This historical homestead is the perfect setting for your own storied soiree. Overflowing with blossoming blooms, fragrant florals and lush landscaping it all started back in the 1700's as a family estate, later purchased by two sisters and once-upon-a-time owned by a renowned gardner. Magical Meadowburnfarm was even given as a wedding gift, you certainly don't hear of gifts like that nowadays. Is there anything more romantic than walking down the aisle on an estate that was once given as such a romantic gesture?! To sum it up, Meadowburn has certainly been enjoyed by many loving owners and is ready for you to add another chapter to it's history book.
The Scoop
Talented East Coast extraordinaire and event designer, Lyndsey Hamilton Events has a connection with this special property. Lyndsey is the very one who is unveiling this hidden gem to you, so that you may now bring the 'Secret Garden' fantasies of your childhood to your modern day life.
Our sister company, LH Estates, represents Meadowburn for wedding and event rentals. We absolutely fell in love with this spectacular space, with its lush, formal gardens and stunning landscape. - Lyndsey Hamilton Events
Style for your Setting
This idyllic garden venue with its lush landscape could be the backdrop to many stately affairs. An elegant Midsummers Night Dream themed-bash decked with glittering candles, a rustic romantic garden gathering or even a farmhouse fête. With the meandering paths and layers upon layers of plants and flowers how did Lyndsey choose a design direction for her tablescape. What was it in particular about the venue that influenced her design?
The inspiration for the photoshoot was “romantic flower farm.”We used every element of the landscape to frame the design. Our goal for the shoot was to showcase the beauty of these famous gardens, thus we cut and used the flowers grown on property. We positioned the dinner table inside the Wisteria Arbor and designed a custom “living” bar that could actually have flowers designed into the facade. We wanted the dresses to be ethereal, feminine and romantic, and Samuelle Couture was the perfect fit! The elegance and grandeur of the main house and classical elements of the gardens and property resonated the quintessential New England country home. - Lyndsey Hamilton Events
Venue Highlights
Just by peeking at the images it is easy to see why this enchanting estate would be the most intoxicating of places to host a gathering, but what are some of Lyndsey Hamilton's favorite elements of this storied space?
Meadowburn is unique, not only because it is a working dairy farm that produces amazing cheeses, but also because of its horticulturally rich history and famous gardens. The floral arrangements in the photoshoot feature dahlias that have been growing on the farm for over 100 years, and the pears used in the place settings were foraged from trees on the property. We wanted to incorporate as many bountiful elements of the landscape as possible.
History Lesson
We love a good story and we love a good history lesson. Even the most discerning of guests will become besotted with the blossoming blooms and grandiose history of this handsome home.
The history of the farm at Meadowburn begins in the 1750’s when William Willet DeKay, one of the sons of Col. Thomas DeKay, built a small homestead that is still a part of the main house today. (Today the state border runs through Meadowburn Farm. There is an old marker in the woods.) Thomas divided his acreage and left parcels to his children including what is today Meadowburn Farm to William. The DeKay family, with one or two outsiders, owned the property up until 1853.
In 1853, sisters Louisa and Mary Rutherfurd bought from 248 acres from the DeKay family that are the heart of today’s Meadowburn Farm. The Rutherfurd sisters named their home Meadowburn after the Wawayanda Creek which runs through the meadows below the house.
In 1881, Meadowburn Farm was given as a wedding present to Helena Rutherfurd Ely. Helena and her husband, Alfred Ely, began to spend summers at Meadowburn, first expanding the main house and then building a separate farm house across the road to accommodate their family. Helena planted her first flower gardens at Meadowburn in the 1880’s and embarked on her successful career as an innovative gardener and a garden writer of national renown.
In 1930, the Ely family sold the farm to Charles Henry Coster, a veteran of World War I and son of an early partner of financier J. P. Morgan. In 1975 Charles gave the farm to their nephew, C. H. Coster Gerard and his young family. Prior to his death in 2012, Coster Gerard worked hard for decades to encourage policies such as sale of development rights that would help preserve farming and the open space in the area.
Gatherings at Meadowburn
While you cannot help but fall in love with the romanticism of the history here, what types of events is Meadowburn suited for?
Meadowburn is ideal for weddings. There are various spaces throughout the property that can host each element of a wedding (i.e. ceremony in the formal gardens, cocktail hour in the sunken gardens, and dinner in the great field). Meadowburn is perfect for events that want to utilize its vast property and unique, sprawling outdoor spaces.Meadowburn is lovely for retreats and workshops, as well. The property can accommodate guests onsite in the various homes on the property.
Additionally, Meadowburn is even wonderful for an intimate dinner party that can be nestled in the gardens or situated in the lovely sunken garden. - Lyndsey Hamilton Events
The Inside Scoop
In addition to using the outdoor event spaces, we also recommend utilizing the various onsite housing options in order to create a “weekend getaway” feeling for events of all sizes.
Correspondents
Event Design & Planning: Lyndsey Hamilton Events | Photography
Shawn Connell for Christian Oth Studio | Floral Design:
Poppies & Posies | Furniture & Lighting: Revolve Furniture & Lighting Co. | Stationery + Calligraphy: Fourteen-Forty | Videography:
Reeling Films | Dress: Samuelle Couture | Hair & Make-up:
Damali NYC | Accessories: The Stylish Bride, Julie Sabatino
Super8 Video: http://vimeo.com/yayellie/meadowburn
