Catskills Wedding Photographer
Why get married in the Catskills?
There’s something about the Catskills that just feels like home. It’s so accessible from NYC and the Hudson Valley, yet still removed enough to feel like a vacation. The air is cleaner. The nights are quieter. The region feels cozy; the weekends feel slow. The folks in the Catskills are incredibly interesting, and wonderfully kind. To me, the Catskills are synonymous with community and care.
If you’re curious about planning a Catskills wedding (perhaps with an entire weekend-long celebration!), I will wholeheartedly cheer you on in this quest. The region plays perfect host to those who want their wedding to feel more like a family gathering than a performance. Somehow, the Catskills emphasize presence and authenticity. If you’re welcoming your favorite people to the area to celebrate your wedding, here are a few things to think about:
Things to do:
Woodstock
The town of Woodstock is a great place to visit. Filled with adorable stores and fun sights to see, the town is an absolute delight.
Opus 40
The Hudson Valley sometimes lays claim to this spot, but Opus 40 technically sits at the base of the Catskill mountains, in Saugerties. It’s an incredible outdoor sculpture garden.
Diners
Is there anything more New York than a diner? The Catskills is home to so many good ones, chief of which is the Phoenicia Diner (which you can see branded as “Pip’s Diner” in Severance!)
Catskill Farmers Market
This farmers market is open on Sundays during the warmer months, and is just pure perfection. If you’re craving farm fresh food and good company, you’ll find it here.
Hikes
Known for its beauty, the Catskills is a perfect spot for a hike. You can plan for anything here, from waterfalls at Kaaterskill Falls to viewing incredible vistas at Overlook Mountain to something slow and easy (but still gorgeous!) at the Ashokan Rail Trail.
Hi, I’m Erica! (she/her)
After growing up literally down the street from a fire house 🚒, my nervous system feels at home in the quaint, quiet outdoors.
I light up when I get to tell your story. Paying attention, listening, supporting, and observing are a few of my photography super powers. To me, weddings are about people, not performance. It’s an honor to document your humanity in all of its imperfection.
I primarily photograph weddings all over New York, but the city has never called to me. Living on the border of the Hudson Valley, the Catskills have always felt like a breath of fresh air - literally and figuratively.
Things to consider:
(niche, but helpful!)
There will be more flexibility
Folks in the Catskills are flexible and kind. What may not be allowed at traditional NYC or Hudson Valley wedding venues (bringing your dog, hosting a bonfire, etc) may be a non-issue in the Catskills.
You will spend a lot of time outside
No matter where you get married in the Catskills, the terrain will likely be borderline rough and definitely outdoorsy. Comfortable shoes and attire are a must!
The air will always be a little chilly
The air consistently has a bit of coolness, and a touch of autumn. Bringing warm clothes is recommended, even during the summer, and especially for the evenings.
The weather is weird
Depending on where you are in the Catskills, the weather can be unpredictable. What may look like a rainy forecast could be nothing in the mountains.
You will be more present
There’s little to no cell phone service in much of the Catskills - which I consider to be a benefit for those who want to spend the wedding weekend fully present with the folks around them.
Where to get married
There is a plethora of gorgeous wedding venues in the Catskills, but these are some of my favorites.
Honorable Mentions: Wylder Windham in Wyndham, NY; Colony in Woodstock, NY; & Antrim Streamside in Livingston Manor, NY
It’s hard to put into words how truly magical Adena Orchard in Jewett, NY is. Boasting on-site accommodations, a ceremony grove, and multiple places to host the reception (tent or barn, you have options!), it’s a true gem of a location. The grounds are vast and varied for photographs, and the staff are second to none.
The perfect place for a wedding weekend that feels more like a glamping getaway, the Ashokan Center grounds in Olivebridge, NY are large and spacious, with guest accommodations, and multiple places to host your ceremony and reception. The staff are a delight, and so excited to host every couple that chooses to get married there. It’s also a nonprofit, so you can feel good about where your funds are going.
Never have I ever encountered a venue that has so perfectly married rustic charm with outdoor adventure with modern amenities in the way that Callicoon Hills in Callicoon Center, NY has. The barn offers a perfect space for a reception, while the location itself not only offers so many gorgeous photography backdrops and a sweet ceremony grove, but also a pool, cafe/restaurant, and adorable gift shop (I even bought a coffee mug last time I was there!). And, as a bonus, there are overnight accommodations for just about your entire guest list - a dream!
A few Catskills wedding stories
