INNESS Wedding Guide From A Wedding Videographer's Perspective

More Than a Pretty Property

Before arriving at INNESS, I expected a large, possibly overwhelming property set on a mountain top.

Instead, the first thing I noticed was just how connected everything felt.

Despite the size of the property and the expansiveness of the landscape, it was surprisingly easy to navigate. Every path, building, and open field felt intentionally placed. Nothing seemed accidental or overly designed. It felt like the land came first and the architecture simply learned how move and to live alongside it.

I relaxed almost immediately.

The feeling that nothing else mattered except this moment right here and now was almost overwhelming. It was easy to be there. Easy to slow down. Easy to put my worries away and simply enjoy where I was.

If I had to describe INNESS in just a few words, I'd say it feels endearing, picturesque, and inviting.

The Thoughtful Simplicity of INNESS

The architecture at INNESS immediately reminded me of Scandinavian farmhouse design. Dark wood cabins sit quietly against the landscape while the interiors feel bright, warm, and intentionally minimal. Rather than filling every corner with décor, the spaces draw your attention to a handful of beautifully curated furniture pieces, artwork, and natural materials.

Oddly enough, the property reminded me of several different places all at once. It brought me back to my time living in the Netherlands. It felt like flipping through the pages of Magnolia Journal. Parts of it reminded me of family reunions at my grandpa's cabin in the mountains of Utah. And if you've ever read Anne of Green Gables, I couldn't help but imagine Anne Shirley completely awestruck by this place. The beauty isn't found in extravagance but in the simplicity of it all.

The landscape feels equally intentional. Rolling fields stretch toward the Catskill Mountains while towering willow trees sway gently in the breeze. The property is spacious without ever feeling empty. Peaceful without feeling isolated. Every direction offers another beautiful view, but none of them compete for your attention.

INNESS never feels like it's trying to impress you. It simply invites you to stay a little longer and breathe.

The Farmhouse: My Favorite Space on the Property

While every corner of INNESS is beautiful, I kept finding myself drawn back to the Farmhouse.

It immediately felt like the kind of place where memories are going to be made.

Inside you'll find a grand entry, cozy living and dining spaces, a moody library, a beautiful English-style kitchen, an apothecary-inspired honesty bar, a classy little billiards room, a screened porch, a backyard garden, fireplaces, and twelve thoughtfully designed guest rooms.

What I loved most, though, wasn't any individual room. It was the way the house was pieced together encouraging people to gather. There are generous spaces where everyone can come together for meals or conversations, but there are just as many quiet corners where someone can disappear with a book or enjoy a private conversation.

One detail I especially loved was the mudroom lined with rain boots, quietly encouraging guests to head outside no matter the weather.

My favorite room was undoubtedly the library. Dark, atmospheric, and overlooking both the garden and the honesty bar, I could easily picture ending the evening there with a cocktail, a good novel, and the fireplace quietly glowing.

The covered porch might have been my second favorite space. It looked like something straight out of The Notebook.

A Wedding Weekend Designed for Gathering

One thing that became obvious during my tour is that INNESS isn't simply designed to host weddings. It's designed to host people.

Many couples choose to reserve the Farmhouse for their wedding party, creating a home base where everyone can spend the weekend together, while family and additional guests spread throughout the cabins across the property for a little more privacy.

And there is no shortage of ways to spend the weekend together.

Guests can play a round on the nine-hole golf course, relax at one of the three heated saltwater pools, visit the spa and bathhouse, enjoy yoga, play tennis, pickleball, or archery, gather around one of the fire pits, borrow bicycles to explore the property, or participate in seasonal experiences like pottery, candle making, perfumery, and cooking classes.

I also loved learning about the new garden project currently underway, where the team hopes to host beautiful outdoor dinners and seasonal experiences surrounded by the very ingredients being grown for the kitchen.

Speaking of food, I especially appreciated that guests never really need to leave the property. The restaurant serves seasonal farm-to-table cuisine, but couples can also arrange for the chef to prepare a private meal inside the Farmhouse, making the covered porch an incredibly memorable setting for rehearsal dinners, farewell breakfasts, or other intimate family gatherings.

One little building I almost overlooked ended up becoming one of my favorite discoveries. Just outside the restaurant sits a cozy cabin that originally served as the hotel's check-in space. Today it transforms depending on the season and the needs of guests. During my visit it featured a buttery yellow sofa, walls filled with artwork full of character, and a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. I couldn't help but imagine it becoming the perfect speakeasy-style cocktail lounge, whiskey tasting, or late-night guest experience during a wedding weekend.

Why I Think INNESS Works So Well for Weddings

The ceremony location overlooking the Catskill Mountains immediately captures your imagination. Guests watch the couple exchange vows while looking across one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Hudson Valley. It feels incredibly magical without ever trying too hard.

Cocktail hour naturally flows from the ceremony space into the barn, creating an effortless transition for guests while also providing flexibility should the weather change.

The barn itself may honestly be one of my favorite barn reception spaces I've toured because it feels timeless.

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural light while large doors open on multiple sides, allowing crisp mountain breezes to move freely through the space. It's elegant without feeling formal and sophisticated without losing its warmth. I could clearly picture the dance floor filled with happy guests celebrating late into the evening.

I also appreciate that INNESS intentionally limits the number of weddings it hosts each season. Rather than filling every available weekend, they prioritize creating a more personal experience for each couple. So it's worth reaching out early if you're considering the venue because availability can be limited!

Should your guest count exceed the accommodations available on-site, there are several wonderful nearby options including Hotel Kinsley, Starlite Motel, and (my personal favorite) New Paltz Way Hotel, making it easy for everyone to stay close while still enjoying the full wedding weekend experience.

Why It Excites Me as a Filmmaker

As a filmmaker, I immediately knew this property would look absolutely beautiful on both digital and Super 8 film. The colors feel vibrant without being overly saturated. The architecture is understated enough that it never distracts from the people within it, and the open landscape allows light to move beautifully throughout the day.

Because the property includes expansive fields alongside wooded paths and thoughtfully placed buildings, there are endless opportunities to create portraits in both full sunlight and soft shade. If I were stealing a couple away for portraits, I think I'd head straight toward one of the towering willow trees. The movement of the branches, the gentle breeze, and the surrounding landscape would feel incredibly romantic on film.

I also couldn't stop imagining a tented reception in the field beside the Farmhouse. From the ground it would feel intimate and joyful, while aerial footage would beautifully showcase the celebration nestled within the surrounding countryside.

I think weddings with organic florals, unique textures, understated elegance, or even a more editorial anti-bride aesthetic would all feel completely at home here.

If someone asked me why I'd be excited to film a wedding at INNESS, I'd tell them it's incredibly rare to find a place that feels both grand and deeply connected to the land. It never feels performative. It simply creates space for people to slow down and be fully present with one another.

Who I Think Will Love INNESS

I think INNESS is perfect for couples who want their wedding to feel like a long weekend spent with their favorite people rather than a single day packed with events.

If you love the outdoors, appreciate thoughtful design, and believe that the best memories happen around shared meals, long conversations, and quiet mornings overlooking the mountains, you'll probably fall in love with this place. But if you don't particularly enjoy spending time outdoors, however, INNESS may not be the best fit. Nature is very much part of the experience here.

For everyone else, I think INNESS offers something increasingly rare.

Space.

Space to breathe.

Space to gather.

Space to reconnect with each other and the people who matter most.