Mariel & Jon's Orchard Wedding at Liberty View Farm in Highland, NY

We will always love spending time in New York state. It probably has a lot to do with us both coming of age creatively there, but no matter the reason we’re always inspired by the intangible energy the landscape emits. Whether it’s driving deep into the finger lakes region, navigating the Catskills without any cell phone service, or putzing through the rolling hills of the Hudson River Valley, the place itself has a soul that speaks to us in a language that just makes sense. Mariel and Jon, both currently living near our old stomping grounds in Baltimore, MD, decided to host their wedding at Liberty View Farm in Highland, NY both because Mariel grew up in nearby Poughkeepsie and because it’s just an absolutely gorgeous place to invite all of your friends and family to celebrate, and celebrate they did. Dual tishes, outdoor ceremony, live music, bonfire singalongs, Mariel and Jon planned a beautiful wedding that honored and showcased their roots as well as the future they are building together.

The venue’s owner, Billiam, has over the past two and a half decades transformed the property from a strictly working farm and orchard to a multi-purpose event space with outdoor ‘rooms’ flowing from one to the other in ways that promote curiosity and exploration. Intertwined with the spaces are vegetable gardens full of all sorts of summer veggies while the greater perimeter is comprised of the orchard itself. Extending up the hill and quite literally as far as the eye can see from the giant tree the wedding ceremony was held under are row upon row of apple trees of all varieties, and the resulting atmosphere is both earthy and insular, both vast and secluded. It fosters an interesting vibe and, combined with the later summer light at the top of the orchard towards the latter half of the day, was one of the prettiest venues we’ve worked at in recent memory.

Mariel and Jon told us they wanted an uncomplicated, cozy, and loud wedding that invited their loved ones to relax and enjoy themselves. The noise came from a band they saw live and loved, the klezmer punk band Golem, who filled the wedding with music all while being instrumental (ugh) in how parts of the day transitioned from one to the other. A marching precession to the tish, a serenade to start the wedding, folky preambles during cocktail hour, and an absolute shocker of a full concert in the barn featuring some wild covers including The Talking Head’s Burning Down the House. The band felt like the beating heart of the rest of the wedding, keeping everyone energized through the hora and closing out the night with banger after banger. Mariel and Jon looked so happy to be with one another, amongst friends, dancing. It was surreal to celebrate with them after all this time, and we feel so grateful to have done just that.

Venue/Coordination/Florals: Liberty View Farm
Officiant: Rabbi Ariana Katz
Catering: Agnes Devereux
Bridal: Wild Blooms Bridal
Dress: Enzoani
Menswear: Joseph Abboud
Band: Golem
Videographer: NST Pictures
Invites: Paper Culture