The hum of the city faded the moment we stepped inside Hotel Chelsea. Golden light filtered through lace curtains, catching the brass fixtures and deep velvet tones of the piano room. Lori and Cary’s August wedding felt like stepping into a different era, one that existed somewhere between Old Hollywood and downtown New York.
Their closest friends and family gathered in a soft circle around them as they exchanged vows beside the piano, a glass of champagne in hand. It was intimate, understated, and elegant in the way that only a Hotel Chelsea wedding can be.
The Setting — Old Hollywood in the Heart of NYC
Few places in the city carry as much history and texture as Hotel Chelsea. Its patterned carpets, tall windows, and layered light created the perfect backdrop for film. Every corner offered a vignette that felt cinematic — warm, moody, and alive.
Documented entirely on film, we mixed HP5 and Portra across 35mm and 120 formats to preserve the day with depth and grit. The gentle grain of HP5 mirrored the room’s nostalgia, while Portra’s warmth highlighted the romantic glow of late-summer light.
The Ceremony — A Moment Suspended in Time
The ceremony took place in the piano room, with guests seated casually in a circle, more salon than ceremony. Laughter and quiet conversation filled the air as the couple exchanged vows, surrounded by people who knew them best.
The atmosphere was unhurried. Each moment felt deliberate, a pause, a breath, the click of a camera shutter capturing something honest and unscripted. It was less about performance, more about presence.
Portraits — Slow Moments Through the Lens
After the ceremony, we carved out quiet time for portraits. Lori and Cary wandered through the hallways, pausing in doorways and against the patterned walls that have seen decades of artists, musicians, and poets. Shooting entirely on film allowed the session to slow down, each frame considered, each pause intentional.
Outside, they stood arm-in-arm beneath the iconic Hotel Chelsea sign for casual family portraits. The bustle of 23rd Street moved around them, but it somehow felt still, like time folded briefly for them alone.
Reception — Drinks, Dancing, and a Movie-Like Ending
As the evening went on, guests spilled between the piano room and the lobby bar, passing small plates and drinks. Lori and Cary shared their first dance with cocktails in hand, smiling and laughing under the soft amber light.
It was the kind of moment that didn’t need direction — effortless, cinematic, and true. The clinking of glasses, the murmur of the city outside, the faint reflection of streetlights in the window — all of it felt like a scene that would linger long after the film stopped rolling.
Photographing Hotel Chelsea on Film
There’s a quiet rhythm to photographing weddings at Hotel Chelsea. The mix of ambient light, rich color, and intimate spaces pairs beautifully with film — especially stocks like Portra 400 for its warmth and HP5 for its timeless contrast. Every frame carries the mood of the space itself: layered, imperfect, alive.
If you’re planning a celebration here, lean into what makes the hotel so distinct — the textures, the history, the cinematic light.
Lori and Cary’s wedding was a reminder of why we love photographing in New York — for the way the city holds both grandeur and ease in the same breath.
If you’re drawn to classic New York spaces like Hotel Chelsea and want your day photographed in a way that feels honest and film-driven, you can learn more about our approach to wedding photography in NYC.
View the full Hotel Chelsea wedding gallery for more images from Lori & Cary’s day.
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