A Q/A with Sarah Banks, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Foster Supply Hospitality
Question: There are so many new wedding venues popping up all over the Hudson Valley. What makes a wedding with Foster Supply Hospitality different?
Answer: What Foster Supply does really well is celebration. So, we celebrate life moments no matter the size, the guest count, the budget, or even really the style. Our role begins as concierge; we connect with our clients directly to understand their vision. Then we’re able to place them in the appropriate hotel or venue based on that vision, budget, and guest count.
Our difference is that we have a variety of properties and each has its own personality. I like to say I have a lot of children, and they’re all different—so, our event packages are baked into each property’s persona. We have the Arnold House, which offers a lodge-like vibe in its wedding weekend experiences. Then, at the same time, we have Kenoza Hall which is known for more elevated events and lakeside luxury—it has an estate feel.
Bear in mind, we only host one event per property per weekend. We give our clients exclusive access to our properties: you have the keys to the castle for the whole weekend, which is unlike most venues. You will have exclusive access to the pool, the hiking trails, and the lake—Kenoza Hall has a fabulous lake for canoeing and kayaking.
These locations don’t encompass just a few acres. Some of them are set on 100 acres—and the DeBruce boasts more than 500 acres. During a single wedding weekend on any of our properties, it’s unlikely that your celebration will make use of the same room twice; we specialize in purposeful movement so that your celebrations take place all over the properties.
Our specialty is full customization in our wedding weekend experiences. So, while you might be getting married at the Arnold House, which is known for accessible menus—a bit more on the barbecue scene and scale—that doesn’t mean we can’t do a refined, plated dinner there. Our team is eager to make whatever the couple is looking for happen. We offer a different caliber of event.
Q: What about The DeBruce? I know that it’s become famous for its restaurant, which was recently a semi-finalist in the Outstanding Restaurant category. What are weddings there like?
A: Now that Hemlock Neversink, Kenoza Hall, and the Arnold House are at the forefront of hosting larger events, The DeBruce has evolved into the perfect location for intimate weddings. We’re doing weddings there for 110 guests or fewer, and they’re food-focused—a plated “wow” dinner and wedding reception. It’s just ideal for foodies—, Fittingly, the property is already so cozy: it only has 12 guest rooms. Of course, there are a handful of nearby hotels and Airbnbs that welcome overflow, but the DeBruce just naturally distinguished itself as an intimate wedding destination.
Q: One of things that’s interesting about the way that you operate your portfolio is that your properties can be used individually or together for some weddings.
A: There’s quite a bit of symbiosis within the portfolio. When our clients choose to get married at Kenoza Hall, they might have first right to 9 River Road for overflow accommodations. This is why we take our time with our clients, because we’re offering five viable options in the Catskills. Depending on your plans, guest count, and budget, we offer nearly limitless customization.
For instance, Hemlock Neversink is new to our portfolio and it offers a really cool spin within the grouping. It’s a nature-immersed experience, but also has this wellness element. For us, recognizing the perfect Hemlock Neversink wedding is like spotting the perfect couple for the DeBruce. The Hemlock Neversink client might want field dinners lit by string lights and spa treatments throughout the weekend— or craft classes that allow their guests to relax and recharge throughout the festivities.
Q: Do all those customizations pose any challenges?
A: Sometimes a couple chooses a venue because of its personality, but they want a menu that’s not fully aligned with that property—that’s where our chefs come in. For example, we’ve developed authentic Indian-inspired menus and countless Western fusion weddings, but with an approach that feels specific to the Catskills and the seasonality of our locally sourced food. From our end, we’ll do whatever we can to make those wishes happen, executing the menu at a level that matches the caliber of the property.
But, you know that goes with the job and is part of our brand. Recently, we hosted an event for wedding planners and while I was addressing the crowd, one of the planners stood up and actually cut me off. In the moment, I was thinking, ‘Oh, God—what’s she gonna say?’ She told them, ‘You know, I have to say something here. Two years ago, I had a couple that was getting married at Kenoza Hall and the mother had mobility issues. Her multiple sclerosis had really, really escalated. Without charging that couple, you built a ramp to the bungalows so the mother could get in.’”
I appreciated it, but that’s just the level of touch and care that we offer. We truly care about our clients. I’m in my office right now and I’m looking at a photo of one of my couples with their twins. That’s the heart and soul of what we do—it’s not a marketing tool, it’s just what we do.
