There are certain venues that stop you in your tracks the moment you arrive, and Cedar Lakes Estate is undoubtedly one of them. Nestled on 500 acres of pristine Hudson Valley wilderness just 90 minutes from Manhattan, this extraordinary property represents everything I love about filming luxury wedding weekends. Breathtaking natural beauty, sophisticated amenities, and that indefinable magic that transforms celebrations into cinematic fairy tales.
What makes Cedar Lakes truly special isn’t just its stunning location overlooking tree-lined lakes and the Shawangunk Mountains, but the remarkable story behind its transformation from a beloved 1920s summer camp into one of New York’s most exclusive wedding destinations.
A Story of Sisters and Shared Dreams
The heart of Cedar Lakes Estate beats with family love and entrepreneurial vision. Sisters Stephanie and Lisa grew up creating childhood memories on these very grounds. Lazy lakeside summer days, fresh mountain air, and white Christmases that felt like something from a storybook. When they inherited the property, they made a bold decision to transform their family’s beloved retreat into a luxury destination that honors its camp heritage while providing sophisticated modern amenities.
The property once served as Camp Minisink, bringing joy and adventure to children for generations. Now, under the sisters’ thoughtful stewardship, it creates new kinds of magic for couples ready to celebrate their love story surrounded by the same natural beauty that shaped their own childhood dreams.
As a luxury wedding videographer, I’m drawn to venues with authentic stories, and Cedar Lakes’ transformation from summer camp to exclusive wedding estate provides the kind of meaningful backdrop that creates emotionally resonant films.
Exclusivity That Creates Cinematic Magic
What sets Cedar Lakes apart in the luxury wedding market is their commitment to exclusivity, hosting only a select number of celebrations each year, with the entire 500-acre estate reserved exclusively for your weekend. From your welcome cocktails to farewell brunch, you and your guests can settle in, celebrate, and create memories knowing there’s nowhere to be but together.
This level of exclusivity creates the perfect environment for cinematic wedding films. With sole use of the grounds, facilities, and 16 luxury accommodations, there are no distractions from other events, just endless opportunities to capture authentic moments against breathtaking backdrops.
The property operates with military precision while maintaining that warm, family feeling that makes guests feel immediately at home. It’s this combination of professionalism and heartfelt hospitality that creates the relaxed, joyful atmosphere that translates beautifully on film.
Venues That Tell Visual Stories
Cedar Lakes offers multiple distinct ceremony and reception locations, each providing different cinematic possibilities that keep wedding films visually interesting throughout multi-day celebrations.
The Mountaintop Meadow provides the most dramatic ceremony setting I’ve ever filmed. This peaceful grass clearing peppered with wildflowers offers unobstructed panoramic views of the Shawangunk Mountains, creating a natural amphitheater where love stories unfold against endless sky and rolling hills. The way golden hour light moves across this elevated space creates some of the most romantic ceremony footage imaginable.
The Lakeside Amphitheater offers intimate charm with its restored 90-year-old deck overlooking the shimmering lake, nestled in a secluded cluster of tall, wispy pines. This venue provides natural acoustic qualities that capture vows beautifully, while the vintage deck and lake reflections create timeless visual elements.
The Restored Barn represents the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern sophistication. This fully restored and temperature-controlled 5,400-square-foot space features modern floor-to-ceiling glass panels, crystal chandeliers, and handcrafted barn wood tables. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the lake and landscape while providing incredible natural light for reception documentation.
The Winter Garden transforms outdoor celebrations into intimate experiences. Surrounded by tall handmade cedar fencing with a grand entrance gate, this space sparkles under a cascading curtain of 15,000 white twinkle lights, creating an outdoor venue that feels cozy and intimate.
Luxury Accommodations That Enhance the Experience
One of the elements that makes Cedar Lakes exceptional for wedding weekends is the variety of luxury accommodations that allow all your guests to stay on property. The estate can now sleep over 200 people and offers a variety of lodging options, from cozy family accommodations nestled in the woods to clusters of luxury cabins surrounded by nature, to spacious cottages and houses overlooking the lake.
The property features 13 luxury cottages ranging from $269-$319 per night, plus additional rustic camp-style houses that can accommodate up to 42 guests across four spaces. For couples seeking the ultimate luxury, the stunning new Farmhouse offers 2 stories with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake, sleeping up to 12 guests with a full chef’s kitchen and multiple bedroom configurations.
From a filmmaker’s perspective, having all guests stay on property creates incredible opportunities for capturing candid moments throughout the weekend. Those early morning coffee conversations, impromptu evening gatherings by the fire, and spontaneous lake activities become part of the celebration’s visual narrative.
Farm-to-Table Excellence
The culinary program at Cedar Lakes reflects their commitment to doing everything slowly, sustainably, and meaningfully. Their 4,000-square-foot Chef’s Garden is a testament to farm-to-table values, as they tailor crops each season to grow produce specifically for the menus chosen by their clients.
Led by a French Culinary Institute valedictorian, the kitchen creates customized menus with bold, flavorful farm-to-table culinary creations, with most produce coming straight from the garden on property or from nearby farms. This attention to culinary excellence shows in every frame when filming reception dinners and weekend meals.
The dining experience becomes part of the visual storytelling—whether it’s capturing the magic of a meal in the middle of the garden with a full-length farm table under a canopy of string lights, or documenting the artful presentation of dishes created from ingredients grown steps away from where they’re served.
Recognition and Awards
The exceptional quality of Cedar Lakes Estate has earned recognition from the most prestigious publications in luxury travel and weddings. They’ve been named the #1 resort hotel in New York, #5 in the U.S., and #60 in the world, with additional recognition as #3 hotel in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and one of the Top 25 Boutique Hotels globally.
The property has been featured in Vogue, Architectural Digest, Brides, People, Forbes, Martha Stewart, The Observer, New York Times, and Cosmopolitan. Architectural Digest has touted Cedar Lakes as one of the world’s 9 most beautiful cabin hotels.
This level of recognition reflects not just the property’s beauty, but the exceptional service and attention to detail that creates the kind of celebrations worthy of luxury wedding films.
Creating Cinematic Wedding Weekends
From a videographer’s perspective, Cedar Lakes Estate offers everything needed to create truly cinematic wedding films. The varied venues provide natural scene changes throughout multi-day celebrations, while the exclusive access ensures intimate, authentic moments free from outside distractions.
The property’s natural beauty requires minimal enhancement—the mountain views, lake reflections, and forest settings provide stunning backdrops that feel both grand and intimate. The restored barn’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer incredible natural light for reception coverage, while the mountaintop ceremonies provide the kind of dramatic landscapes that create unforgettable opening sequences.
Most importantly, the relaxed, camp-inspired atmosphere encourages genuine connection and joy. Guests settle into the rhythm of weekend celebrations, creating the kind of authentic interactions and spontaneous moments that make the most emotionally resonant wedding films.
The Cedar Lakes Experience
What makes Cedar Lakes truly special is how it honors its summer camp heritage while providing sophisticated luxury amenities. The interior design combines earth tones, exposed wooden beams, reclaimed wood, and iron to create warmth and coziness that can be felt the minute you arrive. With meticulous attention to details, they’ve created perfect harmony between luxury and nostalgia of a bygone era.
Guests consistently describe Cedar Lakes weddings as “the best/most fun wedding they had ever been to,” praising the venue’s ability to provide “a unique, FUN and authentic experience while maintaining a level of professionalism and luxurious sophistication.”
This balance of sophistication and playfulness creates the perfect environment for luxury wedding weekends that feel both elegant and joyful, exactly the kind of celebrations that create the most beautiful, emotionally rich wedding films.
Cedar Lakes Estate represents the ultimate luxury wedding destination for couples who want their celebration to feel like a destination retreat where love, family, and friendship take center stage. The combination of exclusive access, stunning natural beauty, world-class amenities, and that ineffable summer camp magic creates the perfect canvas for wedding films that capture not just events, but the pure joy of celebrating love surrounded by everything that makes life beautiful.
If you’re considering Cedar Lakes Estate for your wedding celebration, I’d love to discuss how we can capture the magic of your weekend in a film that honors both the spectacular setting and the unique love story that brings you there. The combination of this property’s cinematic beauty and your celebration’s authentic emotion creates the perfect ingredients for a truly extraordinary wedding film.
+ view the comments
