Allison and Andrew got married in Cop Cot at the South end of Central Park. Their wedding took place in October. They met as kids in sixth grade, and started dating in tenth grade. So, they grew up together. They moved out of their familial homes and moved in together.
Their wedding date was important to them because the day they got married was their tenth anniversary of being a couple. I asked why getting married was important to them. “We are best friends, and we share the same values and life goals,” Allison told me. Also, they had plans to start a family and they wanted to be married first.
Their first choice for their wedding ceremony location was Bethesda Terrace. Unfortunately it was unavailable for the date they wanted. There was another large event happening there that day. This does sometimes happen with a place as iconic as Central Park. In the end, they were able to take plenty of photos at Bethesda Terrace, they just weren’t allowed to get married there.
They considered a spot overlooking Gapstow Bridge, which might have worked for them, but it’s kind of out in the open and I think a covered or contained space works better with a big group like theirs. We eventually discussed Cop Cot as an option. They were planning to have around thirty guests, and I felt it would suit their group well. It has seats for anyone who can’t stand for too long and it’s probably the easiest place to find of all of the popular wedding ceremony locations in Central Park, because it’s visible from 59th Street.
Allison and Andrew chose our package with wedding ceremony, video, photos, flowers and music. Check out our wedding packages here. That package has two hours of photography but they added in some extra time with the photographer. They wanted to take photos in Central Park, at the Top of the Rock, at the Brooklyn waterfront, and at their reception location in Brooklyn.
We went back and forth a little with some discussion before Allison and Andrew decided for sure what they wanted. They weren’t sure how much photography and videography coverage they wanted. This is pretty common. Some couples will have the feeling that they want everything to be recorded. I think this is a reasonable way to feel – you only plan to do this once, and you plan to look amazing while you’re doing it, in this amazing city, so why not? I do think it’s worth really thinking about the right balance for you as a couple between getting the photos, video and so on for the memories, and actually being there to appreciate and enjoy the day, to focus on your partner and your guests if you have them. In the end, Allison and Andrew didn’t have a full day of photos and several hours of video coverage as they had initially thought they might want. They decided on just video at the ceremony, and photos up to a point at the reception and then everyone was free to let their hair down after a little while.
None of their guests had been to New York before. Allison and Andrew had, and they were eager to share this awesome city with their loved ones. The couple stayed at Riu Plaza New York Times Square Hotel. We had their flowers delivered there in the morning, the colors were white and burgundy.
Allison and Andrew held the wedding ceremony in Cop Cot. The guests arrived and we have a violinist play background music for them before the bride arrived. She walked up the short hill to Cop Cot with her dad and he gave her away. They had the bible reading Colossians chapter 3, verses 14 to 17. I’ll put it at the end of this post. Then they exchanged traditional vows, then they read out some personal vows that they had each prepared in advance, and then exchanged rings.
Their photographer Jakub Redziniak took group photos by Cop Cot and then the couple walked up the Mall with him for some more photos in Central Park. Everyone else got on a vintage trolley bus. Then the newlyweds joined them and they all went on to the Top of the Rock to take some more photos there. Everyone got back on the bus, went over to Brooklyn, took some photos there with Brooklyn Bridge and the iconic Manhattan skyline over the river as backdrop and then went on to their reception. The reception was at Fornino at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
I asked how we did. “Our wedding went perfectly! Thank you so much for all your help!” Allison said. If you would like me to help you with your own Central Park wedding, whether want to celebrate in New York with guests as this couple did, or eloping alone, visit our website. Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Instagram, or Facebook, or TikTok, or Pinterest.
Colossians chapter 3, verses 14 to 17.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns and songs singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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