Doris Lu is a former fashion designer at Ralph Lauren and current graphic and product designer of plush toys at her husband Molson Hart’s toy company, called Viahart Toy Co. The two met back in 2014 on Tinder in Astoria. After four years together, he casually proposed in the car on the way to work. Molson said, “You know we are getting married right?” Later that day, he showed her the 3D CAD of the ring, and she said, “It’s thoughtful of you, but it’s kind of ugly…I’m taking over this project.”
Once engaged, Doris spotted a pair of yellow floral Carolina Herrera trousers from the Spring ’19 collection, that later went on sale on Net-a-Porter, and knew she wanted to wear them for her wedding. However, her mother wanted her to wear a white gown for the ceremony, so she chose the Kennedy from Jenny Yoo with an Oscar de la Renta veil and changed into her more colorful ensemble for the reception. To pair with both looks, the bride found red satin Prada heels at an end-of-year sale and snatched them up immediately.
Molson found both of his tuxes at The Black Tux. He started out in a black shawl collar tux with a Dries van Noten jacquard bowtie, and then changed into an emerald green ensemble.
Since any New Yorker understands how valuable rooftops are, when Doris came across the private terrace at a south-facing loft at the Soho Grand Hotel, she knew it was perfect for their ceremony. And as the two love food and nobody could say no to a Chinese-style banquet, they decided on hosting their #WildAtHart2019 wedding reception at China Blue in Manhattan. “The food is awesome, and the space is just unique and very theatrical,” Doris says. To help plan everything, the couple hired Melissa Lee from Bespoke Only.
On the morning-of, the bride got ready with the help of Romana from Romana Makeup. Her mom came to help her with the finishing touches, dressed in a Christopher Kane dress, and then Doris was escorted down the aisle by her father. “We got really lucky with the weather; it was probably the warmest day in October,” she says. One of Molson’s friends officiated the standing service, and after reciting their vows, the couple celebrated their unity with a shot of whisky.
“We did the city hall wedding in May already, so I was pretty relaxed at the ceremony,” Doris says. “I didn’t have my vows printed out until an hour before the ceremony.” To conclude, Molson broke the glass, in the Jewish tradition, and they recessed to Beyoncé’s “Love on Top.”
Everyone was shuttled to China Blue, where the festivities were kicked off with a Chinese lion dance, from Norman Chin’s Southern Praying Mantis Lion Dance Team, in the street. The lions escorted guests to the restaurant dance floor, where the newlyweds had their first dance to “Yellow”—inspired by Crazy Rich Asians.
For dinner, 16 dishes were served— from different dim sums dishes to lobsters and roasted duck. “Everybody was so well fed, and we even handed out to-go boxes at the end,” Doris says. Then dancing commenced, with Ruggy Joesten as their deejay, and didn’t stop until around 11:00 p.m. Afterward, the couple’s close friends joined them back at the Soho Grand penthouse for nightcaps.
