Some weddings are a single day. This one was a four-day takeover of an entire Adirondack mountain town — and it might be one of the most ambitious multicultural celebrations Lake Placid has ever seen.

When Lara Russell-Lasalandra and Umang Chaudhry set out to bring their families together for one unforgettable weekend, they didn't book a single venue — they took over four. Guests arrived on Thursday and didn't leave the party until well past midnight on Sunday, moving between an Olympic ski jump facility turned après-ski lounge, a candlelit Christmas-themed church wedding, a black-tie winter reception, and a full traditional Hindu ceremony and reception — all set against the snow-covered High Peaks of the Adirondacks.

Every detail — from igloo lounges to a Baraat procession, from an aerialist in a light-up snowflake dress to a Bollywood dance floor — was orchestrated by VanBee & Co., the Adirondacks' go-to destination wedding planning team, with design by O Luxe Design, the Boston-based studio known for its South Asian and destination wedding work. Thirdeyestudio spent four days on the ground, logging over 20 hours of photography and cinematic film coverage, from quiet getting-ready moments to the final song of the night.

This is what it looks like when a destination wedding doesn't simplify for two cultures — it celebrates both, in full.


Quick Facts

  • Location: Lake Placid, New York — full property buyouts of The Whiteface Lodge and The Whiteface Club & Resort
  • Guest count: Approximately 180 guests across the weekend
  • Design aesthetic: Winter luxury and Christmas romance for the Western wedding day, layered with vibrant South Asian tradition for the Hindu ceremony and reception
  • Planning & production: VanBee & Co.
  • Design & florals: O Luxe Design
  • Photography & film: Thirdeyestudio


Getting Ready: Presidential Suite Glam

The morning began where all the best wedding mornings do — in the Presidential Suite at The Whiteface Lodge, with hair and makeup, mimosas, and pre-ceremony nerves. The bridal party got ready together as the groomsmen prepared just steps away, with the getting-ready spread catered in from a local Lake Placid bakery. A quiet ice sculpture took shape downstairs, personal flowers arrived at the church, and by mid-morning the entire lodge had transformed into a hive of tulle, steamers, and last looks in the mirror before the first ceremony of the weekend.


Friday: An Après-Ski Welcome Party at the Olympic Ski Jumps

Most welcome parties happen in a hotel ballroom. Lara and Umang's happened at the base of an Olympic ski jump.

Held at Lake Placid's Olympic Jumping Complex — home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games — the Friday welcome reception leaned fully into an "après-ski" theme. Guests arrived through a merch shop stocked with welcome bags (sweatshirts, cookies, and trail maps included), were greeted by strolling carolers in bellhop uniforms, and made their way past crackling fire pits to a lounge scene built entirely from heated igloos, sheepskin throws, and Adirondack chairs.

The design, courtesy of O Luxe Design, included uplit ski jump towers, a fifty-foot red carpet leading to the base of the jump, and a hot chocolate bar tucked beside the gondola line. Guests could ride the gondola up the mountain for sweeping night views, sip a signature cocktail from one of two bars, and snack their way through a buffet spread by the evening's caterer while a DJ and a pair of illuminated, snowflake-costumed performers worked the crowd. A live aerialist performed overhead on a suspended pole, professional ski jumpers gave a demonstration against the night sky, and the party didn't wind down until decor was struck at 9:30 p.m. — just in time for the design team to start building Saturday's ceremony overnight.

The vibe: Apres-ski meets Olympic glamour, with just enough theatrical flair to remind everyone this wasn't a normal Friday night.


Intervales Lodge illuminated at night with warm lights and festive Christmas tree outside the entrance.
Rustic waxed canvas backpacks displayed on a table with welcome gift bags and red candles on a shelf.
Cozy candlelit table with glass cylinder candles and holiday lights glowing through a dark window.
Rows of amber mason jar drinks with metal lids and straws glowing under warm golden light at an event.
Wedding welcome banner for Lara & Umang's ski-themed wedding on Dec 19, 2025, featuring cartoon skiers and fun typography.
A holiday book titled Santa's Dolls flanked by glowing white candles and red ornaments in warm festive lighting.
Aerial acrobat performing a stunning hoop routine under blue UV lighting at an indoor event venue.
Acrobat performing a vertical pole split under dramatic blue UV lighting in a darkened indoor venue.
Night ski lift chairs hang over a snow-covered slope illuminated by bright stadium lights at a winter resort.
Four performers in ornate white baroque costumes and tall powdered wigs pose together on a theatrical stage.
Bearded chef in red apron and black gloves preparing charcuterie at a dimly lit food station.
DJ performing at a dimly lit event venue with warm orange ambient lighting and equipment in the foreground.
Elegant white sofa with round ottomans flanked by floral drapes and warm uplighting in an event space.
Small chocolate dessert cups with cream filling on a wooden tray, elegantly presented at a catered event.
Group of people standing in line outside a venue wearing winter coats at a social event.

Saturday: A Christmas-Themed Church Wedding

Saturday began with the Christian ceremony at St. Agnes Church in the village of Lake Placid, officiated with warmth and a personal touch. Flower petals lined the aisle, pew arrangements marked every other row, and the bridal party processed to "Ave Maria" before the couple exchanged vows to a hushed, candlelit room. Live ceremony music was provided by a husband-and-wife musical duo, and the couple recessed to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" before stepping into a waiting SUV — complete with a hand-lettered "Just Married" sign and cans tied to the bumper — for the ride to portraits.


Couple & Family Portraits at Lake Placid Lodge

From the church, the wedding party and immediate family traveled to Lake Placid Lodge, the property's only lakefront luxury lodge, for formal portraits against its stone fireplaces and lake views. A small post-ceremony gathering followed with a light bar and passed bites, giving the wedding party a moment to breathe before the main event.

Cluttered makeup vanity with brushes, palettes, and beauty products organized in pouches and containers.
Dark bridesmaid dresses hanging on a rack above a leather couch in a dimly lit rustic room.
Black and white photo of a bride examining her wedding dress hanging by a window in a dimly lit room.
Elegant white high heel shoes with gold stilettos and rhinestone details displayed on a wooden surface.
A person frames another's face with their hands in a dimly lit restaurant setting.
Elegant lace wedding dress with floral embroidery hanging by a window with sheer curtains and snowy trees outside.
A makeup artist carefully applies eyebrow makeup to a young woman with dark hair in a dimly lit room.
Young blonde woman smiling warmly in a dark room, seated near a glowing Tiffany-style floor lamp.
Two women in floral robes getting ready in a rustic cabin, while a stylist works on one woman's hair.
Group of women in matching white floral pajamas dancing and posing joyfully indoors at a festive gathering.
A young woman in a white ruffled dress sits gracefully on a dark sofa, lit by a vintage lamp in a moody interior.
Bride in white dress dancing with older man in tuxedo at elegant wedding reception.
Bride pinning a boutonniere on an older man in a tuxedo at a rustic wedding venue.
Bride in white lace gown poses with two men in tuxedos inside a rustic log cabin wedding venue.
Groom in red velvet suit assisted by two groomsmen in gray tuxedos with red bow ties during wedding preparations.

Saturday Evening: The Reception at The Whiteface Lodge

If Friday was playful and Saturday morning was traditional, Saturday night was pure winter luxury.

Cocktail hour unfolded across two rooms at The Whiteface Lodge, with a pasta station and cheese wheel, a raw bar with a hand-carved ice sculpture, an oyster and caviar station, and a build-your-own pizza cove — plus a champagne-costumed performer stationed at the kitchen pass, refilling glasses as guests arrived. A violinist played from the terrace of the owner's suite while a strolling costumed duo photographed guests and handed out custom keepsake prints.

Dinner and dancing moved into the Whispering Pines ballroom, transformed by O Luxe Design into a Christmas-drenched winter forest: velvet runners in deep cabernet, clustered evergreen trees, antler and lantern details, and an elevated candlelit centerpiece on every table. The couple's first dance, a father-daughter dance, and a mother-son dance opened the night before guests sat down to a plated dinner beneath a wandering violinist. A live nine-piece band kept the dance floor full between courses, disco-costumed performers joined the party for a late set, and dessert arrived by way of a strolling "cupcake" performer and a made-to-order ice cream station set up beside the piano.

As the reception wound down, the celebration simply moved rooms. Guests shuttled back to Lake Placid Lodge for a lively after-party complete with a jazz duo, a photo booth, and three henna stations set up by the fireplace — a first, quiet nod to the Hindu celebration still to come the next day.

Framed black and white photos of couples displayed on a table with roses and candles at a wedding reception.
White laser-cut wedding card box engraved with Lara & Umang names, featuring intricate floral pattern design.
Multi-tiered wedding cake decorated with gingerbread houses and Christmas trees, perfect for a winter holiday celebration.
Group of elegantly dressed people posing together at a formal evening event in a warmly lit venue.
Wedding party dancing in green gowns and suits, celebrating joyfully in a wood-paneled reception hall.
Bride in white floral gown with fur shawl holds hands with groom in red velvet suit at winter wedding reception.
Couple shares first dance, groom in red velvet suit, bride in white feathered gown, guests watching in elegant venue.
Two women share a warm embrace while dancing at a formal event, one wearing a white fur-trimmed dress.
Two people share an emotional dance embrace at a wedding reception, one wearing a white fur stole.
Bride in white ruffled gown dancing with older man in tuxedo at elegant wedding reception.
Elegant couple dancing at a formal wedding reception, woman in white feathered dress, man in tuxedo with red boutonniere.
Couple embracing at elegant event, woman in white fur stole and black dress, red curtain backdrop.
Groom in red velvet suit shares a tender dance with elderly woman at elegant wedding reception.
A young groom in red velvet tuxedo shares a joyful dance with an elderly woman at a wedding reception.
Groom in red velvet tuxedo shares a tender mother-son dance at an elegant wedding reception.

Sunday: A Traditional Hindu Ceremony on the Whiteface Lodge Terrace

Sunday shifted gears entirely, opening with a small private Chuda and Sehra prayer ceremony before the celebration moved outdoors to the terrace at The Whiteface Lodge, where O Luxe Design had built a full mandap and ceremony stage. Guests arrived to find sled dogs on site for photos, a falconer presenting birds of prey by the fireplace, and a seven-booth bazaar stocked with bangles, saris, spices, and perfume — all before taking their seats in front of a roaring fire for the ceremony itself.

The full traditional run of show unfolded in sequence: the Baraat, Dwar Puja, Ganesh Pooja, the bride's arrival under a sheet held by her bridesmaids, Kanyadan, Hasta-melap, Gath Bandhan, Mangal Phera around the sacred fire, Saptapadi, and the Sindhoor and Mangalsutra ceremony, officiated by a Boston-based Hindu priest. Live Indian instrumental music played throughout, and the couple exited together to applause before guests spilled back out to the market for coffee, chai, and street snacks.

A makeup artist applies eyeshadow to a dark-haired woman in a floral robe inside a rustic log cabin.
Bride getting makeup done, reflected in a lit vanity mirror with warm bokeh lights framing her face.
Man in black outfit helping groom dress in elegant white sherwani inside a wooden venue.
Ornate red and silver embroidered bridal lehenga skirt hanging on display, featuring intricate floral beadwork patterns.
A man in traditional white Indian sherwani gets his turban placed by another man in a rustic wooden interior.
Black and white portrait of an Indian groom in traditional attire, turban, and garlands sitting contemplatively.
Indian groom in white sherwani and turban sits elegantly in wicker chair against dark background.
White satin bridal flats with pearl and crystal embellishments displayed on dark wooden floor.
Women in traditional Indian attire being assisted with a bridal lehenga fitting inside a rustic wooden venue.
Indian bride being adorned with traditional jewelry by bridesmaids in colorful saris during wedding preparation.
Elderly woman in black saree exchanges jewelry with bride in pink lehenga during Indian wedding ceremony.
Bride in ornate lehenga surrounded by bridesmaids giving kisses at Indian wedding celebration.
Woman in pink saree serving food at a decorated buffet table at an Indian cultural event.
Indian bride and groom in traditional attire posing with an owl at their wedding ceremony.
Couple in traditional South Asian wedding attire posing with an owl outdoors.

Sunday Evening: The Indian Reception at The Whiteface Club

The celebration closed at The Whiteface Club & Resort, where design shifted once more — chandeliers dripping in fresh florals, a wrapped dance floor, and a cocktail hour built around an Indian spice tasting and a live sketch artist on the staircase. A full Indian buffet followed, with vegetarian and gluten-free labeling throughout, prepared by a New Jersey–based Indian caterer, alongside a dessert spread of gulab jamun, kheer, and moong dal halwa served by costumed "dessert" performers.

The night built toward a professional Bollywood dance performance, a playful Kalira ceremony on the dance floor, and hours of open dancing under a DJ set from a Boston-based sound and lighting company — closing out a wedding weekend that had, by that point, touched nearly every corner of Lake Placid.

Elderly man in navy suit with colorful orange and green scarf laughing at an elegant Indian-themed event.
Indian bride and groom in traditional wedding attire with floral garlands walking together at a vibrant ceremony.
Couple in traditional Indian wedding attire walks down the aisle at a colorful indoor ceremony with guests applauding.
Bride in ornate red and gold lehenga during traditional Indian wedding ceremony under floral mandap with guests.
Traditional Indian wedding ceremony with bride and groom in ornate attire, surrounded by family during a sacred ritual.
Indian wedding ceremony with bride in red lehenga being lifted during traditional ritual, surrounded by family in colorful attire.
Bride in traditional Indian wedding attire steps on ritual mat surrounded by family during Hindu ceremony.
Bride and groom in traditional Indian wedding attire perform ceremony rituals with elder guest on wooden floor.
Indian bride and groom in traditional wedding attire exchange garlands joyfully surrounded by guests at a vibrant ceremony.
A bride in traditional South Asian attire dances joyfully wearing floral garlands and ornate jewelry at a wedding celebration.
A lively group toast at a wedding reception, with guests raising glasses together in celebration.
Man in pink jacket seated at elegant floral table with crystal candelabras and colorful roses at formal event.
Bride in red lehenga and groom in white sherwani celebrate with guests at a vibrant Indian wedding reception.
Men in traditional Indian attire dancing at a wedding reception celebration with guests watching in background.
Seven women in colorful Indian attire pose playfully on a dance floor at a festive celebration.