Rebecca and Kieran eloped to get married in New York from their home in Scotland in early May. They got married in Wagner Cove. They were both thirty when they got married.
Like so many of our couples in recent years, they met through the dating app Tinder. Since then, they had two sons together. They got married six years to the day since they had their first date. I asked why marriage was important to them. “It was important for me to share the family name as we share two boys together,” said Rebecca.
Rebecca and Kieran had planned a trip to New York, “and Kieran had let slip he was going to propose to me there,” Rebecca told me. They had already agreed that they would like to elope to get married, so when Kieran said that he was planning to propose in New York Rebecca went one better and suggested they just get married there instead. “Kieran was right up for it!” said Rebecca, so they went to choose a ring, Kieran officially proposed and they first contacted me in the July before they got married.
They told me that they never even considered any other options for their wedding, once they had thought of the idea of eloping to New York, their minds were completely made up. “I think an elopement is a great option if you don’t want to spend too much money and put yourself under needless stress” said Rebecca. “I think they are definitely becoming more popular and appealing to people as the cost of a traditional wedding is only getting more and more expensive,” she added.
I get the impression that Rebecca and Kieran are quite decisive. Rebecca told me that they hadn’t even considered Central Park for a wedding location, since they were unaware that it was an option, but when they began researching, they found some images of the stunning ceremony locations in Central Park, and “it was an absolute no brainer for me as the park is simply beautiful,” Rebecca said. By the time they first contacted me they had already narrowed down their possible ceremony locations to Wagner Cove or the Shakespeare Garden.
We discussed what they wanted from a ceremony location. “I was slightly concerned about the attention and being in such a crowded place for such an intimate moment,” said Rebecca. “With help from Claire we chose Wagner Cove for our ceremony which is very quiet and private so we both felt really at ease there,” she said. It is certainly one of the most private spots for a wedding, and yet is so close to the main iconic sights of Central Park, so you can get the best of both worlds there.
Rebecca and Kieran stayed in New York for five nights at the Times Square Hard Rock Hotel which is right in the thick of things! “It was fantastic and the location was perfect,” Rebecca said. They were picked up on the day by our vintage cab driver and he was a touch early so had to go around the bock a few times because that part of town is so very busy, he was unable to park.
We had their flowers delivered to their hotel room in the morning. Rebecca carried a white mixed blooms bouquet and Kieran had matching boutonniere. So, the cab took them on a little tour of Manhattan before they go to Central Park, and as always, the cab attracted lots of attention. Our photographer met them at the entrance to Central Park and captured some photos of them with the beautiful cab, then they walked into the park together.
“We had our ceremony at Wagner Cove and this was also where my favourite pictures were taken as the background is stunning,” Rebecca told me. “We love water so being by the pond was perfect and the wooden structure has just got a romance about it that frames our photos perfectly,” she said.
For the ceremony, we had a short introduction with the officiant talking a little about their relationship to date, and of course their beloved sons. “The ceremony was perfect, personal but without personal vows due to the fear of getting too emotional. Our children were a big part of our vows,” Rebecca said. Then they exchanged traditional vows, exchanged rings, were pronounced married, and off they went to take some more lovely photos around the park!
Rebecca wore a Maggie Sottero wedding dress. She purchased this from a lovely local wedding dress shop close to their home called Wedding Belles. Kieran wore traditional Scottish kilt with dress jacket and vest and tie. Kieran’s kilt was the Stewart hunting tartan. Stewart is his surname and now Rebecca’s too. The kilt he wore is his grandfather’s kilt, so that might be their “something borrowed” and his grandfather was delighted that he wore it.
After photos in the park they had been out in wedding gear for several hours – two hours in the cab, and two hours in the park. So, they popped back to their hotel and got changed into slightly more casual wedding outfits and went for a meal. “We had an amazing meal at PEAK restaurant in Hudson Yards followed by quite a few cocktails!” Rebecca told me. “We ate in so many different places but by far PEAK was our favourite, the food was amazing and the views spectacular with being on the 102nd floor with a window seat,” she said.
I always ask our couples who elope if they have any regrets about not having a “traditional” wedding closer to home. “None at all.” Rebecca said. “We had a party when we got home from New York with all our friends and family so I feel that we got the best of both worlds,” she said. I agree, this does seem to me to be the best way to get your stress-free day for just the two of you in this incredible city, and to have the celebration with all of your loved ones, and you get to wear your dress twice!
I asked Rebecca how we did. “Claire was fantastic, quick informative responses, so helpful, completely took the stress out of organising everything! We can’t thank you enough!” Thank you for your kind words, it was an absolute pleasure to plan your wedding with you, and I wish you and your boys 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 bringing guests with you or eloping alone, 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.
Weddings in Central Park, New York 