Spillian is, at its essence, far more than a place to escape the world.
It’s a place that changes lives.

We know that planning weddings can be completely intimidating! And while we’ve been delighted (and honored) to help create a lot of weddings over the last decade, we don’t think of Spillian as a wedding venue, per se. Instead, we see it as a place that can support you as you go deep into your essence, as a couple and individuals, to create a wedding that echoes with who you are. We work with you to unfold that, past the pressure and expectations coming at you, so you can stay centered and not overwhelmed.

Whether you are dreaming a wedding with lots of flourishes or something really simple, or anything in between, our goal is to get to what you really want. We don’t see couples as commodities, but instead, as part of a growing extended family of people who have both taken some of Spillian with them as they leave, and left a bit of themselves here as well. We get to know people really well, so you feel confident about trusting us with this really cool moment in your lives, and we can entrust this really cool place to you and your tribe. We truly love this.

Spillian co-founder and big dreamer, Leigh Melander, has a doctorate in cultural mythology and psychology and has worked with individuals and organizations around the world to help find their stories and rituals. Our co-founder and maker of things, Mark Somerfield, is an acclaimed lighting designer and seasoned production manager of live performance of theater, ballet, and opera, and is a master at shaping a sense of place. And we are lucky to have a remarkable group of people working with us to bring weddings to life, who come with open arms and hearts, and infinite kindness.

We believe that ritual and celebration are deeply intertwined, and that a life-marking experience must have both. Ritual doesn’t have to be somber or self-conscious, and celebration doesn’t have to be vapid or performative.

Together, we go deep with you as you are imagining your event at Spllian, engaging in a creative coaching process to help you articulate what you’re longing for – to experience, to feel, to taste, to learn, to share your ideas and your lives.

From there, we explore the metaphors that emerge from your ideas and we design a superb unique experience for you and your group. How do you want people to come together? How can all of the ingredients of your time here – ceremony, food, music, laughter, celebration, love – all coalesce into the event that evokes your genius and inspires you as you step into the next chapter of your lives together? We will help you find the rich intersections between reveling and meaning.

We co-create with our couples, available every step of the way to help with big crazy ideas and tiny details. Elaborate extravaganzas, simple gatherings of your tribe, or anything in between, we help keep it on track. From the moment you book your wedding, we are here for you to answer questions, help find resources, solve challenges, and help make sure that your planning process is as rich and wonderful as your wedding. There is no question too random! We’re here to help. Always. We offer full day-of coordination as well, led by our amazing front of house management team. When you arrive to get married, you will be able to focus on being in the wedding, leaving any stresses behind.

Our crew will be your partners in your quest, with a host of planning tools for you to mark progress and keep everything organized, and coming soon, a wedding coaching course online to keep you grounded and inspired. And we are always just a phone call or email away. Leigh is on hand to help build ceremony and ritual, and can serve as an officiant or simply a sounding board.

What’s the food that has meaning to you? You are breaking bread with your favorite people in a unique way. We’ll build your own menu with you – from family recipes, memorable meals you’ve had together, or whatever you desire – for a feast that captures both your history and your hearts.

We’re up for anything! From cultural recipes, to full-on vegetarian or vegan menus, to roast pig. About four months before your wedding, we’ll have you come for a tasting of your wedding dinner menu, and we’ll walk through each dish point-by-point to make sure it’s exactly what you want. We believe that the dinner is at the heart of your wedding – and hear guests reminiscing about the food they’ve had here years later.

Need guidance on all of the moving parts and where you can find experts? The Catskills has many amazing resources, but they can be hard to unearth. From lodging and transportation, to florists, photographers, musicians, DJ’s, to yoga instructors, hiking guides, or horse-drawn carriages, we can help you find everything that you need to make your weekend here rich and delightful for all of your guests.

And we have lots that you need already on site: tables, seating, table settings, amplification, decor, and more. If it’s here, it’s for you to use, at no extra cost! If you’re dreaming of something, even (and especially) something that you think is weird and wonderful that you absolutely love, tell us! We’ll help you make it happen.