Damien and Leilani ~ The Marmara Park Avenue, Midtown Loft & Terrace
Capturing couples’ happiest moments makes me happy. Every moment has its own beauty and this wedding of a New Yorker, Damien, and a native Alaskan, Leilani, was truly unique and magical. The day tastefully incorporated elements of both cultures, celebrating the beautiful blend of traditions.
For the union of Damien and Leilani, both parties got ready for their big day at the Marmara Hotel in New York City. The Marmara is one of the best known luxury hotel chains in Turkey. Its NYC branch is located on East 32nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue. A spacious terrace of the hotel, which shows the gorgeous backdrop of the Chrysler Building, was the perfect place to start the day. Though it was marginally cold out, the couple braved the chill to take their photos on the outside terrace of one of the hotel’s suites.
The harmony of the happy couple matched the synchronicity of their chosen accessories. Both the groom’s boutonniere and the bride’s bouquet matched in rich color and paid homage to bride’s home state of Alaska. The groom’s boutonniere had a cute addition of a Ruffed Grouse’s feather, the most predominant bird in Alaska. The bride’s bouquet incorporated a strip of fur wrapped around the flowers. Both unique additions alluded to hunting, which is a significant part of the Alaskan culture.
From the hotel, both parties moved on to the Midtown Loft & Terrace at 267 5th Avenue where they held an outdoor ceremony incorporating some Jewish and native Alaskan traditions important to the bride and groom such as breaking a coconut by Leilani’s dad and breaking the glass by Damien. It was a beautiful ceremony taking place under an arch covered in burgundy and golden flowers. Those warm and welcoming tones were carried through to the reception, along with rich turquoise, to create an intimate and elegant reception atmosphere.
It was a fun and lively party, especially with the addition of the lifting of the chairs, another Jewish tradition. It was also an emotional evening at times with some touching moments such as parents’ dances and speeches by members of both sides of the family. The night ended with an available-light photo of a romantic kiss between a newly wed husband and wife, with the background of a lit up Empire State Building.