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?
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. 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.
The M&D Farm experience unfolds across a myriad of distinct garden rooms and spaces. Each couple can shape the flow of their wedding and decide when different spaces are revealed. Guests can then explore and revisit their favorite spots throughout the evening.
We host only one wedding per weekend, on Saturdays. The entire property is reserved exclusively for your wedding that day, just for you, your guests, and your vendors.
2. 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:
Weddings at M&D Farm take place exclusively on Saturdays, from late May through early October.
4. 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.
5. What should we expect to budget for our wedding event?
Your payment to M&D Farm covers our Day-Of Event Site Rental and everything it includes ($16,500 plus tax).
For your wedding vendors, you can choose from our list of recommended professionals or bring vendors you already have in mind.
Catering Expectations: Among our recommended caterers, pricing currently starts at approximately $180 per guest (plus tax & service). This includes 5 hours of food and full bar service, professional staffing, and essential catering rentals.
A professional wedding coordinator is required for all events, with our in-house planning assistance and full wedding-day coordination services available at an additional cost.
You can explore M&D Farm's venue rental package, additional options, and applicable fees here on our website.
6. How does M&D Farm simplify wedding planning?
Because you're celebrating surrounded by beautiful gardens, additional floral arrangements are entirely up to you. Couples typically focus on personal flowers, dining table settings, and any other personal touches they'd like to add, since our spaces are already thoughtfully designed.
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. How much time do we need to plan our wedding at M&D Farm?
A wedding at M&D Farm can be comfortably planned even in a few months, as long as the date you've chosen is available.
The timeline moves at the speed of your decisions. Couples who come in with a clear sense of what they want (and what they don't) move smoothly, because they're ready to commit to a vendor once it clicks. When working with our coordination team, we'll help keep the planning process organized and on track from day one. No matter how far away your wedding is, we recommend beginning the planning process right when you sign with us, rather than waiting until later to get started.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
Still have questions? We’d love to help. Get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer them. Every detail matters as you envision your day.
