Amanda & Greg’s Ravel Hotel Wedding in Long Island City

Amanda and Greg married at the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The Ravel sits right at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge, so the bridge and the Manhattan skyline are in almost every frame: from the suite windows in the morning, from the rooftop for the first look, and lit up over the terrace after dark. Inside, the ceremony happened under an arch of white and pink roses, and the reception was a room full of cherry blossom trees and candlelight.

The Morning

Amanda got ready with her bridesmaids, everyone in matching lavender pajamas and Amanda in white. Her gown hung in the window, the invitation and rings were laid out with the bouquet, and the whole group took over the hotel staircase for a photo before a champagne toast.

Down the hall, Greg got ready by a window that frames the bridge, then waited under the lit Ravel sign at the entrance.

The First Look and the Rooftop

Their first look was on the rooftop, the whole Manhattan skyline behind them. From there we moved down to the terrace and the railings beneath the Queensboro Bridge, which is about as close to the bridge as you can get for a portrait in this city, and then out to the street under it with the wedding party.

The Ceremony

Amanda came down the staircase and up the aisle to an arch of white and pink roses. After the rings and the first kiss, they walked back through a room of cheering guests.

Cocktail Hour and the Terrace at Dusk

Cocktail hour spilled out onto the terrace with a saxophonist playing against the skyline. As the light went blue and the bridge lit up, we took Amanda and Greg back outside for a few minutes.

The Reception

The reception room was filled with cherry blossom trees, long tables of pink and white flowers and candlelight. After the first dance and the cake, Amanda changed into a short white dress, the sparklers came out with a sign that read "The Lafaires", and the dance floor stayed full until the end.

Their Album

A wedding like this one is made for an album. Turn the pages of Amanda and Greg’s album below, designed by our studio from their gallery: the morning on one page, the rooftop and the bridge across several, then the ceremony, the reception and the sparklers at the end. See our Essential and Signature albums to choose your own.

Photographing a Wedding at the Ravel Hotel

Plan around the bridge. The Queensboro Bridge is the reason to be here. The terrace and railings beneath it, the rooftop with the full skyline, and the street under the bridge give you three different looks within a few minutes of each other.

Go back out at blue hour. Ten minutes on the terrace at dusk, when the bridge lights come on, gave Amanda and Greg some of the best frames of the day.

Use the hotel itself. The staircase, the glass-walled rooms and the lit entrance sign are all worth a photo before the ceremony.

If you are getting married at the Ravel Hotel or anywhere in Long Island City, we would love to hear about your day. Tell us your date, or book a call.