A Timeless Manhattan Wedding at JW Marriott Essex House
Amanda Trau and Emma Darragh were first introduced in October 2021 by a mutual friend. The two hit it off quickly, bonding immediately over their shared love of Taylor Swift. Emma remembers finding Amanda to be very captivating, and was drawn into her stories. Amanda immediately felt comfortable with Emma and was able to be fully herself from the first date. Emma understood her in a way others hadn't before, creating an effortless connection between them.
Custom Rings and a Taylor Swift Song
A year and a half later, in April 2023, the couple got engaged. After a wonderful experience shopping and designing their rings together in New York, Amanda planned the engagement at her parents’ house in Florida. She also invited Emma’s parents to fly in from California for the occasion.
“When we first toured Essex House, we fell in love immediately with the gorgeous murals, chandeliers, and ornate decorations.”
“While getting ready for what Emma believed to be another vacation dinner down in Florida,” the couple shares, “Amanda’s family was busy setting the scene. When Emma came out from the bedroom, the house was empty so she made her way outside to look for everyone. Emma entered the backyard and found Amanda waiting for her while ‘Daylight’ by Taylor Swift played in the background. After Emma made her way over to where Amanda was sitting on a blanket with flowers and candles, Amanda proposed to Emma. Emma found the ring box with Amanda’s ring amongst the rest of the setup, and proposed back to Amanda in the moment.”
The dual engagement was recorded by Amanda’s sister, and both families watched from inside the house – a special surprise for Emma when they all came out to celebrate with a champagne toast and a beautiful sunset.
Planning a Timeless Manhattan Wedding at JW Marriott Essex House
Shortly after they were engaged, Amanda and Emma started the wedding planning process by securing their wedding vendor team and signing contracts. The longer timeline of their planning process also worked in their favor, as Amanda was entering her final year of law school and the couple didn’t want to have the wedding until after she sat for the New York Bar Exam. With the exam set for the end of July 2024, Emma took on more of the planning role with the help of La Bella planners, who joined in for the final eight weeks before the big day.
“We wanted the day to feel like a timeless Manhattan wedding while still being true to who we are,” the couple says. “When we first toured JW Marriott Essex House, we fell in love immediately with the gorgeous murals, chandeliers, and ornate decorations. As soon as we visited the ballroom at Essex House, we knew it was where we wanted to say, ‘I do.’ The room is so capable of speaking for itself, so we knew for decor we simply wanted to enhance its beauty.”
Emma and Amanda envisioned an elegant black-tie New York City celebration that embraced timeless sophistication rather than seasonal trends.
“Our goal was to create a classic and beautiful wedding where the photos would be impossible to date,” they add. “This timeless vision extended to our wedding gowns, which featured luxurious silk fabrics and classic silhouettes that stand the test of time.”
Amanda wore an A-line bridal gown by Anne Barge made of Raso organza. Delicate buttons lined the hem down the back of the dress, and her chapel length veil with rose embroidered appliques was the perfect pairing. As a special touch, she pinned a butterfly brooch from her late grandmother, Bobbi, to the lining of her dress so she’d be with her for the big day.
Emma’s wedding dress was a halter fit-and-flare silk gown by Nicole + Felicia, which she wore with a cathedral length veil and blusher in light ivory tulle and white satin trim.
The Wedding Day
Before the ceremony, both bridal parties and families gathered together for the signing of the ketubah – an incredibly special moment to celebrate the joining of two families.
For the wedding ceremony, the brides’ florist designed a stunning chuppah dressed in white and pink flowers. The ceremony aisle was also adorned with candles, which added a timeless sense of romance to the space. The brides were married by Amanda’s childhood Rabbi, who took the time to get to know Emma beforehand, ensuring a personalized ceremony.
“We chose to share our vows publicly,” they say, “allowing our guests a deeper glimpse into our love story.”
As guests enjoyed cocktail hour in a separate room, the Essex House team expertly flipped the ballroom into a completely new space for the wedding reception. Under the main chandelier was a large dance floor with 15 round tables surrounding it and a sweetheart table for the brides in front.
“We worked with our florist to create high and low centerpieces in shades of pink and white to emphasize the colors in the murals,” the brides say, “All of the food was extraordinary – our guests could not stop talking about it! We were especially impressed by the burrata salad and the citrus glazed striped bass. The DJ kept the dance floor packed all night, creating a perfect playlist of songs that everyone could enjoy. Some guests remarked he should win a Grammy for his skills. The night flew by as we danced with all of our friends and family.”
The next evening, Emma and Amanda departed for their honeymoon in France, spending the first half relaxing on the beach in Nice before heading up to Paris.
“Nice was so beautiful,” they recall, “and the crystal-clear turquoise waters meeting the smooth pebble beaches created the perfect backdrop for our most special memories together. We wrapped up in the city of love, Paris, where we enjoyed amazing wine and cheese while visiting places like La Galerie Dior, Louvre Museum, and Musée d'Orsay. It was the perfect way to end our wedding celebrations.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location & Catering: JW Marriott Essex House, New York, NY; Planning: La Bella Planners; Floral Design: Bride and Blossom; Calligraphy: Order She Wrote; Lighting: Encore; Entertainment: Hank Lane – MTM Events; Engagement Ring: Ada Diamonds; Wedding Dresses: Anne Barge, Nicole + Felicia; Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal; Hair & Makeup: Miss Harlequin; Photography: Susan Shek Photography