2023 Clients’ New York Restaurant Recommendations – Where to Eat After you are Married in Central Park

Over the years that I have been planning weddings in Central Park – since 2012 – I’ve been asked for restaurant recommendations by visiting couples lots of time!  It is such a difficult question to answer.  New York has literally thousands of places to choose from catering to a vast range of budgets and tastes, with pretty much every cuisine you can think of.  My couples are all so different, too – some are happy to travel to another borough, some want to walk from Central Park (or their hotel) to the restaurant.  Clients have varying group sizes, too; we have eloping couples to small groups through to quite big groups who want a private room.  Check out my FAQs page on my website for answers to some of the other questions that I get asked a lot. 

However, I do want to point couples to some advice on this very big question, so I have looked to my previous clients for their suggestions.  To avoid writing an extremely long blog post that nobody would want to read, I’ve split this subject up year by year. 

I wrote a post summarising where all the couples who featured on the blog in 2022 ate after their wedding, couples from 2021, couples from 2020, couples from 2019, couples from 2018, couples from 2017, couples from 2016, then from 2015, then those from 2014, and also those from 2013.  So there are lots of recommendations to look through.  Phew! I’ve been doing this for quite a while! Some places keep coming up again and again, some places have closed over the years, and some are more unique suggestions.  Below I summarise the couples’ recommendations who featured on my blog in 2023 along with a little information about their wedding and their group. 

Brenda and David  – Twins Irish Pub

Brenda and David brought over a group of friends and family from their home in Liverpool, England for their wedding in Central Park.  The group went on to Twins Irish Pub and their private room for their reception.  “The venue was perfect, my dad is from Irish background so he was delighted!” said Brenda.  They ordered their party selection, which was food options and open bar for three hours.  Brenda said that it was excellent value for money and the atmosphere was brilliant.  “The food was amazing and they set the room out perfectly,” she told me.  “They don’t do desserts so we bought a small wedding cake from Whole Foods, and ordered donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts,” she said. 

Cheryl and Geoff – Hard Rock Café

Cheryl and Geoff eloped from their home in South Shields in England to get married in Central Park in August.  They had their ceremony on Belvedere Castle Terrace.  After photos in Central Park their photographer took them down to Times Square for some photos there.  They had pictures taken outside and just inside the Hard Rock Café.  That was where their photographer left them and where they had a few drinks, because it one of Geoff’s favourite places to do wherever they visit.  The manager gave them a bottle of champagne and offered them all food and drink free of charge.

Arif and Aaron – the Whitby Hotel and Quality Bistro

Arif and Aaron came over from their home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to New York on a cruise in November.  They got married with no guests in Wagner Cove.  Then they had afternoon tea in their hotel, the Whitby Hotel.  “It was beautiful and the staff were next to none,” said Arif.  On the evening of their wedding day they went to Quality Bistro, steak-centric brasserie in midtown.  Arif said the food was out of this world.

Jenny and Billy – Ocean Prime and cake from Juniors

Jenny and Billy came over to New York from their home in Norfolk to get married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in December.  They Billy finished off their wedding day with a meal at the Ocean Prime restaurant on 52nd Street.  “The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and spoilt us all evening,” said Jenny.  They allowed them to take their own cake in, complete with personalised topper and flowers.  They got the cake from Juniors on 49th Street, which they highly recommend. 

Erica and Steven – Threes Brewery

Erica and Steven brought quite a large group of family and close friends over from their home in Manchester, England for their wedding in Cop Cot in June.  After the ceremony and photos in Central Park the bus from NYC trolley company collected the group.  They took them via Times Square to the Threes Brewery in Brooklyn, which they had hired for their reception.  They brought their own drinks and played their own music on the bus, so they could begin the party early as they drove over to Brooklyn. 

John and Joanne – Carragher’s bar and Spyglass rooftop bar

John and Joanne got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion.  They eloped from their home in England for their wedding in June.  After the photos, they called loved ones back home, and then went downtown to Carragher’s bar for a meal and a few drinks.  This bar is an upscale sports bar dedicated to the city of Liverpool, and most importantly; Liverpool Football Club.  Both John and Joanne support Liverpool FC so this was a home from home for them.  After Carragher’s bar, they returned to the hotel, and had a few drinks at the Spyglass rooftop bar which has a great view the Empire State Building.

Savannah and Patrick – the Algonquin Hotel, catering by Yiah Yiah’s, and cake from Ovenly

Savannah and Patrick got married in Cop Cot in December.  Savannah is from Johannesburg in South Africa and Patrick is from Charlottesville, Virginia.  Savannah and Patrick took photos around Central Park then finished up their photo session at the Algonquin Hotel.  Then they met for a champagne toast and a quiet moment to acknowledge the ceremony and debrief on the morning with close family.  “I highly recommend doing this or something that allows you a quiet moment to sit and chat with the people very close to you,” said Savannah.  “I think it was one of my favorite moments of the day.”  The evening of their wedding, Savannah and Patrick had everyone from the ceremony over to their apartment in Bushwick for a low-key reception.  They got Yiah Yiah’s to cater for them, and a cake made by Ovenly. 

Jenna and Grant – the Boathouse and the Tavern on the Green

Jenna and Grant eloped from their home in Cornwall, England to New York to get married last August.  They got married with us in Wagner Cove in the mid-afternoon.  They took a horse and carriage ride after their photo session, then went to the Boathouse for a few drinks.  “It was lovely, they have stunning views across the lake,” Jenna said.  Then they walked through Central Park over to the Tavern on the Green.  “We had the best meal we had whilst in New York,” said Jenna.  She said that it was really nice and relaxing to spend the whole day in Central Park.

Avril and John – Gallaghers Steakhouse

Avril and John got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in March.  They brought along four guests with them to New York from their home in Scotland.  After the ceremony, they took some photos around Central Park, and then went on to Gallaghers Steakhouse for a meal.  After that, they went to Grand Central terminal and took some of their own photos and then went to a little pub about a block away from their hotel and continued to celebrate.

Laura and Ryan – the River Café

Laura and Ryan came over to New York from their home in County Laois, Ireland back in January.  They got married in Wagner Cove, just the two of them.  That evening they went over to DUMBO in Brooklyn to eat at the River Café.  “It was absolutely spectacular and even the heavy rain could not take from our view of the stunning Manhattan skyline,” said Laura.  “It was a fantastic meal in a beautiful setting with excellent service and we will never forget our wedding meal!” she added.

Esther and Aaron – the Modern

Esther and Aaron got married underneath Bethesda Terrace in April.  They are both from the Midlands in England.  After their time in Central Park, they went to eat at the Modern which is a Michelin-starred restaurant attached to the MoMA.  “We had told them in the booking request that it was our wedding day, all I can say it JUST WOW, it was an amazing experience,” said Esther.  “The food and service was on another level.”  

LaShana and Mark – Sarabeth’s on Central Park South and the 40/40 Club

New Yorkers LaShana and Mark renewed their marriage vows with us in the Ladies’ Pavilion in April.  Though they are originally from New York, they now live in Texas, so they and their daughters travelled to NYC for their vow renewal.  After the ceremony in Central Park they and their guests went on to their reception at Sarabeth’s on Central Park South.  That evening they all went on to the 40/40 Club, a sports bar in Manhattan, to finish the night with drinks and dancing. 

Katie and Nick – Cibo e Vino

Katie and Nick eloped for their wedding, albeit not very far from their home in Syracuse, New York.  They got married on Belvedere Castle Terrace in May, just the two of them.  After their time in the park, they went on to a nice Italian restaurant called Cibo e Vino for dinner, which had been recommended by a friend, and then found a place to get gelato.

Kelly and Claire – Club A Steakhouse

Kelly and Claire visited New York with Kelly’s daughter, Keira from their home in Hampshire, England.  The intimate wedding took place in the Ladies’ Pavilion on a Sunday in May.  After the ceremony and photos in Central Park, they popped back to the hotel to change their footwear to something more comfortable.  They kept their wedding gowns on and visited some of the sights of New York in their wedding attire.  They went to Grand Central to take some pictures and from there on to The Summit, which is nearby.  That evening they ate at Club A Steakhouse.  They would highly recommend all of these places.

Laura and Jordan – Keens Steakhouse

Laura and Jordan brought over a small group of close family members from their home in England this May to get married in Central Park.  They held the ceremony in the Ladies’ Pavilion.  After taking some photos around Central Park, they all went back to the hotel to enjoy a drink in the bar together, and then they all went out to eat.  Their wedding meal was at Keens Steakhouse, which they highly recommend!

Helen and Steve – Tavern on the Green

Helen and Steve got married in early November in the Ladies’ Pavilion.  Helen’s daughter and the couple’s two friends were their guests.  After that, he took them down to the Tavern on the Green, he took a few photos of them there and then left them to eat and celebrate with their party.

Perline and Kwame – Victor’s Café

Perline and Kwame got married in Cop Cot in July.  Technically, they are New Yorkers, they live in New Jersey now, but they are from Queens in New York City originally, and many of their family and friends still live there.  After their time in the park, they went to dinner at Victor’s Café, a Cuban restaurant in midtown, they said it was fantastic.

Allison and Sean – The Meatball Shop

Allison and Sean got married at Wagner Cove in April.  Allison is from Louisiana originally and Sean is from Ireland.  They both live together in Manhattan now.  After the ceremony they took some portrait photos around Central Park.  Then they took their guests to a dinner reception at The Meatball Shop, nearby on the Upper East Side.  They said that they had a great time.  It does look like that location may have since closed.

Tayla and Hayden – Broadway Lounge

Tayla and Hayden eloped from their home in the Midlands of England in early September.  They got married underneath Bethesda Terrace because it was an unseasonably hot day.  They got married in the morning so they had the whole afternoon to continue their sight-seeing.  That evening they had a celebratory dinner at Broadway Lounge in Times Square, which Tayla said they would highly recommend, “the service and food were amazing!” she said.

Anna and Peter – Park Avenue Tavern

Anna and Peter eloped to New York, just the two of them, from their home in Manchester in England in September.  They got married at Wagner Cove.  They told me that someone in the park gave them a Krispy Kreme doughnut!  After the wedding ceremony and then photos in Central Park, Anna and Peter went for dinner at the Park Avenue Tavern which Anna said she would highly recommend.  “The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. The atmosphere was really good and the music was great,” she said.  After dinner they went to the Summit at One Vanderbilt which they said was fun.  “Cocktails and views after a good meal was a perfect way to end the day.”

Samantha and Kevin – Five Acres in the Rockefeller Center

Samantha and Kevin eloped to New York from their home in the North West of England in September.  They got married at Wagner Cove, just the two of them.  I always ask for any restaurant recommendations and Samantha and Kevin recommend Electric Lemon at Hudson Yards, the Hard Rock Café at Times Square, and Maison Pickle on Broadway.  The ceremony took place at 10:30 in the morning, and they finished up with their photographer at the Rockefeller Center at 1:30.  “Immediately after the photographer left we ate at the first place we saw – which was Five Acres,” which is at ground level in the Rockefeller Center.  Samanatha tells me that she wore a napkin bib to protect the dress – very wise!  Then they had more of a walk around Rockefeller Plaza, took some photos by the LOVE sculpture which had just returned a few days before they got there.  Then they popped back to their hotel, video called their parents and then had a nap since they had been up since 5am.  That evening they ordered a takeout and chilled out and relaxed in their suite.

Grace and Paul – La Grande Boucherie and Sean’s Irish bar

Grace and Paul brought a small group of close family over with them from their home in Ireland in October to get married in Central Park.  After their photo session, they met back up with their guests in a beautiful French restaurant called La Grande Boucherie in Midtown for a three-course meal.  After that, they went to an Irish bar, Sean’s for some celebratory drinks.  Since they stayed for a few days in Williamsburg before their wedding day, they have a few restaurants in that part of the city to recommend.  They stayed there on their last visit and found a great brunch spot called Rabbithole which is now closed but the owners have since opened a new restaurant called Monarch, “we had dinner here one evening and it was delicious,” Grace told me.  They also went to Best Pizza in Williamsburg which they also recommend.  The day before the wedding, Grace and her mom and sister and had afternoon tea in Bergdorf Goodman and cocktails in The Plaza hotel, “both places had wonderful atmospheres and lovely food and drinks,” she said.  

Emma and Paul – The Plaza

Emma and Paul eloped from their home in Northern Ireland to get married in Central Park in October.  They went over to Brooklyn in a vintage cab, they travelled back to The Plaza, there they were staying, and had dinner there.  If you’re staying in The Plaza it seems a shame not to eat there!  I always ask couples if they have restaurants to recommend.  “We tried lots of little places to eat.  One of our favourite places is Juniors in Times Square.  The food is always great, at any time of the day!!” said Emma.  “The Plaza food was absolutely beautiful.  It’s definitely worth trying, even for a light snack at some stage when in New York,” she said.  I would agree that it’s worth popping in even if it’s just for a cocktail, to sit in their beautiful lobby.  “They made us a little dessert for two to celebrate on the wedding night!!” she told me, “everything in The Plaza feels like an absolute dream!!”

As always with these blog post collections of restaurant recommendations, I would love for anyone to comment on the post with their own suggestions of great New York City restaurants.  There are so many to choose from, and although there are some firm favorites that last over time, we’re always seeing new ones come up on these lists!  I enjoy collating the lists of each year because it really highlights how some tastes change, but some just stay the same and stand the test of time!  For more information to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, visit our website, or follow us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest where you will find lots of beautiful photos and many more inspiring stories of real weddings.

Analise and Jordan’s Intimate Wedding in the Ladies’ Pavilion in March

Analise and Jordan brought a small group of close family members to New York City from their homes in Virginia and Texas for their wedding in the Ladies’ Pavilion.  They got married towards the end of March, right at the start of Spring.  Jordan was 31 and Analise 29 when they got married.

They met in the gym at their medical school in Texas.  They had been together for around six and a half years before getting married.  Their relationship had stood the tests of the two of them making it through medical school, Jordan’s PhD, and Analise’s residency in obstetrics and gynecology before they got engaged.  

Exactly a year before their wedding, Jordan had proposed to Analise.  He was about to move from their home in Dallas to New York City for his residency in pathology.  “I knew that we would likely be apart for a year, and I wanted to express my commitment to Analise,” Jordan said.  They endured a long distance relationship for the nine months before their wedding, and now Analise will join Jordan in New York to become an attending physician where they plan to start their new life together.  Up to now, Analise has only lived in Texas, so it’s quite a big deal to be moving to New York City. 

Analise and Jordan had considered other options for their wedding, including a traditional wedding in Dallas with wider friends and family.  “We really always wanted to do something small and fun, so we considered flying to Vegas and having some character marry us,” Jordan told me.  They also considered getting married on a beach or just a quick thing at the courthouse.  I may be British, but I’ve lived in Las Vegas as well as New York, and I can tell you that those Vegas weddings are fast and not too personal, as are City Hall weddings, which I wrote a blog about, and I also wrote another (equally biased) blog about why getting married in Central Park beats a beach wedding!

In the end, they chose New York and Central Park for their wedding because their parents wanted to be there and getting to New York is easier than many other locations.  Also, getting married right there in New York certainly represented the beginning of this new chapter together.  Another reason for choosing New York according to Jordan was “it’s the best city in the world and there are endless opportunities for food, cakes, activities.  It’s also easy to get to a honeymoon location from there.” 

Jordan was already living in the Upper East Side, Analise planned to join him in the apartment there soon.  It’s often said that Central Park is the New Yorkers back yard, and I used to live in the UES too, and I agree.  Getting married here represented a focus on their future for Analise and Jordan.  “Central Park is gorgeous and iconic.  There are so many amazing sights.  We are going to live nearby,” they said.  It’s the perfect spot to begin their married life.  I asked if they had any regrets about not choosing the traditional wedding and they said they didn’t.

I asked what their thoughts were on destination weddings and elopements in general.  “ We think as small as possible is better. Even having to plan to have just our families be there with us brought some stress, though ultimately it was a great time,” he said.  “In talking to our friends and family with big weddings, we just thought it would be better for us to keep it small.  We saved a lot of money too, got to get married in an absolutely beautiful location, and spent more money on a great honeymoon,” he said.  Really, what more could anyone want?!

Analise and Jordan did have one worry about getting married outdoors in Central Park in March – the weather.  The forecast was changeable in the run-up to the wedding.  About a week beforehand, it looked like rain might be a possibility, but then dry weather started to be forecast a few days before, so I stopped worrying about it, and hopefully they did too.  They had chosen a location with a roof – the Ladies’ Pavilion, so they would have been dry for the ceremony even in case of rain.

We had discussed a few options for the photo locations.  They had considered taking photos in a couple of locations in Manhattan, but in the end, they decided to focus on Central Park for their photos.  Not everyone likes doing lots of walking on their wedding day, but they came prepared with sensible shoes.  And do you remember I said that they met in the gym?  They took photos at the Ladies’ Pavilion, then walked up to Belvedere Castle, through the Ramble, and on to Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace.  After that, they captured some photos on the street, on the subway and in Times Square. 

For the ceremony, we wrote a brief introduction, thanking their loved ones for being there, and we told some of their story to date.  They exchanged traditional vows, and they also wrote their own vows.  “One of us cried trying to get through them, but I won’t tell you which one,” Jordan said.  Then they exchanged rings for the grand finale and they were pronounced married!

Jordan’s parents, his brother and his fiance came to the wedding, and also Analise’s mom and aunt came.  Analise and Jordan took their families to tea at Lady Mendl’s tea salon the day before, and went to the Museum of Modern Art with them, and then dined at the Cajun restaurant The Boil.  Their families stayed at the Upper East Side Marriott (close to Analise and Jordan’s apartment) and the Lotte Palace Hotel. 

I’m told that there were mixed feelings among the guests about coming to New York – “everyone has an opinion on NYC,” said Jordan.  But in the end, he says he thinks everyone in the end had a lovely time.  Most of the guests at our couples weddings are absolutely crazy about New York, but then, many of our clients come from overseas.  “We love New York but we can’t say the same for our families, but hey, it’s our wedding,” said Jordan.  It absolutely is your wedding, and that’s the best way to look at it – you can make the day as nice as possible for your guests, but you should always keep in mind that they have their wedding day their way and you have your wedding day your way.

Analise wore a dress purchased from David’s Bridal, and her flowers were from Something Borrowed.  Jordan’s suit was purchased from Suitsupply.  They got ready in the morning, got married in the early afternoon, spent some time taking photos, then popped back to their apartment to get changed.  They ate dinner close to their apartment, at Bottega on 2nd Avenue.  They had a wedding cake from Red Gate Bakery.  After dinner that evening, Analise and Jordan took an Uber to the airport and flew to Greece for their honeymoon.

I asked if they had any thoughts to share for other couples considering getting married in Central Park.  “If you love New York City, you will love getting married in Central Park,” Jordan said.  He does advise that there will be lots of people around.  He says that as long as that doesn’t bother you, then Central Park is a great place to get married.

I asked how we did.  “Claire made a lot of the planning easier and helped us troubleshoot problems as they arose. It’s tough to plan a wedding, no matter how big or small, and it’s helpful (perhaps essential) to have someone to help you,” Jordan said.  He also said that I booked a wonderful officiant and photographer for them.  It was an absolute pleasure to plan your wedding with you both, and I wish you lots of luck for your future together. If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you live locally or are planning on traveling to New York to get married, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos; follow us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinteres

Jacqueline and Danilo’s July Wedding in the Ladies’ Pavilion

Jacqueline and Danilo got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in July.  They are from Jersey which counts as pretty much locals for us.  They had been together for three years when they got married.  They got married in the latter part of July and they first contacted me in the first part of June, so we organized everything quite quickly.

Jacqueline and Danilo met in through an interest in chokes and holds and knocking each other to the ground!  They trained together in Jiu Jitsu for a few months before Danilo asked Jacqueline out one night after training.  “From the very start, everything was easy, and happy, and flowed just as it was meant to.  Nothing had to be forced or worked on,” Jacqueline told me.

They chose the Ladies’ Pavilion for their ceremony, which is a great location for a wedding on an afternoon in July.  Usually, it’s hot and humid in New York City in July so the roof of the Ladies’ Pavilion provides some shade and also some cover in case of rain.  Rain isn’t common in high summer in New York, but if it happens, it’s likely to be heavy, so we had a wet weather backup plan of holding the ceremony underneath Bethesda Terrace in case of rain, since the roof there would cover their whole group.  

We began the ceremony in the mid afternoon, and we arranged for a cellist to be there to play background music for the guests while they waited for their bride to arrive.  The Ladies’ Pavilion is a great location for a bride to make an entrance in my opinion.  There’s a lovely tree-lined pathway that a bride (or groom, or couple together) can walk down that I think beats many church aisles!  Jacqueline walked in to the cellist playing Isn’t She Lovely, and he played Hallelujah when they were pronounced married, then he went back to a little background music while they took group photos in the area.

For the ceremony introduction, we kept things quite short and sweet.  “We aren’t worried about having an extra lengthy ceremony so we don’t need to fill in the time with saying thanks or acknowledging people or anything like,” Jacqueline said.  “The people who are coming are very close family and friends, so it’s not like people don’t know us and our story,” she explained.  There was a reading of the poem A Moment of Happiness by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, which I’ll put at the end of this post.  They exchanged traditional vows, then they repeated some more personal vows that they had chosen because they felt meaningful to them.

Jacqueline and Danilo had chosen to incorporate the Lasso ritual into their wedding ceremony. The Lasso is a wedding ritual in which the couple are bound together with a ceremonial rosary.  I had read that traditionally this takes place after the exchange of vows, so that’s where I put it in the ceremony.  Lassoing is where the couple make a declaration of intent to be bound together before their friends and family.  Their best man helped with this part, by draping the lasso over their shoulders and they made promise to each other.  Then they exchanged rings after that.

Jacqueline and Danilo had arranged for their guests to go off to the Loeb Boathouse after the ceremony, they had a bar tab for them there.  Then the two of them had a short portrait photo session together at Bethesda Terrace.  They enjoyed that peaceful time alone with the photographer.  “Honestly, running off with her for a moment after the ceremony, away from the guests, gave us time to enjoy our new unity and play around for a moment before getting overwhelmed by everyone again,” she said.

I asked Jacqueline how we did.  “It was perfect.  Your crew was amazing!!  The officiant made an amazing intro to begin the ceremony, the cello was beautiful, the photographer was great, she came and met me on the street side and really executed the whole flow of the ceremony, her familiarity with the park made getting the good shots in so easy,” she said.

If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, where you’re from near of far, please visit our website.  Check out our reviews on Wedding Wire and Google, too.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Facebook, or Instagram or Pinterest.  And of course, please comment on our posts and let me know how you’re doing!

A Moment of Happiness by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

A moment of happiness,
you and I sitting on the verandah,
apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.
We feel the flowing water of life here,
you and I, with the garden’s beauty
and the birds singing.
The stars will be watching us,
and we will show them
what it is to be a thin crescent moon.
You and I unselfed, will be together,
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.
The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar
as we laugh together, you and I.
In one form upon this earth,
and in another form in a timeless sweet land.

Kerry and Dave’s Elopement in Cherry Blossom Season in Central Park

Kerry and Dave brought their two kids with them to New York from their home in England.  They got married in Wagner Cove in peak cherry blossom season, which usually occurs in April.

They got married on the anniversary of the date they met.  They had met twenty-three years ago when they got married.  Kerry’s brother was work friends with Dave and Kerry had joined them to watch a football match together in a pub.  I’m told the game itself was very nerve-wracking!  They went out on a date soon after that.

Kerry and Dave had plans to marry for quite some time, but as with many couples, life got in the way.  They told me that neither of them would have enjoyed the attention and fuss of a big traditional wedding, although they had started to save money for one.  It had always been a dream of Dave’s to visit New York, so they decided to use the money that they had saved for the wedding to bring their family to New York instead of having a big, traditional wedding.  It was more important to them to make special memories that they could always look back on fondly as a family. 

The four of them stayed at the Westin at Times Square.  After booking their trip to New York, Kerry and Dave realised that they would be spending the anniversary of date they had first met here in New York.  So, they decided that they could have the wedding that suited them as a couple and as family, with the two people who are most important to them as their witnesses.

Their son gave Kerry away and their daughter was her maid of honor.  They held the ceremony in Wagner Cove, which is a lovely private spot and very popular for small events such as theirs.  Kerry and Dave exchanged traditional vows and then they each read out something that they had prepared in advance before exchanging rings.

After the ceremony, they took lots of photos with the lovely cherry blossom, and at Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace before walking down the Mall.  They took photos at Gapstow Bridge and then walked out of the park on the East side.  There they were picked up by our vintage yellow cab.  The photographer took a few photos of the family with the vintage cab before leaving them there to enjoy a ride around the city in style.

I’m often asked when the best time to go to Central Park to see the cherry blossoms but it’s a tricky one to answer because it depends on when the temperatures start to warm up, and that can be at a different time of year each year.  Once a tree starts blooming, it will hold its blossoms for around ten days.  But when each tree begins to flower depends on a mix of daylight and temperature.  

The flowering trees in Central Park are the Yoshino cherry trees and Magnolia trees, which also have beautiful blooms.  They tend to start blooming Early to mid-April.  And the Kwanzan cherry trees bloom in early May.  Most of New York’s cherry trees are in bloom by mid-April, though certain types bud a bit earlier or later.  Some years we’ve had an unseasonably cold March or a slow start to the Spring so they bloom later, some years it has been warmer and they bloom earlier.  But mid-April should be your best bet to see lots of pink blossoms in Central Park.

I asked Kerry how we did.  “It was perfect,” she said.  “The weather was perfect and the photographer was a dream.  Thank you for everything,” she added.  If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you live locally or are planning on traveling to New York to get married, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest.

What Happens if I ask to Postpone my Wedding in Central Park?

This doesn’t happen often, but sometimes a couple will ask if they can reschedule their wedding.  Of course it did happen a lot during the pandemic, but I sincerely hope that mass cancellation and postponement of big life events such as weddings is behind us.  During the pandemic, I had a broad agreement with all the people that I work with about rescheduling, and I offered all couples the same terms if they wanted to reschedule.  This blog post isn’t about that, this is intended to give an idea about what might happen if you ask to postpone your wedding during a normal year.

A common reason for a couple to ask if they can reschedule is because of a bad weather forecast.  Perhaps heavy rain is forecast for their wedding day, with lovely sunshine the next day.  I have also been asked if a couple can postpone due to a family emergency or change in circumstances.  The reasons for a reschedule request aren’t too relevant to me, though.  Whatever the reason I’ll make every effort to make a new date work.  This isn’t easy though, and I think it needs explaining why that is.  The main point that I want to make about the two broad areas for reasons why couples ask to postpone their weddings is that a bad weather forecast can lead to quite a last-minute request and bigger life event reasons tend to be a request with a lot more notice between the request and the wedding date.

If you ask me to postpone a wedding with plenty of notice then it’s probably much easier for me to do.  Depending on the circumstances, the people I’ve booked for your wedding by passing the deposit on to them may be willing to transfer the booking to another date.  However, they are under no obligation to do so.  If you are a wedding photographer, for example, and someone like me secures you for an afternoon on a Saturday in May then if anyone else comes along and asks you if you can photograph their wedding then you’ll say no.  So, if I ask them to block a certain date out in their diary with a deposit payment then they will turn down other business.  If I then come along and tell them that the couple have changed their date and that they will not in fact getting paid the balance for that afternoon then they are losing out.  My clients are very important to me, but so are my colleagues.  I will try my best to do the fair thing but I wouldn’t ask a colleague to do something unreasonable.  It might be that we reach a compromise and charge a reschedule fee to pay that photographer, officiant, and whoever else I have booked for your wedding as compensation for the loss of work.

I have chosen a Saturday in May as an example above because those days are always booked up for weddings.  Also Saturdays in September are very busy.  If you had planned to get married on a Tuesday in November, for example, then it’s less of a big deal to ask a photographer, officiant, and other people I have booked for your wedding to reschedule.  But, not everyone I work with *only* works in weddings.  Some have a weekday desk job, and they certainly have lives of their own and various responsibilities, so it’s not fair for a couple to assume that a postponement should not be compensated.  We have managed to postpone weddings for various reasons and have not charged any reschedule fee, but if we do that, then it’s down to the good will and kindness of my colleagues.

If we’re all ready to go and your wedding is scheduled for the day after tomorrow and you ask me to reschedule then things would feel a little different.  What I have said above about a weekday in quieter months being much easier to reschedule than a weekend in peak months would still apply, but so would my point about the photographers and officiants having various other responsibilities.  Very few people who live in New York are without a side hustle, and of course some have kids and other responsibilities!  As I say quite often; I run this business around my kids’ schedules and if you ask me to change all the plans for your wedding with very short notice it might be very difficult for me to find the time to get in touch with everyone to reorganize.  Again, I always do my best, and usually we do manage to reschedule with some juggling on my part in terms of who does what if not everyone is available for your new date or time.  But the point I’m trying to make clear is that if we contract for a certain date then we are not obliged to reschedule under any circumstances, we do it because we really care about our couples. 

To attempt to explain it from my perspective as the wedding planner.  If you agree with me to make your wedding happen on a certain date then I’ll apply for a permit and book people for that date.  If you think I should be able to reschedule easily then what you’re asking is for me to agree in the contract to deliver your wedding on any date you choose, and that’s too much of a risk for me to agree to.  I work with several officiants and photographers so we are very flexible, and I find that this has worked in my favor in the past.  On a couple of occasions an officiant or photographer has had a family emergency that they needed to attend to, so I was able to book a different one for that wedding, without the couple even having been aware.  That’s one of the benefits of booking with me; you won’t be affected by any last-minute cancellations.

Often, there can be many reasons why a couple really doesn’t want to postpone their wedding date.  This might be because they have guests who are all ready to go on the date agreed, or if they are a visiting couple, they may be leaving the next day, or have other plans to enjoy New York.  So, it’s wise to consider a rainy day backup location.  In Central Park, the best location for a large group in the event of rain would be underneath Bethesda Terrace.  This is usually a very busy area, but one benefit of some rain is that the park gets very quiet, so there are fewer passers-by in your photos!  You could choose to get married in a location with a roof and then you don’t need to worry too much about rain, or indeed hot sun in the summer.  We can apply for two permits if a couple want to – a good weather plan A out in the open location, and a bad weather plan B under a roof location.  There are a few options of locations with a roof, depending on the group size.  The Ladies’ Pavilion is a great one for a small group.

Of course one major issue with rescheduling very close to your date is that we won’t be able to get a new permit for the new date and time.  Again, on a weekday, that’s not such a big deal as on a weekend.  If it did happen that we rescheduled and we got to the place where you want to hold your ceremony and there’s another couple in there getting married, then we’d just have to wait a little while until they move out of the space.  You can always take some photos while you wait.  Another issue with rescheduling is organizing the new plan with any guests, but my experience is that most people with a big group of guests just won’t ask to reschedule because it’s too difficult, but it’s usually much easier for an eloping couple.

I hope this is a useful and informative long answer to a frequently asked question.  I find that we don’t have many couples who ask this up front anymore, although coming out of the pandemic it was asked quite a lot.  But I do find that there are some couples who make the assumption that it’s easy to reschedule if they ask me at the last minute, and I want people to be aware of the real difficulties in managing this, so that they don’t assume that it’s a sure thing that we can change dates at the last minute. 

If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you live locally or are planning on traveling to New York to get married, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest. 

Lauren and Osman’s Elopement overlooking Gapstow Bridge in January

Lauren and Osman travelled to New York from their home in Louisiana to get married in Central Park this January.  We discussed various locations when deciding where they wanted to say “I do” – the Ladies’ Pavilion and Bethesda Terrace were seriously considered.  In the end they chose to hold the ceremony by the Pond, close to Gapstow Bridge, because they like the backdrop at that end of the park.

Lauren is from Louisiana originally and Osman is from Honduras.  They met online, as so many of our couples do, and they had been together for ten months when they got married.  I asked why getting married was important to them.  “To have your life partner by your side forever and build a family together,” Lauren said.

Osman had proposed on the beach in Lake Charles, Louisiana in early November, and before the end of the month Lauren had reached out to me to start to plan their elopement wedding.  They knew they wanted to get married away from home.  “I love the idea of a destination wedding or elopements because it allows the event to be more about you and your husband than catering to what everyone else may want.  Also, hosting a wedding with hundreds of guests is costly!”  I absolutely agree, so many of our couples love that eloping allows them to focus on the promises they are making to each other, and on their new spouse.

They had considered maybe getting married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but Lauren really loved New York and Central Park, and she just wanted this to be the place where she and Osman began their married life.  “Central Park is an amazing place that is quiet and serene while the city around boasts loud noises and lights.  It’s so special,” Lauren explained.  Again, she will get no arguments from me about this!

I asked what their friends and family thought about them getting married in Central Park.  “They were elated!” said Lauren.  “They all said how dreamy it is to have that special place be a part of the memory on your special day,” she added. 

Lauren and Osman stayed at the Hyatt Place Times Square.  “The staff were so great!” Lauren told me.  She got ready along, so she had to ask the front desk clerk to zip up her dress.  “She was amazing,” Lauren said.  “She showed up to the room with a bottle of wine and two glasses and a plate of refreshments with a card for Osman and I,” she told me.  Which is lovely, not all of the hotels do this. “The other staff members were great as well, printing out directions for us and other things, they all went above and beyond for us,” she added.

I always ask our couples if they had any worries or concerns in the run-up to the wedding.  Lauren answered as many of our couples do.  “Because it’s an outdoor setting, you are inclined to worry about weather on your day,” she said.  “But Claire was great in assuring us there were a few options within the park that were covered in the case of unpleasant weather,” she said.  We had said that if it rained, they would get married underneath Bethesda Terrace, which provides lots of cover.  They didn’t have rain in the end, but it was very cold!

Lauren had told me that they wanted to get married at the South end of the park to be close to the very high buildings that provide that stunning and iconic backdrop of the trees of Central Park with skyscrapers beyond.  So, after the ceremony and photos around Gapstow Bridge they stopped off at Cats Rock, which is a great location to capture this backdrop.  “We loved Cats Rock because of the skyline behind it, Bow Bridge because it was so adorable and also had a nice skyline view behind it, and the Bethesda Terrace because the tile ceilings and other architecture was beautiful!” she said.  So, they loved all of their major photo locations!

Lauren wore a traditional off-white wedding gown without a train that she purchased from a boutique in her home town.  She did her own hair and makeup.  She also had a fur jacket and sensible shoes, which we’re always pleased to see because we don’t like to see a bride suffer!  Lauren and her mom had also made her own bouquet and Osman’s boutonniere with silk flowers from Hobby Lobby.  Osman wore a gray suit which he had also purchased from a suit shop in their home town. 

For the ceremony, we had a brief introduction with a summary of their story to date and a short reading from Corinthians, which I’ll put at the end of this post.  “The ceremony was wonderful,” said Lauren.  “We had my parents on FaceTime with us which I loved so much!” she added.  They set up their phone on a tripod so that Lauren’s parents could watch from the comfort (and warmth) of their home!  They exchanged traditional vows and had also prepared something themselves to read out to each other before exchanging rings.  “It was twenty degrees on our big day so we didn’t waste any time getting through the ceremony and moving on to the photo portion of the day,” she said.

After their phot shoot in Central Park, they went straight to the Empire State Building in their wedding attire.  They took some photos on the observatory deck.  For dinner that night then went to Nitti’s Italian restaurant and shared a bottle of wine and a candlelight dinner.  The restaurant was very close to their hotel.  “It had perfect ambiance, excellent service, generous portions and reasonable prices!” Lauren told me.

I always ask our couples if they had any regrets about not having a traditional wedding close to home, and she answered the same way all of our couples do, “no regrets.”  She answered this despite having issues with their flights into New York as a consequence of very bad weather.  We were able to help Lauren and Osman with some changing of plans around getting their marriage license so it all worked out in the end and they remained upbeat throughout the travel disorder.

I asked Lauren how we did.  “Claire answered any and all questions we had, taking the stress out of trying to plan a wedding from hundreds of miles away!  She was great,” she said.  “Our officiant was exceptionally friendly and accommodating and our photographer was fun and knowledgeable,” she added.  Thank you for your kind words, Lauren.  “We adored our experience and would recommend it to anyone.  They helped to make our day the best we could imagine,” she said.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Lauren and Osman.  It was a pleasure to plan your wedding with you Lauren, despite the very short time it took us!  I wish you both the best of luck for your future together.  If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you’re from near or far, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest. 

Here’s the ever-popular reading from Corinthians that Lauren and Osman had in their ceremony:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Sarah and John’s October Destination Wedding in Cop Cot

English couple Sarah and John got married with us in Cop Cot in October.  They brought over rather a large group by our usual standards of 29 people, which is quite a lot of people all to fly over from England!  Sarah was 44 and John 46 when they got married.

Like so many of our couples, they met online, and had their first date in a bar in London.  John is from London originally and Sarah was living there at the time.  It was a successful fist date and they had been together for ten years when they got married.  They had lived together in London for some time, but eventually decided to move to the north of England, where Sarah is from originally.  They got engaged on the banks of the Thames, next to spot special to them in Wapping on Christmas morning.  “There was no one around and the sky was blue with no clouds in the sky,” Sarah told me.

It was Sarah and John’s dream to have a destination wedding, however they did consider getting married in London.  “I had already been to every wedding venue near me for a wedding,” said Sarah, “this is why I wanted somewhere completely different,” she explained.  They wanted to get married away from home to make their wedding day unique.  When considering where to get married, they knew they didn’t want to get married on a beach in the heat.  I wrote a blog post on why getting married New York is so much better than a beach wedding!

They were aware that it would have been easier for people to get to London than New York, “But New York was always my dream,” said Sarah.  So, they brought their guests over from England to New York in October because they didn’t want to get married in the heat.  But their wedding day was unseasonably warm for October!  “But not too warm, thankfully,” Sarah said.  They had a total of 29 people at the wedding including themselves, “we were totally blown away with the amount of people who flew out with us, it was so special and lots of guests have said it was just perfect,” Sarah told me.

Sarah said that she does think that destination weddings might be becoming more common.  She said that could be because it’s just getting easier to do.  I always ask couple if there is anything they would have done differently.  “There are definitely no regrets of our wedding, it was absolutely perfect,” she said. 

There were some family members who unfortunately couldn’t make it, “but in the end we had plenty of people travelling with us and celebrated with people who couldn’t make it when we got back home,” she said.  They told me that they had a great celebration at the local golf club, on our return with all of their friends and family, so they don’t feel that anyone missed out too much.   

John’s suit was purchased from Suit Direct and Sarah’s dress was purchased from Curves at Kates Bridal near her hometown.  We had a guitarist play for the guests at Cop Cot while they waited for their bride to arrive.  Sarah and her party met the photographer at the entrance to the park, and then they made the short walk up the hill to Cop Cot.  The guitarist played Stand By Me by Ben E King for them to walk in to.  Sarah’s sister and niece walked in first, followed by Sarah with her dad.

Sarah told me that the ceremony was fantastic.  “Our officiant was amazing, funny and thorough,” she said.  We wrote a short introduction for the ceremony, thanking all for being there, and saying a little about their story to date, and Sarah’s niece read a poem.  Then Sarah and John exchanged traditional vows before exchanging rings.  Their photographer Jakub Redziniak took some group photos around Cop Cot while the guitarist played more background music.

After the group photos, the couple walked up the Mall with their photographer to take some portrait photos around Bethesda Terrace.  “I had been to New York three times previously and had never made it there, I had seen it in so many movies, so wanted to make it there,” Sarah told me.

Their celebratory meal was at Virgils, “proper American food,” Sarah said.  After that, the group walked over to The Summit, and took photos as a group of all of the guests in their wedding attire.  Then they went on to Grand Central, which is nearby, for more photos before heading back to the hotel. 

I asked how we did.  “We could not have asked for a more perfect day and we could not recommend yourself enough,” Sarah said.  “Our day ran like clockwork, with being so well organised,” she added, which is music to my ears.  We always have so much discussion beforehand, with me asking what the couples want to achieve from the day, and then working out how to make it happen, and possibly sometimes managing expectations about what can happen.  It’s great to hear that it all goes just as planned on the day.

For this event, we organized pretty much everything except the restaurant for their dinner.  “The singer, photographer, officiant, videographer, flowers and yourself were absolutely amazing,” Sarah said.  “We would not have had such an amazing experience without your expertise and meticulous planning, so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the most perfect day,” she added.

It was an absolute pleasure to plan your wedding with you, Sarah, and I wish you both lots of luck for your future together. If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, whether you are planning on traveling to New York to get married with a big group like this one, or just the two of you, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos,  follow us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest.

Tips for Groups Visiting New York for a Destination Wedding

Over the years of planning weddings in Central Park I have encountered lots of visiting couples who are bringing a small group with them to New York from their home.  Many of our couples are from out of state, and even more are visiting from outside of the US.  Sometimes couples have never been to New York before and neither have their guests, so they will be making new memories together as they explore this incredible city together for the first time, which is a great way to bond when merging two families.  For some of our couples, New York holds a special place in their hearts and they have visited many times before and they want to show this incredible city to their loved ones! 

When planning your wedding day, you may want to begin by thinking about what time you want to get married.  The ceremony time will likely dictate what else you can fit in that day.  There are pros and cons to getting married in the morning, afternoon and evening in Central Park.  I discuss some of them in this blog post.  The earlier it is, the quieter the park will be, but depending on the time of year, and what else you want to do with your day, afternoon or evening might be best.  The couple tend to pay for any meals on the wedding day, so if you get married in the morning and then pay for lunch that tends to save on a budget but if you pay for lunch, any afternoon activity AND dinner then of course that pushes the budget up.  If you get married in the afternoon, then the only meal you’re likely to need to pay for will be dinner.  If you’re having professional hair and makeup done, either just one of you, or for a group, then factor timings for this into your plan.  Some groups enjoy sharing the time getting ready, and may hire a photographer from this point in the day to capture everything.

If you have a group with you then making an occasion out of breakfast might be nice.  Sometimes I hear of all the women going off and doing one thing and all the men going off and doing another thing on the morning of a wedding.  Scope out the options in and close by to your hotel.  I do hear of brides and grooms having a massage, going for a run, or doing some yoga in the morning before the wedding.  If you’re getting married late in the day, then you’ll have much more time to get out so could make more of a thing of it if you wish.  If you have the group with you in New York for several days, you could instead arrange a mini bachelor / bachelorette outing a day or two before the wedding instead of trying to fit it in to the morning.

If you want to do something on the way to the wedding all together, or after the ceremony whilst everyone is in wedding gear then there are lots of options in New York.  It is very popular to go up to the top of a high building to enjoy the spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline.  Sometimes couples do this alone before meeting the group, sometimes they take the whole group.  Consider the fees if you’re taking everyone with you!  The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are the most popular.  Some other popular high buildings with observation decks are Summit One Vanderbilt, the One World Observatory and Edge. 

A very popular option for couple with a group of people with them is to hire an open topped bus or a vintage trolley bus or similar to take the whole group on a tour of New York.  Depending on how long you have the vehicle for, you could take everyone down to Times Square or to the tip of the island to see the Statue of Liberty.  If you have a vehicle for a tour of the city, I’d also recommend a trip across to Brooklyn for some incredible views.  Once you’re there, you could take the group to one of the great places to eat in the borough that may well have cheaper dining options than Manhattan.  If you’re close to the river then there will be some amazing photo opportunities to enjoy in Brooklyn (especially as the sun goes down over Manhattan).

Some of our couples have taken their guests on the subway, since it’s such a classic NYC thing to do.  If you do that, keep in mind how comfortable everyone is with what to do, and make sure that you don’t lose anyone!  If you choose a reception location within walking distance of Central Park, then that avoids any need for transport, which is nice.  If you’re planning on walking a few blocks, make sure everyone knows that and can wear appropriate shoes, and again, make sure that you don’t lose anyone!

Some of our visiting couples hire a photographer for a few hours to take some photos in beautiful places.  Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO are popular, so is Grand Central Terminal and those observation decks.  Lots of couples like to take photos on the street, on the subway and in a yellow cab.  If you have group with you then you’d need to consider what they will do if you and your new spouse want to take some photos alone for an hour or two.  There are lots of awesome photo opportunities all over New York, with its many iconic sights, and you can fit this into the plan of your day either before or after the ceremony, depending on what else you want to do.  You don’t have to have a professional photographer with you all day to capture some memorable shots, you can always ask your loved ones to take a picture of you in any of these amazing locations.

Almost all of our groups will have a celebratory dinner somewhere special on their wedding day.  I read somewhere that New York City has the most restaurants, coffee shops, and gourmet specialty-food stores per capita among all US cities.  So, whatever your choice of cuisine or restaurant you are sure to find somewhere that will give you a memorable dining experience.  Depending on the size of your group, you may want to book a table in a restaurant or a private room.  Consider the options after the meal, who will want to go back to the hotel and who will want to stay out?  If you have a group of family members with you, the group will likely span at least a couple of generations, so there will be challenges in finding options that will suit everyone.  There are so many incredible bars in New York, with new ones opening all the time, so whatever vibe you’re looking for will be out there – whether it be a sports bar, somewhere with a theme close to your heart or somewhere with beautiful rooftop views.

When planning what you will do on your wedding day, keep the weather in mind.  Your guests are unlikely to want to be outdoors for too long in New York in the Winter because of the cold temperatures and possibly rain.  Of course rain is a possibility all year round.  In high Summer, New York can be hot and humid, but Central Park or by one of the rivers is usually the freshest place to be in Manhattan in the Summer.

I wrote another post with some suggestions of what to do on your wedding day in New York City a while back, and this is just an update of that in a way.  If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you’re from near or far, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest.  I’d love to hear out-of-the-ordinary suggestions from anyone else about what to do if you’re getting married in New York – either for an elopement or for a small group.

Kristina and Christopher’s Wedding Ceremony Beneath a Tree that is Special to Them

Kristina and Christopher got married under a tree that is special to them at the south end of Central Park at the end of December.  Kristina is 33 and Christopher is 30 years old.  They’re both from Germany and had been together for just over three years when they got married.

The couple first met at a Christmas market in Hamburg.  “We were both pretty new to the city and hardly knew anyone there because we had just moved there to start our PhD studies,” they told me. They discovered that they were both vegan (luckily there was a stall at the Christmas market that sold delicious vegan churros) so they decided to explore the city and its many vegan cafes and restaurants together.  They share an interest in independent cinema and music, too, so they quickly found that they had lots and lots to talk about. 

The previous year, Kristina had been working in France and Christopher was working in the US, and Kristina visited the US to see Christopher.  On that trip they visited New York together.  During that vacation they were walking through Central Park and they loved it.  “We were completely amazed by the calm you can find there – which is surprising considering that it’s right in the center of one of the most exciting cities of the world,” they told me.  I completely agree. 

During their visit to Central Park on that trip, it started pouring down with rain.  They took shelter under a tree, quite close to the Pond and Gapstow Bridge.  They stayed there together for about half an hour and they passed the time admiring the city in the rain.  “Normally sudden rain is very annoying when you were planning for a day outside but the park and the city in the background looked so beautiful in the rain,” they said.  So, when they were ready to get married, they immediately thought of Central Park, and that tree.

Kristina and Christopher first contacted me on December 3^rd to enquire about our availability for their December 27^th wedding.  They both knew that they never wanted a big wedding.  They told me that they wanted to hold the ceremony under that very tree where they had sheltered on that previous trip to New York. 

They told me that they were in close contact with their family and friends throughout their wedding day.  “We both loved our experience because it allowed us to really focus on each other on our wedding day,” they told me.  They admitted that it would have been nice to have them around, but they wouldn’t have enjoyed a big wedding.  They felt that everyone who was important to them was very involved and excited for them but in the end they were able to focus on just each other for the ceremony.

I asked if they had any advice for anyone else considering doing what they had done.  “We highly recommend it, it was an unforgettable experience we will always cherish,” they said.  “The location is just beautiful and guarantees incredible wedding photos!” they added.

As with many of our couples, Christopher was a bit concerned about the weather in the run-up to the wedding.  That tree had provided the both shelter from the rain previously when it had leaves on it.  We knew that there wouldn’t be any leaves in December!  In the end there was a light drizzle that started just after the ceremony but they said that they didn’t mind that at all.  “It was even quite fitting considering our first Central Park experience that made us choose the location in the first place,” Kristina said.

The couple stayed at the Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue for three days.  “It was a very nice hotel that gave us a ‘60s in New York’ vibe and the location was perfect,” Kristina said.

Before the ceremony, our photographer took some photos of the couple on the street, and afterwards, they focused on taking portrait photos round the south end of the park.  Kristina and Christopher really like the tall buildings that are in that area, so they wanted them as the backdrop to many of their photos – they like the contrast of the park with the iconic skyline.  “It’s difficult to say which locations were our favorites for photos because they were all very different and very special,” they said.  One place they really loved was Cats Rock, which I had suggested as a photo location once they’d told me about their preference for this backdrop – it’s a great spot for that skyline!  “It gives you a really nice view of the park and the city rising behind the trees.  We are extremely grateful to Claire who suggested this place to us!” said Kristina.

They told me that they were having some lyrics from a song that is important to them both engraved in their wedding rings.  They have the line “However far away” from the song Lovesong by The Cure engraved because their jobs require some travel.  So, in the past their relationship has stood up to the pressure of taking time apart every now and then, and they expect that may continue in the future.  I checked and found that the song isn’t too long, so we decided to have the officiant read the whole song lyrics out as part of the ceremony.  I’ll put the lyrics at the end of this blog post.

Kristina and Christopher did not invite any guests, because much of their friends and family are in Germany, and we had planned the wedding in under a month.  “That does not mean though that we did not have an audience,” Kristina said.  “By the end of the ceremony we realized that a large number of people had gathered around us as they were passing by and stopped to watch our ceremony,” she told me.  Some of our couples choose more hidden-away locations than others.  Kristina and Christopher’s tree (as it shall be forever known to us at Wed in Central Park) was right beside a footpath.  When they were pronounced married and asked to kiss, everyone cheered, applauded and congratulated them.  “We were very touched by how happy everyone was for us even though we were just strangers to them.  It was a really special moment!” she told me.

Kristina carried a small dried flower bouquet from Honey and the Moon and a dried flower crown from Mason and Harlow.  Both are Massachusetts-based small businesses that she would recommend.  She liked having dried flowers because then she could keep them as a souvenir afterwards.  After the ceremony, they took some photos around the Pond and Gapstow Bridge area and then walked the short distance up to Cats Rock, and their photographer left them after that.

On the evening of their wedding, they went to Delice and Sarrasin, a French vegan restaurant in Greenwich Village that Kristina and Christopher tell me they loved, and is popular among meat-eaters as well as vegans.  They had planned to visit the Empire State Building after dinner, but it was too foggy. They wouldn’t have seen very much if they visited that night, so they decided to do that when they next come to New York.  Instead, they took a very long walk and went to an Irish Pub where they happened to meet a couple from Croatia who has also just got married and were in New York on their honeymoon.

I asked how we did.  “We were nothing but happy with the service!  Claire was a tremendous help in organizing everything last minute and after a few emails she immediately understood exactly what we were looking for,” they said.  “We had a fantastic photographer and he was just such a great person to be around.  Our officiant was so sweet and the ceremony went absolutely smoothly.  The day exceeded our expectations!”

Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your story with us, Kristina and Christopher I wish you both lots of luck for your future together. If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you can give us lots of notice or want to plan it in under a month, visit our website.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest.

Lovesong by The Cure

Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again

Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you

Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again

However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you

Why we are the Best Team for Your Wedding in Central Park

I started this business in 2012 and it means a huge amount to me.  I’m so proud of this business, and of all the people that we have helped to get married in Central Park.  I’m a mom and I run this business around my kids.  It’s the perfect job to work quite flexible hours, because it’s mostly asking questions, listening to answers, probably asking a few more detailed questions, and then putting plans in place to make things happen.  I have two kids, but Wed in Central Park is also my baby. 

We’re great.  I know this because I always check in with couples after the wedding to get feedback from them.  One of my strengths is being a good listener.  This is important before the wedding, and also after the wedding.  I need to listen to the couple when they tell me what they want, and then also after the wedding, in case they have any constructive criticism.  You can also check our reviews to see what others think.

I’ve planned hundreds of weddings over the years and I know for sure that I’m much better at it that I was when I started.  When choosing a wedding planner, I’d always advise asking what experience they have because this job really is about practice (and also being a meticulous planner and organiser, which is just in my nature).  Experience means that you won’t just be good at answering couple’s questions, it means that you will think of things that they need to know that they won’t even think to ask about.

I wrote a blog post in 2016 about why Wed in Central Park is the best team to deliver the wedding that you want.  But a few years have gone by since then and I have a few more thoughts to share.  This particular blog post isn’t really about me; the wedding planner.  Although I will be your main point of contact in the run-up to the wedding, the vast majority of my job is done before you wake up on the day of the wedding.  This post is mostly about the brilliant people that deliver the goods on the day.

I offer a choice of several packages on my website.  These have gone through a few iterations over the years, but this set seems to work well for meeting most couples’ needs.  The first option is the “just the ceremony” package.  This one is popular with couples who want to choose their own photographer.  Sometimes a couple have a clear image in mind of the sort of photos they want, and they want to choose their own photographer.  New York has many very talented photographers to choose from.  Going through them all and messaging them for prices and terms does take time and effort, but some couples want to do all of that themselves. 

I would like make the argument that the photographers who I work with are absolutely ideal to photograph an intimate wedding or elopement in Central Park.  I know this because I’ve seen them do it time after time.  The same goes with the videographers that I work with.  The photographers and videographers that I’m working with at the moment have all been working with me for several years.  Some have come and gone over the years – some perhaps haven’t delivered quite the standard that I would like and some have moved away from New York.  The photographers and videographers that I work with will cover lots of weddings in Central Park for me each year, as well as covering other elopements and traditional weddings around New York City and areas nearby.  They know Central Park well and they know the really good spots to position a couple in to get that perfect iconic backdrop or the off-the-beaten track location that looks amazing.  I know that other New Yorker photographers also have knowledge of Central Park, but not all know it quite as well as the ones I work with. 

I’ve been working with our florist and our hair and makeup team for many years too.  I continue to work with them because I continue to get excellent feedback about them.  Both these teams need to be reliable and on time.  The flowers always come when they say will and the brides and wedding party are always ready on time.  There have been numerous occasions when I’ve had brides try to save money and book a different hair and makeup team, or worse still; have a family member do it.  These are the times when brides tend to arrive late, and that makes a mess of the rest of the day, might miss out on some photography time, and also usually results in a stressed out bride on arrival.  Another thing these services have in common is that the flowers and the hair and makeup need to stand up to the test of a whole day out in the open, in all sorts of weather.  And they consistently do.  Our brides and their bouquets always look beautiful for the whole day and into the evening.

I work with several musicians.  Most commonly a cellist, violinist, guitarist, harpist, saxophonist, and bagpiper.  Just like with the other service providers that I have mentioned, I’ve worked with others in the past, but the ones I’m working with right now are reliable, enthusiastic and talented.  They can learn requests with enough notice, which I’m always hugely impressed with, and they really add to the ambience of a wedding in Central Park.

Last but absolutely not least I will talk about the officiants.  Recently, New York state has decreed that anyone can become ordained to be an officiant for a day to marry someone.  I don’t know why they thought this a good idea but I don’t agree with it.  I’ve saved them to last because in many ways they are so very important to a wedding but can be kind of overlooked by some couples.

I’ve attended weddings officiated by friends and family and they do have a different feel to them then ones run by a professional.  When I got married I was nervous, and so are many other people.  Our couples always tell me how our officiants made them feel calm, composed and ready to do this big thing.  I’ve seen them do it, and it’s impressive.  They’ve (literally) held the hands and guided so many couples through this huge step in life.  It’s because of this experience that they project an air of calm that is infectious.  They’re so relaxed about this big responsibility because they’ve done it so many times before and it shows.  When a friend or family member does it, it may well be the first time they’ve done it, and that shows too.  Our officiants are warm, friendly, funny and manage to set the right tone for this important ceremony. 

Finally, to speak in general about the people who are there in Central Park on the day for the wedding, I’d like to discuss their reliability.  If you’re a visitor to New York City then anyone that you book for your day doesn’t have as much to lose by letting you down as they do by letting me doen.  If anyone on my team lets me down then they run the risk of not getting business from me in the future, so they don’t tend to do it.  Things can go wrong for an individual that might mean that they cannot be there for a wedding – we’ve had sickness in families and various other crises.  In this unusual situation it’s often quite easy for me to just book someone else to cover the wedding at the last minute and the couple is not inconvenienced at all.  This is because I work with a pool of awesome people to make sure that we can always make a date.  You can be sure that people will be where they say they will be if you book with us. 

Always check the reviews before booking anyone for a day as big as a wedding day.  We have 100% five star reviews on Google and WeddingWire that I’m very proud of.  If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, visit our website and have a look around for lots of information.  Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Facebook, or Instagram or Pinterest.