As I write this, Nat King Cole’s “Autumn Leaves” plays in the background and a subtle scent of clove and cinnamon hugs our living room from the candle burning under the warmer lamp — a candle bought during this year’s Yardley Harvest Day. My husband lies on the opposite side of the couch, book in one hand and apple pie in the other. Our Halloween trinkets make the house feel festive.

And I can’t help but feel the gratitude and appreciation this season tends to highlight. I digress; this entry is about the autumn leaves … of red and gold …

This month I spent a misty yet beautiful fall day in Port Jervis, New York, and had the pleasure of experiencing part of the peak foliage the Hudson Valley has to offer. The drive from New York City alone was soothing. But the jaw-dropping beauty sprawling across the 500 acres that make up Cedar Lake Estate was, dare I say … breathtaking. Yes, it was.

Cedar Lakes Estate is an award-winning wedding venue during the spring, summer and fall and becomes a winter wonderland getaway during colder months. The property formerly served as the main land for Camp Minisink in the 1930s, one of the first sleep-away summer camps for kids from New York City. More than 50 years later, Steve and Lisa Karvellas, with two toddlers and a baby on the way, decided it was a good idea to buy this massive land that had been deserted for about 20 years.

Keeping the spirit of the original grounds, the Karvellases opened the Team USA Gymnastics and Soccer Camp in the 1990s, which served as a training facility for athletes, including Olympic gold medalists.

Fast forward to 2011, the eldest Karvellas sisters, Stephanie and Lisa, decide they were going to combine their passion for event planning, food and business to build what is Cedar Lakes Estate today.

© Lauren Faire Photography

The sisters invited Global Traveler and a select group of media, vendors and industry professionals to the unveiling of the newest event venue: The Glasshouse, an eco-conscious and geothermal climate-controlled space, beautifully designed to ensure every celebration is as magical as intended without the worry of unpredictable weather.

My husband and I experienced the stress of needing a ceremony rain contingency plan — as if best-case scenario planning isn’t stressful enough! Our wedding was this summer, and we had to resort to a tent rental for our ceremony and moved our cocktail hour indoors. The Glasshouse is a bride and event planner’s dream.

The Glasshouse © Jose Botella Films

The afternoon was filled with guided property tours; scenic views; and treats such as fall sangria, warm apple cider and apple cider donuts. We wrapped up the afternoon with a great panel on event trends and the artistry required to execute a seamless event.

The unveiling: Think modern sophistication meets rustic charm with 100 feet of folding glass doors for open-air transformations, a 30-foot glass roof, heated bluestone floors and a grand stone fireplace with copper accents. Those are only a few of the things that make this the dreamiest empty canvas for any celebration.

The vendors did an excellent job transforming the venue into an elegant lounge and ballroom. Combining seasonal colors, patterns and textures with the most beautiful florals and lighting, I can only imagine the nights of revelry that will take place within.

© Lauren Faire Photography

The event culminated with a three-course dinner at The Glasshouse. Coupled with live music, great drinks, superb company and amazing hospitality, I hope the opening was everything the sisters dreamed it would be — it was a luxurious experience for those of us attending!

— Yasser Gallagher-Ogando, executive media director