Killian & Cody’s Rainy Summer Wedding at Onteora Mountain House| Catskills, New York
- Kathleen Gemma
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Long before they said “I do” at Onteora Mountain House, Killian and Cody met in 2018 at an ambulance company. Killian was volunteering, while Cody was attending paramedic school.
Both were competitive and loved learning, so they quickly hit it off.
Their friendship quickly grew into something more. During COVID, they moved in together, and from there, they continued building their life side by side traveling, growing in their careers and creating a life together.
Their wedding day wasn't the beginning of their story. It was another chapter in everything they had already built together.
There are wedding days that go exactly according to plan and then there are wedding days that become even more beautiful because they don't.
Killian and Cody's August 8th wedding at Onteora Mountain House in Boiceville, New York was one of those days. It was hot. It was humid. The sun was shining. And then, completely unexpectedly, the rain came. But nothing about the weather stopped these two from having the kind of wedding day that felt completely and genuinely them.
Bridesmaid Getting Ready 
Bride getting ready ideas 
Bride getting ready at Onteora Mountain House
From the very beginning, Killian and Cody had a relaxed, go-with-the-flow attitude. They weren't worried about making every moment perfect or sticking strictly to a plan. They were there to enjoy each other, their families, their friends, and whatever the day decided to bring them. And as a wedding photographer, that is exactly the kind of couple I love working with.
Because weather changes. Timelines shift. Things happen that nobody could have planned for. And sometimes, those are the moments that end up becoming your favorite photographs.
Wedding at Onteora Mountain House
Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY 
Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY 
Bride and Groom Portraits Wedding day at Onteora Mountain House Catskills NY
Killian and Cody's first look took place just outside the cottage at Onteora Mountain House, with the beautiful Catskill Mountains in the background .
It was such a peaceful moment before the excitement of the day really began.
After their first look, we started portraits around the property. At one point, I encouraged them to get a little closer and go in for a kiss.
Killian's response made me laugh. She said, “Close enough, but leave enough room for Jesus.”And honestly, that little moment perfectly captured their personalities.
Thoes are the best moments, the little comments, the laughs, the inside jokes and the things that could never be recreated by simply posing for a camera.
Wedding at Onteora Mountain House
The rain came down hard enough that we had to stop for a moment.
But we didn't let it ruin the day. We waited it out, and eventually headed back outside for one of the most beautiful parts of the day: Killian and Cody's traditional tea ceremony.
There were plenty of happy tears.
Family gathered around them, and the atmosphere was incredibly beautiful .
And then came the grandmothers.
They walked down the aisle as the flower girls, and you could tell they were having the absolute best time doing it.I was smiling behind my camera as I watched them.
It was such a sweet, unexpected detail, and it made the ceremony feel even more personal.
Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House Chinese Tea Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House
With the Catskill Mountains surrounding them, the mist left behind by the rain created the most incredible atmosphere. Everything looked soft and hazy. The mountains disappeared into the clouds, the landscape became almost dreamlike, and the rain gave everything this beautiful, romantic glow. So, honestly...Let it rain.
The Onteora Mountain House provided umbrellas for the bridal party, so we decided to have some fun with them.
Instead of hiding from the weather, we incorporated it into the photographs.
Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House 
Ceremony at Onteora Mountain House 
Wedding day Rain plan Onteora Mountain House Rainy Wedding day Onteora mountain House Rainy Wedding day Ceremony Onteora mountain House
We took Killian and Cody over to Mirror Pond, where Killian walked barefoot around the grounds, embracing the wet ground beneath her feet.
It was such a simple moment, but it said so much about the spirit of the day. No one was overly concerned about getting a little wet. That’s where we captured some of our favorite portraits of the day.
For just a moment, the sun peeked through the clouds. It was one of those fleeting moments you can’t plan. You can’t put it on a timeline. You just have to be there when it happens.
quiet moment together beside Mirror Pond at Onteora Mountain House, surrounded by the beauty of the Mirror Pond Onteora Mountain House Mirror Pond Onteora Mountain House Mirror Pond Onteora Mountain House
Wedding at Onteora Mountain House
Having the ability to go with the flow whether changes at any point and suddenly you have an entirely different scene in front of you. Onteora Mountain House gave us the perfect setting for all of it.
There was no elaborate plan.
No perfectly timed setup.
They simply decided to enjoy it.
They laughed, danced and embraced the moment and I was completely there for it.
Nothing was going to stop them from having a great time.
And that's exactly what I hope every couple remembers on their wedding day.
You don't have to worry about whether your dress gets a little wet.
You don't have to stress if the weather doesn't cooperate.
You don't have to spend the day wondering whether everything is happening exactly the way you imagined.
Wedding at Onteora Mountain House
Just be together.
Enjoy each other.
Dance in the rain.
Those are the moments you'll remember.
As the evening settled in, the celebration continued beneath the stars, giving Killian and Cody a fe As the evening settled in, the celebration continued beneath the stars, giving Killian and Cody a fe As the evening settled in, the celebration continued beneath the stars, giving Killian and Cody a fe
An Evening of Family, Dancing & Fireworks ,as the evening continued, the reception became a celebration of everything that brought Killian and Cody to this point.
Close family and friends shared heartfelt stories about the couple, creating some incredible moments throughout the evening. And then the dancing began. And it didn't stop.
The dance floor was packed with friends and family celebrating, laughing and enjoying every minute.
And just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better, there was another surprise.
Fireworks. And let me tell you they were some of the best wedding fireworks I've ever seen.
After a day filled with sunshine, unexpected rain, misty mountains, dancing and so many spontaneous moments, the fireworks were the perfect ending.
As the evening settled in, the celebration continued beneath the stars, giving Killian and Cody a fe As the evening settled in, the celebration continued beneath the stars, giving Killian and Cody a fe
A Wedding Day Worth Remembering Killian and Cody's wedding reminded me exactly why I love what I do. The day wasn't perfect because everything went according to plan. It was perfect because they didn't need it to.
They embraced the weather.
They laughed.
They cried.
They danced in the rain.
They trusted each other.
They trusted me.
And they stayed completely present in their wedding day.
A night filled with laughter, love, and a packed dance floor. Wedding day details night ends
Wedding at Onteora Mountain House
Killian and Cody, thank you for letting me be there to capture it all.
And thank you for reminding me that sometimes the best wedding photographs happen when you stop worrying about what was supposed to happen and simply enjoy what is happening.
The Amazing Team Behind Their Day:
Wedding Planner Kate Arel — A Charmed https://www.charmedaffair.com/
Officiant Rev. Gary Deinstadt https://www.facebook.com/rev.gdeinstadt/
Hair & MakeupAlena, Aliya, Ailan & Irina — BridalBloom BridalBloom
Videographer William Thomas Photography https://williamthomasphoto.com/
DJ Matty Stuart — MD Music DJ https://www.mdmusicdj.com/
Fireworks Anthony Esposito — NYJuly4Ever
Venue: Onteora Mountain House
96 Piney Point Rd., Boiceville, NY 12412Onteora Mountain House
A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making this celebration such a beautiful and memorable day!
What beautiful moments and gestures captured for eternity. All of the planning and artful preparation never got in the way of spontaneity and joy. Two families and friends all enjoying the occasion as though they were one big happy family at a reunion, instead of strangers at a mutual wedding. This is just one of the steps in a journey to which you two have committed yourselves. You certainly had a crowd of well wishers to support such a commitment. Take that ball and run with it and remember your guests are there to encourage and applaud you on your way.