Hudson Valley Wedding Photographer | New York Wedding Venue | Indian Wedding Photographer
This Indian fusion wedding was a colorful multicultural affair, celebrated in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley.
Ash and Dina’s Hudson Valley wedding was an amazing way to kick off New York’s 2021 summer. The colors, the weather, the vaccinated guests…hey, 2021 isn’t looking bad at all!
Though Ash and Dina live in NYC, they chose to have their intimate wedding in New York’s Hudson Valley. Why? With views of the famed Shawangunks, beautiful sunsets, and a beautiful orchard wedding venue, The Inn at Kettleboro B&B made for the most beautiful upstate NY wedding.
Dina and Ash invited just their closest friends and family to their Indian-Chinese wedding at the Inn at Kettleboro, but what they lacked in numbers, they made up for in rowdiness. Each guest was grateful to be there to celebrate not just one, but two wedding ceremonies with different influences!
Both Ash and Dina’s families have lived on multiple continents, so it was quite the multicultural wedding. Ash’s parents even flew in from India to participate in the Indian ceremony. They started with their western clothes and a spur-of-the-moment first look, then changed into their Indian clothing for their Hindu ceremony in the orchard. Before you get to the Indian ceremony, check out the wings on Dina’s dress! Wedding capes are all the rage, but wedding dress wings are becoming quite popular.
The mandap was decorated with colorful florals and fabrics by Mayuri’s Floral Design. I’m not a muted colors person, to say the least, so anytime I get to photography big, bold colors, I’m in love.
For the start of the ceremony, all the family members came walking—well, prancing really—down the orchard aisle to music, hooting, and hollering. It was a VERY excited crowd, in part because it was the first time most of them had seen each other since the pandemic.
As a New York wedding photographer, I’m lucky to shoot in such beautiful (and skyscraper-free!) locations as The Inn at Kettleboro. And as an Indian wedding photographer, it was exciting to photograph the venue’s first-ever Indian wedding here at Kettleboro!
The owners of the Inn at Kettleboro, Michael and Robert, are just SO lovely to work with—something you won’t often hear about New York wedding venues. That’s the beauty of Hudson Valley wedding venues! More space, more beauty, more affordability, and fewer people. In fact, The Inn at Kettleboro is an actual restored and hand-decorated bed and breakfast, meaning there are plenty of cozy rooms and nooks, and enough space for an intimate wedding (probably no larger than 50-60 people). Did I mention the sunsets? Here’s one from their night, with the ‘Gunks in the background.
Wedding #2: The Chinese-American Ceremony
I mentioned this was an Indian fusion wedding, so here is part 2! Following their traditional Indian wedding ceremony, the guests went to cocktail hour while the couple changed into their Western wear. On the back porch of the Kettleboro Inn, Ash and Dina said their vows with sprinkles of Chinese traditions throughout.
In fact, Ash’s sister and Dina’s sister were ordained just for this day, and legally married the two of them in both Mandarin and English. There were many tears all around, from both family and friends. With the bride’s maang tikka (jewelry headpiece) still on and the henna still on here hands, this multicultural bridal look was one for the books. Talk about an Indian fusion wedding day!
Following toasts filled with both hysterical laughter and happy tears, everyone ate, toasted with a traditional Chinese liquor, and quickly got on the dance floor to party.
Drinks flowed, the music was killer, and everyone danced into the wee hours of the night at this private Hudson Valley wedding venue. I’m lucky enough to be a New York wedding photographer everywhere from NYC to Western NY, but it’s venues like the Inn at Kettleboro that make my job so much more lovely. Great hosts, a great couple, a fusion wedding, and views of the ‘Gunks—what more could I want? It was an amazing day for reuniting with friends and family, tying the knot, and celebrating with the best group of folks—just look at those party photos!
Photographer: @KathrynCooperWeddings (moi)
Venue: @Kettleboro
Makeup: @lavbeauty
Hair: @hairbyzoed
Dress: @JennyYoo
Dress Alterations: @VenchyCouture
Dress Store: @bhldn
Shoes: @ManoloBlahnik
Henna: @NatByNature
Nails: @YuriOsuka123
Tux Designer: @Boss
Florals: @MayurisFloralDesign
Catering: @MainCourse_Catering
Kathryn Cooper Weddings: Indian Fusion Wedding | Inn at Kettleboro Wedding | New York Wedding Photographer
I love how unique and diverse these families are but the ceremonies just go to show that you can include all of the little traditions that are important to your family and your culture!