Weddings are an expensive endeavor, and as matrimonial tradition calls for a plethora of accoutrements, its easy to become lost within the traditional "white-wedding" vision. But why cater to a time-honored fantasy when there are wedding venues that will cater to your personal vision?

"With the steady increase in wedding expenses comes an increase in the amount of time that couples put into finding an unusual venue in an effort to make their wedding stand apart from others," says Judy Lewis of HudsonValleyWeddings.com.

The Hudson Valley's river and mountain vistas have inspired numerous locations to harness the surrounding natural beauty, offering up a brilliant seasonal array of ceremonial settings as alternatives to the chapel and reception hall. Whether a barefooted romp down the aisle or an intimate exchange of vows beside a 19th-century fireplace is part of your vision, the below-listed venues will dedicate their staff and space to ensuring an unforgettably unique wedding memory.

The Mohonk Mountain House was renovated by the Smiley brothers in 1869 from a 10-room tavern into its current castlelike structure, and has been entertaining wedding parties ever since. A late-19th-century parlor overlooking the sequestered "lake in the sky" is offered as a possible venue, as are the award-winning Victorian gardens in the warmer months. Five reception packages are offered, including one for parties under 75. Floral and
transportation arrangements are also available. New Paltz.
www.mohonk.com.

The 161 acres of Jacob's Pillow were bought in 1930 by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Inside/Out outdoor stage, with its airy view of the Berkshires as its backdrop, serves as the space for the Festival's summer dance performances, and is offered, along with its top-of-the-line stage lights and sound systems, for weddings in early fall and late spring. A festive bonfire can even be arranged. Becket, MA.
www.jacobspillow.org.

The Buttermilk Falls Inn was built in 1764 on a 70-acre estate on the banks of the Hudson, and is a member of American Historic Inns. In conjunction with Main Course Restaurant & Catering of New Paltz, the Inn offers a full complement of wedding services under a white tent on their lawn. Thirteen rooms are available to destination-weekend wedding guests, and its spa offers an array of relaxing services and treatments, perfect for prewedding stress relief and renewal. Milton. www.buttermilkfallsinn.com.

The Full Moon Mountain Resort is located at the heart of the Catskill Forest Preserve in Oliverea. From buffet to barbeque, intimate to elaborate, Full Moon caters to the bride's and groom's personal visions. The site accommodates parties as small as 20 and as large as 200, its 100 acres offering up a variety of indoor and outdoor locations, including a converted barn. Weekend-long or single-day events can be arranged, eight on-site guest houses providing accommodations for the destination-weekend parties. www.fullmooncentral.com.

Belvedere Mansion was built in 1760 by Major John Pawling, undergoing a neoclassical uplift in the 19th century, and historically served as a retreat for the stars. Belvedere provides an array of intimate spaces within the house where couples can exchange their vows or hold their reception, as well as a gazebo, an English garden, and a terrace. The staff will cater to parties both large and small, affording a carefree and privately elegant experience for newlyweds and their guests. Staatsburg. www.belvederemansion.com.

West Park Wine Cellars is located on a rustic 700-acre homestead high above the Hudson River. The winery itself can hold a party of up to165, while parties of up to 300 are held beneath an oversized canopy-tent. The ultimate alternative to a "wedding factory" affair, West Park offers its services and location up to the bride and groom, completely surrendering to whatever wedding-whim they might have in mind. A testament to its quality, 80 percent of the winery's weddings are by referral.
www.westparkwinery.com.

Troutbeck Inn rests at the foot of the Berkshires in Amenia, the former home of Byron B. Benton, poet-naturalist and friend of John Burroughs, Emerson, and Thoreau. The 43-acre sanctuary-like spread offers an array of locations for receptions and ceremonies, each uniquely European in its charm, perfect for the "poet-naturalist" bride and groom. (Picture towering sycamores by a babbling brook. Zagat-rated cuisine and award-winning hospitality complement the setting. www.troutbeck.com.

Opus 40 offers its traversable bluestone sculpture and surrounding land as a most memorable setting for warm-weather wedding receptions and ceremonies. Although the park is open to the public, the site is closed on the day of the wedding, and designated areas of the House on the Quarry are reserved for the bride and her attendants. Opus 40 is suitable for up to 300 people, and although a surcharge exists for using nonproposed service-providers, the couple may chose their own. Nature-friendly guidelines apply. Saugerties.
www.opus40.org.

Locust Grove is the former home of Samuel F.B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, who bought this Italianate manor and the surrounding 100 acres of romantic landscaped gardens in Poughkeepsie in 1847. A National Historic Landmark, Locust Grove offers an elegant reception room, with a herringbone-patterned oak floor, which can comfortably accommodate 150 guests for dinner and dancing. The adjacent North Gallery and
West Lawn may also be rented for dancing, cocktails,
or hors d' oeuvres.
www.morsehistoricsite.org.

The Onteora Mountain House is the 1930s summer estate of mayonaise mogul Richard Hellman. The Mountain House features five guest rooms and two fireplaces, a cozy atmosphere for an intimate destination-weekend wedding. Two-hundred acres of pine-studded forest offer various sites for the ceremony, while the timber-heavy open-air pavillion, located atop a promontory, offers a panoramic view of the Catskills and a radiant-heated hardwood dance floor that will accomodate
up to 200 dancers.
www.onteora.com.