FAQs
Most couples find the answers to their initial questions below. If there's anything else you'd like to know, we'd be happy to help!
What makes M&D Farm different?
M&D Farm welcomes couples who want their wedding to feel personal and connected to the place where they celebrate. They are looking for a venue that feels like an extension of who they are. We are not a ballroom, a hotel, or a country club. We are a private estate where every wedding feels at home in its surroundings, shaped by natural beauty, timeless elegance, and a European sense of ease.
A wedding at M&D Farm unfolds naturally throughout the property. Couples may exchange vows outdoors, gather with guests for cocktails in the gardens and around the pond, dine beneath the open sky or under a tent, and end the evening dancing inside the restored barn. Each part of the celebration has its own atmosphere, while still belonging to one seamless experience.
What sets M&D Farm apart is not only the setting, but the way the day unfolds. The gardens are carefully curated, every space has been thoughtfully designed, and the celebration feels refined without becoming stiff or overly formal.
M&D Farm is for couples who value atmosphere as much as aesthetics, who want beauty without excess, and who are looking for something far from the typical cookie-cutter wedding venue.
Because we host only a limited number of weddings each season, every celebration receives our attention, care, and presence, allowing each wedding to feel intimate, elegant, natural, and completely its own.
2. When do weddings take place at M&D Farm?
Weddings at M&D Farm take place from late May through early October.
3. How many guests can M&D Farm host for an event?
To maintain the intimate and private character of our events, we cap the guest count at a maximum of 150 people (including the couple). This helps us preserve the intimate, relaxed, and refined experience that makes every celebration at M&D Farm feel so personal.
4. What should we expect to budget for our wedding day celebration?
You can view our venue packages here.
Beyond our venue fees, you'll select your own caterer along with your photographer, DJ, florist, transportation, and any other wedding vendors you choose. Pricing among our recommended caterers starts at approximately $180 per guest, plus tax and service. This typically includes five hours of food and bar service (welcome station, cocktail hour, dinner, dessert service, and bar service throughout the celebration), professional staffing, tableware, and essential rentals.
As a general guide, based on the weddings we’re currently seeing and our experience, couples are typically investing from:
$56K for 75 guests
$65K for 100 guests
$70K for 120 guests
$78K for 140 to 150 guests
These figures reflect the combined cost of the venue, in-house coordination, catering, and other core wedding vendors such as photography, DJ, florals, transportation, and a stantdard tent rental. These estimates are not a quote or guarantee from M&D Farm or any specific vendor. Actual costs will naturally vary depending on guest count, vendor selections, and the scope of your celebration, as all outside vendors set their own pricing independently.
If you'd like to discuss your wedding plans or have questions about our venue packages, we'd be happy to help.
5. How do M&D Farm's venue packages simplify wedding planning?
Many items that are essential to a wedding celebration are already included in our venue packages, helping simplify the planning process while reducing overall wedding costs.
In addition, M&D Farm's gardens provide a naturally beautiful backdrop throughout the celebration. As a result, many couples find they can focus their floral budget on personal flowers and tablescapes rather than extensive ceremony or reception floral installations.
6. How many hours does the Day of Event Site Rental package cover?
The Day of Event Site Rental includes up to a 13-hour rental window for a 6-hour wedding celebration. The 6-hour period begins at pre-ceremony time, which starts 30 minutes before the ceremony itself. Check-in begins at 10:00am, and check-out is by 11:00pm, when all events must end to comply with town ordinances.
The 13-hour rental period allows ample time for vendor setup and breakdown. When possible, we also allow for pre-setting the day before the event, depending on the schedule. Vendors are welcome to stay after the event to pack up comfortably.
7. Can we bring in vendors who aren’t on your preferred list?
Absolutely! Once couples sign with us, we share our curated vendor list, but we’re happy to work with your own vendor preferences too.
We do pay special attention when it comes to catering, mainly because of the higher level of liability involved. The caterer hired for the day must provide and serve both food and alcohol, and they must own a valid New York State full liquor license.
8. What’s the plan in case of rain?
M&D Farm has a well-established rain plan. It is designed to remain flexible throughout the day because rain can come and go.
If rain is forecast at the time of your ceremony, it is typically moved inside our restored 1940s barn. If rain continues, cocktail hour naturally flows throughout the barn, its covered overhang, and our Speakeasy Bar, while dinner takes place under a tent in the Dining Courtyard. The celebration then continues with dancing in the barn. Of course, if the rain stops at any point during the celebration, the event naturally expands throughout the property once again.
We recommend reserving a tent in advance by placing a deposit with the rental company. However, this doesn't mean you'll necessarily need to use it. Couples can wait until 72 hours before the wedding to make their final decision based on the forecast.
Tent pricing varies depending on the style and size selected.
View photos of our rain plan here.
9. How do the gardens look in my preferred wedding month?
M&D Farm is beautiful throughout our wedding season, from late spring through early fall. As the season progresses, however, the gardens naturally evolve, with different flowers, colors, and textures appearing each month.
If you're considering a particular time of year, the galleries below will give you a better sense of how the property looks throughout the season:
10. What is the temperature in Westerlo during M&D Farm’s wedding season?
Westerlo generally enjoys a mild climate throughout our wedding season, with comfortably warm days and refreshing nights. July is typically the warmest month, though it rarely reaches the high temperatures of the city and reliably cools down by late afternoon or early evening. The beginning and end of the season tend to bring cooler nights compared to the rest of the calendar.
11. What are the accommodation options around M&D Farm?
There are several accommodation options nearby. While most couples choose to block rooms in Albany (about 25 minutes away) and/or Hudson (about 35 minutes), there are also smaller hotels, inns, and Airbnb rentals much closer to M&D Farm. It really depends on the overall experience you'd like to create for your guests and where you'd like your closest family and friends to stay.
Most couples choose to provide shuttle transportation for their guests, with only a small number of guests typically arriving by car. Our vendor list also includes recommended lodging and transportation companies experienced with M&D Farm events.
12. Is M&D Farm pet friendly?
We love pets and know they’re part of the family! With prior approval, pets are welcome to be part of your celebration for a small additional fee per pet (maximum of two). This helps us ensure the property remains well cared for and the event flows smoothly for everyone, two- and four-legged guests alike.
13. How can I secure a date at M&D Farm?
Booking your date is simple. Once you're ready to move forward, we'll prepare your contract with your details already completed, making the process quick and straightforward.
Site visits are available during our open season. If you're planning during the winter months, we're happy to guide you through the property with photos, videos, and phone or FaceTime conversations until you're able to visit in person.
Our payment schedule is:
25% due at signing.
25% due 30 days later.
Remaining balance and any additional fees due 120 days before the wedding.