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Daniele and Clara got married at Bear Mountain Inn in a joyful summer celebration this August. As a married team ourselves, we felt honored to photograph their LGBTQ wedding in the Hudson Valley. This Bear Mountain Inn wedding was full of laughter, stunning mountain views, and heartfelt moments all day long. As Beacon-based wedding photographers & videographers, we absolutely adore weddings at this venue.Details collage with a blue suit on a chair, brown dress shoes with a watch, red and white sandals on a bed and sandals on a window ledge. Bride in a suit sits and adjusts a ring before the ceremony, then smiles beside an older woman inside a room with stone walls. Black and white close-up of two hands side by side, one young and one older, both wearing rings and watches. Woman in a light blue dress helps the smiling bride with her white gown and earrings in a softly lit room. Smiling bride in a white strapless dress with a curled updo and gold jewelry looks to the side, doors and wooden furniture behind her. Bride and an older woman smile and hold hands, then two more women join them for a group hug in a warmly lit room.

Getting Ready For A Bear Mountain Inn Wedding

Daniele and Clara started the morning at the on site salon at Bear Mountain Inn. The space buzzes with excited energy as brides and grooms prepare for the day ahead. As LGBTQ wedding photographers, we love catching these quiet early moments before things get busy. Clara and Daniele shared laughs with their families while getting their hair and makeup done together. It set a relaxed tone that carried through the rest of the day.Close-up of a bride in a blue suit with her hands clasped behind her back, wearing a watch and a delicate bracelet. Brides share a joyful first look and a kiss outside the stone and wood lodge. Bride in a white dress and bride in a blue suit smile and hold hands during their first look beside stone columns and wooden beams. Couple embraces and smiles at each other indoors, shown once in color and once in black and white. Two brides face each other and embrace on a rustic covered porch, one in a white strapless gown and one in a blue suit.

Queer Wedding Prep In Separate Suites in the Hudson Valley

After the salon, Daniele and Clara moved into separate rooms to finish getting ready. This gave each of them space to settle into the moment on their own. Their families rotated between rooms, snapping photos and offering hugs along the way. The anticipation grew steadily as their first look approached.Bride in a navy suit and bride in a white dress gaze at each other by the lake with a bouquet, surrounded by trees. Brides kiss beside the lake, holding a bouquet, with a tree-covered hill and blue sky behind them. Two brides stand together by the lake, holding a bouquet and smiling at each other in the sunlight. Collage of a bouquet with purple roses, the bride in a blue suit smiling by the lake and the bride in white laughing with mountains and water behind her. Two brides stand close on a rocky forest path, holding a bouquet, in a portrait by Hudson Valley wedding photographers Megan and Kenneth. Brides kiss in the forest as sunlight streams through the trees, one in a white gown with a bouquet and one in a blue suit. One bride in a blue suit kisses the hand of the other, who wears a white dress and holds a bouquet, as they smile among the trees. Brides hold hands on rocky ground among tall trees, one smiling brightly in a white dress with her bouquet, the other in a blue suit. Bride in a white dress beams in a sunlit forest, holding a bouquet of purple, white and yellow flowers. Bride in a blue suit holds a bouquet and stands confidently among tall trees with dappled sunlight on the ground. Bride in a white wedding dress smiles in a sunlit forest, holding a bouquet of purple and white flowers. Three poses of the brides standing close in a sunlit forest, holding a bouquet and smiling at each other. Two brides, one in a blue suit and one in a white dress, smile and embrace in a lush green forest in the Hudson Valley. Brides pose on a rocky, wooded hillside, one seated in a blue suit holding the hand of the other, who stands in a white dress with her bouquet. Bride in a white strapless wedding dress smiles and holds a bouquet of purple and white flowers, with greenery behind her. Bride in a blue suit with a floral boutonniere smiles outdoors, then reaches out to hold her partner's hand among sunlit greenery. Two brides smile with their bouquets by the lake, one draping her blue jacket over the other's shoulders, green hills behind them.

First Look Under the Stone Arches at the Historic Inn

Bear Mountain Inn has beautiful stone arches that frame the front of the property. Daniele and Clara chose this spot for their first look together. Clara’s dress and Daniele’s suit stood out against the historic stone backdrop. Their reaction was priceless and set the tone for a gay wedding full of genuine emotion.Two brides smile outdoors, one in a white wedding dress and one in a blue suit, holding a bouquet of purple and white flowers. Six people in formal dress, including the bride in a white gown, smile in the sunlight holding bouquets, with trees and a wooden fence behind. Two black and white photos, one of a smiling bride holding her bouquet and one of the bride in a suit leaning toward an elderly woman.

Bear Mountain Inn Wedding Portraits at the Lake

Next, we headed into Bear Mountain State Park for portraits by the lake. The water reflected the summer sky behind Daniele and Clara as they walked. This Bear Mountain Inn wedding included plenty of scenic portrait locations just steps from the venue. Clara and Daniele walked along the shoreline hand in hand while we photographed. The light off the water made for some of our favorite frames of the day.Bouquet of white, purple and blue flowers resting on a sunlit stone surface among green leaves. Ceremony chairs with pink and white floral arrangements, a Reserved sign tied with pink ribbon and a wooden trellis backdrop. Rows of wooden chairs face a flower-decorated wooden arbor, surrounded by trees and stone buildings under a clear sky. Two wedding invitations on mossy stone, one white with gold details for Daniele and Clara, one with photos of the couple and a ceremony program. Large crowd seated for the outdoor ceremony, beside a woman playing violin and a man playing guitar.

Hiking In Wedding Attire Through The Woods of Bear Mountain

From the lake, we ventured into the woods for a different look entirely. Daniele wore her suit and Clara wore her dress through the trails. Both were completely game for a little hiking in full wedding attire. The woods added a wild, romantic backdrop to their queer wedding portraits.Bride in a blue suit carries flowers down the aisle arm in arm with two older adults as guests clap, in color and in black and white. Two black and white photos of hugs at the outdoor ceremony, with the floral arch and musicians in the background. Bride in a white gown walks down the aisle with her smiling parents as guests stand and watch. Wide view of the outdoor ceremony at Bear Mountain Inn, with guests facing the couple and officiant under a wooden pergola beside the stone lodge. Brides in a blue suit and a white gown hold hands before a floral arch at their Bear Mountain Inn wedding ceremony. Two brides stand hand in hand in front of their seated guests, smiling, with a wooden lattice and greenery behind them. Two brides hold hands and smile during their outdoor ceremony, with guests, flowers and a lattice backdrop around them. Brides smile and hold hands during their vows, and the bride in white reads into a microphone from a small green book. Guests in formal dress sit outdoors at the ceremony, smiling and holding bouquets. Two brides, one in a white dress and one in a blue suit, exchange rings and then kiss in front of a flower-covered wooden lattice. Smiling newlyweds, one in a suit and one in a white wedding dress, walk back up the aisle as guests cheer and take photos.

Family Photos Before The Ceremony

We returned to the ceremony space for family portraits before the ceremony began. Parents, siblings, and close relatives gathered together for group photos. Everyone was relaxed and ready to celebrate this gay wedding together. The formal portraits wrapped up just in time for the ceremony to start.Collage of reception tables set with white linens, floral centerpieces, candles and glassware in a bright room with wood and stone details. Reception tables with white tablecloths, candles, floral centerpieces, glassware, gold accents and wooden chairs in warm light. Pasta buffet collage with pasta in a chafing dish, appetizers with dip, toppings, cheese cubes, vegetables and a tray of rigatoni. Brides dance and kiss by Hessian Lake, and one lifts the other, with lush greenery and mountains around them. Newlyweds walk hand in hand outside the stone lodge, smiling and holding bouquets, with green hills behind them. Brides embrace and dance outside a large stone building with arched windows and greenery.

LGBTQ Wedding Ceremony At Bear Mountain Inn

The ceremony began after the sun dropped behind the mountain. Daylight still lingered, casting a soft golden glow across the space. This Bear Mountain Inn wedding ceremony felt intimate despite the fading afternoon light. Guests watched as Daniele and Clara exchanged vows surrounded by the mountains. It was a quiet, moving moment for everyone in attendance.Two brides, one in a white dress and one in a blue suit, mingle and hug guests during the indoor reception. Guests chat around a table, and five people including the bride in white laugh together with drinks in hand.

A Joyful Queer Wedding Cocktail Hour in Tomkins Cove, NY

Cocktail hour followed right after the ceremony ended. Daniele and Clara moved through the crowd with total ease. They greeted guests, shared hugs, and soaked in the celebration around them. Their comfort with each other made this queer wedding cocktail hour feel effortless.Bride in a white gown and bride in a blue suit dance together while smiling guests watch their first dance. Bride in a white dress and bride in a blue suit share their first dance in the rustic hall at Bear Mountain Inn, surrounded by smiling guests.

Reception Traditions At Bear Mountain Inn

The reception opened with a grand entrance for the newly married couple. First dance and parent dances followed shortly after that. Each tradition felt personal and full of emotion. Guests cheered as Daniele and Clara moved through each milestone of the evening.

Speeches And Dinner At This Gay Wedding

After the dances, guests settled in for speeches and dinner together. Friends and family shared stories about Daniele and Clara all night. Laughter and a few tears filled the room during the toasts. As Hudson Valley wedding photographers, we always treasure these heartfelt, unscripted moments. They tend to be some of the most genuine parts of the day.Brides dance and kiss during their first dance while guests watch and celebrate in warm light. Two brides share their first dance as guests smile and clap in a warmly lit room with wooden beams.

Dancing the Night Away at This Hudson Valley Wedding Venue

Once dinner wrapped up, the dance floor filled quickly. Daniele and Clara led their guests into an energetic dance set. The party carried on late into the warm summer night. Everyone joined in, making this LGBTQ wedding reception one to remember.

Quality Time with Loved Ones for Their Summer Nuptials

Throughout the night, Daniele and Clara made time for their guests. They moved from table to table, checking in with everyone there. Their gratitude for their loved ones was obvious all evening. It made for a beautiful, connected celebration from start to finish.Four wedding reception photos show a bride and her father dancing, and a person in a blue suit dancing with an older man in a tuxedo, with guests watching and celebrating in the background. Two photos of a bride in a white dress dancing joyfully with guests at a lively wedding reception, with people smiling, clapping, and a photographer capturing the celebration.

Gorgeous Hudson Valley Wedding Venue for Fun Celebrations

As a married team, we are drawn to venues with real character and history. Bear Mountain Inn offers stone architecture, mountain views, and easy access to the state park. This Bear Mountain Inn wedding proved once again why we love shooting here so much. We photograph gay weddings and queer weddings across the Hudson Valley, and this venue never disappoints. We cannot wait to return for more weddings at this venue soon.Three photos show a wedding celebration with a bride in a white dress, guests in formal attire, and joyful dancing. People are smiling, clapping, and raising their hands on a crowded dance floor. A bride in a white dress joyfully dances with guests at her wedding reception. People of all ages surround her, smiling, clapping, and celebrating under festive lights.

The Vendor Team Behind This LGBTQ Wedding at Bear Mountain

Several talented vendors helped bring this day to life. Bear Mountain Inn provided the venue and catering for the celebration. JPC Event Coordination managed the day of coordination seamlessly. Bear Mountain Spa handled hair and makeup, and Bindle & Keep tailored Daniele’s suit beautifully. Clara’s dress came from Lotus Bridal, and the florals were designed by Deja Vu Floral. JTD Productions kept the dance floor packed all night long.Collage of wedding reception photos: two brides at the head table, guests giving speeches, emotional moments, and floral décor. Candles, flowers, and warm lighting create a celebratory atmosphere. Collage: plated steak with green beans and potato on a dining table, a guestbook with pens, and a vase of white flowers on a table with blurred wedding cards in the background. A bride in a white dress speaks at a microphone, smiling, while her partner in a blue suit stands nearby clapping. A seated older woman is in front. Flowers decorate the background.Newlyweds cut their wedding cake and feed each other a piece, laughing in a warmly lit room with flowers and candles. Dessert table with trays of chocolate chip cookies, rainbow sprinkle cookies and other pastries, with tongs for serving. Collage of guests dancing and celebrating under colorful lights at the reception. Guests in colorful outfits circle up on the dance floor, laughing and reaching toward someone in blue crouched in the center. Bride in a white dress dances with guests, everyone smiling with hands raised on a colorful, crowded dance floor.

Beacon-Based Wedding Photographers for LGBTQ Weddings

Daniele and Clara’s wedding day was full of heart and celebration. Their laughter, connection, and love for their guests stood out all day. We feel lucky to have captured this LGBTQ wedding from start to finish. Congratulations to Daniele and Clara on a beautiful Bear Mountain Inn wedding. We are so grateful they trusted us as their Hudson Valley wedding photographers this summer. Here is to many more gay weddings and queer weddings ahead for us in the Hudson Valley.

LGBTQ Summer Bear Mountain Inn Wedding in the Hudson Valley

Megan and Kenneth, Beacon based Hudson Valley wedding photographers
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Hi! We're Megan & Kenneth

We're Beacon based Hudson Valley & Catskills wedding + elopement photographers who love to capture natural, authentic moments for all couples in love.

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Megan & Kenneth are wedding photographers based in Beacon, NY, serving the Hudson Valley and Catskills.
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