Layla and Richard married at the James Burden Mansion in New York, a Beaux-Arts townhouse a short walk from Central Park. Layla got ready at The Plaza on Fifth Avenue, they had a first look in Central Park, and the ceremony was a Jewish service upstairs in the mansion’s marble ceremony room, followed by dinner, a first dance and a band. It followed a New York pre-wedding shoot around some of the city’s landmarks.
Getting ready at The Plaza
The morning was at The Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue, at the corner of Central Park. Layla’s hair was done by celebrity hairstylist Kevin Mancuso, and her make-up by Moyra Mulholland.
Manolo Blahnik shoes and Tiffany jewellery
Layla’s dress was by Suzanne Neville, from the New York bridal salon Wedding Atelier. She calls herself an Anglophile, and the British influence ran right through the day, from the dress to her hair and make-up to her choice of English photographers.
The wedding was black tie, and Layla and Richard asked their photographers to dress up for it too. They did.
A first look in Central Park
Once he was ready, Richard went over to Central Park to wait for a first look. Layla followed a little later. It was an emotional moment for both of them, and the last thing before the short drive to the ceremony.
Arriving at the James Burden Mansion
The couple travelled in a white vintage Rolls-Royce. Guests were waiting outside, and so was Layla’s father. He had been in poor health and was in a wheelchair, but he stood up to meet his daughter.
The mansion was built in the early 1900s on East 91st Street. Inside there’s a spiral staircase, sculpted ceilings and marble walls, and it’s often described as the finest Beaux-Arts townhouse in New York.
The ceremony
Guests went up the spiral staircase to the marble ceremony room. The Jewish ceremony was led by a good friend of the couple, which made it a particularly personal service for them both.
At the end, Richard broke the glass with his right foot, the guests shouted “Mazel tov!”, and the couple walked back down the aisle to cheers and applause.
The banquet room
The banquet room was set in low, warm light. Every table had white linen, white roses, glass candelabras and personalised menus. The top table had white orchids and a gold love seat for two.
First dance and the party
After the cake, there were photographs in the grounds of the mansion and an emotional first dance. Then the party started, with a band and singing and trumpet from Mr Chris Norton.
Congratulations to Layla and Richard.
Planning a James Burden Mansion wedding
- Use Central Park. The mansion is a short walk from the park, and a first look there before the ceremony gives you pictures that couldn’t be anywhere else.
- Allow for traffic. New York punishes optimistic scheduling. Everything takes longer than the map suggests, so build slack into the move from hotel to park to venue.
- Check permits early. Professional photography in New York City’s parks can need a permit, particularly with a tripod or lighting. Handheld work on public streets is generally fine.
- Do a shoot before the wedding. Layla and Richard did theirs around Manhattan, partly for the pictures and partly so they weren’t losing hours of the wedding day to portraits.
- Autumn is the best season. Warm light, colour in the park and temperatures you can stand in formal clothes.
After the wedding, Layla and Richard went on to a post-wedding photoshoot in Paris. You can also see their New York pre-wedding shoot. More about travelling for weddings is on my destination wedding photographer page, or have a look at my prices and send me your date.
