own hands.
When searching for her wedding dress, the bride had tried on a handful of options and even bought one before she finally found the Alexandra Greco slip dress and cape she would ultimately wear. “I loved Alexandra’s designs and this look just felt right. It had clean lines and a timeless shape, yet the celestial/stardust cape added a bit of edge and interest,” she explains. “I was alone when I decided on it. I think I just needed a moment to myself in that type of situation.” She finished off her look with metallic platform sandals during the ceremony, vintage Manolo Blahnik pumps for the reception, and a retro pair of silk gloves adorned with a bow for the cake cutting. As for her jewelry, a pair of celestial-inspired earrings complemented the embroidered stars and moons on her cape. The groom, meanwhile, wore a black Ted Baker London black tuxedo paired with suspenders and a bow tie from SuitSupply.
On June 2, the couple’s ceremony took place in the stone ruins of Handsome Hollow’s original barn. “The way it was set up made it almost seem like a mini Roman amphitheater,” Jessica says. The non-denominational ceremony was officiated by an uncle of the bride. “He is full of life, smart, and so fun; we both just felt he would do an amazing job with our ceremony,” she says, and Steve and Jessica later read their own vows.”I am a pretty soft spoken person, and in that moment I felt confident, loved, and surrounded by support,” she adds.
The reception that followed took place in Handsome Hollow’s barn, which was transformed with flowers from the bride’s own floral company, Stemme Fatale, which she founded with a friend a few years ago. “It was a dream to be able to make my own bouquet,” she explains. “It all felt very personal.” Inside, guests enjoyed a meal catered by Hudson Valley BBQ that included fire roasted heirloom chickens, cedar plank salmon, and steak.
For music, the couple hired DJ Jay McElfresh, who played several of their favorite songs including tunes from Florence and The Machine, Cardi B, and the Grateful Dead. When it came time for their first dance, though, the newlyweds stuck with the classics and chose Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” as their first song. Later for dessert, the couple cut a fresh lemon and buttercream cake decorated with lilacs that a friend brought in from the bride’s hometown, and guests were invited to roast s’mores by the outdoor fire pit or enjoy the Belgian waffle bar inside.
“After the reception, we sat at the fire pit with Steve’s parents. It was a really special moment of decompression with them,” Jessica says. “When they left, the two of us stayed the night at the farmhouse, had a glass of champagne, and shed a few sappy tears about how lucky we were.” The perfect way to end the evening.
