Celebrate your love in the heart of New York City — with Central Park’s gardens, bridges, and skyline views creating a truly romantic wedding backdrop.
Wed in Central Park
If you’re considering getting married in Central Park, what do you need to know? First, Central Park is outdoors! You will be at the mercy of the weather, although most couples plan to take photos outside on their wedding day, even with umbrellas if needed! There are several Locations that Suit a Wedding Ceremony in Central Park. Some have a roof, some have shade, some have seating, but all will be somewhat open to the elements, so keep the temperature and the weather forecast in mind when deciding what to wear.
(Editor’s Note: For couples very concerned with potential rain, most traditional wedding venues have beautiful indoor spaces and ballrooms and many have gardens. Or you may choose to get married with an intimate group in Central Park and then invite all your family, friends, and even some co-workers to a larger wedding at an indoor-outdoor wedding venue, like those listed on our Menu Bar. Of course, for an outdoor setting, how can you top Central Park? Or its Majestic History and countless number of Picturesque Settings?)
Claire Ady has been planning Weddings in Central Park since 2012. She’s British and got married in the park herself. “Our wedding gave me the idea to start a business helping others to do the same.” Originally, she thought she might focus on visitors to the city, but then she found that local New Yorkers would like someone to take the stress off wedding planning and give them a hand too!
Central Park is full of people. If you get married in a public park, Having a few Passers-By is Unavoidable. There are some quieter areas in the park, and some Wedding Ceremony Locations in Central Park that are more private than others, but you’ll likely encounter some members of the public no matter what location you choosein the park. Claire’s couples say that they enjoy receiving congratulations from people passing by and that it adds to the experience.
Claire always purchases an Event Permit from the parks department for any of her couples’ weddings. “If you have a group of more than twenty people, an event permit is required by Central Park,” but Claire advises that you get one anyway, even with a smaller group. It will be a condition of the event permit that you do not affix any signs to park property, you cannot bring chairs (although some of the ceremony locations do have seats) and you cannot have amplified sound.
When deciding on where in Central Park you want the wedding ceremony to take place, Claire advises not to just think about the photos, because you can take photos anywhere in the park after you’re married, but imagine the sort of place with the right ambiance for the wedding you want. Some couples are happy to be out in the open, and for that they will enjoy a lovely view, but some more private couples prefer some of the small structures in Central Park, which offer a little privacy.
If you want your wedding to be legally binding, you need to Get Your license from City Hall at least 24 hours in advance. And you need a New York state registered officiant to perform the ceremony. You’ll need to bring your license along to the ceremony and sign it with your new spouse and the officiant, and at least one legal witness. Then you need to return the completed license to City Hall who will register your marriage.
Central Park is big and so is New York! Keep in mind that You Will Have to Walk to your wedding ceremony location, and if you want to take photos in the many iconic and beautiful spots in Central Park that are so popular for wedding photos, then you’ll have to walk to them. So, Choose Your Shoes Accordingly, or at least bring along a pair you can walk in. If you get married in Central Park and then have a celebratory meal afterwards then this is likely to involve some more walking. But the upside is that there are so many incredible restaurants and bars to choose from in New York to suit all tastes and budgets.
Claire can organize everything a couple needs to get married in Central Park. If you would like her to help you with planning your own Central Park Wedding or elopement and make a lot of the things she has talked about above much easier, then visit the Wed in Central Park website for more information, including her Packages and Prices!
