Esther and Dave met on an elevator on their first day of college at New York University. A decade later -- after being friends for five years and dating for five more -- Dave popped the question. The couple quickly fell in love with the pastoral charm of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in the Hudson Valley of New York, where they held an intimate wedding featuring fresh local fare and rustic details.

The setting sun cast a golden glow on Dave, in J.Crew, who posed with Esther, in a Watters gown, near the ceremony site.

The same flourishes used to create the couple's initials were calligraphed on each envelope to elegantly frame the address.

Finn-Dorset sheep happily munched grass in the idyllic fields surrounding Stone Barns Center.

A friend surprised the bride by leaving a gift of monogrammed cotton handkerchiefs in her suite at the nearby Ritz-Carlton, Westchester.

Together, the littlest attendants eagerly anticipated their big entrance.

The flower girl, holding hands with her ring-bearer cousin, makes way for the bride with a sprinkling of rose petals. Her charming headpiece was woven by Esther’s aunt.

Esther’s ’maids all carried dahlias, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus leaves.

The farm's rustic shed served as a whimsical backdrop for the couple's portraits.

Esther’s clutch was a romantic bounty of majolica roses, hydrangeas, and dinner-plate dahlias.

All the groomsmen donned the same sharp J.Crew getup as Dave (middle): a heather-gray suit, white shirt, and midnight-blue tie.

Bridesmaids wore dark blue Lela Rose for Dessy dresses.

Guests’ names and table numbers were propped up in stained-oak holders.

Antique lanterns illuminated the walkway to the reception, held in Blue Hill’s intimate private dining room, with pine floors, Venetian plaster walls, and an arched ceiling.

Stained-oak numbers and vases of dahlias and camomile topped tables.

The happy newlyweds sliced into their vanilla-and-lemon sponge cake with blueberry and yogurt-cream filling, Blue Hill’s delicious answer to Esther’s request for “clean flavors, and nothing too sweet.”

“We bought a bunch of goofy props from Ricky’s NYC so that people could get silly,” Esther says of the photo booth that was set up at the reception.

The bride had custom tags affixed to bags of mini chocolate-chip cookies.

Location, Menu, Cake, and Centerpieces: Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Bouquets: Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua

Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas (save-the-dates); Bella Figura (invitations)

Calligraphy: Patricia Mumau of Primele

Photography: Sue Kessler and Glen Allsop of Christian Oth Studios

Bride's Gown: Watters

Veil: Kleinfeld Bridal

Music: John Ragusa Music

Programs: Baumbirdy

Bride's Accessories: headpiece, Christie Lauren; shoes, Badgley Mischka; earrings, Lovely Bride; pashmina, Classy Wedding

Groom's Shoes: Banana Republic

Hair: Harumi Mikami for Salon Jatel

Makeup: Sally Duvall of Sally Duvall Makeup Artistry