If you’re new to me, you might not know that as a wedding planner based in Upstate New York, I loathe planning any weddings that feel generic or feel like I’m copying someone else’s art just to reproduce a certain look a couple saw on Pinterest. I think I talk about this enough because I attract couples that feel the same way and want their wedding to be unique to them. When I first discovered Gather Greene in Hudson Valley, I was blown away by how different and modern the space was. A truly unique outdoor wedding venue.
When I toured Gather Greene last spring – before the coronavirus put everything on pause – I was even more excited to work at the property and with the amazing team there. In today’s blog post, I’m going to take you on a virtual tour of one of the most spectacular wedding venues in the Hudson Valley and Catskills.
If you want to plan a luxury destination wedding weekend in the Hudson Valley – or anywhere in Upstate NY – you’ve probably asked some of these questions:
- What are the prettiest or most scenic Hudson Valley wedding venues?
- Which wedding venues work well for a destination wedding weekend in Upstate New York?
- What are the top Hudson Valley wedding venues?
- Which Upstate New York wedding venues are the most unique?
- What wedding venues are good for destination weddings in the Hudson Valley?
- Which are modern looking wedding venues in Upstate New York?
Luckily, I have the perfect property for you and, spoiler alert, it’s stunning!
You are going to want to save this for later!
How Gather Greene Came to Be One of The Most Coveted Upstate New York Wedding Venues
When co-owners and co-designers Amna Ali and Jackie Brown set out to create a wedding and event venue in the Hudson Valley, they were thoughtful and methodical in their approach. And it shows!
One of my gripes with many wedding venues these days is when people think, ‘Oh, I have this barn / home / field, I should charge people and have a wedding venue.’ Then, they dive into construction without even thinking about what their goals for the property are. Or, more importantly, what couples NEED or want in a wedding venue.
Amna and Jackie did the exact opposite of this and it comes through at every touchpoint. Prior to choosing the location, the business partners scouted multiple properties in search of a prime location that would offer their guests what they envisioned: a scenic, eco-friendly property that would create a space for community.
According to the Venue Report, the property was inspired by the Dutch word Gezellig. Loosely translated, that means, “to gather with friends in a cozy environment.”
Prior to construction, the two owners sought input from multiple vendors in the area. They wanted to understand what couples wanted in a wedding venue. But also what was needed in the area, such as on-site lodging, ample catering space, indoor restrooms, and beautiful architecture.
The result was an intelligently and thoughtfully designed space perfect for your destination wedding weekend in the Hudson Valley.
For 12 of the most intriguing wedding venues, head here.
Gather Greene Wedding Location
Gather Greene is located in Coxsackie, New York. It's set perfectly between the scenic hills of the Berkshire and Catskill Mountains. It’s only a short 2-hour drive from New York City or a 40-minute drive south from Albany airport in Greene County. When choosing a destination wedding venue, you want something that will be centrally located for guests. Gather Greene is ideal.
WANT MORE WEDDING VENUE ADVICE? CHECK OUT MY TOP 20 OVERLOOKED QUESTIONS FOR VENUES HERE.
Photography Credit: Gather Greene, Finn Rauen
Outdoor Wedding Reception Venue in Hudson Valley
Nestled among the 100 acres of rolling hills of fields and forests is the 4,000 square feet open-air pavilion. If you always wanted an outdoor wedding without the hassle of the outdoor tent, this is the structure of your dreams.
Open-air walls invite nature in and allow you and your guests to take in the beautiful vistas. They also provide shelter in case the weather turns. Hi, we live in Upstate New York. We’re not the west, so it quite possibly could rain but you wouldn’t even think twice if it did if your wedding was at Gather Greene.
Should the sun be uncharacteristically bright or you want to keep your dinner decor a surprise from curious guests (my favorite), retractable shades come down from the ceiling and create a little cocoon around the pavilion so you can truly wow your guests when they step inside.
Once inside, guests will be awestruck by the beautiful space you’ve created inside. The far wall is a blank canvas that will let your imagination run wild, but also includes built-in eye-hooks for easy installation.
The 4,000 square feet of uninterrupted space will allow you to configure your tables, lounges, and dance floor to whatever you desire. Whether you want one long table or a mosaic layout with texture and depth, you can have whatever you like at Gather Greene.
Multiple Wedding Venues for your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony, Rehearsal Dinner, and Sunday Brunch
Gather Greene also comes with multiple event spaces, making it a truly all-inclusive outdoor wedding venue for your destination wedding weekend. Couples have exclusive use of the 100-acre property from Friday at check-in at 3:00 pm (vendors can arrive earlier) until check-out on Sunday at 12:00 pm.
Depending on your style and tastes, you will find plenty of scenic options, including open fields, an intimate clearing in the woods, or their unique shale quarry pond.
These unique and flexible outdoor settings will make the wedding experience more enjoyable for your guests as all your unique events are happening in one place compared to other wedding venues that might only have one or two options, forcing you to reuse the same outdoor space or indoor ballroom.
Photography Credit: Gather Greene, Elaina Mortali Photography
Accommodations at Gather Greene
What’s a destination wedding venue without a place to stay? Gather Greene comes with 17 petite cabins for your wedding party and family. If you need more space, your other guests have several lodging options a short ride away.
According to the owners, the cabins offer “all the comforts of a tiny hotel room, in the middle of the woods. With a grand picture window, you will feel like you are out in nature, but with air conditioning, heating, and warm showers. Each one of our seventeen cabins comes with an outside deck, a king size bed, bathroom, closet with large mirror, mini fridge, and caffeine fix.”
Sounds pretty dreamy, doesn't it?
When I toured the property, I couldn’t get over how cozy yet intelligently designed the cabins were. You truly felt like you were part of nature with all the comforts of home.
These cabins are not included in the venue rental fee, but they are required for you to book if you’re having your wedding there. Couples may pay for the cabins themselves or allow guests to pay for them on their own. The main benefit to this is that you have total privacy and exclusive use of the venue.
Getting Ready Before Your Wedding
At Gather Greene, there’s not just one but TWO separate spaces for getting ready. Another pet peeve of mine is when there’s only one place to get ready. It's often assumed the getting ready space is reserved for the bride. We are inclusive at Verve and work with same-sex couples regularly. So I appreciate that Gather Greene has two spaces, one for each partner and that they don’t call them a bridal suite and a groom’s suite. Did I mention there’s plenty of natural light and mirrors? And even a shower? You’ll have plenty of space to spread out and your photographer will appreciate the natural light. Not to mention, this will help ensure your getting ready photos look beautiful!
On-Site Amenities and Inclusions
In addition to the 17 cabins and open-air pavilion, Gather Greene also comes with an expansive on-site kitchen. Your caterer will have no worry – even with up to 250 guests. When it comes to plating, some venues can be tight on space, giving your catering team headaches and requiring the rental of a kitchen tent ($$$). I'm so glad this isn't necessary at Gather Greene.
If you wish, the property can also provide their in-house tables and chairs for a fee. And don't forget about restrooms! You might think, ‘Why’s this wedding planner excited about the restrooms?’ Because some wedding venues don’t have bathrooms with plumbing, which requires couples to rent restroom trailers. While there are very nice, luxury restroom trailers to be rented, it’s never as nice as the real thing. Not to mentions, there's the added cost. I'm more than happy to never include that line item in a wedding budget again.
Hosting your Gather Greene Wedding
I think it’s safe to say that Gather Greene is truly a unique outdoor wedding venue. If you're looking for a weekend destination wedding in Hudson Valley, New York, it's a wonderful choice. From intelligent and beautiful design to on-site lodging and unique event spaces, Gather Greene is well-suited for the modern couple who wants to plan a weekend wedding experience for their nearest and dearest.
Rentals of the property start at $15,000, not including the rental of all 17 cabins (each with their own king-sized bed, sleeping up to 34 on the property).
At a minimum, Gather Greene does require all of their couples to work with a wedding planner for at least weekend coordination. 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 love working with a venue that appreciates wedding planners.
If you are looking for your Gather Greene wedding planner, I would love to work with you. I would love to make your wedding weekend a relaxing and beautiful weekend experience for both you and your guests. Soak up the time with your loved ones with the knowledge that my team and the team at Gather Greene will see to it that your Hudson valley wedding is everything you imagined.
You can fill out my contact form HERE to inquire about the availability of your wedding date. I’m so excited to work with you and will have champagne standing by!
Want more? Gather Greene is STUNNING but if you want to look at a few more Upstate New York wedding venues, check out my Venues Reports on Inns of Aurora and The Lake House on Canandaigua
Photography Credit: Gather Greene, Spoticus Photography
Fast Facts about Gather Greene, a top Hudson Valley Wedding Venue
Event Space: Max seated capacity is 250.
Total guest rooms: 17 total cabins (sleeps up to 34). Additional lodging options are 10-20 minutes away.
After Party Locations: The Shale Quarry Pond (on property).
Local Attractions and Sites: Many local breweries, wineries, and hiking trails.
Nearest Airports: Albany International (41 mins). Or, in New York, we have La Guardia International Airport (2 hours, 18 mins), and JFK International Airport (2 hours, 36 mins).
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