Lundy Farm
- Wedding Venues
Joshua is a Preferred Vendor
Lundy Farm
- Wedding Venues
Joshua is a Preferred Vendor
Lundy Farm is a 62-acre private estate in Wawarsing, New York, surrounded by 30,000 acres of state forest in the Shawangunk Ridge corridor. It operates as a nature and wellness retreat that hosts weddings, corporate events, and group retreats. The property is about two hours from Manhattan, positioned in a part of the [Hudson Valley](/hudson-valley/wedding-venues/) where the forest is dense and the nearest town feels distant.
The property has qualities that set it apart from most Hudson Valley venues. The seclusion is the defining feature. You’re on 62 acres of private land, and beyond the property line there’s nothing but state forest in every direction. No neighboring houses, no road noise, no other events. When you book Lundy Farm, you get exclusive use of the entire property.
Ceremonies happen outdoors: in the meadows, beside the spring-fed pond, in a forest clearing, or along a wooded path. The variety of natural settings means couples can choose a ceremony site that matches the scale and mood they want. A clearing in the woods seats a smaller group in an enclosed, intimate setting. The meadow opens up for a wider ceremony with views of the surrounding hills. The pond provides a water element with reflections and a different backdrop.
Receptions are typically tented on the grounds or set up on the lawn with long tables under string lights. The property works with couples on flexible layouts. Since Lundy Farm is not a purpose-built event venue, the reception setup is custom for each wedding, using rental companies and vendors that the property recommends or that the couple brings in. That flexibility is part of the appeal: the property provides the land and the setting, and the couple builds the event from there.
Catering is handled one of two ways. Couples can bring in their own caterer at no additional charge, which is flexibility that most venues don’t offer. Alternatively, Lundy Farm partners with caterers and private chefs in the Hudson Valley who know the property and can build menus using ingredients from the on-site regenerative farm and local producers.
On-site accommodations include two villas with 13 bedrooms that sleep up to 25 overnight guests. The interiors are designed with a mix of modern finishes and period character, with common areas, fireplaces, and communal kitchens. For weddings larger than 25 overnight guests, additional accommodations are available in nearby Ellenville, New Paltz, and along the Route 209 corridor.
The property’s amenities extend the wedding weekend beyond the ceremony and reception. A swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, croquet lawn, fire pits, and bicycles are available to guests throughout the stay. The three-acre regenerative farm, an apiary, hiking trails into the state forest, and the spring-fed pond give the weekend the feel of a retreat rather than a one-day event. Pricing starts at $25,000 for off-peak dates and $30,000 for peak season, with custom quotes based on group size and event scope. If Lundy Farm is on your list and you want to talk through the photography, [get in touch](/contact/).
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The property’s landscape and seclusion create conditions that work well for wedding photography. The 62 acres surrounded by state forest mean no visual intrusions in any direction. Wide shots carry into unbroken tree lines and open sky without power lines, neighboring buildings, or parked cars in the background. That level of visual control is rare.
The variety of ceremony locations is the strongest asset from a photography standpoint. The forest clearing puts the couple under a canopy of mature trees with filtered light. A ceremony between 4 and 5pm in summer puts warm, dappled light on faces, and the surrounding trees provide natural framing on all sides. The meadow offers a more open setting with the Shawangunk Ridge visible in the background and lateral light coming across the grass during golden hour. The spring-fed pond adds a reflective surface that doubles the sky and treeline in wide shots.
For couple portraits, the range of environments within walking distance is the key advantage. You can shoot at the pond with water reflections, move to the forest trail for filtered overhead light, step into the meadow for wide landscape shots, and use the farm structures and greenhouses for architectural texture. All of these are on the same 62-acre property. A 20-minute portrait session can produce four distinct looks without getting in a car.
The reception setup, whether tented or open-air on the lawn, determines the evening coverage. A tent with string lights and candles creates a contained ambient environment. An open-air reception under the sky gives you the sunset and the treeline as a backdrop during dinner, with the stars visible overhead after dark. Both work photographically, but the couple’s choice here shapes the reception gallery.
Getting-ready coverage happens in the two villas. The interiors are well-designed with natural light, fireplaces, and communal spaces that give the morning photos a residential, lived-in quality. The private nature of the property means the couple and wedding party can move between the villas and the grounds freely during the morning without encountering hotel guests or other events.
The property’s scale is walkable, which helps with timeline management. The villas, the ceremony options, and the reception areas are all within the 62-acre footprint. Build in extra time for portraits during golden hour, but transitions between event spaces don’t require shuttles or long drives.
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– Forest Clearing: Wooded ceremony site with mature tree canopy overhead. Filtered afternoon light creates even, warm conditions. Strong for ceremony coverage and couple portraits with natural framing on all sides.
– Spring-Fed Pond: Reflective water surface with surrounding trees. Works for ceremony backdrop and couple portraits with sky and tree reflections. Late afternoon light catches the water surface from the west.
– Meadows: Open fields with views toward the Shawangunk Ridge. Lateral golden hour light across the grass. Wide landscape portraits with unbroken tree lines in the background.
– Farm and Greenhouse: Three-acre regenerative organic farm with growing beds, greenhouse structures, and seasonal flowers. Agricultural texture for detail shots and couple portraits. The greenhouse provides a contained, light-filled environment.
– Villas Interior: Two designed villas with fireplaces, natural light, and communal spaces. Getting-ready coverage with residential character. The interiors provide a different aesthetic from the outdoor locations.
– Wooded Trails: Paths into the surrounding state forest. Filtered canopy light for intimate, enclosed couple portraits. The depth of the trail creates leading-line composition.
– Pool and Fire Pit Areas: Swimming pool and fire pit gathering spaces. Works for candid weekend coverage and end-of-night fire pit portraits. The pool area catches afternoon sun.
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Understand the vendor model before you commit. Lundy Farm is not an all-inclusive venue. The property provides the land, the accommodations, and the amenities. Catering, rentals, lighting, and production are your responsibility, either through the venue’s partner vendors or your own. Some couples prefer this level of control. Others find it adds complexity. Know which camp you’re in before booking. The venue’s partner list includes caterers, rental companies, and planners who know the property, which simplifies the coordination.
Plan for 25 overnight guests and figure out the rest. The two villas have 13 bedrooms that sleep up to 25. For weddings with larger guest counts, you’ll need to arrange accommodations off-site. Ellenville is the closest town with hotels. New Paltz is about 30 minutes south and has more options. The drive between off-site hotels and the property is part of the logistics, so coordinate shuttle service or provide clear directions. The 25 guests who stay on-site get the full retreat experience; make sure your core group has those spots.
Use the outdoor spaces for more than the ceremony. The pond, the meadows, the farm, and the forest trails are all available throughout the weekend. A Friday evening welcome dinner on the lawn, a Saturday morning hike into the state forest, or a Sunday brunch by the pool gives the weekend shape and uses the property to its full potential. The seclusion means there’s nowhere else for guests to go, which is a feature, not a limitation. Build the programming around the land.
Choose your ceremony site based on the light and the mood. The forest clearing is enclosed, intimate, and works well for smaller ceremonies where the canopy filters the light. The meadow is open and expansive, with ridgeline views for larger groups. The pond adds a water element. Each option photographs differently. Walk the property with your photographer during a site visit at the same time of day as your planned ceremony so you can see what the light does in each location.
Budget for the full production. Because the venue fee covers the property and accommodations but not the event infrastructure, the tent, tables, chairs, lighting, power, restrooms, and catering are all separate line items. A wedding at Lundy Farm with 80 to 100 guests, a tented reception, and a full vendor team will cost more than the $25,000 to $30,000 site fee once production is factored in. Build a detailed estimate with your planner before signing.
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