The wedding planner

Posted 8/21/12

While trends change over the years, one thing is clear: weddings are here to stay. Whether you’re planning something extravagant or intimate, the choices for venues here in the Upper Delaware River …

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The wedding planner

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While trends change over the years, one thing is clear: weddings are here to stay. Whether you’re planning something extravagant or intimate, the choices for venues here in the Upper Delaware River Valley are many, and with spring just around the corner, many couples are exploring their options here. Exchanging vows in the country appeals to residents and visitors alike, and with so many bucolic settings available, there is something for everyone, regardless of budget constraints.

Results of the American Wedding Study (www.weddingindustrystatistics.com) show couples “doing more with less; overall wedding spending has decreased slightly, but there are more events surrounding weddings (double-digit increases for wedding weekends, destination weddings, engagement and bachelorette parties), and the wedding itself incorporates more elements and more personalization than ever before.” In addition, “Couples are blending old with new, preserving select traditions like the first dance and cake-cutting but bidding farewell to sit-down dinners and buffets in favor of cocktail hours and passed hors d’oeuvres.” LGBT weddings are on the rise and “nearly 10% of all weddings feature a man of honor or best woman; 14% of couples are married by a friend or family member ordained for the occasion; and 11% of couples make charitable donations on behalf of their guests.”

This destination guide is a good place to begin your exploration of wedding locations, but with so many choices, it can only serve as a slice or two of the many- tiered cake. After all, your journey down the aisle begins with one small step.

ECCE Bed and Breakfast (www.eccebedandbreakfast.com) located in Barryville, NY provides “panoramic views of the river valley and surrounding mountain ranges of NY and PA from nearly all of the rooms.” Outdoor events can accommodate up to 75 guests and “luxurious bedrooms compliment this incredible setting.”

For large-scale events, the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY (www.villaroma.com) offers 40 suites, (110 deluxe) a “newly renovated banquet room offering spectacular Catskill vistas, personalized service with a wedding planner” and “specializes in destination weddings.”

Hills Country Inn in Callicoon Center, NY (www.hillsinn.com) boasts both indoor and outdoor locations “overlooking stone walls, beautiful landscaping and a lovely field by a pond, which makes an ideal location for a tented wedding event.” With 15 rooms to rent on premises, and in-house catering available, this country setting could be ideal for many couples seeking a retreat.

De Bruce Country Inn (www.debruceountryinn.com) is located within the Catskill Forest Park on its own private preserve. This B&B offers a vantage point for entering nature’s domain. The inn offers visitors the opportunity to “experience the wooded trails, wildlife and game, the famous Willowemoc stream and country walks, with views of the valley and mountains beyond.

Just 90 minutes from NYC, Honor’s Haven in Ellenville, NY offers larger wedding parties on “250 breathtaking acres, complete with formal gardens, sparkling lake and views of the Shawangunk Mountains.” Specializing in weddings, the resort and spa (www.honorshaven.com) is “proud to supply a product unlike any other in the region offering a historic location immersed in modern touches.”

Searching for the ideal rustic wedding experience? Near Honesdale, PA you’ll find Fox Hill Farm, which is “a small farm with a big vision. Owners Katharine and George Brown use their 50-acre farm to produce fresh-cut seasonal flowers, raise 100% grass fed beef and pastured poultry, and provide an atmosphere for appreciating the beauty of nature.” Their website (www.foxhillfarmexperience.com) is informative and claims that “There is nothing better than seeing a bride’s face when she sees her bouquet for the first time, except when the flowers are straight from the farm!”

Hawley, PA is home to yet another stunning wedding venue—Woodloch Pines. A premier resort (www.woodloch.com) located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains Lake Region, The Pines “would be honored to have the opportunity to make your Woodloch wedding everything you dreamed of and more! Say ‘I do’ by our sparkling lake or over at our golf course with a breathtaking backdrop of the mountainside, and be assured that your wedding will be one that your guests will reminisce about for many years to come.” Woodloch offers each couple a “personal wedding coordinator will be with you for every step along the way of the planning process to ensure that your big day is a complete success.”

Whether your wedding plans are grandiose or low-key themed, the glorious countryside offers many opportunities to make your special day memorable and unique, providing large and smaller scale venues that are sure to please. Fresh air, stunning vistas and the promise of “happily ever after await.” Cheers!

Wedding venues

In the Catskills

Bernie’s Holiday Restaurant, Rock Hill

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel

Bridle Hill Farm, Jeffersonville

Catlin Gardens, Slate Hilll

Catskill Distilling Company, Bethel

Cedar Lakes Estate, Port Jervis

DeBruce Country Inn, DeBruce

Eagles Nest, Bloomingburg

ECCE B&B, Barryville

Eddie Adams Barn, Jeffersonville

Honors Haven Resort, Ellenville

Hunters Lodge Bar, Long Eddy

Lazy Pond B&B, Liberty

Lanza’s Country Inn, Livingston Manor

Liberty View Farm, Highland

Mountain View Manor, Glen Spey

My Shady Lady Dance Hall, Hancock

Tennanah Lake Golf Club, Roscoe

The Ardmore Mansion, Glen Spey

The Old Schoolhouse Inn, Downsville

The Sullivan, Rock Hill

Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon

In The Poconos

Bryn Mawr Mountain Retreat, Honesdale

Central House, Beach Lake

Cove Haven Resort, Lakeville

Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort, Hawley

Fox Hill Farms, Honesdale

French Manor Inn, Sterling

Maiolatessi Winery, Scranton

Malibu Dude Ranch, Milford

Mount Haven Country Resort, Milford

Riverview Inn, Matamoras

The Inn at Starlight Lake, Starlight

The Lodge at Keen Lake, Waymart

The Settlers Inn, Hawley

The Summit at Masthope, Masthope

Woodloch Resort, Hawley

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