Cost of a Destination Wedding
Planning a destination wedding at The Maples Estate?
Let’s talk about what it really costs—without the guesswork.
If you’re searching for an honest, transparent guide to the cost of a destination wedding in Upstate New York, you’re in the right place.
Planning your wedding is incredibly exciting. It can also feel overwhelming when you’re trying to understand what goes into your investment, especially when you’re envisioning something elevated, intentional, and entirely your own.
At The Maples Estate, we specialize in design-forward, weekend-long wedding celebrations that feel like home — laid-back, beautiful, and full of meaningful moments. Our package is intentionally transparent, and full-service planning with venue owner Katie as your creative director is built in from the beginning. You won’t find cookie-cutter templates or surprise fees here. Every celebration is tailored to your vision, guest count, and priorities.
What Does a Destination Wedding at The Maples Estate Cost?
When couples research the cost of a destination wedding, they’re often comparing numbers across cities and venues without clear context.
Recent industry data helps frame the conversation. According to Zola’s most recent wedding cost guide, a 150-guest wedding in New York City averages around $99,000. In Boston and Los Angeles, weddings often land between $80,000 and $100,000 for a single-day event. And that’s for one day.
Most of our couples are traveling from metropolitan areas like NYC, Boston, and LA — markets where elevated vendor teams, thoughtful design, and seamless guest experiences are already expected. Many of the vendors we collaborate with regularly also travel from New York City and other urban markets, bringing a higher level of artistry, service, and production.
At The Maples Estate, we are not designing a one-day ballroom event. We are curating a private, immersive weekend destination wedding experience in Upstate New York’s Hudson Valley.
Because of this structure, the cost of a destination wedding at The Maples Estate typically ranges between $100,000 and $300,000+, with most celebrations thoughtfully landing between $150,000 and $200,000 depending on guest count, design direction, and overall vision.
We take stewardship of your wedding investment seriously. As your wedding planner and creative director, Katie curates a hand-selected vendor team aligned with your style, values, and priorities — ensuring your wedding weekend feels cohesive, elevated, and authentically yours.
Here’s a breakdown to help you build a budget with confidence:
Venue, Planning & Lodging: $53,000
The Maples Estate is the heart of your wedding weekend and includes:
Exclusive Use of the Estate | $24,000 Value
From Thursday to Sunday, the entire 12.5-acre estate is yours. No sharing the space, no interruptions, no rush.
Your ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, late-night moments, rehearsal dinner, welcome party and slow mornings all unfold naturally across the grounds. Because everything happens in one place, your weekend feels cohesive, calm, and deeply intentional. Lawn games, campfires, golf cart transportation, venue and planning staff, and all taxes are included, so you’re free to be present while we handle the logistics.
Private Farmhouse Lodging for 17 Guests | $9,000 Value
This isn’t a hotel, it’s your wedding house.
For three nights, your closest people live the weekend with you: morning coffee in pajamas, shared meals in the kitchen, laughter on the porch, quiet moments before the ceremony, and late nights unwinding together. By keeping the farmhouse intimate, the space becomes a grounding home base. A place where nerves settle, connections deepen, and memories are made in the in-between moments that guests remember long after the wedding ends.
Full-Service Wedding Planning & Creative Direction | $20,000 Value
You’re not just booking a venue — you’re gaining a creative director and full-service planning partner guiding your entire weekend experience with clarity and intention.
I’m with you from the very beginning , guiding every decision with clarity, care, and intention. From shaping your design vision and building a cohesive vendor team to managing timelines, logistics, and the full weekend flow, everything is handled. On your wedding weekend, my team and I are onsite ensuring things run smoothly so you can relax, stay present, and actually enjoy the experience you’ve spent so long dreaming about.
Food, Drinks & Service: $10,000 - $80,000+
Food and drink are at the heart of any great celebration. Depending on your guest count and culinary goals, your catering package might include:
Welcome drinks, cocktail apps
Plated dinner, family style, buffet or even food trucks
Full bar or curated beverage menus
Late night snacks, dessert stations
Welcome party or farewell brunch, etc.
We’ll help you prioritize where it matters most (a fun taco truck? A seated farm-to-table dinner? Wood fired food? An ice-cream and pizza social?) and connect you with trusted pros who understand the Maples experience.
Caterers will range from $50 - $500 per person though our clients most often spend $250-300 per person for a full service caterer on their wedding day (food, beverages, staffing). Keep in mind, this may or may not include the cost for linens, cutlery, table and barware, alcohol or even service staff, so we will review your contract thoroughly to confirm all that’s included in the price before booking. Service charges, taxes and gratuity are often billed separately.
Design, Florals & Décor: $5,000 - $50,000+
Your style sets the tone. Whether you envision a romantic garden aesthetic, eclectic color story, or something minimal and boldly modern, we’ll guide you in curating vendors that align with your vision and budget. You might invest in floral design, custom signage, tabletop rentals, lighting, and furniture; as much or as little as you want to bring your vision to life.
Many of our clients spend between $10,000 and $25,000 on these elements, though a minimal design may be closer to $5,000 and a lux client may spend $100,000+.
Photography, Videography & Social Content: $6,000 - $40,000
Photography and videography are more than just documentation, they’re storytelling. Whether you're drawn to romantic, dark and moody, light and bright or a candid, documentary style photographer, we’ll help you find the perfect fit for limited or full weekend coverage.
Most of our couples spend $6,000–$20,000+ for photography, depending on hours of coverage, days of coverage and style.
Adding videography typically doubles that investment.
Some also opt for a social media content creator to capture behind-the-scenes or real-time moments.
Your visual team should be one that you trust completely as they will be with you through the most intimate and celebratory parts of your weekend.
Entertainment: $4,000 - $50,000+
Whether you’re envisioning a DJ, string musicians or a live band, entertainment sets the tone for your entire celebration.
DJ Services: Typically priced between $4,000 and $10,000, a DJ can provide the versatility to curate your favorite songs and keep the energy high throughout your celebration. Many DJs offer add-ons like photo booths, lighting or props, which can increase the total cost.
Live Band: For a more dynamic experience, a live band can bring the energy. Prices for a 10-piece band usually range from $7,500 to $30,000+. Keep in mind that if the band is traveling from outside the area, lodging expenses (usually starting around $250/night) may be an additional cost.
Extras: $5,000 - $100,000+
Capture the magic and set the tone with the right vendors:
Hair & makeup: $85 - $200 per attendant per service, bride $250-$800 + trial + travel
Transportation: $1,000 - $5,000
Stationery: wide range
Attire: wide range
Specialty rentals: wide range
Welcome Bags: wide range
These costs depend on how you want to celebrate—and we’ll help you find just the right fit.
Why the Cost of a Destination Wedding Is Higher Than a Local One-Day Event
A destination wedding weekend is fundamentally different from a traditional single-day celebration.
You are hosting:
• Three nights of private estate access
• Multiple gatherings across the weekend
• Onsite lodging for your inner circle
• A curated vendor team
• Full-service planning and production
• A guest experience designed to feel unhurried and immersive
A weekend wedding is not simply longer — it is more layered, more intentional, and more personal.
Couples and guests consistently leave our weddings understanding what was invested, because they felt it.
How to Stay on Target Without Sacrificing Your Vision
One of the most common questions we receive about the cost of a destination wedding is whether a budget is “enough.” The answer is rarely yes or no.
Sometimes expectations and investment need alignment.
Sometimes priorities need refinement.
And sometimes couples are already exactly where they need to be — they simply need context.
Once you become an official client, we provide a detailed and personalized investment guide based on your guest count, design direction, and must-haves so you can move forward with confidence. As you can see, there is a wide range of investments that we work with as each of our clients priorities are different.
Here’s what we recommend to stay on track with your preferred investment:
1. Start With Your Priorities: What matters most to you? Is it the florals? The guest experience? Incredible food? Let’s focus your investment there first.
2. Let Us Help: Your wedding planner and creative director (me, Katie!) is included in your wedding venue package. One thing couples often find especially helpful is how transparent and structured our planning process is. From the start, we’ll create a working budget based on the experience you want to have, then make vendor and design decisions within that framework. We’ll adjust as we go so nothing ever feels out of control or overwhelming.
3. Be Honest With Your Vendors: We work with vendors who value transparency and service over ego. They’ll help you get the most out of your investment, not upsell you on things you don’t need.
The perks of celebrating with The Maples Estate
We limit our weddings to a select number each year to ensure we provide expert high-touch service and a deeply personal planning experience. Our couples walk away saying it was “the best weekend of our lives,” because it was personal. It was intentional. And it actually felt like them.
When you celebrate with The Maples Estate, you’re not just renting a venue. You’re booking:
space to slow down and celebrate fully
freedom to select your own vendors
a true experience over a single event
a private, nature-immersed estate
three nights in our historic farmhouse with your inner circle
full Service wedding planning, design & production built-in
We’re here to help you plan a wedding that reflects your values and vision, and guide you through it all with ease.
Ready to explore more?
Schedule an IN PERSON tour or book a call with me to chat about your dream Upstate New York wedding weekend. With many of our clients living across the country and even abroad, we also offer VIRTUAL tours. I cannot wait to meet you and chat through your wedding vision!
Check out our weekend wedding package and pricing.
Interested in viewing a sample wedding investment? Check out this budget template to help you get started.
Keep in mind that your wedding budget will be unique to your vision, but to help you get started, we’ve included a couple of sample budgets in the document linked below. Simply click File > Make a Copy to personalize it and begin crafting your budget.
More helpful tips and real wedding inspiration for planning your destination wedding with us at The Maples Estate!
