The Wedding Weekend

Here are some of our guests' photos from the wedding weekend: Friday Rehearsal, Saturday Ceremony & Reception, and Sunday Farewell Picnic. 

Schedule

Rehearsal Dinner: Friday, June 20th, 2014, 7pm. Wheatleigh. Jackets preferred. 

Wedding Ceremony and Reception: June 21st, 2014, 5:30pm PROMPT. Hancock Shaker Village. Cocktail attire. 

(Ladies: this is your chance to wear white to a wedding! We won't judge. Just make sure to wear lawn-appropriate shoes -- the ceremony & cocktail hour will be out on the green.) 

*Shuttle buses will pick guests up at 4:15pm from Kemble Inn, Apple Tree & Wheatleigh, and at 4:35pm from The Inn At Richmond. PLEASE BE ON TIME FOR YOUR SHUTTLE! If a shuttle is full, a second shuttle will come just a few minutes later to pick up the rest of the guests. Guests staying elsewhere are welcome to take the shuttles from these hotels. Shuttles will loop to return guests to their hotels at the end of the event. Parking is available at Hancock Shaker Village for those who wish to drive.

Farewell Picnic: Sunday, June 22nd, 2014, 11:30am-2:30pm. At the Waldingers': 134 Top of Dean Hill Road, Canaan, NY. Casual dress. Perhaps even swimsuits? 

*Shuttle buses will pick guests up at 11am at Wheatleigh and Apple Tree Inn, at 11:05am from Kemble Inn and at 11:15am at Inn at Richmond, and will be looping throughout the event. The last bus will depart the Waldingers' at 2:30pm. Guests staying elsewhere are welcome to take the shuttles from these hotels. Please make use of the shuttles and do not drive--parking is EXTREMELY LIMITED.

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Why then? Why there?

A midsummer night's celebration

Our wedding falls on the "summer solstice" when the Berkshires' summer season really kicks off. Although solstice marks the first day of summer, it is also the date referred to as "midsummer." It is still celebrated in Eastern Europe as one of the most important romantic holidays of the year. The main theme is the unity of fire and water, light and darkness. 

Zhenya's favorite legend associated with the holiday: on the night of summer solstice young people venture out into the woods searching for a magic fern flower. According to legend, fern flowers only once a year and if you find the flower, it will guide you to hidden treasures. Rest assured, there will be ferns involved with our wedding day. Who knows, perhaps you'll even find a blossom or two?

Why Hancock Shaker Village

The wedding ceremony and reception will take place at Hancock Shaker Village, a living museum at the site of a former Shaker community a short distance from the Waldingers' Berkshires home. Our upstate neighbors, Peter & Petra, introduced us to HSV and we fell in love with it. In particular, the Round Stone Barn is a nearly 200-year-old marvel of Shaker architecture that still regularly hosts exhibits and houses livestock in its annex. 

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All About Hancock Shaker Village

HSV has an amazing history--so much to explore and contemplate--but at the same time, is very much alive today and has a wonderful mission: it is not just a museum but also a working farm with its own CSA program. 

It was known back in its day as The City of Peace (play with this interactive map to learn more about the site). The Shakers were remarkable architects, farmers, furniture designers, and prolific inventors. Their inventions were insightful and organically inspired, their work guided by efficiency and a close-to-nature aesthetic sense. 

The Round Stone Barn is a unique structure built in 1826 by genius craftsmen. To think that almost two centuries ago they made it so perfect for our wedding is simply mind-blowing!  

Here are some photos we took of the Barn and some information about it from the Hancock Shaker Village website:

This iconic barn was built in 1826 and originally had a conical roof. A series of improvements altered the appearance of the barn after a devastating fire in 1864. A flat monitor roof and cupola were added, as well as a manure pit. By 1870, the Shakers added a clerestory level below the cupola, providing increased light and ventilation.

The barn was used well into the twentieth century, although time began to take its toll. The building began to settle and through-cracks began to show in the walls. In 1968, the museum was able to dismantle the walls, leaving the timber frame intact, and reinforce the foundations. The walls were reassembled using the original stones. Paint analysis revealed a yellow on the exterior woodwork that the Shakers applied after the 1864 fire. This color was restored in 2009.

Visitors to  our annual Baby Animals on the Shaker Farm event find the Round Stone Barn full  of newborn lambs, piglets, calves and chicks, and can sign up for our Behind-the-Scenes Farm Tour.  -- READ MORE