Planning a Destination WEDDING at Olde Homestead: A Guide for Out-of-State Couples
There’s something deeply intentional about couples from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who choose to marry outside their home states—especially when they trade a metropolitan ballroom for Pennsylvania countryside. They’re not looking for louder. They’re looking for rarer.
A Pennsylvania destination WEDDING can feel like rare gold: a hidden-gem getaway with real air in your lungs, room to linger, and a sense of privacy your guests can actually feel.
Olde Homestead Golf Club delivers exactly that.
Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Mountains in New Tripoli, just beyond the Lehigh Valley, this 250-acre countryside estate offers out-of-state couples a rare combination: rustic elegance with the ease of full-service planning. For couples traveling from Long Island, NYC, or northern New Jersey, it’s close enough to feel accessible, yet far enough to feel like a true escape.
And quietly, it’s also where many couples find unexpected value. You can give guests a full weekend experience—space, scenery, and service—often with more breathing room in the budget than a comparable city celebration, without sacrificing a high-end, editorial finish.
Why Out-of-State Couples Choose Olde Homestead for Their Destination WEDDING
Planning a destination wedding in Pennsylvania doesn’t have to mean complicated logistics or a dozen vendor calls from across state lines. Olde Homestead simplifies the process with all-inclusive packages that handle catering, bar service, rentals, setup, and breakdown, leaving you free to focus on what matters.
The property itself does much of the visual work. A 125-year-old Bank Barn with soaring beams and weathered wood. A newly renovated Carriage House with fireplaces and golf course views. Multiple ceremony sites, including a waterfront location overlooking the property’s largest lake. The kind of scenery that requires little embellishment and photographs beautifully in any season.
For couples coming from urban environments, the appeal is often about contrast. Clean air. Open fields. A celebration that feels grounded in place—yet still impeccably composed.
It’s the kind of “hidden gem” setting that reads elevated on camera: honest textures, generous light, and a calm, layered backdrop that doesn’t need a heavy hand to feel luxe.
The Two Venues: Bank Barn and Carriage House
Olde Homestead offers two distinct reception spaces, each with its own character.
The Bank Barn is the heritage option, a fully restored barn that seats up to 220 guests across 4,100 square feet. The timbers tell the story. The structure itself is the décor. Couples drawn to this space tend to want their celebration to feel rooted in history, with natural textures and minimal intervention.
The Carriage House offers a more refined take on rustic elegance. Newly renovated with large windows, cozy stone fireplaces, and views stretching across the golf course, it accommodates up to 225 guests in 4,400 square feet. The space feels warmer, more polished, ideal for couples who want countryside charm without sacrificing modern comfort.
Both venues carry the same unpretentious elegance. The choice comes down to aesthetic preference rather than hierarchy.
Planning a Destination WEDDING from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
One of the most frequent concerns we hear from out-of-state couples is the fear that distance will complicate the planning process. It’s a valid concern, but also one that Olde Homestead is structured to address.
The venue includes an on-site event coordinator who guides couples through the planning timeline, manages vendor logistics, and ensures the day unfolds smoothly. The all-inclusive approach means fewer moving parts. Food, beverage, tables, chairs, linens, handled. You’re not coordinating deliveries or negotiating contracts with a half-dozen vendors you’ve never met in person.
For couples traveling from NYC or Long Island, the drive is just under two hours, short enough for a site visit, long enough to feel like a true departure. Many couples schedule their engagement session at the venue, which serves double duty: you’ll see the property in different light, walk the ceremony sites, and leave with a clearer vision for your day.
The Birds Of A Feather Perspective
We’ve spent fifteen years photographing destination weddings across Pennsylvania, and we’ve learned that out-of-state couples need more than just a photographer—they need a guide. Someone who knows the venues, the light, the logistics. Someone who can make recommendations with confidence because they’ve been there, navigated it, and refined it over and over again.
Our family-led team, spanning three generations, has worked with hundreds of couples traveling from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and beyond. We understand the unique rhythms of destination weddings: the tighter timelines, the importance of pre-planning, the way family dynamics shift when everyone gathers in an unfamiliar place.
We offer more than photography. Our team includes videographers and content creators, all working together seamlessly so you’re not managing multiple vendors with conflicting styles or schedules. One shared vision, one calm presence, one smooth timeline.
By the end of your wedding weekend, most couples tell us we feel like family, which makes sense, because we are one.
That multi-generational approach means we bring both fresh creativity and decades of experience to every wedding. We know how to work with natural light in a barn. We know which ceremony sites photograph best at which times of day. We know how to keep a timeline moving without ever making you feel rushed.
And because so many of our destination couples are comparing Pennsylvania to city pricing, we’re thoughtful about helping you protect what matters most: investing in imagery that looks editorial and feels emotional, while your venue choice quietly does the work of stretching the experience further.
For couples planning from a distance, that kind of ease matters. You’re already coordinating travel for yourselves and your guests. You’re managing details from afar. Having a photography and videography team that requires minimal direction, and delivers maximum artistry, removes one significant source of stress.
What to Expect on Your WEDDING Day at Olde Homestead
The property’s layout lends itself to a relaxed, unhurried celebration. Ceremonies often take place at the waterfront site behind the Bank Barn, where a rustic gated arbor frames views of rolling farmland and the golf course beyond. The walk from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception feels natural, with minimal transitions.
One of the advantages of Olde Homestead’s countryside setting is the abundance of locations for portraits. We typically recommend building 30 to 45 minutes into your timeline for couples portraits, enough time to explore the property without feeling rushed. The golden hour light here is particularly generous, especially in late spring and early fall.
Because the venue handles setup and breakdown, your day begins and ends without logistical stress. You’ll have access to a private bridal suite for getting ready, and your coordinator will manage the behind-the-scenes details so you can stay present.
For out-of-state guests, the rural Pennsylvania setting often becomes part of the celebration itself. Many couples plan welcome dinners or post-wedding brunches at nearby Lehigh Valley restaurants, turning a single-day event into a full weekend gathering.
Why Pennsylvania Remains a Top Destination WEDDING Choice
Pennsylvania has quietly become one of the most sought-after destination wedding locations for East Coast couples, and for good reason. The state offers remarkable venue diversity, from Pocono Mountain resorts to Lehigh Valley estates to Bucks County manors—often without the same price tags you’ll find in New York City and its surrounding high-demand pockets.
For couples seeking a countryside celebration within reasonable driving distance of major metro areas, Pennsylvania delivers. The landscapes are varied. The vendor community is strong. The venues themselves often carry enough character that they require minimal styling.
And for many out-of-state couples, this is where the “rare gold” factor becomes practical: you can host a sophisticated, guest-forward getaway—beautiful setting, full weekend energy, thoughtful hospitality—while often finding more overall value than you’d expect from a city-based celebration.
Olde Homestead exemplifies this combination of accessibility and atmosphere. It’s far enough from the city to feel like a true retreat, yet close enough that elderly relatives and young children can travel comfortably. The venue handles the heavy lifting, the property provides the backdrop, and you’re free to focus on the celebration itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Olde Homestead from New York City?
The drive from Manhattan is approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic. Most couples find it an easy trip for a site visit or engagement session.
What’s included in Olde Homestead’s wedding packages?
All-inclusive packages starting at $7,000 to $10,000 cover venue rental, catering, bar service, rentals (tables, chairs, linens), setup, breakdown, and an on-site event coordinator. You’re responsible for photography, videography, florals, and entertainment.
Can we host our ceremony and reception at different locations on the property?
Yes. Many couples choose the waterfront ceremony site and then move to either the Bank Barn or Carriage House for the reception. The venue offers flexibility in designing your celebration.
Is there lodging on-site for out-of-state guests?
Olde Homestead does not offer on-site accommodations, but the Lehigh Valley has numerous hotel options within 15 to 20 minutes of the venue. Your coordinator can provide recommendations.
What time of year photographs best at Olde Homestead?
The property is beautiful year-round, but late spring (May and June) and early fall (September and October) offer the most temperate weather and lush landscape colors. Winter weddings in the barn carry a particularly intimate quality.
How many guests can Olde Homestead accommodate?
Both the Bank Barn and Carriage House can host 220 to 225 seated guests comfortably. For smaller celebrations, the venue also offers options for more intimate gatherings.
Planning a destination wedding in Pennsylvania, particularly at a property like Olde Homestead, requires less coordination than you might imagine. The combination of full-service planning, historic beauty, and proximity to major metro areas makes it one of the most appealing countryside wedding options for out-of-state couples.
And when you work with a photography and videography team that has fifteen years of experience serving couples from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the process becomes even simpler. We know these venues. We know this light. We know how to make planning from a distance feel effortless.
If you are newly engaged in the Lehigh Valley and are looking for vendors that you can trust, we would be honored to work with you! Our family team can only take on a limited number of weddings each year and we would love for yours to be one of them. Please reach out to me, Tassia: at Hello@birdsofafeatherphotography.com or visit our website at [www.birdsofafeatherphotography.com].
