A Hindu-Western Fusion Wedding in the Finger Lakes That Hit Every Emotion (Twice)
Rosie + Rishi’s colorful, tear-soaked celebration at New Park, Ithaca
Some weddings are elaborate productions. This wasn’t that.
This was intimate chaos. A two-ceremony day, fueled by deep family bonds, real connection, and zero tolerance for stiff traditions.
Rosie and Rishi are high school sweethearts who know exactly who they are—and more importantly, who they love. So when they decided to get married, they knew it wouldn’t be about pageantry or perfection. It would be about people.
They kept things bold, beautiful, and deeply personal. And in true Finger Lakes fashion, they did it all in the middle of the forest—with just enough unpredictability to keep things magic.
The Night Before: Sangeet at the Museum of the Earth
The celebration began the night before at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca—because obviously, the only fitting backdrop for a pre-wedding dance party is beneath a giant whale skeleton.
Everyone came dressed in traditional Indian clothing, and the energy? Unreal. Think choreographed performances , belly laughs, and that specific type of joy that only happens when three generations are dancing to the same beat.
As a Finger Lakes wedding photographer who shoots in a documentary style, this was a goldmine. Nothing posed. Nothing polished. Just a living room full of memories happening all at once—and me in the middle of it, catching as many as I could.
Wedding Day at New Park: Two Ceremonies, One Hell of a Love Story
The next day, everything happened at New Park in Ithaca—a whimsical, woodsy venue tucked into the trees. Rosie and Rishi had both their Hindu and Western wedding ceremonies there, one after the other, in a single, wildly emotional day.
We started with the Baraat, where Rishi made his entrance in full celebration mode. Music, dancing, nonstop joy. Then came the Hindu ceremony, filled with vibrant colors, sacred rituals, and the kind of quiet emotion that simmers just under the surface until it suddenly isn’t quiet anymore.
Their parents were at the heart of everything. The way Rosies parents met Rishi at the Alter was the single most moving moment to me. Every hug lingered. Every glance told a story. As someone who spends their life documenting love in motion, this was the kind of day that had me tearing up behind the lens more than once.
After the Hindu ceremony, they stepped aside for a quick outfit change—Rosie into a white gown, Rishi into a tailored suit—and walked right back down the aisle for their Western ceremony. This one was breezy, heartfelt, and just long enough to say everything that needed saying.
They didn’t want a spectacle. They wanted meaning. And that’s exactly what unfolded—layer by layer, moment by moment.
Why This Wedding Mattered
Rosie and Rishi didn’t just blend two cultures—they honored them. They didn’t perform for the camera—they existed in the day fully.
And that made the whole thing feel like a gift.
This wasn’t about perfect lighting or stiff poses. This was documentary wedding photography in its purest form: honest, emotional, and deeply human.
If you’re planning a Finger Lakes wedding or a Hindu fusion celebration that’s more about real connection than a Pinterest board, I’d love to be the one to document it.
Planned by Crown Coordination one of the best in the Fingerlakes
vendors : Baker: @rashidasawyerbakery
Band: @uptowngroove
Bartending: @cedarwoodny
Beauty: @hairandtheresalon
Bride’s Western Dress: @anthropologie
Bride’s Indian Lehenga @meenabazaar
Cake: @rashidasawyerbakery
Catering: @cateringbyluna Desserts + Naan: New Delhi Diamonds
Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: @aidememoirejewelry
Floral Design: @moondream_florals
Groom’s Indian Sherwania: @manyavar
Groomsfolk Vests: @manyavar
Rentals: Taylor True Value Rental Vestal
Venue: @newparkeventvenue
Weekend Photographer: @leannerosephotography
Baker: @rashidasawyerbakery
Band: @uptowngroove
Bartending: @cedarwoodny
Beauty: @hairandtheresalon
Bride’s Western Dress: @anthropologie
Bride’s Indian Lehenga @meenabazaar
Cake: @rashidasawyerbakery
Catering: @cateringbyluna Desserts + Naan: New Delhi Diamonds
Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: @aidememoirejewelry
Floral Design: @moondream_florals
Groom’s Indian Sherwania: @manyavar
Groomsfolk Vests: @manyavar
Rentals: Taylor True Value Rental Vestal
Venue: @newparkeventvenue
Weekend Photographer: @leannerosephotography
