- 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 assembles and looking its best. Also, at this time the Mansion and grounds are neat and empty of people.
- The wedding ceremony can take anywhere on the Farm, on the porch of the Mansion, 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 carriage 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 tapes 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 comfortable 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 (tables with small plates, napkins, and forks) are strategically set up under the tent. Each station is manned by a server who continuously serves a particualr variety of food. For example, at the pasta station, lasagna and hot or cold pasta might be served, while the fish and fowl station might include lemon chicken breast 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 featuring the same food is also available. In order to minimize the lines, we would facilitate the process by having bread, butter, silverware, and napkins at the table. Salad would be provided by a server and the buffet table could accommodate a double line.
- It is recommended that dance music commence one hour into the food station period 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 most appropriate immediately following the wedding ceremony. However, we would be happy to make accommodations if you desire it during the reception.
- 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 nice finale to a wonderful wedding weekend. It is a perfect time for opening gifts, reliving the wedding over a mimosa or two, and saying good-bye to out-of-town guests.