Denise and Mike got married very early on a Sunday morning in June. That day was incredibly hot and humid so I’m glad they were able to hold the ceremony so early. Mike is originally from Indiana, and Denise grew up in Illinois and came to Indiana for college.
They had been together for six years before they got married. They met through a dating website. Initially, Denise was ignoring Mike’s messages, but he was persistent and eventually she agreed to go out with him. “Clearly I had a good time,” Denise said. Mike proposed in Brown County State Park, in the Fall. Mike doesn’t really enjoy a lot of walking, but he knew Denise would love to see to the trees in their autumn glory. “He knew I would love seeing the trees leaves and natural beauty. He preserved for me!” Denise told me.
I always ask couples why getting married is important to them. I loved Denise’s answer. “We want to spend the rest of our lives being a team and making our shared and separate dreams come true. It just feels different when you have someone who is truly pulling for you to succeed and congratulates you when you do,” she said.
Mike was quite relaxed about the details of their wedding, he just wanted to be married to Denise. Denise knew that she wanted to get married outside of Indiana! “I know for people that live in New York getting married in Central Park is probably not that unheard-of. But I loved the idea of it!” she said. She’s right, on a weekend in the summertime, we’ll see several couples each day in wedding gear taking photos in Central Park. But how can all those couples be wrong? It’s just further proof that it’s a beautiful place!
I asked Denise if she thinks smaller weddings or elopements are becoming more popular. “I’m not really sure if they are becoming more popular!” she said. “I think if people have the means to go on a destination wedding, or their guests have the means it can be a great choice,” which is a very good, balanced answer. She also said something else that I completely agree with, “I think people should have whatever kind of wedding they can afford that fits whatever dream they have,” she said.
Denise told me that she hadn’t been to New York as an adult, Mike had never been at all, so it seemed like a great place to visit together. “I wanted us to share this very special memory,” she said. “And I wanted beautiful wedding photos!” she added. Well, they achieved both of these goals! I asked if they have any regrets about not having a traditional wedding closer to home. “No!” Denise said. “It was exactly what we wanted! It fit the vision I had perfectly and we have beautiful pictures to look at and show friends and family,” she said.
Denise and Mike had an online appointment with New York City Hall some weeks before their wedding and were unable to get the license the first time around. They didn’t have all of the correct paperwork ready. So, it was lucky that they had tried quite early on, because then they were completely ready the second time around. “Getting the marriage license was a bit of struggle, but with Claire’s help the rest of the planning was a breeze!” said Denise.
Denise and Mike stayed for three days in New York. They stayed at the Sanctuary Hotel. “It was AMAZING!” Denise said. “The room was much smaller than anticipated,” she added. This is a common issue with New York hotel rooms! “Everyone at the hotel was so helpful, kind, and polite,” she added.
Our photographer met them at 8am and took them around the areas of Cherry Hill, Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace for some portrait photos while those areas were at their quietest. They even managed to get a shot of the Imagine plaque in Strawberry Fields with nobody else around which is impossible throughout most of the day! The ceremony took place around 9am on Bethesda Terrace. “My favorite photo was taken right there!” Denise said. We had been undecided about exactly where on the terrace they should be for the ceremony, but our photographer suggested the spot and it worked beautifully. There’s no way we could have held a ceremony there a few hours later because it would have been too busy.
Denise said that she also loved the photos taken underneath the terrace, on Bow Bridge and the ones with Belvedere Castle in the background, too. Not everyone wants to walk up there for photos, but Denise had specifically said that was what she wanted, so they walked the little way up the hill to capture the castle and I agree, those photos are lovely. I find it so amazing that a building like Belvedere Castle is right there in the middle of Manhattan!
We kept the ceremony fairly short, as many eloping couples prefer to do. “We said mostly standard stuff – sickness and health and such,” Denise summarised! “Our officiant was nice! She made us feel at ease, so kind and friendly! I’m glad that she married us,” she said.
Denise wore a Disney princess inspired dress, specifically princess Jasmine. “I got it for a heck of a deal! It was the sample dress but still in really good condition and 75% off,” she said. A dress is unlikely to be in perfect condition after walking around Central Park in it for several hours, so a sample dress sounds perfect to me for this situation. Denise’s dress was purchased from a local bridal/prom store in Indiana. Mike’s suit was from Jos A Bank and his tie was from Men’s Wearhouse.
Denise did her own hair and makeup, and she did great job in my opinion – if she’d had professional hair and makeup they would have had to be there really early! She carried silk flowers. “I picked the flowers and did the arrangement myself, it came out beautifully,” She told me. I always ask for restaurant recommendations, because I always get asked for them by clients! “Our experience at Ted’s Montana Grill was amazing! The food was really good and the service was top notch!” Denise said.
I asked how we did. “I feel like everything went really well! I’m very happy with the way things turned out. Everyone was wonderful and very friendly! The pictures were beautiful! What I’d hope they’d be. We were charged a very reasonable price for all the services we received!” said Denise. “15 out 10 overall experience,” she said.
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your story with us, Denise and Mike, it was a pleasure to plan your wedding with you! I wish you both the very best of luck for your future together! If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, whether you or are planning on traveling to New York to get married alone as this couple did, or bringing a group, visit our website. Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Instagram, follow us on Facebook, follow us on TikTok, and follow us on Pinterest.