Photo by Melissa Kilner
Art lovers can get wed amongst the sculptures of Mark di Suvero at Storm King Art Center in New Windsor.
Throughout the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, there are hundreds of venues that cater to wedding whims of all kinds. But you and your significant other are different: You don’t want a barn wedding, and all the recent events you’ve attended just didn’t have that spark that set them apart. Perhaps banquet halls scream “wedding factory” to you. Maybe traditional parties just aren’t your jam. You’ve both been hunting high and low for that special place that just speaks to you. So here are some places in the area that might not be the first to come to mind when you think “wedding”—but that’s exactly what makes them perfect for you.
Opus 40
50 Fite Road, SaugertiesImagine exchanging vows in a sunlit meadow overlooking a six-and-a-half-acre bluestone sculpture. Crafted by hand—stone by stone—by professor/artist Harvey Fite, Opus 40 has been called the “Stonehenge of North America.” It is a monument to discipline and patience, two qualities that are helpful in any marriage—making it the perfect jumping-off point for years of wedded bliss. The sculpture itself is off-limits for ceremonies or receptions, but the meadow has a great view of the artwork and can accommodate up to 400. Opus 40 offers a cocktail area near its pool and fountain, and an on-site office space/cabin with a bathroom and shower for wedding prep. The space has hosted countless live performances, so it’s well-equipped with electricity and outdoor lighting for all kinds of catering, bars, dance floors, and more. Overnights are available at the onsite one-bedroom Fite House or at the four-bedroom House on Fite Road nearby. If your shindig involves 50 or more guests, you’re required to work with event coordinator Gina Maloney.
Storm King Art Center
1 Museum Road, New WindsorForget the flower-festooned wedding arbor: At Storm King Art Center, you can be wed in the shadow of one of 100 curated, bigger-than-life sculptures on a winding 500-acre landscape. Amidst the beautiful grounds, most couples choose Museum Hill, which has bountiful views of the Storm King property and the c.1935 Museum Building as a backdrop (plus access to outdoor restrooms). Events can range in size from under 50 guests to up to 350. Be aware that hosting a private event here is a benefit of membership in Storm King Art Center—meaning you need to shell out between $1,750 and $25,000, depending on the membership tier, before you can even book your day. (The good news is that, your membership benefits last an entire year.) Facility rental fees of $2,000 to $13,000 come next, followed by the usual fees for event planners, florists, caterers, and other rentals (the art center can provide a preferred vendor list upon request). But for some couples, the opportunity to have your wedding at such an iconic art center is priceless.
Mohonk Preserve
New PaltzThe Mohonk Mountain House is a dream of a wedding venue, with a price tag to match. But those in the know can celebrate their nuptials among those same mountain views, without the high cost, at Mohonk Preserve. The preserve offers two event sites on its 8,000 acres: the Slingerland Pavilion and the Visitor Center. The Slingerland Pavilion is a handicapped-accessible cedar gazebo with a capacity of 120 guests. It’s got gorgeous Gunks views, a room with a sink and counters for catering, electrical outlets, and accessible bathrooms with flush toilets and running water. There’s parking near the site, and a preserve staff member will be on hand before and during the event. The site rental fee is $5,000, plus an additional $500 damage deposit. If the open-air gazebo is too, well, airy, the Preserve’s Visitor Center is available for rentals Monday through Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. Designed with the “Adirondack Great Camps” in mind, the center is a wonder in cedar, stone, and glass. The main exhibit hall, conference room, terrace, Discovery Room, and outdoor patio and amphitheater are all included in the rental. The visitor center’s rental fee is just $1,500 and includes an onsite staff member and access to select trails around the center. For either site, renters need to buy a Mohonk Preserve membership ($70-$600+, depending on desired tier) and secure event insurance).
Bannerman Castle
Built in 1901, the stone-and-brick building perched on Pollepel Island in the middle of the Hudson River was fashioned after a Scottish castle. Surrounded by terraced gardens that are maintained by a hardy group of volunteers, the castle is a beautiful backdrop for a wedding ceremony (there’s dressing space inside to get ready pre-ceremony, but no running water on the island). And the boat ride from Beacon, on the roomy and comfortable Estuary Steward, is a treat. Bannerman Castle ceremonies can be held on a raised platform overlooking the castle and river, or among the gardens. Be warned that it’s a 72-step climb from the dock up to the island proper; however, once you’re up there, the panorama is incredible. The island hosts ceremonies only: Fees start at $6,000 for a four-hour time slot (including transportation time) during the week and can be as much as $10,000 on a weekend. Costs include chairs and set-up, staff to assist in guiding guests, and planning by Dana Dalton, who also offers a list of local vendors and venues for the reception.
Wing’s Castle
717 Bangall Road, MillbrookIn the late 1970s, visionary artists Peter and Toni Ann Wing hand-constructed a stone castle next door to a dairy farm that’s now Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Today, the Wing’s Castle bed and breakfast is a fairytale setting for a wedding. Outdoor ceremonies are magical, and there’s room outside for tented events. Apres-wedding, five guestrooms are available for overnight stays for the bridal party—including the Dungeon Room with a tunnel to an annex suite.
Four Brothers Drive-In Theater
4957 Route 22, Amenia
A wedding at Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia features all of the site's amenities, including mini-golf and movies on the big screen after dark.
How about a wedding at a drive-in? No, not a tacky Vegas-style drive-through, but a real wedding at a real, old-fashioned, drive-in movie theater. Four Brothers Drive-In boasts that “the couples that choose us enjoy the freedom to craft their own wedding experience. They are adventure seekers and march to the beat of their own drum.” And they’re not wrong: A wedding here includes mini-golf, dinner from the onsite Four Brothers Restaurant, a playground for pint-size wedding guests, a fire pit, seating for up to 200, food-truck snacks for departing guests at the end of the night, and—the best part—movies of your choice on the big screen throughout the reception. All of that is included, at a price of just over $29,000 for 120 guests. Couples can spend the night onsite in one of two Airstreams; there’s room for more guests nearby at the 11-room Millerton Inn, also run by Four Brothers.
The Ark Bowl & BBQ
42366 Route 28, ArkvilleThe Ark Bowl & BBQ opened in 2018 in a renovated circa-1960s eight-lane bowling alley. It has since grown to be much more than that, including a two-story kitchen and a huge smoker that churns out “detour-worthy” smoked ribs. A big back room has a stage that hosts live performances, corporate outings, and—you guessed it—weddings. The Ark Bowl & BBQ can cater weddings of up to 130 guests; an expansive wraparound porch that captures the surrounding Western Catskills countryside. Decor that defies description (stained glass from a church; a vintage column from a nearby bank; outdoor space that includes corn hole setups) adds a quirky feel that’s just right for eclectic-minded couples.
