Our Wedding Suggestions
From our experience hosting weddings at Brook Farm, we have the following suggestions, which are only suggestions:
- Persons in the wedding party, particularly the bride and groom and their immediate families, should arrive on Thursday so that they can relax and make any last minute decisions.
- We recommend a Friday rehearsal dinner or cookout held here.
- Most formal photographs should be taken prior to the ceremony when the bridal party is assembled and looking their best. Also, at this time the Mansion and grounds are neat and empty of people.
- The wedding ceremony can take anywhere on the Estate grounds, in the Mansion, or at an area church or synagogue. It is best to decide the type of ceremony well in advance so that arrangements can be made with the minister, priest, rabbi, or justice of the peace of your choice. A horse drawn carriage is a memorable way for the bridge and/or groom to arrive. Also, guests can enjoy rides during the reception.
- A mid-afternoon Saturday ceremony is recommended so that the cocktail period can begin between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Light music through the cocktail hour to the beginning of the dance music is very pleasant. This music can range from Cd's to a small ensemble.
- Hors d'oeuvres are served continuously by four to six well-groomed and attired waitstaff.
- A tent is recommended for weddings of more than 60 people. Sixty is the maximum number that can be comfortably accommodated inside the mansion and on the covered front porch. Dancing in this circumstance would be limited.
- Flowers can range from Vermont wildflowers, which grow in abundance from late May to late August on Brook Farm and adjoining fields, to potted plants, dried floral arrangements, 100% fresh cut flowers, or any combination of the above.
- The food station concept is recommended for dinner. This approach eliminates long lines and allows guests to dine at their leisure. Four to six food serving stations (butler-manned tables with small plates) are strategically set up under the tent. Each station continuously serves a particualr variety of food. For example, at the pasta station, a chef may serve pasta prepared-to-order, while the fish and fowl stations may include Vermont stuffed chicken breasts and seafood newburg. It is very colorful to have meat carved to order at one station and foods grilled to order at another. Food would be served during a two-hour period. An additional server would be available to assist guests who would prefer to be served at their table. We know that the food station concept, while popular, is not familiar to everyone, so if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Of course a traditional buffet-style set-up featuring the similar food is also available.
- It is recommended that dance music commence one hour into the food station service or after completion of the buffet, whichever the case may be.
- A champagne or wine toast can be made before or shortly after the completion of dinner to be followed by cake cutting and coffee and dessert. Bouquet and garter ceremony, if desired, would follow at the next scheduled band break.
- For this type of wedding, receiving lines are not necessary but if desired, are most appropriate immediately following the wedding ceremony.
- Bands or DJs generally play for 4 to 5 hours. The end of the music is usually the end of the reception, ending somewhere between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Sunday brunch held here is a wonderful finale to a memorable wedding weekend. It is a perfect time for reliving the wedding over a mimosa or two, and saying good-bye to out-of-town guests.
