How to plan your Hudson Valley brewery wedding

Drowned Lands Brewery Fall WEdding

Warwick, NY

Brewery Weddings can be amazing...how do i know if one is right for me?

If you've ever hung out at a brewery with your significant other and closest friends and found yourself thinking about how perfect everything felt, that you wish you could just get married there, you're probably on to something! There is so much about a brewery wedding that can be beautiful and unique...from the great beer and cocktails, good food, chill vibes, beautiful setting, to the DIY decorations that truly fit your personality.

If this all sounds like what you're looking for as you're planning your Hudson Valley wedding, Drowned Lands Brewery in Warwick, NY, may be your answer. One of my favorite all-time breweries for its incredible beer (I've been to a few breweries in my time) and beautiful repurposed building in the scenic Black Dirt region, Drowned Lands is also an excellent choice for your wedding celebration.

Scenic spots abound, from the catwalk under its historic rafters, to the gorgeous trees and lake surrounding its quiet campus, and the rustic but modern reception space upstairs with its industrial chandelier and warm exposed brick.

Photos by Matthew Rigby Photography

Self expression through details and set up

Breweries offer a unique opportunity to capture the essence of what you love about those spaces, while also making your wedding day uniquely yours. Often, a brewery will have its own personality and vibe, and when you can make that work with your own look and feel for the day, it can be a beautiful blend of the two.

Keep in mind, this may mean that you will have to find, purchase, create, and set up more of your own details and space, but many people find this to be a unique opportunity to put a personal touch on your most important day. If all of this is exciting for you, a brewery wedding is perfect for your day.

The event planning staff at Drowned Lands is incredibly helpful and will assist with the coordination of your day. For all of the other details like the delivery of your items, and assistance with set up and cleanup, a day of coordinator/wedding planner is always a great idea. Most Valuable Bridesmaid did an excellent job helping set up this Drowned Lands wedding, see below for details!

Photos by Matthew Rigby Photography

Beautiful photo ops and the intimate wedding day you're looking for

The Hudson Valley is one of the most picturesque place for your wedding. Yes, I am slightly biased, but if you are looking for the laid-back, beautiful, intentional and intimate wedding celebration that brings all your friends and family together, it really is an excellent place. Breweries here have so many unique opportunities, and Drowned Lands is just incredible for all its gorgeous scenery.

Photos by Matthew Rigby Photography

The Challenges of a brewery wedding

Breweries like Drowned Lands are an excellent choice for weddings! If you've made it this far and are getting excited imagining how special your own day can be, you will have the best day ever at your own brewery wedding. Like anything, however, there are some special considerations.

First, check what the getting ready/prep situation is like. You will most likely need to figure out alternate arrangements because space is slightly limited in many breweries. Hotels nearby are the easiest, but if you're up for customizing your day even more, looking into Airbnbs or other rental options can be a great option (check out these two beautiful options!). This Drowned Lands bride and groom rented a large house 15 minutes from the brewery, which was where their wedding party also spent the night before and after their wedding. Besides doing prep at the Airbnb, they even hosted their after party at the house...which was an excellent idea considering it was still warm enough to use the pool at the house!

Second, take a look at the ceremony space. The brewery may or nay not have a dedicated space for the ceremony, and you may need to rent a tent as a backup for inclement weather if it is outdoors. You should also talk to your DJ to make sure that they are aware of the physical parameters of the ceremony space and that they will be able to use their equipment if you are playing music or using a microphone. Long extension cords may be necessary!

Speaking of DJ's, the reception space is another consideration. Since many breweries were not built with hosting large parties in mind, the space may be slightly smaller than a traditional venue. Make sure you discuss guest count limitations with the event coordinators and then do your best to stick to those numbers. Work with their event planning staff beforehand so that you can figure out the best way to set up your reception tables and preserve a space large enough for a dance floor if that's important to you. Find yourself a photographer who is capable of photographing under different lighting situations and will be able to work in a tight space with off camera flash for epic photos of your party.

Finally, remember that you chose this brewery for your wedding because it is going to be a perfect blend of your vibe and its own personality. Lean into it, trust your vendors, and enjoy your best day ever!