Multicultural Wedding in Manhattan, New York

Vicki and Lázaro’s wedding in Manhattan started peacefully with an afternoon ceremony inside a Quaker meetinghouse in the East Village. If you know NYC, you know quiet is hard to come by, but somehow this little space felt completely separate from the taxis, noise, and chaos happening outside.

These two are NYC natives who met on Hinge in 2023. Not long after, Lázaro proposed while they were traveling through Spain and Morocco. They actually had a courthouse wedding the previous October and took a mini-moon to Toronto (apparently the food scene there is incredible). But this celebration was all about gathering their community and having the full experience together for their wedding in Manhattan.

The morning of the wedding was super relaxed. My second photographer met up with me the night before, so we started the day the most New York way possible—coffee and bagels. It was one of those perfect mild October days where the sun is out, the air is crisp, and the city just looks really damn good. I even took the subway to the ceremony, which felt very local… though we switched to Ubers later because my camera case and the subway were not exactly getting along.

The ceremony itself reflected something really important to them. Lázaro grew up Quaker and wanted to incorporate that simplicity into the day. Quaker ceremonies are quiet and reflective, centered more on presence. We ran a little behind schedule (because weddings), which meant moving family photos to after the ceremony, but honestly, it worked out great.

Vicki and Lázaro told me they loved clean, vibrant colors with a slightly nostalgic feel. They wanted the day captured in a photojournalistic style with editorial touches. Basically: real moments first, but with space for some stylish portraits too.

A Lower East Side Apartment Party

After the ceremony wrapped up, the day shifted into full New York mode. Instead of everyone piling into cars or shuttles, guests literally hopped on an MTA bus together and rode downtown through Manhattan. Honestly, venue-hopping across the city felt like the most NYC wedding move possible. It was all a part of the experience.

The next stop was the Lower East Side, where the cocktail hour and reception turned into what I can only describe as the world’s coolest apartment party. The gathering took place at Vicki’s childhood home. Her parents still know the people who live there now, and somehow the stars aligned, and they generously allowed Vicki and Lázaro to host their cocktail hour there.

About 120 of their closest friends and family filled the rooms. People were tucked into little corners catching up, others spilled out into the backyard with drinks, and the wine bar next door kept the party flowing. This vibe was the sweet spot for documentary-style photography.

One of my favorite moments happened right in the middle of all that movement. At one point, Vicki and Lázaro stepped outside, flagged down a taxi like true New Yorkers, and jumped in to head toward the next part of their night.

Multicultural wedding ceremony in Manhattan, NY

A Chinatown Banquet to End Their Wedding in Manhattan

After the apartment party wrapped up, the night shifted again into full-on celebration mode. Before heading to the reception, we took a little time to wander around Chinatown for portraits. This is one of the reasons I love shooting in New York so much. You don’t have to manufacture interesting backdrops. The city just hands them to you.

The night ended at House of Joy with a traditional Chinese banquet reception that brought together around 300 guests. Walking into that room was wild! Long banquet tables filled the space, people catching up across generations, servers weaving through the crowd, and a live band keeping the room buzzing. It was electric. Big receptions like this move fast, and the trick is leaning into the energy rather than trying to control it. This is an environment where the story basically writes itself.

And the night wrapped up the only way a party like this should—with a confetti pop and a room full of people absolutely losing their minds.

Three locations, hundreds of people, and one of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever had the chance to be part of. Honestly… a pretty damn perfect wedding in Manhattan.

Bride and groom catch a taxi in Manhattan to head to their reception

Lower East Side wedding reception in Manhattan, New York

Bride and groom photos in Manhattan, New York

From the Couple

“I had combed through over 180 photographers’ websites (insane) to find someone who offered film + digital, had a vibrant storytelling aesthetic, AND matched our budget. We couldn’t have had a better experience with Maddi! In addition to all that was previously mentioned, she’s quick to respond, easy to work with, and a rad person who loves her job. We seriously made use of her travel-inclusive package: We ended up booking her just two weeks before going on a getaway vacation… She quickly found flights last minute to help us take our engagement photos!

Our wedding took place at 3 separate venues in NYC, and she was very flexible in working with our schedule. She captured all the natural joy, fun energy, and small details of the day perfectly. All our friends and family have been gushing over the photos we’ve received so far, and we can’t wait for the full gallery to come out. Thank you, Maddi, we can’t recommend you highly enough!”

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