Our Story
The Maples Estate wasn’t built around wedding industry standards. It was built around the life we wanted to live.
For years, we both poured ourselves into work that was meaningful, but demanding. I planned large-scale festivals, events and concerts and Louis built a career as a project manager.
Somewhere along the way, we realized we wanted something different. A slower life, a more creative one rooted in home, hospitality, and genuine connection. For nearly a year we searched for a place that felt right until we found this old farmhouse in Schoharie, New York.
We didn't just see a wedding venue, we saw the possibility of creating a place where people could gather differently. Where weekends weren't rushed, where celebrations felt deeply personal. Where home wasn't just a building, it was a feeling.
It wasn't complete, there wasn't a pavilion, there wasn't even a business. There was simply a farmhouse, beautiful land, and a feeling we couldn't ignore.
Today, you'll find Louis mowing the fields, driving the golf cart, tending the fire, and welcoming guests as they arrive. You'll find me greeting couples, guiding you through the planning process, sharing pieces of our life here, and asking questions that have very little to do with weddings, because those answers shape everything that follows.
We're still doing what we set out to do years ago: creating a place where people have the time and space to truly experience one of the most meaningful weekends of their lives.
The Maples Estate isn't somewhere we show up to work each weekend, it's our home. It's the life we've intentionally built together. The weddings we host are a reflection of the life we've built here, and caring for this place and the people who gather here isn't a job we clock into, it's simply the way we've chosen to live.
An Experience That Feels Like YOU
One of the first things I tell every couple is this: There isn't one right way to celebrate.
There isn't a checklist for creating a meaningful wedding, there are only the choices that reflect who you are. That's why I ask so many questions.
How do you spend your weekends?
What meals do you dream about?
What feels like home?
What kind of experience do you want your guests to leave with?
Because those answers shape every decision that follows. Some couples dream of a weekend filled with adventure and outdoor activities. Others imagine slow mornings, intimate dinners beneath the stars, or a dance floor that stays full until the last song. There's no formula, only a wedding that feels unmistakably like you.
As your planner and creative director, my role isn't to fit your story into someone else's idea of what a wedding should be. It's to help uncover what's already there and thoughtfully shape a weekend around it.
When every decision reflects who you are, your guests don't just remember what your wedding looked like. They remember how it made them feel.
What Guides Us
The Maples Estate has a long history.
Learn more about the historic farmhouse and it’s inhabitants.
Venue Owners
-
Founder, Wedding Planner & Creative Director
Hi, I’m Katie. With nearly 20 years of experience producing weddings, music festivals, corporate conferences, concerts, and large-scale community events, I've learned that thoughtful planning isn't about creating more structure, it's about creating enough structure that you're free to let go of it.
My role is to carry the details so you don't have to.
When your wedding weekend arrives, I want you to be fully present. Laughing with friends, sharing long conversations around the table, sneaking away for a walk through the meadow and actually eating dinner. Looking around and realizing you're living inside one of the most meaningful weekends of your life.
Outside of weddings, I'm also a songwriter and musician performing as Bear Grass. I love restoring historic spaces, searching for antiques, and creating environments that feel warm, welcoming, and deeply lived in. The Maples Estate grew out of those same passions. It isn't just where we host weddings, it's the life Louis and I intentionally built together.
If we work together, my hope isn't simply that you'll have a beautiful wedding, it's that you'll leave feeling like you were fully present for every part of it.
-
Owner, Grounds
You’ll find me everywhere and anywhere during wedding weekends, making sure everything runs smoothly—from setting up tables and chairs to helping your grandma get to the perfect ceremony spot to keeping the campfire burning long into the night.
As a hands-on project manager, I handle all things property maintenance, logistics, and behind-the-scenes magic—mowing fields, tending to the trees, and ensuring every detail of the estate is in top shape so you and your guests can simply relax and enjoy. During your wedding weekend, I’m here to lend a hand to vendors, solve last-minute hiccups, and keep things flowing seamlessly. My goal? To make sure your weekend feels effortless and full of joy.
Outside of weddings, I’m a musician (I play trumpet and accordion, and anything else I can get my hands on!), and I love meeting new people, sharing stories, and being part of unforgettable celebrations.
Whether you need a last-minute problem solver, a friendly face to check in with, or someone to make sure your wedding weekend is as fun, stress-free, and memorable as possible, I’ve got you covered.
Meet the Team
-
![]()
Pearl
Coordination Assistant
-
![]()
Kristin
Coordination Assistant
-
![]()
Maccabee
Greeter & Love Bug
-
By day, I’m a marketing and communications professional, and by night (and weekends!), I step into the world of event coordination, helping to bring incredible wedding experiences to life at The Maples Estate.
With a background in branding, PR, design, and event planning, I thrive on organization, logistics, and all the little details that make weddings feel effortless and special. My role is to ensure that your vision is executed seamlessly, so you and your loved ones can fully relax and enjoy every moment of your wedding weekend. Whether it's troubleshooting behind the scenes, making sure the timeline stays on track, or adding those last-minute finishing touches, I’m here to keep everything running smoothly.
When I’m not coordinating weddings, I’m likely watercolor painting, quilting, or baking—or spending time with my Morgan mare, Velcro, competing and volunteering at local equestrian events.
I can’t wait to be a part of your wedding weekend, supporting you every step of the way and making sure your day is as stress-free and magical as possible!
-
I’m so excited you’re here! My goal as a wedding coordination assistant is to ensure that every detail aligns perfectly with your vision—so that your day feels as seamless, beautiful, and uniquely you as possible.
I thrive on problem-solving, organization, and creativity, making sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly so you can focus on celebrating. Whether it’s adjusting last-minute details, setting up decor, or keeping the day on track, I’m here to help make your wedding stress-free, relaxed, and full of unforgettable moments.
When I’m not helping at The Maples Estate, you can find me spending time outdoors with my family, reading, sewing, or diving into DIY projects. I love getting hands-on with creative ideas, which makes working in weddings a perfect fit!
I can’t wait to be part of your wedding weekend and help make it everything you’ve dreamed of!
“If only all venues, planners, and event runners were as thorough and easy to work with!”
Chuck, Hot Club of Saratoga
Featured
-
![The Boston Globe Feature]()
-
![Offbeat Wed Feature]()
-
![Featured in Dancing With Her]()
-
![Best of Zola]()
-
![Best Weekend Wedding Venue]()
-
![Best Rustic Wedding Venue]()
-
![The Knot How They Asked Feature]()
-
![Best Garden Wedding Venue Feature]()
-
![Best Capital Region Wedding Venue]()
-
![]()
Description goes here
Where Do We Stay During Wedding Season?
In our off-grid skoolie. 🚌
Yes, really.
During wedding season, Louis and I live onsite in our converted Blue Bird school bus.
Not because we have to, because we genuinely love being here. The Maples Estate isn't somewhere we show up to work each weekend, it's our home and the life we've intentionally built together.
Living onsite means we're close by if we're needed, caring for the property, setting up your events, tending the gardens, welcoming vendors, solving the unexpected, and making sure everything behind the scenes unfolds just as planned.
Most of the time, you won't even notice we're there.
And that's exactly the point.
We'll be setting up, driving the golf cart, lighting the campfire, and making sure your weekend feels effortless, while you spend your time exactly where you should be: with the people you love.
Our skoolie also reflects something that's important to us personally. It's powered by solar, designed for off-grid living, and allows us to reduce our environmental impact while spending the seasons immersed in beauty.
When winter arrives, we move back into the farmhouse, but spring, summer, and fall are spent here, caring for the land, dreaming up new ideas, and preparing for the next group of people who will soon call The Maples Estate home for the weekend.
Ready To Visit?