Spillian, A Catskills Wedding
A Whimsical Forest Wedding in the Catskills at Spillian
This was my second time photographing at Spillian, a venue in the heart of the Catskills in Fleischmanns. The moment Ari + Dan sent me an inquiry about photographing their whimsical and ethereal fall Catskills wedding at the storied Victorian House and fern-laden woods, I was immediately all-in. Spillian is a feast for the eyes and senses. Brimming with antique details from floral porcelain sinks to silver trays and candelabras, everywhere I look I’m swooning over something new.
Ari + Dan built a wedding day that felt like stepping into another world. Whimsical forest fairies is the closest description I could use to sum it all up, and their creative vision came to life through their florist, Petal to the Metal Florals, who brought drama and whimsy with local flowers and dreamy installations, along with all the details by Ari and Dan, including their incredible wedding fashion and heartfelt handwritten notes to each of their guests.
I always bring film to weddings, but which cameras I reach for shifts with the day. For Ari + Dan, I knew before I even arrived I wanted to lean into medium and large format, cameras that use a bigger negative than standard 35mm and reward you with more detail, richer tone, and feel like an heirloom when you hold these negatives in your hands.
The tradeoff is that these cameras ask me to slow down. Every frame costs something (both in time and resources), so I'm more deliberate about which moments I choose to commit to film. That kind of intentionality mirrors what I already love about Spillian. The venue asks you to be present. The cameras ask the same of me. What comes back feels weighted, almost tactile: the grain and color. I want Ari + Dan's grandchildren to hold these photographs someday and feel the day as well all felt it.
Ari + Dan, thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful wedding day in the Catskills. It was a dream come true to make art with and your family and friends, in the presence of ferns, moss, and the mountains as witness.
If you are planning a Catskills wedding, and looking to make slow photographs together on film, I would love to hear what you are dreaming up.
DETAILS
When — September 2025
Where — Fleischmanns, NY
Venue — Spillian
Photo Collaborator — Sara Wallach
Florist — Petal to the Metal Florals
Dress — Rue De Seine
Shoes + Butterfly Choker — Cult Gaia
Keep Wandering
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