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A bride and groom share a kiss outside Café Alaia following their elegant micro-wedding, with the bride holding a bouquet and both dressed in wedding attire.

Pippa and Will chose a micro wedding at Cafe Alaia in Scarsdale, New York, and we could not have been more excited to document it. As a married wedding photography and videography team specializing in Hudson Valley and Catskills elopements, we have a real soft spot for small, intentional celebrations. Their day proved that a smaller guest list does not mean a smaller experience. It just means more room for the details that matter most.A bride and groom pose joyfully with their brown and white dog wearing a bow tie on their micro-wedding day, standing on steps outside a building—perhaps just moments before celebrating at Cafe Alaia. A fluffy, brown and white dog with a curly coat walks on a leash beside a person in a navy suit, perhaps en route to a charming cafe alaia micro-wedding. The dog looks happy and alert, with its tongue slightly out. A bride and groom, both smiling and holding hands, walk outside with their large brown and white dog on a leash, enjoying the charm of their cafe alaia micro-wedding. The couple is dressed formally in a white dress and blue suit.

Why a Westchester Micro Wedding on a Weekday Works

Pippa and Will got married on a Wednesday, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions they made. First, a weekday date gave them their pick of vendors without the usual Saturday scramble. Next, it meant Cafe Alaia was fully theirs for the afternoon. As a result, the whole day felt relaxed and unhurried from start to finish.A woman in a white dress holding a bouquet stands and smiles on stone steps outside a building with an arched entrance, posing for photos in bright sunlight after her intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding. A woman in a white wedding dress holds a bouquet of flowers and smiles while standing against a brick wall, capturing the intimate charm of a Cafe Alaia micro-wedding. Three photos show her from different angles. A couple in wedding attire poses in front of a brick wall at Cafe Alaia; in one photo they hold hands and smile at the camera, perfectly capturing the intimate charm of their micro-wedding, while in the other they stand face to face, smiling as the bride holds a bouquet. A couple dressed in wedding attire stands close together, smiling at each other. The bride holds a bouquet of white and peach roses, capturing the intimacy of their micro-wedding. They are in front of a brick wall that hints at the cozy charm of Cafe Alaia.

What Makes an Intimate Wedding Feel So Special

We always tell couples that an intimate wedding has its own kind of magic. With a small gathering of family and close friends, there is space to actually be present. Nobody is rushing between fifteen tables making small talk. Instead, everyone gets real time with the couple they came to celebrate.A bride and groom stand close together, smiling with eyes closed, in front of a brick wall at Cafe Alaia. The bride holds a bouquet of white and peach flowers, capturing the intimate charm of their micro-wedding celebration. A couple in wedding attire stands on stone steps, sharing a kiss under an arched entryway labeled Loyal Lodge. This intimate moment, reminiscent of a charming cafe alaia micro-wedding, features the groom in a blue suit and the bride holding a bouquet and wearing a white dress and veil. A couple dressed formally, holding hands and smiling as they walk outside a building with Eton Lodge on the wall, celebrating their intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding.

Micro Wedding Portraits Around the Neighborhood

Before the ceremony, we started with something extra special. Pippa and Will brought their dog along for portraits in front of a beloved building nearby. Their pup was clearly part of the celebration, not just an afterthought. Meanwhile, the morning light gave the whole scene a soft, easy feel.A smiling couple in wedding attire walks hand-in-hand outside a brick apartment building on a sunny day, looking happy and joyful after their intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding. A smiling bride holding a bouquet stands next to a groom in a blue suit; they look happy and affectionate outdoors with greenery in the background, capturing the intimate charm of their Cafe Alaia micro-wedding.

Westchester Wedding Portraits Near Cafe Alaia

After that, we walked the couple through the surrounding neighborhood for portraits together. This part of the day always feels the most like them. Away from family and friends, couples tend to relax and just be themselves. We caught quiet laughs and easy moments as they explored the streets around the restaurant.A woman in a white dress with pearl details smiles outdoors, embodying the elegance of a cafe alaia micro-wedding; her brown hair is styled in an elegant, twisted updo, shown from the front and side in natural daylight. A man in a blue suit smiles, then kisses a woman in a white dress holding a bouquet. They stand outdoors, happy and dressed for a formal occasion, celebrating their intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding.

The Perks of a Small Wedding Timeline in Upstate NY

This westchester micro wedding gave us the flexibility to move at a natural pace. We were not racing a fifteen-minute portrait window between events. Instead, we had time to really see Pippa and Will as a couple. That kind of pacing is one of the biggest perks of going small.A couple in wedding attire holds hands and smiles while walking past cafe alaia, enjoying their micro-wedding celebration by the outdoor café with wooden chairs and tables, reflected in large windows. A bride and groom stand outside Café Alaia, holding hands and a bouquet, sharing a kiss and smiling at each other in wedding attire, capturing the intimate joy of their Café Alaia micro-wedding.

Family Portraits and the Ceremony at Cafe Alaia

Next, we gathered close family outside Cafe Alaia for portraits before the ceremony began. With such a small group, everyone was relaxed and easy to photograph. There was no wrangling twenty relatives or hunting for missing cousins. Just a few genuine faces, all glad to be there.A joyful couple in wedding attire celebrates on a sunny street, holding hands up after their intimate Cafe Alaia micro-wedding. The bride holds a bouquet, and both are smiling. A crosswalk sign and buildings are visible in the background.

An Intimate Ceremony Inside the Restaurant Space

The ceremony itself took place inside the restaurant space at Cafe Alaia. It was warm, personal, and completely their own. Pippa and Will exchanged vows surrounded only by the people who matter most. Afterward, they signed their marriage license right there in the room.A bride holding flowers walks with an older man in a suit, while a groom in a blue suit smiles and waits in the bright, warmly decorated room at Cafe Alaia, ready to celebrate their intimate micro-wedding. A bride holding a bouquet walks arm-in-arm with a man, then stands facing the groom in a small cafe alaia micro-wedding venue. Guests watch as the couple prepares to exchange vows. A bride and groom stand facing each other, holding hands during their intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding ceremony. The bride wears a white dress and veil; the groom is in a navy suit. Close-up of their hands is shown in the second image.

Why We Love an Intimate Wedding Timeline in Westchester

Once the license was signed, we stepped back and let them enjoy their guests. This is one of our favorite parts of shooting a Hudson Valley mirco wedding. There is no long list of formalities eating into celebration time. The couple gets to actually experience their own wedding day.A couple stands holding hands during their micro-wedding ceremony at Cafe Alaia, an officiant nearby. Guests watch the ceremony, seated at decorated tables and along a window, dressed in formal attire. A couple stands holding hands during a small micro-wedding ceremony at cafe alaia, with guests seated and watching. The room features wooden floors, modern decor, and colorful artwork on the walls.

Two Hours of Micro Wedding Coverage, Perfectly Timed

For this celebration, two hours of coverage was exactly right. First, it captured every meaningful moment of the day. Next, it kept things efficient without ever feeling rushed. As a result, Pippa and Will got a full, thoughtful gallery without a marathon timeline.A bride and groom stand facing each other holding hands during a micro-wedding ceremony indoors at Cafe Alaia, with an officiant between them. Artworks and wine bottles decorate the walls. At a charming cafe alaia micro-wedding, a bride and groom exchange drinks during their intimate ceremony, smiling at each other. They each take turns sipping from glasses, with an officiant standing behind them. A bride and groom exchange vows in a small, art-filled room at Cafe Alaia. The intimate micro-wedding features the bride, in a white dress and veil, reading from a paper while the groom smiles warmly. Nearby, a woman officiates the ceremony with grace. A couple exchanges rings during a wedding ceremony officiated by a woman, in a small room with artwork, wine bottles, and a chandelier visible on the white walls—an intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding. A bride and groom exchanging vows and celebrating indoors at Cafe Alaia, with an officiant standing behind them. They smile, holding hands, in front of a white brick wall with floral paintings and shelves of wine—a perfect setting for their intimate micro-wedding.

Cozy Ceremony Surrounded by Close Loved Ones

A wedding this personal still relies on the right people behind the scenes. Their officiant, Hudson Valley Weddings, led a ceremony that felt warm and true to the couple. Having an officiant who understands intimate weddings makes a real difference. It kept the tone genuine from the first word to the last.A bride and groom celebrate indoors after a wedding tradition at Cafe Alaia. The groom breaks a glass on the floor, then holds hands and kisses the bride as both smile and laugh with joy during their intimate micro-wedding. A smiling couple, dressed in wedding attire, walks hand-in-hand down an aisle in the warmly lit Cafe Alaia during their intimate micro-wedding, while guests applaud and watch.

Why Cafe Alaia Is Ideal for a Restaurant Micro Wedding

A restaurant micro wedding offers something a traditional venue often cannot. First, the space feels lived in and full of character. Next, there is usually a built-in kitchen team ready to make the celebration feel effortless. Cafe Alaia brought exactly that kind of ease to Pippa and Will’s day.A bride in a white dress holds a bouquet of roses and smiles. In the split image, one side shows her facing forward, the other shows her from behind, highlighting her braided hair and veil at an intimate cafe alaia micro-wedding.

Planning Your Intimate Restaurant Wedding in Westchester

Cafe Alaia sits in the heart of Scarsdale, New York, with a cozy and inviting feel. The space blends warm lighting with an intimate layout that suits small gatherings perfectly. It is the kind of restaurant that feels special without feeling stiff. For a small wedding, that balance matters more than people expect.A bride and groom in wedding attire enter the bright Cafe Alaia, exchanging smiles and a kiss by large windows as they celebrate their micro-wedding, holding a bouquet of flowers.

Book Your Micro-Wedding Photographers in the Hudson Valley

If a big production is not your style, a micro wedding at Cafe Alaia or a similar spot might be worth exploring. Weekday dates open up even more flexibility with vendors and locations. Ask us about weekday micro wedding options if you are curious. We would love to help you plan a day that feels just as personal as Pippa and Will’s.

Cozy Weekday Cafe Alaia Micro-Wedding in Scarsdale, NY

Either way works for us! We’ll be in touch in no time at all to book in a chat with you and, yes, we’re sure Cordy and Phoebe will pop up and say hi.

You can fill in the handy little form or, if email is more your thing, drop us a line at hello@meganandkenneth.com

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$1200-2400

Elopements

$5400-8500

Weddings

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$600-900

Engagements

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TYPICAL PRICE RANGE