WellWed in New York

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Location: 

Newtonville, New York

Design: 

Experience Events

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{Color Palette}

Currently residing in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Jessica Erhardt grew up spending summers at her family's house in the Adirondacks. She wanted a wedding venue that reflected the rustic nature of the areas that she and fiance Joshua Herberger loved. As an event planner, she liked the idea of a barn to provide the backdrop for her wedding design. The Pruyn House offered exactly the setting the couple wanted, with a variety of buildings around the property to accommodate the needs of guests who included children, teenagers, friends, and elderly relatives. The celebration the couple planned made the most of the location and the season - here, some ideas from their wedding, ripe for the harvest.

[Creating a Strong Sense of Place]

Decor and lighting: The overall design motif was the unexpected mix of rustic and elegant. The couple used burlap for the tablecloths, which contrasted with custom dupioni silk runners on the long tables. The tables were named for trees, and there were acorns in the centerpieces. A local farmer grew a variety of pumpkins from seed just for the wedding, and they were everywhere - large ones were used to line the pathways, small ones were carved out to hold tea lights.
Additional illumination came from copper lanterns hung from the rafters and small globe lights woven into grapevine all around the barn's perimeter.

The menu: "Our menu featured food we loved and things that were in season," says Jessica. Entrees included pork tenderloin, dry-rubbed filet mignon, and pumpkin ravioli. A family friend made the red velvet wedding cake, and the dessert buffet was a big hit with guests. A separate area away from the dancing was set up for quiet conversation, with a gourmet coffee station and chocolate-dipped fruits for guests to enjoy while they relaxed.

The favors: Guests were sent off with caramel apples hand painted with the words "Life Is Sweet." "At the end of the night, people's pockets were bulging with apples they had stashed for the car ride home!" says Jessica.

About the Location
Built about 1830, the beautifully restored Pruyn House is a fine example of the Dutch architectural influence in this part of the state. Situated on 5 1/2 acres, the building is a blend of Federal and Greek Revival styles. In addition to being a museum, the property offers a number of locations for hosting events, including outbuildings such as the Buhrmaster Barn, reconstructed on the grounds in 1987, and the Verdoy Schoolhouse, which arrived in 1996.