If you have been dreaming of a luxury outdoor wedding, I can't wait to share one of my favorite outdoor wedding venues in Upstate New York with you: Cedar Lakes Estate.
During the pandemic, my family and I went on many hikes. So many hikes. At the end of the summer we camped out in the backyard with our kids and one other family. The kids loved it! This year, we decided to do the same thing but to go “real” camping and rough it. But due to my busy wedding schedule, we weren’t able to reserve a campsite at the state park, so we camped out in our backyard again.
It ended up being 90 degrees that day, so we were REALLY glad that we still had our kitchen and air conditioning to prep our meal and take a break from the heat.
The more I thought about the experience, the more I realized I would actually prefer glamping over camping any day. We can enjoy the beautiful outdoors but still be comfortable when we go to sleep at night.
As a planner based in Upstate New York that focuses on planning weddings from the Finger Lakes to Hudson Valley, I plan a lot of outdoor weddings.
I have the same approach to my couple’s outdoor weddings as I do with glamping. Let’s plan a gorgeous and memorable outdoor wedding, but let’s remember our guests’ comfort, too. No one likes sweating outside in the sun just for fun, and a dance floor is much more fun if there’s A/C.
When many couples become engaged, they spend a lot of time hunting for the perfect property to host their luxury destination outdoor wedding. They love the idea of an outdoor ceremony with a view of the mountains or a shining lake but they have hard time finding the perfect place that balances nature and comfort.
Surely this place has to exist somewhere, right??
Enter Cedar Lakes Estate. When I first discovered Cedar Lakes Estate in Hudson Valley, I was blown away by how beautiful and perfectly designed the property was.
Today, I’m taking you on an all access tour of the property and answering all of your questions.
Photo Credit: The Venue Report
Cedar Lakes Estate Wedding Venue
Originally a summer camp in the 1920’s, Cedar Lakes Estate has been immaculately restored by sisters Lisa Karvellas and Stephanie Baynton.
If you’ve been looking for an outdoor, camping style wedding venue with all the amenities, you might have asked yourself some of these questions:
- What are the best outdoor NY wedding venues?
- What are the best Hudson Valley wedding venues?
- Where can we have a glamping style wedding in New York?
- What are the most unique New York wedding venues?
- What are unique, camping style wedding venues in New York?
- Where can we have an outdoor, farm-to-table wedding in Upstate New York?
- What’s the best luxury wedding venue in New York?
Luckily, I have the perfect property for you and it’s stunning!
How Cedar Lakes Estate Came to Be
Some of the earliest memories of sisters Stephanie and Lisa were set on the grounds of Cedar Lakes Estate. Lazy summer days by the lake and cozy Christmases under a blanket of snow shaped their childhood.
Fast forward many years later. After college, Stephanie worked in hospitality under one of the top wedding planners in Manhattan while Lisa graduated as valedictorian of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan.
In 2011, the sisters decided to combine their passions for hospitality and all things culinary at their beloved childhood home. They spent a year crafting their business plan and building modern cottages, a stunning barn, and gorgeous outdoor wedding venues for events and retreats and opened the doors to Cedar Lakes Estate.
Photo Credit: The Venue Report
Cedar Lakes Estate's Location
Less than 2 hours from Manhattan, Cedar Lakes Estate is located in the Hudson Valley and overlooks the Shawangunk Mountains. The closest airport is Newark (EWR) at 76 miles away and a 1 hour and 35 minutes drive. La Guardia (LGA) is 88 miles away and a 1 hour and 48 minutes drive.
WANT MORE UPSTATE NEW YORK WEDDING INSPIRATION? THE CEDAR LAKES ESTATE WEDDING VENUE IS STUNNING BUT IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT A FEW MORE UPSTATE NEW YORK WEDDING VENUES, CHECK OUT MY VENUE REPORTS ON THE INNS OF AURORA , THE LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA, AND GATHER GREENE.
Accommodation at Cedar Lakes Estate
Couples that choose Cedar Lakes Estate for their destination wedding in New York have a variety of lodging options for them and their guests.
Among the newest additions to the property is the stunning Farmhouse, a 2-story house with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the shimmering lake and sleeps up to 12 guests. It boasts a full chef’s kitchen, one bedroom with 2 queen beds, one bedroom with one king bed, and 2 bedrooms with 1 king bed each.
For the night of the wedding, most often the couple will stay in the Bluebird Cottage, which comes with a grand, king sized bed, a full modern kitchen, bathroom, a heated stone floor, and indoor fireplace. The outdoor patio includes a gas grill and picnic table for late-night conversations.
One set of parents usually often opts to rent the poolside cabana, a lovely cottage with waterfront views of the pool steps from the door and overlooking the shining lake beyond. The studio style room includes a king size bed, queen size pull-out sofa, modern bathroom, and wood-burning fireplace. (Psst: You can also host cocktail parties around the pool!)
For small families, the Garden Suites are perfect. They sleep up to 6 and include two queen-size beds and 1 full-sizde bed. They also include an adorable retro-modern kitchen, gas fireplace, and tvs in every room. These would also be great for a girls’ getaway as multiple cabins are within steps from each other.
And for guests that are nostalgic for summer camp, the property offers 2 camper style options. These are for all my fellow “glampers” out there. They include rustic, knotty pine walls, simple bathrooms, but also plush Casper mattresses, and modern decor.
The second option, the Camper Cabins, takes you back to your summer camp roots but inside the most luxurious camper cabins you’ve ever seen. They include retro bunk beds to give you that “sleepaway camp” feel. But they also include freshly renovated cabins with new bathrooms, separate glass shower rooms, heat and A/C. Pristine communal bathhouses are located in each village of cabins if additional showers and bathrooms are needed.
Luxury Outdoor Ceremonies in Hudson Valley
Cedar Lakes Estate offers multiple outdoor ceremony options with a variety of different styles. First, they have an airy Mountain Top, a grass clearing with an endless view of the Shawanguk Mountains.
If you prefer something shaded overlooking a shimmering lake, they offer a rustic deck overlooking the water’s edge. Towering pines provide shade while guests watch the ceremony on Amphitheater style benches facing the deck.
Photo Credit: The Venue Report
Finally, their newest option, which was still under construction during my visit, is the treehouse, which comes with a fireplace, built-in bar, and an expansive deck.
When guests first arrive, they will be struck by the quaint yet beautiful cottages and cabins and be transported to a time when life moved slower, children splashed carefree in the lake, and summers smelled of campfires and s’mores. Sounds pretty good, right?
Are you looking for an outdoor wedding venue? Don't forget to ask these 20 questions.
Open Air Cocktail Hour at Cedar Lakes Estate
Following your ceremony, guests will be able to stroll to the cocktail hour outside the lawn of their modern event barn or take a golf cart ride. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the property also includes a beautiful, modern pavilion with panoramic lake views, bluestone floors, and an oversized fireplace for chillier nights. As a wedding planner, I naturally love a property that includes a backup plan!
Modern Barn Wedding Reception
There’s so much to love about this property, but the crowning jewel is the modern event barn. It boasts reclaimed barn wood interiors, floor-to-ceiling glass panels, open floor plan, and dazzling glass chandeliers. This beautiful space allows for an infinite number of options and a blank canvas for the imagination to run wild. It’s truly stunning and seats up to 315 guests. If you have been waiting for this pandemic to be over so you can enjoy a grand celebration, I'm right there with you!
Photo Credit: The Venue Report
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BARN WEDDING VENUE IN Upstate New York, YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER M&D FARM.
Having Your Wedding at Cedar Lakes Estate
Touted by Architectural Digest as one of the world’s 9 most beautiful cabin hotels, Cedar Lakes Estate is a stunning property to host your unique destination wedding in Hudson Valley, New York. From beautifully designed cabins and cottages, ample options for your ceremony, a stunning modern barn reception venue, and all the comforts of a luxury hotel, this property will blow your guests away.
Photo Credit: The Venue Report
Rental of this property start at $19,500 from May to October and requires a food and beverage minimum of $65,000 for the reception and $25,000 for other catering events, such as breakfasts and the rehearsal dinner.
Due to the logistically complicated nature of events at this property, they require couples work with a wedding planner. They understand that weddings are tightly choreographed productions that require a skilled professional to organize and execute in order for their couples to truly take in and enjoy the experience that they’ve planned for their guests.
I would love to work with you to make your destination wedding weekend a relaxing and beautiful experience for you and your guests. Revel in the time with your loved ones at this beautiful property with the knowledge that my team and the Cedar Lakes Estate team will see that your Upstate NY wedding is everything you imagined. If you are planning a wedding at Cedar Lakes Estate, or one of the other incredible outdoor wedding venues in Upstate New York, fill out my contact form HERE to inquire about the availability of your wedding date.
I’m so excited to work with you and have champagne standing by!
Fast Facts about Cedar Lakes Estate Wedding Venue
Event Space: Max seated capacity 315
Rental Fee: $12,500 in April and November; $19,500 from May – October
Food & Beverage Minimum: $65,000 + $25,000 for meals, rehearsal dinner, etc.
Local Attractions and Sites: Many local breweries and wineries and other attractions
Nearest Airports: Newark (EWR) (1hr 35 mins), La Guardia International Airport (1 hour 48 minutes)
NOT READY TO BOOK YOUR New York WEDDING VENUE YET? SAVE THIS FOR LATER!
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