Wedding at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel NYC
A Colorful Hindu Wedding Celebration in NYC
Maya and Ajay's New York Wedding at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel was simply blessed in every way. The day was filled with friends, family, bright blue skies, perfect temperatures, culture, colors, traditions, and style. As photographers, this is one of those days we will never forget as it was a celebration unlike any other we have experienced in 25 years. A Hindu celebration, the wedding consisted of several amazing events lasting days. There were several ceremonies, but this post will focus on the more grand and colorful events of the main wedding day.
David Tutera putting the finishing touches on a gorgeous design - photo by MARING VISUALS
The couple came to Maring as a referral by Celebrity Wedding Planner David Tutera. We have had the privilege to work with David on numerous weddings around the world as well as co-creating several published books on home entertaining. We have also photographed several commercial and PR campaigns for David as well, so we have kind of grown up in this industry together in a lot of ways and consider him a close friend. With David, sky is the limit when it comes to ideas and design, so we knew we were in for a lavish surprise when it came to the floral and style of the event.
Photography by Maring Visuals
Getting Ready...
“WEDDING TIP... Whenever possible it’s smart to choose your hotel room wisely for your getting ready moments. Having plenty of space to breathe helps eliviate stress, especially if friends or family are also getting ready alongside you.”
Keeping with tradition, Maya and Ajay got ready at separately but surrounded by family. . In both cases they planned to have large suites to get ready in. We highly suggest that couples think wisely about the hotel rooms they choose when they are selecting a place to get ready. Having space is important as it allows you to breathe, and if any friends or family are getting ready in the room with you, it makes a world of difference in your ability to keep stress at bay.
The grooms family dances in the barat celebration
The Barat...
With traditional Hindu weddings there is a pre-ceremony celebration known as a Barat. This celebration establishes a bond between two families and their cultures, aside from the special relationship between the couple, who tie the nuptial knot. Ajay would arrive to the wedding ceremony atop a white horse as family and as friends danced to the beautiful beats of drums, and sounds of instruments. The families would greet one another to close the Barat celebration. It's a wonderful start to the day, and the feeling in the air as the families met was simply amazing.
The bride and groom exchanage garlands during their traditional hindu ceremony
The Ceremony...
There were two ceremonies this day. A smaller one with family, and a larger wedding ceremony for guests to be a part of as well. The one covered here was remarkably colorful and filled with meaningful moments. With the exchange of garlands, rings, and family blessings the couple was wedded, and we were off to their suite for another private ceremony along with portraits in their traditional attire.
Portraits taken on the balcony of the Mandarin Oriental hotel
Wedding Portraits...
Maya and Ajay changed at this time into formal wear and the bride wore a gorgeous traditional wedding dress for the evening. We took group portraits and family portraits on a balcony overlooking Manhattan at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. David's team had planned it out perfectly with ample time for photographs, and we couldn't wait to see the creative design his team was building in the grand ballroom.
The Reception...
The ballroom at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel NYC has it's own unique flare. It's large enough to handle big groups and the service is always friendly and very well coordinated and professional. David Tutera's designs never disappoint, and this was definitely the case here. He created a lavish raised sweetheart table beneath a gorgeous floral archway for the couple to take center stage. The blend of round and long tables, creative floral archways, along with a blend of both club lighting, and candlelight made for a rich atmosphere ideal for a New York style celebration to remember. Enjoy a gallery of photographs below for more inspiration and details surrounding this beautiful wedding day.
