Our Story
The People Behind Mountainville Manor
Mountainville Manor is family-owned and personally operated by Lauren and James Abramson, with an in-house culinary program led by their partner, James Beard Award-winning Master Chef Craig Shelton.
Together, they have created a private Hudson Valley estate where one wedding is hosted at a time, the food is prepared entirely in-house, and couples work directly with the people responsible for bringing the day together.
“They turned our ideas into a wedding beyond anything we imagined.”
“From our first tour, Lauren made us feel completely understood and supported. She anticipated details we had not considered, helped personalize everything from our honey favors to the tented reception, and made planning feel genuinely enjoyable. Chef Craig’s food floored our guests, the drinks and mocktails were exceptional, and every part of the day felt thoughtful, personal, and beautifully executed.”
– Rachel & Michael
From the World’s Great Kitchens to the Hudson Valley
Master Chef Craig Shelton
Chef Craig Shelton’s earliest culinary influence came from his grandmother’s kitchen in Cognac, France. Those meals shaped his belief that exceptional dining begins with honest ingredients, disciplined technique, and the feeling created around the table.
After leaving a path toward medicine, he began his culinary career at Ma Maison in Los Angeles.
He went on to train in eight celebrated restaurants, including El Bulli, Jamin, L’Auberge de l’Ill, Le Pré Catelan, Bouley, Le Bernardin, and La Côte Basque.
As chef-proprietor of The Ryland Inn, Chef Shelton helped pioneer the East Coast farm-to-table movement. Its three-acre certified organic garden supported a menu rooted in seasonality, local agriculture, and the relationship between the kitchen and the land.
His career includes:
- James Beard Best Chef Medal
- Four New York Times four-star ratings
- Forbes five-star recognition
- Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef title
- GQ’s number one Top Restaurant in America in 2004
Today, Chef Shelton brings that same standard to Mountainville Manor. He leads the culinary program in-house, develops each seasonal menu, works directly with local farms and makers, and approaches wedding dining with the precision of a fine restaurant.
“From the moment we arrived, we knew this was the place.”
“Lauren and James supported us through every stage of planning and made us feel completely cared for on the wedding day. Chef Craig created a menu that worked beautifully for both vegetarian and meat-eating guests, and everyone raved about the food, property, and attention to detail. The team kept us fed, hydrated, and present enough to actually enjoy the celebration.”
– Krysten & William
Family-Owned, Personally Hosted
Lauren & James Abramson
L to R: Michael & Rachel visiting Lauren & James on their three-year anniversary
Mountainville Manor was born from Lauren’s vision for a different kind of wedding experience, one that is built around genuine hospitality, exceptional food, and a personal connection with every couple and their guests.
Lauren’s path to the Manor was anything but conventional. She was an elementary school teacher early in her career and later founded LaLaBoodle’s Toffee Company, turning a specialty food concept into a successful national brand carried by Disney, Gevalia, Amazon, Fairway Market, and QVC.
Those experiences became the foundation for Mountainville Manor: a belief that the best hospitality is personal, the best food is memorable, and the details matter.
James built his career in accounting and business management before becoming an executive with a Fortune 500 company. Today, that experience brings a thoughtful, disciplined approach to the planning, logistics, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into hosting each celebration.
Lauren and James are personally involved from the moment a couple arrives for their tour through the wedding day itself. They work closely with each couple to shape their experience, collaborate with vendors, oversee details, and ensure couples and guests feel welcomed and at home.
For Lauren and James, hospitality is personal. They believe that creating an exceptional wedding isn’t simply about getting the details right; it’s about being present, paying attention, and making people feel truly taken care of.
“Everything felt beautiful, personal, and completely effortless.”
“From the outdoor ceremony and flowing cocktail hour to dinner and dancing in the ballroom, every part of the day ran flawlessly. Lauren and the team were flexible, organized, and open to personal ideas, including a custom Jamaican display station that became one of the highlights of the wedding. Mountainville Manor gave the couple a private, elegant celebration without the stress of coordinating every detail themselves.”
