Wedding Photography At

Hotel Maya

Palm gardens on the Long Beach waterfront, with the downtown skyline across Queensway Bay and the light of the water behind every portrait.

LocationQueensway Drive, Long Beach, CA

Setting14 acres of tropical gardens on Queensway Bay

StyleLatin American-inspired, open-air waterfront hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton

About the venue

A palm-filled waterfront across the bay from downtown

Hotel Maya, now known as The Maya, is a DoubleTree by Hilton on Queensway Drive in Long Beach. It sits on the waterfront across Queensway Bay from Downtown Long Beach, and its 14 acres of tropical gardens hold around 500 palm trees. The design is Latin American-inspired and open to the air, so the water and the skyline are part of almost every view. Its restaurant patio looks out to the ocean, the city and the Queen Mary.

For weddings, the hotel spreads across seven indoor-outdoor areas along the water. The Esplanade runs along the water's edge, Jardin de Palmeras sits among the palms, and Luna Solstice, Lagunita Pavilion, Vista Del Mar, Salon de Reyes and Miramar offer other settings. Playa at the Maya adds a man-made sand beach with fire pits and cabanas, for a relaxed, coastal feel.

Couple on the waterfront lawn looking across the marina at Hotel Maya

Couple arriving by boat with the downtown Long Beach skyline behind them

Lulan Studio at Hotel Maya

Waterfront light, palms and room for big celebrations

We have photographed weddings at Hotel Maya ranging from small morning ceremonies to large South Asian celebrations spread over more than one day. The grounds make that range easy: a ceremony on the water in the morning light, a lunch reception on a terrace, a floral mandap in the palm courtyard, or an evening reception under a tent with the skyline lit up across the bay.

Because couples and families often stay at the hotel, getting ready, portraits and the celebration can all happen within a short walk of each other, which keeps the day relaxed and gives us more time for portraits along the water.

Good to know

Many couples get ready in a suite at the hotel, a short walk from the ceremony
Morning ceremonies on the water with a lunch reception are a lovely, relaxed option
South Asian weddings here often split the day into a morning ceremony and an evening reception
Some couples host a welcome evening on the grounds the night before
Plan a short portrait set along the water with the skyline behind you

Where we like to shoot

The waterfront lawn beside the marina and its boats
Along the water with the Downtown Long Beach skyline across the bay
The palm courtyard, beautiful with a floral mandap
The curved paths and lawns under the tall palms
The hotel's modern building and balconies
The reception tent as the evening comes on

Couple walking the curved path under tall palms at Hotel Maya, Long Beach

Groom dipping the bride on the lawn beside the hotel's modern wing and palms at Hotel Maya

Planning your day

Sample wedding day timelines at Hotel Maya

These are drawn from the weddings we have photographed here. Use them as a starting point to adapt with your coordinator rather than a fixed schedule.

A morning ceremony on the water

Four to five hours. Getting ready at the hotel, a waterfront ceremony and a lunch reception.

9:30 AMCoverage begins in your suite. Details, final touches and a few portraits before the ceremony.
10:15 AMGuests arrive. Ceremony setup on the water photographed.
10:30 AMCeremony on the Esplanade, around thirty minutes.
11:00 AMFamily portraits and couple portraits along the water and under the palms.
11:45 AMCocktails and guest candids.
12:15 PMLunch reception. Entrance, champagne toast and welcome words.
1:30 PMCake, a few candid table moments and a short last portrait set.
2:15 PMCoverage concludes.

A South Asian wedding day in two parts

A full day. Morning baraat and ceremony, a break in the afternoon, and an evening reception.

8:00 AMCoverage begins. Getting ready, attire details and portraits with each family.
10:00 AMBaraat on the grounds, with music and dancing.
10:45 AMWelcome rituals, then the ceremony at the mandap.
12:45 PMBlessings, family portraits and couple portraits by the water.
1:15 PMLunch and guest candids.
2:45 PMBreak while the couple and guests rest and change.
6:00 PMCouple portraits in reception attire, then cocktail hour candids and reception details.
7:15 PMGrand entrance, first dance, performances, toasts and dinner.
9:00 PMOpen dancing, with coverage concluding about an hour later.

Good to know

What is specific to Hotel Maya

A few things about this waterfront hotel that shape the day, and that are worth settling early with your coordinator.

Many settings, one propertyThe Esplanade, the palm gardens, the terraces and the beach each give a different look. Choosing where the ceremony, cocktails and reception happen shapes where portraits fit best.

Getting ready on siteCouples and families often stay at the hotel, so getting ready is only a short walk from the ceremony. It keeps the start of the day calm and easy to photograph.

Light on the waterThe waterfront is bright and open. Morning ceremonies and late afternoon portraits give the softest light, and the skyline across the bay looks best around sunset and after dark.

Multi-day celebrationsMany South Asian weddings here run across more than one day, with a welcome evening or pre-wedding event before the ceremony. Tell us which events you want covered so we can plan the team for each.

The afternoon breakWhen the ceremony is in the morning and the reception in the evening, there is usually a break in between. It is a good window to rest and change, and a short set of portraits in new attire before the reception is worth planning.

The receptionEvening receptions are often set under a tent or canopy on the grounds. A few minutes in the finished space before guests enter lets us photograph the decor untouched.

Nearby

Where couples also photograph nearby

Spots on the grounds and along the water that come up on Hotel Maya wedding days.

The Esplanade at the water's edge
The palm gardens
Playa at the Maya
The waterfront lawn by the marina
The Downtown Long Beach skyline across the bay
Views of the Queen Mary

Questions couples ask

Questions couples ask about Hotel Maya

How many hours of coverage do couples book at Hotel Maya?

It depends on the shape of the day. A morning ceremony with a lunch reception fits comfortably in four to five hours. A full South Asian wedding day with a baraat, ceremony and evening reception usually needs coverage from the morning into the night, and pre-wedding events are booked separately.

Can we have the ceremony by the water?

Many couples choose the waterfront, with the Esplanade running along the water's edge. The palm gardens and courtyard are lovely too, and a floral mandap looks beautiful among the palms. Your coordinator will confirm which spaces fit your plans.

Where do couples get ready?

Most get ready at the hotel itself, often in a suite, which keeps everyone within a short walk of the ceremony and makes the morning easy to photograph.

Is Hotel Maya a good fit for a South Asian wedding?

We have photographed South Asian celebrations here, including a baraat on the grounds, a ceremony at a floral mandap and an evening reception under a tent. The open grounds give room for the procession and for family portraits in the gardens.

When is the best light for portraits?

Morning and late afternoon give the softest light on the water. A short set around sunset brings in the skyline across the bay, and it lights up nicely after dark as well.

Couple in traditional South Asian wedding attire walking the palm-lined lawn at Hotel Maya

Guests gathered around the couple under a canopy tent at Hotel Maya

More venues nearby on our regional venue guide and the city page.

Hotel Maya photography

Planning a wedding at Hotel Maya?

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