How to Host a Magical Upstate New York Weekend Wedding
Weekend weddings in the Rose Garden at Black Walnut Farm
For couples who don’t want to limit their wedding celebration to a single day, multi-day weddings offer a great opportunity to host different events over the course of a whole weekend.
Ask any pair of newlyweds what they would change about their wedding, and you’ll hear a common answer: “It just goes by so fast! Try to slow down and live in the moment!”
One way to be present in the whirlwind of the most important day of your life is to find a venue that offers a weekend wedding package. This will give you plenty of time to host a schedule of events that prioritizes savoring each moment with your nearest and dearest.
If you happen to be seeking a wedding venue in upstate New York that offers a long weekend experience with onsite accommodations, look no further than Black Walnut Farm in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Black Walnut Farm is a historic estate that specializes in weekend-long weddings, offering a destination wedding experience with no passport required. With VIP lodging onsite (the historic 1747 farmhouse sleeps 8) for four whole days included— and a wide array of hotels within a few miles of the property— Black Walnut makes hosting several days of celebrations a snap!
Hammocks, fire pits, and majestic forests: The Hudson Valley’s Black Walnut Farm has all the weekend wedding inclusions of your dreams.
Here are some of our top tips for throwing an epic and memorable wedding weekend:
Provide a map or list of local attractions for your guests
If your guests spend several days in the charming Hudson Valley, they'll have some downtime to explore between your wedding-related events. One touch we love is to make a map of activities and places that mean a lot to you as a couple! You can create this on your wedding website, print it out, and place it in welcome bags for your guests or our favorite– do this in Google Maps so everyone has directions right on their phone. (We did this with a Google Map of our favorite Hudson Valley Antiques Shops, and our guests love it)! Your map might include your favorite hiking trails, brunch spots, art galleries, or bookstores.
Black Walnut Farm is in Saugerties, which has so many fun attractions: your guests can tour the historic Saugerties Lighthouse, go hiking at the Falling Waters Preserve, visit the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, rent a boat for a leisurely sail on the Hudson River, go antiquing, enjoy a massage or other spa day treatments at The Waterside Spa, or visit the number of famous wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the area. The Hudson Valley is renowned for its local farmer's markets, farm-to-table dining, and the art scene home to so many artisans, musicians, and creatives. There's no shortage of fun things to do!
Make a playlist to for your guests to enjoy on their road trip to the area
Since the Hudson Valley is about 90 minutes north of New York City, a lot of your guests will either be driving up from Manhattan, Brooklyn or Long Island– or taking the bus from Port Authority or the Amtrak train from Penn Station. One way to kick off the wedding weekend vibes before people even arrive? Make a playlist of your favorite tunes that fit the vibe of your wedding, and send everyone the link– we promise, they’ll get excited, relaxed, and ready for an epic weekend of fun! It’s details like this that truly make your wedding so special and memorable.
Host a few events surrounding the wedding day
Nowadays, it’s common to have a rehearsal dinner for the wedding party, close friends, and family, but including your entire guest list in a welcome party (this could be just cocktails or dessert after the rehearsal dinner) is a great way to catch up with everyone, make your guests feel extra welcome, and enjoy more time with everyone who’s traveled to share in your day!
You can either host something ‘official’ for your welcome gathering requiring an RSVP, or pick a local bar and let guests know that’s where you’ll be if they’d like to stop by, say hello, and grab a casual beverage (just make sure you let the bar know, so they can staff up and be prepared for a crowd.) This also takes the pressure off personally greeting everyone the next day: if you don’t plan on ‘making the rounds’ of each table to thank everyone for coming to the wedding, guests will still feel like they had quality time with you the evening before.
We also love the tradition of extending the personal connection time with a post-wedding breakfast or brunch. This provides a final moment to reminisce about the new memories made and send everyone off with gratitude (and bagels– this is New York, after all!)
The 1891 barn is ready to host a whole schedule of events for your weekend wedding at Black Walnut Farm
A peek inside a weekend wedding itinerary at Black Walnut Farm
To get an idea of the possibilies for a great weekend wedding timeline, here’s a sample itinerary of what a classic weekend wedding experience holds at Black Walnut Farm.
Thursday: arrive and settle in
The long weekend wedding experience kicks off on Thursday, with check-in at 3 pm, so settle in and prepare to relax! From the moment you step foot on the property, you’ll be captivated by the sheer beauty and tranquility surrounding you. Drop your luggage in the farmhouse, where you’re greeted with local cheeses, fruit, and sommelier-selected local wines. Stroll through the extensive gardens, soak in the picturesque open fields, or relax in one of the hammocks dotted throughout the property. There’s no need to rush out to the grocery store immediately because weekend wedding packages include a fully stocked fridge with breakfast items, gourmet snacks, and local provisions for your group!
Many couples prefer a private evening on Thursday before the rest of your guests arrive on Friday. Black Walnut Farm is about soaking in every moment and letting leisurely hours roll by. Romantic dinner options nearby for you two include Miss Lucy’s Kitchen, Blackbarn Hudson Valley, Annarella’s, The Kitchen at Salt and Fire, and The Red Onion. Stroll through town and enjoy a treat from Alleyway Ice Cream. Return to the farmhouse after a delicious meal and cozy up in front of the 8-foot fireplace in the living room- starting your weekend well-rested and content.
Relax in front of the 8-foot fireplace in the Farmhouse living room on your weekend wedding at Black Walnut Farm
Friday: let’s get the party started!
For most groups, guests will start arriving on Friday. There are multiple options nearby for arranging hotel blocks. You can coordinate experiences for their afternoon, like a wine-tasting trip (the Hudson Valley has a lot of great options; our favorite is Whitecliff Vineyard) or a brewery or distillery tour (check out Arrowood Farms in nearby Accord). We can also arrange a group yoga class at the Farm.
For the rehearsal dinner, couples may opt to host this right onsite at Black Walnut Farm: we offer use of our grounds and setup crew all weekend at no additional charge! We can recommend local food trucks if you want something fun and casual (and our lawn games like cornhole, horseshoes, ladder golf, giant Jenga, and badminton are a fun addition to a chill evening). We have outdoor sound capabilities for playing music or amplifying welcome toasts. We have had couples include karaoke or even a talent show if the wedding guests are artistically inclined!
If you prefer to host a rehearsal dinner or welcome dinner at a local restaurant, here are some local recommendations:
Our local gastro pub has a tent out back for groups, with solid food and regional craft beers (they have wine/cocktails, too)-- Jim and I are obsessed with their fried pickles! They offer an excellent private events dinner menu, but this could be a fun place for people to meet for drinks.
Located in a beautiful old restored farmhouse in Woodstock, Cucina can host private dinners of varying sizes; the cuisine is farm-to-table with a light Italian influence
Located in nearby Kingston, this is a large, boisterous Southern-inspired spot on the Hudson that can accommodate groups. Their catering menu is also budget-friendly for groups of 30 or more.
This is our seasonal ‘local’- only open April-Halloween; Partition is an open-air bar with tons of seating and live music– and the food is good too! This would be our choice for a very large group meetup.
Whatever option you choose, we recommend that welcome festivities wrap up at a reasonable hour to give everyone time to get adequate rest before the big day!
Weekend wedding ceremony at Black Walnut Farm, on the lawn
Saturday: the big day is here!
Need inspiration for your wedding day schedule? Download our example: Wedding Day Timeline.
A peaceful start
Time to rise and shine: it’s your wedding day! Since you’ll be staying onsite in our beautiful restored 1747 farmhouse, you can enjoy a leisurely start to the day (without having to schlep all of your wedding attire and details items to a hotel or other location to get ready!) We recommend a walk on our private nature trails in the crisp morning air as the perfect way to get in that peaceful, calm mindset!
Breakfast: fuel for the day!
Next, breakfast: We have arranged for our local bagel shop, Lox of Bagels, to cater a lovely breakfast spread for you and your getting-ready crew in the farmhouse kitchen! Options include homemade quiches, platters of bagels, lox, and all the fixins, muffins, pastries, yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit, breakfast wraps, and even hot items like homefries and bacon. They will drop off your breakfast anytime after 7:00 a.m. We can include a bloody mary bar or mimosas upon request!
Getting Ready
The farmhouse offers four bedrooms for the entire wedding party to spread out and get ready, with common areas including the dining room, patio, living room, and sunroom (glam teams LOVE the sunroom for its abundance of natural light all around.
If you prefer separate getting-ready areas for each member of the couple, the Barn also provides plenty of space, with restrooms, the Parlor with multiple mirrors and a vanity counter with excellent lighting, and the Loft, which includes leather club chairs and a card table.
The sun room at Black Walnut Farm is ideal for hair and makeup teams!
Wedding Photos
The grounds at Black Walnut Farm offer 34 acres of photo opportunities! Whether you prefer posing in a wildflower meadow, strolling through our gardens or forest, or posing on our numerous benches and swings, there are plenty of charming, picturesque landscapes for your wedding photographer to capture. Family portraits are especially sweet in front of the ivy-covered Dutch stone house!
The Dutch-built stone farmhouse at Black Walnut Farm
The Ceremony
As guests gather and are greeted with refreshments like fresh herb-infused water or lemonade in the spring and summer or hot cocoa and cider donuts in the fall and winter, they will be escorted to the ceremony site of your choice (Black Walnut Farm offers three options: the Forest, the Lawn, and the Meadow). Say your vows against the backdrop of our charming, gorgeous countryside, and commemorate the start of your life together with laughter mixed with tears (our favorite emotion!).
The Reception
Cocktail hour by the 1934 green truck at Black Walnut Farm
Now it’s time to toast! Host your cocktail hour on the lawn, by our adorable secret outdoor bar tucked inside an Amish garden shed. Lounge on one of our many sets of anique white lawn furniture shaded by white fringe parasols, play yard games, or sip a glass of local wine in the Rose Garden. You can even invite your guests to explore the nature trails through the forest. We include a popcorn station with our vintage popcorn machine and a variety of seasonings for guests, and above it all, a custom flag with your names and wedding date flies above the whole affair! Enjoy jaw-dropping sunset views of the Catskills during Golden Hour, with dusky warm light flooding our 1891 barn. As the sun sets on your fairytale wedding, the celebration continues under the starlit sky.
Enjoy dinner on the barn or lawn– we provide antique mismatched chairs for up to 200 guests and stunning rustic farm tables. Dance the night away in the temperature-controlled barn under our 4-foot disco ball hovering above the dance floor. Gather around the bonfire pit with your loved ones, indulge in our complimentary s’mores service, and revel in the joy of the moment. The Barn at Black Walnut Farm offers a magical ambiance that invites you to savor every precious second of your special day. When the reception ends, there are multiple convenient options for after-parties in the Village of Saugerties (just five minutes away!)
Sunday: farewell– and more relaxation
Sunday might mean the end of the weekend for your guests– but good news, at Black Walnut Farm, the Weekend Wedding Package extends until Monday! You have an entire day to relax, soak in the hot tub, and relive all the fantastic memories from the wedding day before re-entering reality.
You may wish to host a farewell brunch as a festive send-off for your guests– and our catering partners can provide a full brunch with a hot buffet and Bloody Mary bar, or a simple spread of pastries and coffee. Use of the barn, grounds, and our amazing staff is included at no additional charge for your wedding weekend! Guests will be sent off with grateful hearts and full bellies, and you and your new spouse will have the rest of the day and evening to unwind before checkout at 11:00 am the following day.
A final hot-tub soak to cap off your weekend wedding in upstate New York
Interested in Black Walnut Farm for your weekend wedding?
With its charming barn, picturesque landscapes, and luxurious accommodations, Black Walnut Farm provides the perfect backdrop for your wedding celebrations. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of your weekend, from the wedding ceremony to the post-wedding brunch, unfolds seamlessly, allowing you to relax and enjoy every moment of the best day of your life.
To learn more, or schedule a tour, please reach out here: Contact Form. We can’t wait to meet you!