Most couples planning a wedding weekend spend months tracking down the same question: what's actually included, and what do we still need to find ourselves? At The Preston Barn at Old Drovers Inn in Dover Plains, NY, that answer is unusually straightforward. Your wedding weekend runs from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, and the list of what comes with it is long enough that most couples tell us they didn't realize how much was covered until they were already booked.
Everything That Comes With a Wedding Weekend at The Preston Barn
Most wedding venues hand you a room and a list of vendors to call. The Preston Barn works differently. The furniture, the tableware, the catering, the on-site coordinator, the ceremony setup, and the lodging for your wedding party are all part of one booking.
The Weekend Buyout and What It Covers
The property is yours from Friday at 3 PM through Sunday at 11 AM. Setup happens the day before the wedding. Cleanup extends into the morning after. Nobody is rushing you out, and nothing depends on a tight turnaround between events.
Exclusive use of the barn and grounds is included for the full weekend. The bridal suite is included for two nights with a complimentary breakfast. The stone patio, tented lawn area, restrooms, sound system, and TV are all part of the booking.
Tables, Chairs, Linens, and Everything on Them
Ten farm tables and fourteen round 72-inch tables are included. All linens come with a napkin and linen color options. Wood cross-back chairs with cushions are provided. Flatware, china, and glassware are included for up to 220 guests. The venue coordinates seating layouts directly with you, so the floor plan reflects your event rather than a standard template.
The Ceremony, the Rehearsal, and How the Day Flows
The on-site ceremony space includes chairs and an arbor. A guided rehearsal takes place the evening before, so the wedding party walks through the sequence while it's still calm. The wireless PA system carries the ceremony audio clearly without a separate equipment rental.
From ceremony to cocktail hour on the 40 by 50 foot stone patio, then into the barn for dinner and dancing, the flow between spaces is natural. Guests move through the property rather than waiting in one room while another gets reset.
The Food and Beverage Package
All food and beverages come from the in-house culinary team at Old Drovers Inn. The commercial kitchen is Board of Health approved and equipped with a grill area, cold prep station, and walk-in cooler and freezer, using local and fresh ingredients throughout.
The dinner reception package includes a one-hour cocktail hour with passed hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast or champagne wall greeting, two signature drinks, and a five-hour open bar with soft drinks and water included. Dinner covers salad and rolls with butter, three entree selections, one starch side, seasonal vegetables, assorted cookies, and a coffee station. The culinary team can customize menus to meet specific dietary needs and wants, arranged during planning with your coordinator.
The Coordinator Who Runs It With You
An on-site coordinator is with you from the first site visit through the end of the event. That's not a day-of introduction. It's the same person who walked the space with you, shaped the floor plan, and worked through the menu choices. On the wedding day, they manage the timeline so you're not tracking anything.
A list of trusted wedding professionals is provided, and outside vendors are welcome with the required insurance documentation.
On-Site Lodging Included With the Weekend
Old Drovers Inn, a six-room historic bed and breakfast on-site, is included in the site fee. Each room has a private bath, and the sitting room, library, and formal dining areas give the wedding party a comfortable home base across the weekend. All Inn guests receive complimentary breakfast.
The Carriage House, directly across the street, offers six bedrooms (four with private baths and a two-bedroom suite with a shared bath) and a small dining and sitting room. Carriage House guests also receive breakfast at the Inn.
Conclusion
A wedding weekend at The Preston Barn covers the ceremony, the reception, the rehearsal, lodging for the wedding party, all furniture and tableware, in-house catering and bar, and a coordinator who stays with you from first visit to final send-off. The weekend buyout from Friday through Sunday means the property works around your schedule, not the other way around.
To see what's included at each package level, download the pricing guide or schedule a tour.
FAQs
What does the weekend buyout include?
Exclusive use of the barn and grounds from Friday at 3 PM through Sunday at 11 AM, with the bridal suite for two nights, all furniture, tableware, ceremony setup, wireless PA system, sound system, stone patio, tented lawn area, and on-site coordinator.
Is lodging included?
Old Drovers Inn (six rooms with private baths) is included in the site fee, with complimentary breakfast. The Carriage House (six bedrooms) is available across the street, also with breakfast included. Preston House, the Farm House, and the Mountain Cabin are available at additional cost.
Can the menu be customized?
Yes. The culinary team can adjust menus for specific dietary needs and wants, coordinated with your on-site coordinator during planning.