Finding a New York venue that’s loaded with rustic charm, gorgeous views and both indoor and outdoor space proved possible when Justin and Briana stumbled upon The Roxbury Barn. Tucked away in the Catskills, this sprawling countryside venue features a pine grove, a large events barn and beautiful gardens, making it the ideal upstate spot for this couple’s wedding celebration.
We recently got the full backstory on The Roxbury Barn straight from the bride herself. Read on for recommendations on the local scene and to learn more about this awesome East Coast spot.
Photography by Samm Blake 
Give us a little background on yourselves.
Justin and I met when we were 19 years old while working at a convenience store near our college campus. At the time of our wedding we had been dating for just about ten years and living together in the West Village.
Why did the you choose this venue?
We love the excitement of the city equally as much as we love escaping to the calm of nature – which is what led us to search for venues in rustic areas outside of New York City. We were instantaneously drawn to the Roxbury Barn from the moment we visited the venue. We were particularly enamored with the ceremony site in the pine grove and the aesthetic of the barn, which is styled with chandeliers and a modern bar.
What makes this venue ideal for weddings?
The Roxbury Barn is one of very few venues on the East Coast that has stunning outdoor spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception that also has the convenience of a beautiful indoor space (with restrooms!). This combination is rare and difficult to find!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?
We were aiming for a rustic chic style to reflect our love of both the city and nature. We loved the idea of black tie optional dress code for our venue. The contrast of our wedding party’s and guests’ formal attire against the back drop of the forest was as stunning as we had envisioned!
Is there anything special you incorporated from the surrounding area into the day/weekend?
We loved the town of Roxbury and the surrounding areas and really wanted our guests to get to enjoy the area as part of the weekend. We chose to host our welcome party for our guests at nearby Margaretville Bowl, which is a retro-style bowling alley with lots of character. We encouraged our guests to stay at local small inns and home rentals in order to experience a mini-vacation in the Catskills for the weekend. We also loved our caterers from Ate-O-Ate, who prioritize sourcing local foods.
Did you eat/drink anything in the area that was especially memorable?
Yes – everything from Ate-O-Ate catering is unique and delicious! Ate-O-Ate put together a barbeque rehearsal dinner for us and a non-traditional wedding reception dinner menu for us that included watermelon gazpacho as a starter! Peekamoose Restaurant is also phenomenal. Justin and I had a quiet dinner together there before the excitement of the weekend began and ended the weekend here with a post-wedding brunch with our family and close friends.
Any fun stories or moments that stand out from the day?
A stand out memory for us was ending our wedding reception with a bonfire at the venue. It was such a happy moment to stand around the fire with our family and friends enjoying the last few moments of the night!
Any tips about hosting an event here for future celebrators?
We had really wanted to have our reception dinner outside of the barn but it was a bit too cold to do this for our early June wedding. Couples wanting to host dinner outside may want to opt for a date further into the summer (late June through August) to improve the chances that it will be warm enough!
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Credits
Photography: Samm Blake of The Wedding Artists Collective | Venue: The Roxbury Barn | Catering: Ate-O-Ate | Floral Design: Boston Pollen | Dress: Lihi Hod | Tux: Reeves NYC | Makeup: La Tua Bella Beauty | Band: The Barnstorm
