“My wedding experience at Birch Hill was incredible, and I owe so much of that to Serena and her amazing team! We started the booking process in early March, hoping for a September/October wedding date, and thankfully found one that worked. Serena was an absolute goddess from start to finish—she gave us a thorough tour of all the location options, answered every question, and made the entire process feel effortless. We knew almost immediately that no other venue would compare! Since we were on a tight timeline, I reached out to Serena frequently with questions, and she always responded promptly and thoroughly. By our 90-day planning meeting, we were already so comfortable with everything, and Serena guided us seamlessly through food choices (of which there were so many!) and other details. Her expertise really shone through when I wasn’t sure about certain things; she made it all so simple and stress-free. On the big day, I felt so confident in Serena and her team—it was like everything was taken care of before I could even think about it. I truly felt like I had nothing to worry about and could be fully present in every moment, which made the day even more magical. They thought of every detail, big and small, allowing me to simply enjoy and soak it all in. Speaking of the food—it was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had! We chose the Cocktail Style package and went with a wide range of options, including crispy calamari with lemon-garlic aioli, French onion soup, cider bacon-wrapped chicken, pulled pork wonton bites, and mini grilled cheeses with tomato soup shooters, among others. Every single bite was phenomenal! The prime rib was cooked to perfection, and the mashed potato bar and pasta station were crowd favorites. Our guests raved about the gourmet French fry station that we had later in the night. While we handpicked the items, I genuinely believe that anything else on their menu would have been just as amazing—the quality and flavors were out of this world. At the end of the night, everything was packed up perfectly and already in my car before I even stopped partying! If I had to give any constructive feedback, it would be about the bridal suite. It was a very warm day for late September, and the air conditioning hadn’t been turned on before we arrived, so the suite was quite hot initially. Other than that, our ceremony by the pond was absolutely beautiful. While the mosquitos and some goose droppings were a minor annoyance, the setting was otherwise perfect and so romantic. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Serena’s commitment and attention to detail made our wedding truly unforgettable!”

“I don’t even know where to begin. At the beginning of our wedding journey, finding a venue was the hardest thing we could’ve done. My husband and I had a specific vision in mind and had an incredibly difficult time finding a place that we loved that was also within our budget. We’re from the LI area but knew we wished to get married upstate. We must have visited at least 10 venues. Then on our way home from one, my husband found Stablegate on a whim. We looked everything over and it had the barn that I wanted, and the catering included that my husband wanted and I said “if we visit and we like it, I’m putting a deposit down the next day.” And that’s exactly what we did. Birch Hill is an incredible family owned company with so many aspects attached to it, it was hard not to fall in the second we saw it. Over 2.5 years, I never once regretted that decision and once the wedding day came and went I knew it was the right choice for us. The food is amazing and a ton of different options (including catering to my vegan guests), the staff are incredible, and the vibes are immaculate. Our wedding coordinator Jared was really the star of the show. He was super accommodating to all of our needs, organized, and just all in all a ridiculously sweet and funny guy. When our wedding day ended up getting rained out, he came up with backup plans right on the spot that honestly fit our vibe so much more than our original plan and I really truly have Jared to thank for that. Jared treated us like we were old friends that he was just helping throughout the day. He is someone I will truly forever be the most grateful for to have on my wedding day. I have heard so many horror stories about venues, and I can honestly say this is not one of them. Stablegate Barn and the Birch Hill Catering Company have my highest recommendation. And if you need a coordinator, ask for Jared. Really truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you for an amazing wedding day.”

“The Lucy Brate Barn at the Mead Family Farm is a fantastic wedding and event venue! Their attention to detail is unmatched. From the hand crafted tables to the beautifully crafted rustic barn doors, the entire barn is the definition of historic charm. The surrounding fields provide a gorgeous backdrop for photos especially as the sun sets and the strings of lights light up the cocktail and outdoor lounge areas. The barn is spacious to accommodate your guests comfortably. Best of all, the venue is right in the Albany area making it easily accessible. You will not regret having your event at the Mead Family Farm!”