The Power of Flowers
Flowers: @twindahlias
Designing Your Wedding with Intention & Impact
Thoughtfully planned florals for your Hudson Valley New York wedding.
As a wedding planner in Upstate New York and the owner of The Maples Estate, I’ve seen firsthand how florals can completely transform a space. They bring color, life, scent, texture, and personality to a celebration—serving as the thread that ties your vision together. Whether you’re drawn to simple greenery or dramatic installations, florals are one of the most powerful tools we have in shaping a truly memorable experience.
Here’s what I always walk couples through when planning their floral design—plus tips for creating visual impact while staying true to your values and budget.
Floral Design That Fits Your Vision & Budget
Floral arrangements don’t have to be extravagant to be impactful. With the right approach and intentional placement, even minimal florals can feel thoughtful and elevated.
✔ Simple & Cost-Effective Floral Designs
If you're hoping to be mindful of your floral budget, I often recommend smaller centerpieces, bud vases, or greenery-forward designs. Potted plants or herbs are another beautiful, natural choice—and they can double as favors your guests will actually use.
✔ Statement Floral Pieces
If florals are a top priority, we can help you invest in one or two high-impact designs—think a ceremony arch, a hanging floral moment, or dramatic aisle arrangements that can later be reused in your reception space.
✔ Over-the-Top Floral Installations
For couples who love a big design moment, lush floral chandeliers, immersive floral walls, or a floral-clad reception entrance create a show-stopping atmosphere that guests won’t forget.
Florals: @twindahlias
Where to Invest & Where to Save
As part of the planning process at The Maples Estate, I help couples focus their floral budget where it matters most—making sure your vision and values stay at the center of every decision.
Where to Invest:
✔ Ceremony Backdrop: Whether it's a floral arch, a greenery installation, or large ground arrangements framing your vows, this is a high-impact area that will be heavily photographed.
✔ Head Table or Sweetheart Table: A floral-forward design here ensures a stunning focal point for photos.
✔ Hanging or Suspended Arrangements: If you want an upscale, immersive look, floral chandeliers or hanging centerpieces create a luxurious feel.
✔ Lush Entrance Installations: Create a wow moment at dinner with a wall installation behind the bar or placed behind your sweetheart table.
Where to Save:
✔ Repurpose Ceremony Flowers: Move aisle arrangements to line your reception entrance or bar, and rearrange your ceremony arch behind your sweetheart table for a second life.
✔ Mix Floral & Non-Floral Elements: Candles, fabric draping, and vintage decor can add elegance without additional floral costs.
✔ Opt for Greenery-Heavy Designs: Lush greenery is cost-effective and textural, creating a full, romantic feel without relying on premium blooms.
✔ Smaller Centerpieces: Instead of large arrangements, use bud vases or clusters of seasonal blooms to create an intimate and effortless look.
Flower Grower: @littleannsflowers — Arrangements by client
Sustainable Floral Choices for an Eco-Friendly Wedding
One of the values we hold close at The Maples Estate is sustainability. As a planner, I’m always looking for ways to bring intention into every design choice—especially with florals. Florals are naturally beautiful, healthy for insects and pollinators and they don’t have to come at a cost to the environment. Consider these eco-conscious floral ideas to align with your values:
✔ Choose Seasonal & Locally Sourced Blooms
Work with local cut flower growers who prioritize sustainability and organic farming practices.
Opt for flowers that are in season to reduce the environmental footprint of imported blooms.
✔ Compost Florals After the Wedding
Instead of letting your florals go to waste, arrange for composting so they return to the earth naturally rather than ending up in a landfill. Some florists offer this as part of their services!
✔ Repurpose & Reuse
Donate your flowers post-wedding to hospitals, nursing homes, or local organizations that will continue to enjoy them.
Use potted plants, herbs, or dried florals that guests can take home as keepsakes.
Rearrange ceremony florals for your reception decor instead of ordering separate pieces.
✔ Ditch Floral Foam
Ask your florist to use foam-free mechanics (like chicken wire or reusable floral structures) rather than traditional floral foam, which is harmful to the environment.
Florist: @goodefarm
Bringing Your Floral Vision to Life at The Maples Estate
At The Maples Estate, floral design is never an afterthought—it’s a core part of the planning process. As your planner, I guide you through every step, from setting a floral budget to sourcing the right team, prioritizing what matters most to you. Whether your style is bold and modern or soft and romantic, we’ll create a cohesive floral experience that enhances your wedding weekend from start to finish.
Let’s create something beautiful together.
Learn more about what it’s like to plan your wedding with us and explore what’s included in our wedding package.
Farmhouse Sleeping Arrangements. Room by Room
The Maples Estate specializes in weekend long celebrations so you have plenty of time to relax and connect with your loved ones in meaningful ways!
That’s why we include a three night, four day stay in our 1855 colonial farmhouse in each of our wedding packages.
You are welcome to invite up to 17 guests to stay in the farmhouse with five private bedrooms, a bunk room, additional beds, three restrooms, get ready room, kitchen, double parlor and bar room. Your seriously awesome wedding will be the talk of the town for years to come! Wondering where everyone can sleep and what to expect from the house? Find out below with the house layout and images by room.
Bedroom 1
One Queen Bed
Windows facing the front of the house and located across from the get ready room.
Television
Bedroom 2
One Double / Full Bed
One Twin Bed
Connection to laundry room and across from the largest bathroom.
Television
Bedroom 3
One Queen Bed
Private balcony and next to the largest bathroom.
Bedroom 4
One Double / Full Bed
Located in the back section of the house with jack and jill bathroom connecting to back room.
Bedroom 5
One Queen Bed
Located in the back section of the house with jack and jill bathroom connecting to another bedroom. Best views upstairs.
Bunk Room
Four Double / Full Beds
One Queen Bed
Located above the garage and off of the get ready room.
Living room setup with large television.
Laundry Room
One Twin
Connected to bedroom 2
Get Ready Room
6 Makeup / Hair Stations with Mirrors
Located in the front of the house and connected to the bunk room.
Largest Bathroom
Toilet
Shower
Three Sinks
Stocked with towels, extra toilet paper, hair dryer, makeup removal wipes, travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, tooth brushes, etc.
Jack & Jill Bathroom
Toilet
Shower
Sink
Stocked with towels, extra toilet paper and makeup removal wipes.
Downstairs Bathroom
Toilet
Shower
Sink
Stocked with towels and extra toilet paper.
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Six Burner Range + Stove
Double Ovens
Dishwasher
Sink
Microwave
Coffee Maker
Toaster Oven
Stocked with plates, bowls, cups, mugs, utensils, pots, pans, cooking utensils, spices, etc.
Double Parlor
Three Standard Size Sofas
One Sleeper Sofa
Piano + Guitar
Record Player
Bar Room
Small Bar Setup
Connected to the grand veranda and kitchen. Great for rehearsal dinners or small gatherings as well as brunch buffet.
Layout & Property Flow
More planning inspiration!
We're Engaged!! What do we do now?
Congratulations!!!
You’re engaged!!! This is such a fun time to celebrate!
Take in the moments, share the news with friends and family and enjoy each other’s love!
Chances are, planning events is not your day job (like it is for me!) so where do you start? When you have sufficiently celebrated this incredible decision and shared the news with your loved ones, there are a few things to start talking through before you begin planning your design, searching for a venue or locking in your vendors.
First things first…
What is my budget?
Setting your wedding budget is step number one when it comes to planning your wedding. Every choice you make will lead back to this decision and it will help you determine all aspects of your wedding from your guest count to venue choice, vendors, experiences and more.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Who’s footing the bill? Will you and your fiancé be covering costs yourselves? If so, what amount do each of you have available to allocate to your wedding budget? Do you have a gift coming from a family member or friend that will add to your wedding fund? Though it can be awkward to talk about money, it’s so important to have these honest conversations and set expectations ahead of time.
Are there any pieces of the wedding that will be covered for you? Sometimes a family member or friend will offer to cover specific costs of your wedding such as your wedding attire, the rehearsal dinner, maybe you have a friend that is a florist or cake designer. Think through any specific gifts so you can accurately determine your wedding budget. When it comes to gifts of service, make sure you can rely on that person offering the service. If you are not sure, politely decline and hire someone else!
What is included in your budget? Every wedding budget is going to be different, since it is based on the specific vision you have for your wedding. However, there are many common items that couples choose to include in their wedding budget. Some of these more common items include a venue, wedding planner, photographer, food, florals, hair & make-up, officiant, rentals such as a dance floor, linens, table settings, etc., entertainment, signage, transportation, invitations and your wedding attire.
This may sound overwhelming, which is why we have included a template budget that you can copy into your own document to start editing. Add in your preferred budget at the bottom and start filling in some numbers to get an idea of where you might like to spend your money. Maybe you love florals and want to go all out here and cut back somewhere else, or maybe you know you want to work with a specific caterer or photographer. Here is where you can start to customize your budget based on your specific wedding vision and responses from vendors.
HERE is that budget template that you can copy to edit.
The next big questions is…
Who do I want to celebrate with?
Once you have determined your budget, you are going to want to think through your guest list. Maybe you have a smaller budget and want to trim your guest list to keep costs low. Maybe you have a HUGE family and a ton of friends that you just cannot pare down. This is such an important question since it will help determine what venue you can celebrate at. Most venues have a cap on the number of people they can accommodate, and some venues even have minimums on the number of guests required to attend. These venues with minimums usually offer on site catering, and therefore you will pay for a specific number of guests even if they do not attend. We do not have a minimum at The Maples Estate, though we do cap weddings at 200 guests.
Start creating that list of must have people at your wedding! Then think through those that may not be able to attend. There is usually some drop off from your invite list and often these includes individuals that will need to travel long distances to get to your wedding, maybe they have children and it’s harder for them to get away, or even a crazy job that is demanding of their time. Keep this in mind as you are looking at venues!
And now you wonder…
When do I get married?
There are a lot of things to think through when it comes to setting a date. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself.
Do you love the fall or maybe you enjoy the summer cocktail vibe? Have you always dreamed of a winter wedding or love the refresh of the spring?
Do you absolutely hate sweating or maybe you are always cold?
Do you have a lucky number or favorite holiday?
Is there a time of year or specific date when you know your must have people are not available?
Do you know that your best friends are getting married on a specific date and you need to set your date accordingly to ensure you can attend?
Does your budget require you to look at off peak dates?
Do you want all the time you can get to plan your wedding or maybe you just want to put a ring on it like, yesterday?
Are you in the military or have a demanding job that you will need to work your date around?
All these questions can help determine what time of year or specific date(s) might be best for your wedding celebration! Remember to be flexible as your dream venue or dream vendors may not be available this date. It’s always good to have a couple back up dates just incase!
Now ask yourself…
Where should I get married?
This is not just a question of venue, but also the location and setting that suites your vision.
Do you love the beach? The mountains? The woods? Historic buildings? Farm life? City life?
Do you love to gamble at the casino? What about adventure? Maybe you love intimate quality time with your family or dancing to your favorite music.
Where do you live? Where do your family and friends live? Do you love to travel? Are you connected to your hometown or have a favorite place to escape to?
Think about your personal tastes, where you like to travel, what you do for fun, where your family and friends are located, etc. This will help you to determine the best location for your wedding day, weekend or week!
I’m feeling overwhelmed…
I think I need a wedding planner!
Planning a wedding can be a challenge! If it is way too overwhelming for you, you have no idea where to start, or you simply do not have the time, consider hiring a wedding planner. At The Maples Estate we include wedding planning and design in your package. This means we work with you to make your dreams come true, without the hassle of planning your own wedding.
Now that you have all these questions out of the way…it’s time to lock in your venue!!
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