Crest Hollow Country Club, Long Island, New York
It was a beautiful sunny summer wedding day in Long Island for a New York Catholic Indian wedding. This nontraditional wedding day starts at the St. Vincent De Paul Syro-Malankara Catholic Cathedral with the wedding ceremony. Sonali and Toby were ready for their big Indian Catholic wedding ceremony. They were originally introduced to each other through their families and knew that they were perfect for each other when they met. I could sense their genuine love with each other even from just photographing their engagement photos.
Crest Hollow Country Club Wedding Details
The bride and groom arrived at the Catholic Cathedral separately. While Sonali gets ready to walk down the aisle with her dad, Toby straightens up with his groom-style outfit before the ceremony starts. Toby’s light, beige wedding suit was unique paired with his patterned bow tie. I could tell that he was excited and nervous at the same time through my camera lens as I continued capturing the authentic moments between him and his parents outside the Catholic church. He was a few moments before seeing his soon-to-be wife walk down the aisle!
The Catholic Indian Wedding Ceremony
It was stunning to watch the bride walk down the Cathedral with her father. It was a memorable moment that both the bride and groom had been waiting for. The groom shed a few tears as she got closer to him, wearing a beautiful off-white saree. It was a beautiful moment to witness as a wedding photographer. The ceremony progresses as they both stand side by side at the altar in front of all their friends and families.
Tying of the Thali at the New York Catholic Indian Wedding
A momentous part of the ceremony was the tying of thali (Minoy) by the groom. This leaf-shaped pendant with a cross is made of seven beads in the center. The priest gestures to the bride and groom to step up for this part of the ritual. The groom places the Thali around the bride’s neck and ties a knot, symbolizing the stability and permanence of their marriage.
The Wedding Saree (Manthrokodi)
This beautiful green saree, gifted to the bride from the groom and his family, is placed over the bride’s head. It was a stunning moment to see it as a mantle, reflecting the groom’s promise to honor and protect his bride.
After exchanging their rings, it was official! Huge congratulations for such a beautiful Indian Catholic wedding and being announced, husband and wife!
Getting Ready at Crest Hollow Country Club
After such a stunning ceremony, we make our way to the Crest Hollow Country Club for cocktail hour and wedding reception. As the guests are enjoying cocktail hour, Sonali does a quick outfit change and puts on the gifted green saree. Her mom and some of her closest friends helped put on this beautiful outfit before we headed over to Crest Hollow’s wedding reception.
Wedding Reception at Crest Hollow Country Club
This Woodbury, Long Island wedding venue at the heart of Nassau County has the perfect grand reception. From the moment I arrive, I’m immersed in a world of lush gardens, sparkling pools, and chic reception spaces, all perfect for creating breathtaking photos. It has a tropical paradise atmosphere with palm trees and powdery sand surrounded by the country club. The variety of landscapes at Crest Hollow creates such beautiful backdrops, from the vibrant gardens to classic architecture. The venue’s lush gardens and sprawling outdoor spaces provide the perfect backdrop for capturing every beautiful moment of the celebration.
Entrance of Bride and Groom at Crest Hollow Country Club
Lighting of the Lamp
The bride and groom light the lamp with their mothers as a way to symbolize their commitment and reflect light to the world as a newly created family. It was beautiful to see them all together to perform this ritual in front of all their friends and families.
After the light of the lamp, we moved on to the cake-cutting. The bride and groom shared some fun and candid moments together as they tried their beautiful and delicious dessert. Cheers roared as they fed each other the cake slice.
Bride and Groom Portraits at Crest Hollow Country Club
The groom changes into his white sherwani before, we head out for some beautiful couple portraits. It was the perfect weather for outdoor portraits as it was later in the afternoon. The greenery at this wedding venue was exceptional and created a beautiful backdrop for Sonali and Toby. After a long day, they were finally able to have a moment together. It’s so heartwarming to see them together as husband and wife. These romantic and stunning portraits are something that they can share and cherish forever.
Congratulations again to the new Mr. and Mrs. Mathews!
Check out more wedding galleries with Morgan and Joey at Clarks Landing Yacht Club or Lindsay and Brian at Central Park Boathouse!
