whimsical and eclectic charm

On an early summer evening at a popular watering hole in Midtown Manhattan, Will had just settled into a chair with a much-needed seasonal beverage. It was the start of a two-hour window where the happy hour specials were generous, and the atmosphere spirited. His mind was cluttered with stress from the week, but little did he know he would soon forget it all.

Amisha had just returned to the city from a business trip and was excited for a night out. For a social butterfly accustomed to the vibrant energy of the East Village, she was excited to leave behind the Marriott in Melville, NY.

Amisha walked in to the bar, and like a scene from a movie, time slowed as she paused briefly and surveyed the room. Will took notice and their eyes met for a moment, and without much hesitation, introductions were made. The conversation that followed over the course of the next two hours was easy and thoughtful, and before Amisha and Will went their separate ways, a date was planned.

As the months and years went by, Amisha and Will’s bond grew strong. Many days and nights were spent enjoying each other’s company exploring the city, seeing shows, and experiencing the many cultural offerings of the city. Their love and affection grew with each day. Then the pandemic abruptly arrived and life as everyone knew it ground to a halt. When the city shut down and friends and colleagues fled to the suburbs and countryside, Amisha and Will remained in their respective apartments and formed a “COVID pod,” supporting each other and strengthening their bond. When the city emerged from the pandemic, Amisha and Will could see with clear eyes a future together.

In June 2022, Amisha and Will traveled to France to attend a friend’s wedding and spent an extra week touring the country. It was the trip of a lifetime. They walked the streets of Old Lyon, dined at bouchons and bistros, relaxed on the pristine beaches of Corsica, and came to understand why Paris is known as the “city of love.” A week into the trip, Will surprised Amisha when he hired a friendly skipper named Sebastian to take the couple on a private cruise around the southern coastline of Corsica. They visited remote beaches, cenotes, caves, serene snorkeling areas, and a cluster of small rocky islands. At the very end of the day, Sebastian brought the sun soaked and happy couple to a small stretch of sand where nobody could be seen for miles.

Will and Amisha walked arm in arm, eventually making their way around a tall rock formation where a piece of driftwood artfully marked the location of a heart drawn in the sand next to wild flower petals and a bottle of chilled champagne. Amisha’s jaw dropped, totally stunned with surprise as to how Will had managed to smuggle a proposal past her watchful eye. Will dropped to one knee and asked Amisha if she would spend the rest of her life with him. Through tears of joy she proclaimed “of course!”

The couple fell in love with Gramercy’s whimsical & eclectic charm along with the historic nature of the mansion and the absolutely stunning gardens. They really wanted a venue that felt unique, charming, comfortable, and cozy – and Gramercy had all of those things, but also an unforgettable “magical” feel to it. They also really wanted to find a venue with lots of greenery and natural beauty that would allow guests space to roam a beautiful, sprawling property with a variety of outdoor spaces. Lastly, as the couple was having an Indian-Western fusion wedding, they wanted to find a venue that would suit the style and flow of each event. For this purpose Gramercy also won by a landslide over other venues! Gramercy’s Carriage House was perfect for the Sangeet night. The Hindu Ceremony took place in Gramercy’s beautiful Garden Atrium, an open sunlit room teeming with flowers and greens that spilled out into to the gardens. There they set up their floral adorned garden-style mandap. Amisha and Will’s Western Vow Ceremony took place in the formal gardens outdoors- which are classic, stunning, and full of lovely old-fashioned stone paving and garden fixtures (a very Pride and Prejudice vibe!). Finally, Cocktail Hour took place in the gazebo gardens adjacent to the mansion. Guests took in the fresh perfume-like aroma of so many beautiful summer flowers while sipping on a refreshing cocktails and listening to soft harp and cello music playing live in the background!

Given Amisha’s Indian heritage and Will’s American background, their vision was to create a celebration that honored both cultures equally and allowed them to complement each other in the best ways possible. To that end, their wedding aesthetic pulls from the vibrant reds, pinks, oranges and marigold hues traditional in Indian weddings, coupled with the elegant florals typical of old-world romantic Western garden weddings. The result of this fusion is a unique blend of classic elegance – a minimalist copper chuppah structure for the mandap, a rustic iron garden arch for our vow ceremony, a vintage blue Mustang for the baraat and wedding exit – with vivid pops of color throughout and textures reminiscent of India throughout the details – jute, straw, cane, leather, and copper/brass. The couple chose to include lots of vivid pink, orange, peach and yellow flowers decorating their paper goods and signage, as well as their events. The overall look could be best described as “magic Indian garden meets summer night in Tuscany.” The food is also reflective of this theme – guests were served a fabulous Indian buffet at the Sangeet and after the Hindu Ceremony lunch, and then transitioned to a delicious French-Mediterranean cocktail hour and plated dinner for the Reception.

For heirloom items, the bride wore her mother’s wedding jewelry to the Hindu ceremony, specifically her mother’s pearl-and-gold teeka (forehead jewelry) and nath (nose-ring). Amisha was very honored to wear these pieces, which she has preserved so perfectly for so many years. They go beautifully with the traditional polki kundan (raw diamond set in 22K gold) bridal set Amisha wore to her ceremony as well. During the ceremony, the groom adored the bride with a piece of jewelry he purchased which has great significance in Hindu wedding culture – a mangalsutra, or gold and black bead necklace that a new husband adorns his new wife with to protect her from the evil eye. It’s a very dainty and beautiful piece, and will become an heirloom to pass down to future generations.

Venue: Gramercy Mansion | Bride’s Lehengas: Kalighata & Siddhartha Bansal | Pernia’s Pop Up Shop in New Delhi | Groom’s Sherwanis: Aza Fashions | Ushnak Mal Boutique in New Delhi | Bride’s Western Wedding Gown: Morilee by Madeline Gardner | RK Bridal NYC | Groom’s Western Ceremony Suit: Alan David | Planner: Christine Godsey of CG&Co Events | Photographer: Anna Schmidt Photography | Videographer: Bowen Films | Hair – Makeup: Makeup by Ana B | Henna artist: Bhavna’s Henna | Sari draping: Khadija Chaudhry | Florist: Kate Campbell Floral | Rentals: Something Vintage Rentals & Select Event Group Catering: Zeffert and Gold | Royal Tandoor | Cake: Cake by Jason | DJ: DJ Jatin at DCViBEZ | Transportation: Vintage Mustang from Michael’s Motors | Rickshaw from Rags to Rickshaws

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