OHEKA CASTLE WEDDING, CARRIE + JAMES
Celebration: Carrie + James' Wedding at Oheka Castle
Event Planning + Design: Karyn Michael Events
Number of Guests: 300
As Seen Here In: Wedding Style Magazine + Inside Weddings Magazine
Venue: Oheka Castle - Huntington, New York
Highlights: Carrie + James dated for 10 years before getting engaged in Napa Valley while celebrating their anniversary. Their wedding included many traditional Chinese elements, overall the day was rich in culture, style and romance. We only had a five months to plan this celebration for 300 of the couples friends and family, we worked fast and efficiently, the wedding came together like a symphony. We started the day with traditional Chinese door games, followed by a tea ceremony or jing cha in Chinese, the tea ceremony took place in Oheka’s Library. Carrie + James poured tea from a traditional red tea set, for their closest friends and family as a sign of respect, while receiving gifts of gold jewelry and red packets or ‘hóngbāo’ in Chinese.
We worked closely with Oheka’s Executive Chef Christopher Cappello to prepare a decadent menu that included a lobster tail for every guest artfully paired with the guests choice of protein. They served Caymus Cabernet and Veuve Clicquot Champagne. It was important to the groom that the menu be on par with the grandeur of Oheka Castle and the opulent decor we had painstakingly designed.
It’s been months since Carrie + James’ winter wedding at Oheka Castle and we can honestly say it’s one we wish we could go back and relive. Everything was exactly as the couple had wished for, a true storybook celebration for this fun-loving couple.
Beauty Makeover with Reiko, Bridal Gowns Pronovias - Ceremony, BHLDN - Reception, Best Total Wedding Plaza, Bridesmaid GownsHitherto, Cake Daniel Andreotti of Oheka Castle, Catering Christopher Cappello of Oheka Castle, Quartet Art-Strings Ensembles, Band Rock and Soul by Starlight Music, Flowers Pedestals, Formal Wear Giorgio Armani, J. Crew & Suit supply, Headpiece USA Bride, Honeymoon Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Invitations + Event Design Karyn Michael Events, Jewelry London Jewelers, Lighting Hart To Hart Entertainment, Linens Karyn Michael Events, Mother’s Gown Jovani, Photography Lauren Fair Photography, Groom’s Shoes Christian Louboutin, Bride’s ShoesJimmy Choo, Transportation East Coast Limousine, Veil Blossom Veils and Accessories, Videography Willow Tree Films
The Wedding Gown(s)
Carrie was stunning in a traditional Chinese wedding gown that she wore for their formal Tea Ceremony, held in the Library of Oheka Castle. Throughout the evening Carrie wore four wedding gowns, each one more beautiful than the last.
A Winter Wedding at Oheka Castle
A snow covered Oheka Castle with the Bride and Groom on the balcony of the bridal suite.
The Tea Ceremony
Carrie + James poured tea for Friends and Family in Oheka’s Library while graciously accepting wedding gifts of gold jewelry and red packets as part of a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony.
The Invitation
A folio style invitation wrapped in red silk fabric stamped with the Chinese symbol for “Double Happiness” both symbolize luck for the Bride + Groom in Chinese culture. The folio opened from back to front as do Chinese books. They contained dual language letter pressed invitations one written in Chinese and the other in English. A custom envelope was again foil stamped in metallic gold with the “Double Happiness” symbol.
Red Envelopes
In East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures, a red envelope, red packet, 紅包, lì xì, lai see, âng-pau or hóngbāo is a monetary gift for the Bride + Groom.
The Guest Sign-In "Book"
Isn’t a book at all, in Chinese culture guests sign a red cloth stamped with a gold dragon and phoenix. The cloth was displayed on a dedicated table and attended by a few male family members along with a box to hold red packets.
Guest Arrival
A string quartet performed classical pieces in the upper foyer of Oheka Castle while guests arrived, a grand tower of Veuve Clicquot champagne further set the tone for what was to come.
The Gowns
The bridesmaids wore The Fleur Gown by Hitherto from BHLDN in Bordeaux and Carrie is photographed here wearing one of the four gowns she wore that day, this one by Pronovias.
The Ceremony
An emotional wedding ceremony in the Grand Ballroom at Oheka Castle attended by 300 guests.
The Entertainment
An eleven piece band had guests on the floor, dancing all night long. By no means your run of the mill “wedding band”, their energy played a significant roll in the overall guest experience during Carrie + James’ black-tie reception.
The First Dance
Carrie + James looked like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as he twirled her effortlessly around a gloss white and gold dance floor personalized with the couples wedding monogram.
The Flowers + The Cake
Delicate shades of pink and ivory roses with accents of muted green dusty miller & amaranthus were abundant throughout the castle, enhanced by tons of romantic candlelight.
Carrie + James' Wedding at Oheka Castle
Carrie + James’ Wedding Trailer at Oheka Castle, designed by Karyn Michael Events.