Erin and Tim describe themselves as joyfully chaotic. I have never heard two words that more perfectly summed up a couple in my life.

These two are goofballs in the best, most wholesome way. They love Catan and board games and spontaneous adventures through the Hudson Valley. They make everyone around them feel immediately at ease just by existing in a room together, and they are completely, unquestionable synchronized. Shooting their engagement session felt like hanging out with friends I’d known for years, and their wedding day at Bluebird Farm in Medusa, New York was more of the same, just with better lighting and waaaaaaaaay more dancing

May 2nd came in still a little cool, not quite fully committed to spring yet, but the sky was stunning all day. Clouds rolled through in waves, the sun kept appearing and disappearing between them, and by the time the night set in the stars were out in full force.

But it wasn’t the weather that kept everyone completely entranced at this wedding. It was Erin and Tim.

After the ceremony, Tim asked everyone to sit down. He had a surprise for Erin. He walked over to the piano and started playing, this whole medley that kept building and shifting, and everyone in the room was absolutely captivated. It ended with Married Life from the movie Up. Once the song tapered off, Tim turned to Erin and gave her a grape soda bottle cap. If you know, you know. If you don’t, go watch the first ten minutes of Up and then come back (the rest of this post WILL be blurry)

Everything about Erin and Tim’s day was intentional in that uniquely personal way that makes a wedding feel built for two specific people rather than assembled from a checklist. The centerpieces were stacks of books topped with flowers made from book pages, cozy and literary and very, very them. Tim’s boutonniere had a tiny red chili pepper tucked into it because the man loves hot food. His red socks also made an appearance. The red accents in the bowties tied everything together. Every single detail was handmade, and you feel that before you even register it consciously. The room just has a warmth to it that rented centerpieces can’t manufacture.

What made this wedding so easy to shoot was that Erin and Tim are just magnetically joyful people. It wasn’t me putting everyone at ease. It was them. They have this quality where everyone around them immediately relaxes and just goes all in, laughing through the awkward moments instead of freezing, down for every prompt, hyped up just from being in their orbit. Tim’s waltz with his mom during the mother-son dance was so beautiful and so funny. It effortlessly got every single guest hyped up for the dance floor.

Erin gave me a review that I’ll think about forever:

“My husband and I knew we wanted to work with Andrea immediately after hanging up with her for the first time. I am not at all happy in the spotlight. I hate being in front of a camera, and that’s really a lot of a wedding day. Andrea made me feel like we were just hanging out and she just happened to bring a camera. It is the most comfortable I have ever been having my pictures taken. We keep saying that our wedding day was the happiest we have ever been. Andrea managed to capture that in every photograph. If you need a photographer that will run through the woods with you, laugh with you, cry with you, and roll with any crazy ideas you have, Andrea will be a perfect fit.”

If Erin’s words resonate with you, my blog post about being socially anxious while planning a wedding could help!

Erin and Tim, thank you for the piano. Thank you for the books. Thank you for the chili pepper. You are the most joyfully chaotic people I know and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

What is Bluebird Farm like as a wedding venue?

This is my second wedding at Bluebird Farm (the first was Megan and Treyver’s wedding) and I am more obsessed with this place every time I visit. Here’s what you actually need to know.

Bluebird Farm sits on over 100 acres in Medusa, New York, with a restored barn featuring original post and beam construction dating back to 1885. It can host up to 150 guests and includes two large rooms in the barn, spacious grounds, and dressing rooms for the bridal party in the farmhouse on the property.

The moment you arrive it feels less like a venue and more like someone’s home. And for a good reason. The Sikule family has owned this property since 1945 and restored the barn themselves starting in 2017, inspired by a family engagement. You can feel that history in the space. The rental includes exclusive use of the barn, farmhouse, and all 100 acres, with ceremony options in the fields, woodlands, or inside the barn, along with firewood for a bonfire, lawn games, farmhouse tables, and a dance floor.

The vibe is mountain resort meets family farmhouse. This is the kind of place where guests naturally slow down, wander outside to look at the stars, and make s’mores without being told to.

It’s about 45 minutes from Albany and 2.5 hours from both New York City and Boston, so you can do a destination-looking wedding without needing anyone to fly anywhere.

If you’re looking for more venues around the Northeast, check out my wedding round-up blog post!

FAQ: Photography at Bluebird Farm, from a photographer on their preferred vendor list!

What is the photography experience like at Bluebird Farm?
The property gives you a lot of variety: open fields, wooded edges, the barn, a pond, mountain views, and the farmhouse exterior. You will not run out of backdrops. Overcast days photograph beautifully here because the soft diffused light is actually ideal for portraits, and dramatic cloud movement over the mountains gives you skies that most venues simply can’t offer.

What should I know about lighting for portraits at Bluebird Farm?
This is something I wish someone had told me before my first time shooting here. The sun does not set behind the mountains at Bluebird Farm. It sets to the side/front of them. So if you’re shooting portraits with the mountain as your backdrop, there’s a real chance the light will be hitting your subjects’ eyes from the front and causing squinting. You’re often choosing between the best light and the best background rather than getting both at once. A photographer who knows the property will know how to work around this, but it’s worth talking through your portrait timeline with them ahead of time.

Does Bluebird Farm work for non-traditional, high-energy couples?
It’s one of the best venues I’ve found for couples who want to do things their own way. The open layout, flexible outdoor spaces, and laid-back energy of the property make it easy to let a wedding be weird and personal and completely specific to the two people getting married. It’s not a venue that imposes a vibe on you. It hands you 100 acres and says go for it.

Can you stay on the property at Bluebird Farm?
Yes, a two-night stay in the eight-bedroom farmhouse is included in the rental fee, and guests can also camp on the property for a small fee. A wedding weekend where the core group stays on site completely changes the energy of the whole experience and this venue makes that really easy.

How far is Bluebird Farm from Connecticut?
About two hours from Hartford, which makes it a totally doable destination wedding for Connecticut couples who want to get out of the state without going far. I travel to Bluebird Farm regularly and it is absolutely worth the drive.

Which Vendors Work at Bluebird Farm Weddings?

Venue: Bluebird Farm
Officiant: Pastor Scott Boger
Caterer: Ted Nugent, Scarpas
Hair: Allie’s Hair & Makeup LLC
Makeup: Sarah McDonald
DJ: DJAY Southwick
Cake: The Sweet Spot Eatery