Farmer's Museum wedding- Part one

By: Jessica Robinson

This past August we traveled to Cooperstown, New York to design a wedding for Caitlin and Mike.  Along with an incredible group of wedding professionals (some of the very best in the industry) we created magic.

 DETAILS:
Caitlin and Mike applied for our deserving couple contest back in 2009.  They were going through some family issues and struggling financially.  Mike was leaving his job to go back to school full time and they were living off of one income.  They are such a loving couple, devoted to their family and to each other.  We couldn't of selected a more grateful and truly deserving couple.

The setting: The Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown, New York.  They were married in the chapel on the grounds, Cornwallville Church.  Then the reception following in the barn at the museum.  The Farmer's Museum is a spectacular venue that has deep roots in New York State's rural history.  The museum is set on 120 acres of pristine farm land which has been a working farm since the 1790's.  The Farmer's Museum is a private, non-profit educational organization.

Since many guests were traveling, we created cute out of town guest bags.  We filled natural burlap bags with tissue paper, then added raspberry rhubarb jam from Lamothe's Sugar House, bottled water, Crunch and munch, rasinettes and lavender oatmeal soap from Goat Boy soaps.  I picked up prepackaged "thank you" notes at Walmart (less than $2 for 10 cards) and attached them to the handle of each bag with a wooden clothes pin.

Along with Jennifer from Cookie Creatives, we created a really awesome candy station.  She hand made caramel/chocolate popcorn, sea salt caramels, homemade marshmallows, chocolate dipped pretzel rods and three different kinds of chocolate bars.  We added maple lollipops and maple salt water taffy from the sugar house to the display.  I also made my parents famous Maple farmhouse chocolate chip cookies and placed them in jars for guests to help themselves to. (which by the way, I developed the recipe for!)  I had picked up large pickle jars with wooden lids at Ocean State Job Lot for $5 each.  The other glass jars came from Walmart (or you can get them at Target) for $10-12 each.  Jennifer also hand decorated sugar cookies with the couples monogram on and flowers.  We displayed those in vintage wooden trays amongst all the candy jars.  I picked up wooden tongs and metal scoops at Walmart.

For a little candlelight romance, the staff at the Farmer's Museum helped us hang green oxidized metal lanterns with real candles.  We used thin copper wire to hang them from little eye hooks that were already in the wood beams.  Since the ceilings were so tall, it helped to break up the space and add some drama.

Vendors who donated their products and/or services:
Jessica's Country Flowers (event coordination and floral design)
Justin & Mary Marantz
Cookie Creatives by Jennifer
The White Dress by the Shore and designer Modern Trousseau
ABC Cakes
Lamothe's Sugar House
Goat Boy Soaps
Hartford Florist Supply
First Bloom Farm