Estate Wedding Upstate. Lora-Ashley & Eamonn. 8.20.22

The Marriage of Lora-Ashley & Eamonn
August 20, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

This extended weekend estate wedding in upstate New York was a true family affair!

Lora-Ashley and Eamonn arrived at The Maples Estate on Thursday, dropped off a couple family golf carts and headed off for a full day of fun at the lake with their bridal parties! Back at the house that evening they enjoyed a simple dinner with friends and family and prepped for another full day on Friday. First thing in the morning Eamonn’s crew headed off for a day of golf and Lora’s crew made their way to a petting zoo for goat yoga followed by a rehearsal ceremony and dinner that evening.

This couple embraced the weekend with activities every day and got to spend so much quality time with their family and friends before their wedding day even began on Saturday.

An extended engagement

Lora and Eamonn booked The Maples Estate back in 2019 and knew they wanted an extended engagement with their wedding planned for summer 2022. Little did we know that COVID-19 was just around the corner and their timing could not have been better. Having two young children at the time of their engagement, they wanted to ensure their children would be old enough to enjoy their wedding and I’m so glad they waited as their adorable kids were involved in every bit of their day! From glamming together in the get ready room, to walking down the aisle and dancing into the evening they had the time of their lives and I’m sure they will remember their parent’s special day as they grow older.

Keep in mind, an extended engagement can also allow you additional time to plan or save for your dream wedding!

Getting Ready!

The get ready room was the place to be with all the bridal party glamming together. From friends and family to adorable children and multiple first looks, Lora-Ashley and Eamonn enjoyed the morning of their wedding surrounded by their loved ones.

Time to Celebrate!

As the day progressed they enjoyed time in the pool, relaxed in the hammock, got ready for the evenings events and took photos throughout the estate! An estate wedding at The Maples Estate means so much time to celebrate!!

First Look

This first look in our meadow was so beautiful and captured from all angles! They even enjoyed photos in the estate farmhouse following their first look before guests arrived for their ceremony.

The Ceremony

A ceremony under the trees is one of our favorites and this 180 person guest list enjoyed views of the hills while Lora-Ashley and Eamonn said their vows. With two friends and their officiants, they had a very personal ceremony that spoke to both of them as individuals.

Keep scrolling to check out their wedding video and hear their vows!

The Reception

The reception would not have been complete without this mother son dance with rival team jerseys! Such a fun, charismatic and loving group that danced the night away under the stars!

Photos by Sam Sullivan Photography

Lora-Ashley & Eamonn’s incredible vendor team!
Venue: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photos: Sam Sullivan Photographer | IG: @samsullivanphotography
Planning Coordinator: SBM Event Co. | IG: @sbmeventco
Rentals: Total Events | IG: @totalevents
Hair & Makeup: JL Beauty Inc | IG: @jlbeautyinc
Florals: Heirloom 77 Floral | IG: @heirloom77.floral
DJ: Say I Tru | IG: @say_i_tru
Photo booth: The Modern Photobooth Company | IG: @themodernphotoboothcompany
Hotel: The Landing Hotel | IG: @thelandinghotelny
Catering / Bar: Old Daley on Crooked Lake | IG: @olddaleyoncrookedlake
Transportation: Premier Transportation | IG: @premiertransportation

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Learn more about The Maples Estate, view our weekend wedding packages and find more wedding inspiration right here!

Planning a Destination Wedding. Jenna & Jay. 8.27.22

The Marriage of Jenna & Jay
August 27, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

Wondering how to plan a destination wedding?

With so many of our couples living throughout the northeast, across the country and even across the world, it’s important that you feel supported in your wedding planning. Follow along with Jenna and Jay as they share their own experience planning their destination wedding at The Maples Estate from their home in Staten Island.

“After getting engaged at the top of Mt. Royal Park in Montreal, my fiance and I drove back down to Staten Island, stopping in the capital region for lunch. We were surrounded by mountains, stunning evergreens, and fresh crisp air. The area spoke to us and we knew we wanted to have our wedding in a place where we could admire the Catskills and breathe deeply. 

It didn’t take us long to find The Maples Estate through a quick google search. We scheduled a meeting with Katie and toured the Estate on a frigid January day. The mountains in the distance watched sleepily over us as we admired the beautiful interior of the farmhouse and walked through the grounds, imagining the most special time in our lives. Katie was welcoming and immediately put us at ease, answering every question we had. On our drive home we spoke excitedly as we knew we found our wedding venue!”

Selecting Your Venue

So, what can we learn from Jenna and Jay’s experience selecting their venue?

First off, you may love your lifestyle at home, but maybe you want to getaway, relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of a destination for your wedding experience. When it comes to your venue selection, whether touring in person or virtually, it’s important to feel a comfort in the environment and be able to visualize yourselves at the venue. You also want to feel supported by your venue team, so that connection with the owner or venue manger on a personal level is so important. You want to walk into wedding planning at ease and have a good vision for your wedding day.

Here at The Maples Estate we want you to feel seen, supported, and have a clear direction for those next steps.

Planning Support

Planning a destination wedding can be tough, but with our support you are in good hands!

Once you lock in your date, we provide access to a private client portal where you can follow along with your personalized digital wedding planning checklist. This checklist spells out all the tasks you will need to complete along the way, and can be edited to suit your specific wedding tasks. For ease of use, it is categorized by date so you know what the next steps will be at all times. We also send you a large list of talented vendors to start your search off right. Many of our couples utilize our wedding coaching services to help solidify a vision for your wedding, build a budget, and get you started in your vendor search. We are that engine to get you going, a calming voice of reason, call on us to ease your mind and keep you on track with your planning.

“Living 3 hours from The Maples Estate meant that the next time we would be on location would be our wedding weekend. Our trust in Katie and her recommendations were vital as we organized things from afar. We decided to add in the ‘wedding coaching package’ and it was easily the smartest money we spent throughout the entire planning process. Her suggestions, industry knowledge, and vendor relationships were undeniably helpful. Working with our own vision and Katie’s expertise, we compiled a great vendor team entirely remote.”

For those of you looking for a hands off approach to planning your wedding, we also offer full wedding planning and design packages!

It’s all in the details

So, now that you have selected your venue and started your planning, what items do you DIY vs hiring out for your destination wedding?

There are so many little details that go into a wedding design, from signage to table decor, florals, attire, furniture and stationary. While you might be able to create some of these items yourself, you also have to think about the level of energy and time you have, the space they will take up in transport, and what you will do with everything following your wedding. Sometimes it’s more time, cost and space effective to have a professional provide these items for you.

“Having a steady schedule of calls with our vendors calmed anxieties and helped get details in order. By the time we packed our car to head up to The Maples Estate, we knew exactly what supplies we needed to bring and what our vendors were supplying. I added my own flair (I’m an art teacher) and created the centerpieces, seating chart, and welcome signs.”

If there is something that feels personal to you, you want to invest time into and know will make a big personal impact for your wedding, go ahead and create or source those items yourself.

Organization & transportation

For those items you are bringing yourself, how do stay organized and get everything to the venue?

“I was able to separate supplies by each event using three 25-gallon storage bins. I added a content list to each bin; I was able to check off exactly what I had packed and Katie’s team could easily locate the supplies during the weekend. In addition to our luggage, wedding dress and suit, we were fortunate to have a dear friend and groomsman with a pick-up truck who could help us drive everything else up. Remember - what you bring with you you’ll have to bring home!”

It’s amazing when you have a truck available to you or can rent a van or U-haul to help with transport. We have had couples arrive by air with only the belongings in their bags, some that have shipped supplies to us the week prior to their wedding, others that rented a U-haul or van and even a couple that drove from LA to NY and back, so they could have their furry friends join them for their wedding. Remember to keep transportation and packing in mind when you are thinking through those items you will DIY or bring with you vs hiring or renting from a vendor.

Trust and communication is key!

With coordination services included in your package we will wrap up all those last minute details, create a detailed itinerary for your weekend, communicate with all your vendors and run your wedding day for you. You can trust us to pull off your epic wedding weekend where all you have to do is relax, celebrate and enjoy your guests company!

“Steady communication with Katie, an amazing vendor team who knew exactly what we wanted, and plenty of checklists provided a solid base for our incredible wedding weekend. I distinctly remember feeling cool as a cucumber on the biggest day of my life all because I knew we were in incredible hands at The Maples Estate!”

Photos by Cheyenne Lee Photo

Jenna & Jay’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Wedding Coaching / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography: Cheyenne Lee Photo | IG: @cheyennelee_photo
Videography: Jessy Figgs Wedding Films | IG: @jessyfiggsweddingfilms
Catering: Mazzone Hospitality | IG: @mazzonehospitality
Hair & Makeup: New Moon Beauty Studio | IG: @newmoonbeautystudio
Florist: Jolene K Floral Design | IG: @jolenekfloraldesign
DJ:  DJ Romantics | IG: @djromantics
Ceramics / Bride: Palermo Ceramics | IG: @palermoceramics
Rentals: Total Events | IG: @totalevents
Welcome Event Catering: Bull & Basil | IG: @bullandbasil
Farewell Brunch Catering: Rooster on the Run | IG: @roosterontherun_
Transportation: First Atlantic
Invitations: The Nesting Project
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries

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Learn more about The Maples Estate, view our weekend wedding packages and find more wedding inspiration right here!

Micro Wedding at The Maples Estate. Michelle & Cesar. 10.1.22

The Marriage of Michelle & Cesar

October 1, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

Both wedding photographers in New York City, Michelle & Cesar took full advantage of their micro wedding in upstate New York!

After touring our Upstate New York Wedding Venue virtually, they booked almost immediately and could not wait to see the estate in person when they arrived for their micro wedding weekend! A fall wedding was a dream of theirs and these two photographers enjoyed every moment, taking shots throughout their wedding day. Working in the industry, they had a very clear vision for their micro wedding upstate from their flowers to table decor, ceremony setting and even their attire. They had every detail locked in and even had their dream vendor list that they had been collecting throughout the years.

Arriving at their micro wedding home base!

At The Maples Estate, couples spend an extended weekend with us to truly get the most out of their wedding celebrations! Couples may choose to arrive on either Thursday or Friday and can host multiple events onsite throughout the weekend. With a smaller guest list, Michelle and Cesar decided to arrive on Friday and settled right into their lodging with a group of their loved ones! They enjoyed a simple dinner that evening and wrapped up some DIY details with the help of some friends before their wedding day arrived.

With an eye for detail, they had been dreaming of florals by Everwild Blooms and even arranged a U-Haul truck to deliver their florals all the way from NYC!

Getting Ready at The Maples Estate!

On their wedding day, they enjoyed getting ready in the morning with their friends and family in our 1855 colonial farmhouse! They relaxed, enjoyed the company of their friends and family and glammed for the evenings events while we pulled everything together for their micro wedding!

“The Maples Estate was absolutely our dream venue. From our first video call, we knew we had found our place. The fields with the mountain views, the wildflowers, the gorgeous house. All of it was perfection. When our wedding weekend finally came and we saw it in person, it surpassed even our greatest expectations.

Katie checked in with us at different points throughout our wedding planning process, and was always super thorough with coordination and details. As wedding photographers ourselves, we’ve worked with many planners, but Katie really blew us away! Speaking of photography, this place is seriously a photographers dream (SO many different gorgeous spots).

First Look & Private Vows

They opted for a first look at the farmhouse with views into the field followed by a walk around the pond where they said their vows to each other privately before their ceremony began. Such a special way to calm nerves and feel connected before walking down the aisle in a more public display. As photographers themselves - Wandermore Photography - they took full advantage of the views for a walk around the estate with their photographer capturing incredible images in the fields, on the dirt path, around the pond and more!

Katie and Louis were always available throughout our full weekend, often handling things that we didn’t even realize (major shoutout for tucking away our card box when we were partied out at the end of the night haha). It was so important for us to work with someone who truly cared about our day, and that’s absolutely what we found.

If you want your wedding to feel like a home away from home, but also the best weekend of your life? Have your wedding at The Maples Estate. Seriously. I think we’re going to have to stay again for a weekend some day in the future :)”

They frolicked through the fields and took incredible photos overlooking the Schoharie valley!

As photographers, they couldn’t resist bringing their own cameras along to capture the moment!

Micro Wedding Ceremony overlooking the hills!

And when the time was right, they joined their guests in front of the field to say their vows!

With many of Cesar’s family speaking Spanish, their officiant spoke in both english and Spanish and also incorporated aspects of Michelle’s Jewish Orthodox upbringing into their ceremony.

With florals in a round, they were surrounded by nature in an intimate setting overlooking the hills and fields.

With a micro guest list they gathered with family and friends after the ceremony to share their love!

The Micro, But Oh So Grand Party!!

Even though they had a micro guest list, they wanted their wedding to feel as grand as any other and opted for a beautiful sailcloth tent with wooden tables and colorful florals!

They focused on every detail with black and gold accents, colorful florals, impeccable signage, table runners and our french bistro chairs.

They danced the night away, laughing and taking photos all evening and enjoyed a brunch the morning after!

Michelle and Cesar wanted some time to themselves and opted to spend their last night in the farmhouse just the two of them! What a special way to start their marriage together!

Photos by Rachel Rogers Weddings

Michelle & Cesar’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography: Rachel Rogers Weddings | IG: @rachelrodgersweddings
Catering: Hand Crafted Creative | IG: @handcraftedcreative
Dessert: Bites of Indulgence | IG: @bitesofindulgence
Makeup: Arielle The MUA | IG: @ariellethemua
Rentals: Tremont Rentals | IG: @Tremontrental
Florist: Everwild Blooms | IG: @everwild_blooms
DJ: Paris Creative | IG: @paris.creative
Transportation: Wade Tours | IG: @wadetours
Officiant: Once Upon a Vow | IG: @onceuponavow
Photo Booth: Bliss Booth NYC | IG: @BLISSBOOTHNYC
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries

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Learn more about The Maples Estate, view our weekend wedding packages and find more wedding inspiration right here!

Micro Wedding Upstate NY. Rinata & Aaron. 9.24.22

The Marriage of Rinata & Aaron
September 24, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

The Maples Estate was the perfect intimate venue for Rinata & Aaron’s micro wedding in upstate NY!

Both doctors in Philadelphia, they wanted an intimate, relaxing getaway that was central to their family across the east coast, and allowed them all the comforts of home. With incredible views and a large kitchen - that’s all Rinata and Aaron needed to ensure their small guest list felt comfortable all weekend long. This couple knew exactly what they needed and booked sight unseen after just a quick phone call. Since they had not yet seen the venue in person, the second they stepped foot onsite and started to explore the estate, they where in awe of the surrounding beauty and settled right in to their wedding weekend in upstate New York.

Keeping things intimate, they hired just one vendor to support them on their wedding day - a photographer! We are so glad they did because their wedding celebration was so beautiful!! From Rinata’s dress, to the hand prepared details, tiny guest list and absolutely gorgeous fall day, their wedding was personalized in the best possible ways!

Getting Ready At The Farmhouse

Rinata and Aaron got ready in our 1855 colonial farmhouse and enjoyed a ‘first look’ just outside the get ready room! They took full advantage of the estate with photos across the property before their guests arrived and with such an intimate setting they were able to scratch tradition to celebrate with their guests in the farmhouse before the official celebrations even began.

Welcome Drinks!

Rinata’s parents were excited to prepare a traditional meal for their small guest list and spent much of the weekend prepping in the farmhouse kitchen. On the wedding day they greeted guests with a cocktail hour spread across the bar and grand veranda and welcomed them into the farmhouse as if it was their own home - offering delicious treats to every guest before the ceremony began!

Micro Ceremony At The Pond

Their ceremony took place overlooking the pond with our barn and willow in full view, and as guests gathered they collected a package of dried flowers as confetti to shower the newly married couple.

Portraits Around The Estate

As guests gathered back on the veranda, Rinata and Aaron found some time to wander for more photos across the estate as they enjoyed some personal time together before the reception began.

Dinner & Drinks For Their Micro Guest List

While most receptions at The Maples Estate take place outdoors in our field or on the veranda, Rinata loved the interior setting of the parlors and felt an inside reception was perfect for their needs. The setting reminded her of gatherings and intimate family style restaurants from her childhood. Her parents were in and out of the kitchen hosting the entire evening and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining their guests.

Evening Activities

As the day moved on, the group gathered back in the bar for traditional desserts and a cake cutting and then made their way to the fire pit for an evening fire under the stars.

Photos by Bailey Q Photo

Rinata and Aaron’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography: Bailey Q Photo | IG: @baileyqphoto

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Unique NY Wedding Venue. Ashley & Brian. 6.11.22

The Marriage of Ashley & Brian
June 11, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

As creatives working in LA, this imaginative couple dreamed up a color filled wedding full of personality at our unique NY wedding venue!

Ashley and Brian met while living in Beacon, NY, yet joined us from Los Angeles where Brian works in the film industry and Ashley is a Production Manager for an installation artist. With a background in production, they wanted their hands on every aspect of their wedding from vendor selection to the hand-poured crayons placed on each table. A self proclaimed “DIY girl through and through” and “the person who plans for all the fires that might arise and makes sure to put them out,” Ashley wondered how she could have her hands on every detail without being overwhelmed on her wedding day. She wanted to hand her perfectly planned wedding off to someone else to manage so she could enjoy every moment of the celebration. The Maples Estate allowed them to implement exactly what they had envisioned with retro vibes, colorful attire and so many disco balls while also hosting their friends all weekend long and coordinating their big day for them.

How They Met!

This creative couple met when Ashley was attending college in Beacon, NY. Brian had grown up there and at the time, owned a coffee shop where he would play guitar in the front window. Ashley saw him in the window one day and they got to talking while he took her coffee order. 8 years later they were engaged, but with the pandemic they were stalled in their wedding plans. When they were able to pick up their planning again, they knew upstate New York was the perfect place and were dreaming of The Maples Estate for their unique NY wedding. With a minimal budget they got to planning and dreamed up this fun, retro wedding!

A Full Weekend of Activities

Their unique NY wedding began on Thursday with friends traveling all across the northeast and beyond to join them. They jammed out in the back parlor with their favorite tunes, hopped in the pool, splashed in the creek and got to work setting up their dream wedding reception. Ashley had a vision in mind and wanted full control over every details. It was so fun to watch her vision come to life and we were happy to take over on Saturday to ease her mind and finalize all her perfectly planned details! Keep scrolling to see images of their Friday rehearsal dinner before the celebration began!

The Cake Preparation

While the bridal parties were getting ready, Ashley’s aunt took control in the kitchen as she constructed their unique wedding cake! A gift that her aunt offers to all her family members. Such a special gift!

First Look With Ashley’s Dads

They embraced an artistic retro vibe with disco balls and 70s inspired calligraphy, bedazzled shoes and feather headpiece. Finding ways to incorporate her family, Ashley’s dad and stepdad joined her for a first look overlooking the pond after getting glammed up in the get ready room.

Ceremony Details

They loved the idea of assorted chairs for their ceremony so we mixed and matched our three different styles for a creative vibe overlooking the hillside in the tree grove. They wanted each of their guests to be engaged in the moments so they collected phones from everyone as they arrived and handed out dried flowers for tossing following the ceremony. When they picked up their phones they also received a disco ball seating card with their table number!

The Guest’s Attire

They asked all their guests to wear colorful attire for their unique ny wedding and they took that and ran! Each guest was decked out with their most colorful outfit and we loved how the colors came together!

The Ceremony

Choosing to stay hidden before their ceremony, Ashley and Brian saw each other for the first time while walking down the aisle and it was so special to have both Ashley’s dads join her to hand her off to Brian.

The Cocktail Hour

Following their ceremony, guests gathered in the field for a colorful charcuterie display while the couple and their bridal parties took photos around the estate.

Reception Details

The reception was full of unique details from the table numbers to the vintage assorted plates, moss, drift wood, disco balls, hand poured crayons and colorful florals. They even covered the tables with butcher paper so their guests could leave them fun notes and draw throughout the evening. Their tables numbers were images of found numbers in the wild and even incorporated some of their friends bodies formed in the shape of numbers!

Entrance & First Dance!

They entered their wedding reception from the pond walk and danced all evening long to their favorite tunes.

Dinner & Love Notes!

Their friends left them little notes and enjoyed a bbq dinner with full hog and yummy sides from local restaurant High on the Hog BBQ.

Cutting The Cake!

Their cake cutting was so special with their cake assembled by Ashley’s aunt and a handmade cake topper with two love birds!

Time for Dancing!

They day would not have been complete without an outfit change for dancing the night away!

An SNL Inspired Last Song

This group was all about the party and even celebrated the close of their wedding reception with a SNL style credits role thanking each of their friends for attending as they all joined each other on the dance floor for a final photo!

Photos by Dottie Morris

Ashley & Brian’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography + Videography: Dottie Morris | IG: @xodottiemorris @zackarp
Catering: High on the Hog BBQ | IG: @high_on_the_hog_bbq
Bar Service: Franklin Alley Social Club | IG: @franklinalleysocialclub
Charcuterie: LC Designs NYC | IG: @lc_designsnyc
Makeup: Emily Elle Makeup | IG: @emilyellemakeup
Hair: Maddie Frag Hair | IG: @maddiefrag_hair
Tent Rental: Saratoga Tent & Events
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries

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Bonus! - The Rehearsal Dinner

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Rainy Day Weddings. Rachel & Nick. 9.4.22

The Marriage of Rachel & Nick
September 4, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

A perfectly rainy magical wedding at The Maples Estate!

Rachel and Nick’s magical wedding at The Maples Estate was blessed with a rainy day that was just what the couple called for. Nick’s parents celebrated their wedding with rain, and it was so fitting for this Lord of the Rings loving couple to have drizzly moody photos to match their ethereal, woodsy attire. From unique, enchanted, witchy bridal party photos, Lord of the Rings entrance music at the ceremony performed by cellist Sasha Ono, and a dagger used to cut the cake, this couple found little ways to personalize their big day and showcase their love of magical worlds.

Wedding Inspiration

With a career in editorial and fashion photography showcasing worlds she can only dream about, Rachel incorporated unique elements of etherial magic throughout the day. From lawn games at the cocktail hour to a mossy guest book area and flower crowns repurposed from the ceremony arch, they thought through every little detail. The couple also celebrated with their dog Gilly who enjoyed every moment of the weekend and was incorporated into all aspects of their wedding, never leaving Rachel’s side. Their guests were in awe of the world they created here at The Maples Estate for their unique Hudson Valley wedding.

Witchy Bridal Party Photos

As an editorial and fashion photographer, Rachel wanted to take full advantage of the setting while incorporating her bridal party! They gathered in white attire on the front steps of our 1855 colonial farmhouse for a full on photo shoot and we LOVED everything about it!

“Wedding planning should be fun! And it’s a chance to be fully present in every experience surrounding your wedding with your partner. Whether it’s the tiniest detail or the whole idea behind your wedding, planning together and making everything distinctively you is a way of celebrating your relationship, who you are, and taking this new step together.  We also didn’t let others’ ideas about weddings or what they should be like get in the way of how we wanted to do it. When it comes to a huge institution like marriage, there’s going to be a lot of pressure from all kinds of sources; whether it’s societal pressure, pressure from family members, or other people getting married around you. We knew what was most important to us going into planning; which was to spend a whole weekend celebrating with our friends and family in a way that made us comfortable and excited to get married. And that’s just what we did!”

First Touch

Their first touch was something to dream about! Rachel and Nick wanted to hold off on seeing each other during their wedding day until they walked down the aisle but they knew their hearts would be racing with nerves as they waited for the moment. To ease their minds they decided on a first “touch” in front of our vintage wallpaper in our 1855 colonial farmhouse!

Getting Ready & The Ceremony

Both parties enjoyed themselves fully with the bridal party in the get ready room and bunk room upstairs, and the grooms party in the double parlors downstairs. Rachel and Nick knew they wanted their ceremony to remain outdoors despite the weather forecast, so we took advantage of a 30 minute gap in the rain and pushed the ceremony back a few minutes. Their guests gathered on the veranda to avoid the rain as they waited for the ceremony to begin and when the moment was just right they made their way down to the tree grove with umbrellas overhead.

“Our friends walked down the aisle to a cello version of Concerning Hobbits from Lord of The Rings, and our dog son, Gilly, was the ring bearer. I walked down the hill at Maples Estate with my huge train billowing behind me in the soft rain. Both my mom and dad walked me down the aisle, through a sea of all our loved ones to the ‘altar’ while our cellist played, and it was the most pure and intense moment for both Nick and I. All the planning was behind us and we were literally standing in front of each other, looking at all the work we had done and the people around us who got us to this moment. And then we read our own written vows to each other and our tears mixed with the light rain while we spoke and it was just an unforgettable moment”

“I am a fashion photographer in Brooklyn and have an affinity for renaissance aesthetic in my work as well as home decor. I dream of florals and long tables with vintage chairs and baroque candlesticks slowly burning through the night. Nick, my husband, I can lovingly say, is a sci-fi nerd with an affinity for grandiose adventurecore and loves the great outdoors. We connect in our mutual admiration of moss we find during hikes or pining for the beautiful rolling hills in Lord of the Rings. Neither of us subscribe to any typical religious traditions in our every day lives, so we decided to create a celebration that was completely us and really driven by the desire to be surrounded by our loved ones throughout the whole weekend in a fun, low key, yet visually stunning setting.”

Photos Galore!

Rachel and Nick took a long stroll around the estate for their photos while their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour under the reception tent covered from the light drizzle of rain.

Reception Details

Their reception kicked off with personalized elements scattered around the reception tent and magical wedding decor with colorful florals, moss, vintage candle sticks and a flower crown station repurposed from the ceremony arch. This rainy day wedding was such a perfect setting for these two and their etherial woodsy vision!

“We had such a gorgeous ceremony backdrop that Nicole installed around the wooden arch that Nick's dad had built for us. We then repurposed those flowers after the ceremony for the guests to build their own flower crowns which is a tradition of ours every summer for Swedish Midsummer. I loved the idea of the guests being able to take part in the decor and take a little piece home with them.”

“We had two signature cocktails based on things that we love to drink, and instead of a cake cutting, had a pie cutting ceremony with a renaissance era dagger as our pie cutter.”

Photos by Becca Gleason Photo

Rachel & Nick’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography: Becca Gleason Photo | IG: @beccagleasonphoto
Catering: Follow the Smoke | IG: @followthesmokepa
Dessert: Lucky Clover Artisanal Bakery | IG: @luckycloverartisanalbakery
DJ: Complete We Do | IG: @completewedo
Makeup: Bridal by Alexandria | IG: @bridalbyalexandria
Hair: Purity Hair Design | IG: @purityhairdesign
Vintage Rentals: Bee’s Knees Vintage | IG: @beeskneesvintage1
Florist: e p h e m e r a | IG: @e_p_h_e_m_e_r_a
Cellist: Sasha Ono | IG: @cellosasha
Tent: BBQ Delights | IG: @bbqdelights2021
Beer: Wayward Lane Brewing | IG: @waywardlanebrewing
Transportation: Brown Coach Inc. + L&S Journeys
Officiant: Rabbi Nomi Manon
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries

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Learn more about our Upstate New York Wedding Venue and discover more real wedding inspiration!

Brooke & Scott. Outdoor Wedding Dreams. 9.10.22

The Marriage of Brooke & Scott
September 10, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

A union under god in nature.

That was Brooke and Scott’s dream. Growing up in the church, they wanted to incorporate their faith into their marriage but preferred to celebrate in the open air under the sky, trees and stars, instead of holding an indoor church ceremony. With just three items on Brooke’s wishlist, an outdoor wedding, checkered dance floor and sail cloth tent, they knew immediately that this was the place for them when they could envision their wishlist at the estate. They woke up to the sunrise over the estate on the morning of their wedding after a couple days of fun with their bridal party staying in the farmhouse. For their ceremony, they invited their pastor to officiate their wedding and took communion together under the shade of the tree grove while one of Brooke’s bridesmaids sang an incredibly loving song for the group to bless the moment. Wanting their bridal parties to see their faces during the ceremony, they scratched tradition and had their parties switch sides. Bridesmaids on Scott’s side of the aisle and Grooms-people on Brooke’s side. They opted for mixed chairs and rugs for their aisle which suited their personalities and each of their guests continued to tell us throughout the day that they could not imagine their wedding any other way. This was truly an expression of the two’s union.

They enjoyed a cocktail hour on the veranda and celebrated into the evening under a beautiful sailcloth tent with of course, a checkered dance floor! Their attire was meticulously thought through with matching, but also mismatched bridal party colors and sneakers for the entire party including personalized kicks for Brooke and Scott. Scott was even presented with a brightly colored brand new pair of shoes on the dance floor by his grooms-people to dance the night away. Looking for a causal environment they opted for a pizza truck to sling pizzas for dinner, and supplemented with an additional handcrafted caterer for cocktail hour, sides and dessert. They even enjoyed a sparkling lemonade toast for speeches!

Photos by Natalia Fries

Brooke & Scott’s incredible vendor team!
Upstate New York Wedding Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Caterer: Crafted Catering and Events | IG: @craftedcateringandevents
Caterer: Bull & Basil | IG: @bullandbasil
Photographer: Kelsey & Nate Photo | IG: @Kelsey.schwenk
Hair & Makeup: Purity Hair Design | IG: @purityhairdesign
DJ: A Perfect Blend Entertainment | IG: @apbentertainment
Audio Guest Book: After The Tone | IG: @afternthetone.co
Makeup: Leslie Joy
Tent Rental: Columbia Tent
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries
Florals: Mimi's Little Posy Place
Officiant: Pastor James Tebbano

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Whitney & Evan. Fun Loving Celebration. 6.18.22

The Marriage of Whitney & Evan
June 18, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

This celebration was all about the fun with smiles from ear to ear all weekend long!

Whitney and Evan came to us after canceling their 2020 wedding due to COVID. They had an unfortunate situation with their previous venue and needed a new venue they could trust to pull off their epic 4 day wedding. They fell in love with The Maples Estate in the wintertime and were ecstatic to see the colors pop in the spring when they came for a final walk through! They took full advantage of the weekend wedding celebrations with a rehearsal dinner, movie night, wedding day events and after party with a Friday through Monday rental. They enjoyed their more formal celebrations on Saturday and relaxed on Sunday with lawn games and pool time. They even had their dog Tofu with them to enjoy the full weekend events!

This group smiled all weekend and goofed around enjoying each others company to the fullest!

Photos by Natalia Fries

Whitney and Evan’s incredible vendor team!
Venue: @TheMaplesEstate
Catering: Healthy Cafe Catering | IG: @healthycafecateringco
Floral: Mira Mira Florals | IG: @miramiraflorals
Hair & Makeup: KMR Makeup | IG: @kmrmakeup
Makeup Stylist: Hair and Beauty By Bay | IG: @hairbeautybybay
Photography: Natalia Wajda | IG: @nataliafries
Rentals: Total Events | IG: @totalevents
Transportation: Durham School Services | IG: @durham_school_services
Bar: Yor Pub NY | IG: @yorpubny
Photo Booth: Snap Shots 1000 Islands | IG: @snapshots1000islands
Gown: Madi Lane Bridal | IG: @madilanebridal
Video: Noetic Productions | IG: @noeticproductions
Coordination: A Lively Event | IG: @alivelyevent
DJ: JTD Productions | IG: @jtdproductions
Bakery: The Cakerino | IG: @thecakerino
Menswear: The Black Tux | IG: @theblacktux

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Katherine & Nath. A Bulldog Love Story. 8.13.22

The Marriage of Katherine & Nath
August 13, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

What happens when animal loving artists get married? A colorful dog friendly wedding in upstate NY!

Originally from the east coast but now living in Los Angeles, California, artists / designers Katherine and Nath built their one of a kind wedding at The Maples Estate featuring their incredibly adorable bull dogs! Not only did they enjoy a full weekend getaway at the estate, they also traveled cross country in a van with their furry friends to ensure they could be part of their special day! Unfortunately a few of their other animals had to stay at home but they found ways to incorporate them into their nuptials with a post wedding photoshoot back in LA when they returned!

Katherine and Nath dreamt up such a special, colorful event and we are obsessed with every bit of their wedding! From the stitcher to the mobile bar, their food selection, wordrobe, neon signs and incredible color palette, each detail of their wedding melded together so perfectly to create a truly unique expression of these two!

Photos by Sarah Bridgeman Photography

Katherine & Nath’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate IG: @themaplesestate
Catering: Hattie’s Restaurant | IG: @hattiesrestaurant
Bar: Wandering Wheels | IG: @wanderingwheelsevents
Photography: Sarah Bridgeman Photography | IG: @sjbridgeman
Hair / Makeup: Lynn Monster Beauty | IG: @lynnmonster_beauty
Florist: Mira Mira Florals | IG: @miramiraflorals
Strings: LVER Talent | IG: @lvertalent
DJ: Brian Oddo Entertainment
Stitcher: Rowdy Cowlick | IG: @rowdycowlick
Tent: Columbia Tent Rentals | IG: @columbiatentrentals
Rehearsal Dinner Ice Cream: Tail & Toppings | IG: @tail.and.toppings

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