Estate and tented weddings
A wedding at a private estate, a family home or on a lawn under a tent can be the most personal wedding there is, and the most demanding to plan. There is no banquet manager, no kitchen, no restrooms and no plan for rain until we build them. We plan weddings on estates and historic grounds around New York, including Lyndhurst above the Hudson, where dinner was served in a tent on the lawn, Whitby Castle in Rye and Blue Hill at Stone Barns.
Building a venue from nothing
A tented wedding means designing everything a venue would normally provide: the tent and its flooring, power and lighting, a catering kitchen, restrooms, heating or cooling, parking and a place for every vendor to work. The design begins with the site plan, not the flowers.
- The tent
A sailcloth tent for its soft peaks, or a clear-span frame for a large guest count and wind. We choose with the site, the season and the design, and with tent partners who survey the ground before anything is ordered.
- Power and light
Generators placed out of earshot, and lighting designed for the tent, the paths and the house.
- The kitchen
A catering tent close enough to serve well and far enough not to be seen.
- Guests’ comfort
Restroom trailers, heating or fans, coat check and a covered path in case of rain.
Permits, neighbors and insurance
Many towns require permits for a large tent and set limits on sound and end times. We handle the permits, speak with the neighbors where it helps, and confirm insurance with the owners and every vendor. The rules differ from one town to the next, so we check them for the address before the design is drawn.
The weather plan
On a lawn the weather plan is part of the design, not a reserve. Tent sides that can close, a floor that stays dry, a covered route from the house, and a decision schedule set days ahead. Our rain plan guide explains how we work.
Getting guests there
Most estates have little parking, so guests usually arrive by shuttle from a hotel or a lot nearby. We plan the timing so the first guests are never waiting and the last are never stranded.
Weddings we have planned
Lyndhurst Mansion wedding
A tent on the lawn above the Hudson, in emerald and green. Tarrytown, New York.
Amy & David’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns wedding
A tea ceremony and a lion dance around a farm dinner. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Westchester.
Estates and grounds where we have planned weddings
- Lyndhurst Mansion
Tarrytown, the Hudson Valley
A Gothic Revival mansion and its grounds above the Hudson in Tarrytown.
- Whitby Castle
Rye, Westchester
A castle lawn in Rye, beneath stone towers.
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Pocantico Hills, Westchester
A working farm in the Pocantico Hills.
Questions couples ask
Do you plan weddings at private homes and estates?
Yes. We plan weddings on estates and historic grounds around New York. For a private home, we begin with a site visit to see what the house and the grounds can hold, and what they would need.
How far ahead should a tented wedding be planned?
Earlier than a wedding at a venue, because the tent, power and permits all need lead time. Twelve to eighteen months is comfortable.
Do we need permits for a tent?
Often, depending on the town and the size of the tent. We confirm the rules for the address and handle the applications.
What happens if it rains?
The tent is the rain plan, as long as it is designed as one. Sides that close, a raised floor and covered paths keep the day intact.
Tell us about the house, or the lawn.
Tell us about your wedding, and we will take it from there.