Franchesca and Andrew got married at Wagner Cove, beside Central Park Lake in October. They brought over their close family from Dallas and San Diego to New York for the wedding. They said they wanted to be married because it symbolizes their lifelong commitment to each other, “for the life we will be building together, for our future kids,” Franchesca told me. Franchesca was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the US in 2015 and was 31 years old when they got married. Andrew was born and raised in Texas and was 40 years old. They met briefly through their work, where their roles overlapped. Franchesca trained Andrew for a short period, and they worked together a little for a while. They stayed in touch as friends and that friendship slowly grew into something more. “We officially became a couple in 2023, got engaged in 2024, and were married in 2025,” Franchesca told me.
They originally planned a big wedding close to home in Texas, “but the costs added up quickly,” Franchesca said. “Instead, we decided to celebrate in our favorite city – New York, even though we’re not from there,” she explained. At first, they planned to elope and get married at City Hall, and here’s my views on the pros and cons of getting married at City Hall versus in lovely, peaceful, beautiful Central Park (OK, I’m biased!). “But at the very last minute, we chose Central Park… and we’re so glad we did,” she said. “Big weddings are beautiful, but they can get expensive fast,” Franchesca said. “Elopements and small weddings are becoming more popular because they can be elegant, personal, and meaningful without breaking the bank,” she told me. “It all comes down to finding the right vendors who understand your vision and fit your budget,” she said. I couldn’t agree more.
Franchesca contacted me just two weeks before the wedding. They had begun planning everything themselves, and had a photographer booked and a marriage license secured. They wanted me to arrange a New York registered officiant, to write the ceremony for them, and to generally provide some guidance for the last part of the planning. They also thought they might want me to organize a musician for them, but in the end decided against it. “I found you on Instagram and saw so many positive reviews from other brides!” Franchesca said. I asked why they chose Central Park for their wedding. Franchesca told me that they are fans of the show Gossip Girl, so they may have gotten some inspiration from that. “Central Park is iconic, romantic, and unbelievably scenic,” she added.
Although Franchesca and Andrew loved the scene with the wedding underneath Bethesda Terrace in Gossip Girl, they didn’t want to get married there themselves. Some of their favorite photos were taken there, though. “It’s so iconic, and my husband and I are huge Gossip Girl fans, so it felt surreal to take photos there,” Franchesca told me. Instead, they chose to hold their ceremony in a spot very close by, but much more private. “Our ceremony was at Wagner Cove. Such a peaceful, romantic spot,” Franchesca said. She said that her biggest concern had been finding the right photographer, “someone with the aesthetic I wanted who still fit within our budget,” she said. They had done that before we were in contact. The couple had booked Magalie Lafleur for their photography. I’m more than happy for our couples to handle choosing any vendors themselves, for whatever reason. Franchesca carried a simple, white bouquet. Her mom, sister, and a family friend went to Trader Joe’s the day before the wedding and made the bouquet themselves. For the ceremony, we had the officiant talk a little about their relationship to date, then Franchesca and Andrew exchanged traditional vows. Then they exchanged personal vows that they had written for each other, before exchanging rings, which we brought to them by their niece and nephew. After the ceremony, their photographer took some photos at Bethesda Terrace, which is a short distance from Wagner Cove. They held a reception lunch at Ci Siamo. “The food was incredible, the open bar was a hit, and the patio views were beautiful,” Franchesca told me.
Franchesca and Andrew said that they had no regrets at all to abandon their plans to get married in Texas and fly their family out to New York instead. “Our families flew with us from Dallas and San Diego to New York, and we had the best week ever,” Franchesca said. The group stayed in New York for six days at the Marriott Hotel Downtown. Lots of couples tell me that with a destination wedding the whole trip becomes the celebration, and it’s a truly memorable one with the chance to spend quality time with all of your guests. “It was intimate, beautiful, and unforgettable,” she said.
I asked if they had any thoughts they would share with other considering doing something similar to them. “Getting married in Central Park was one of the best decisions we made. It was intimate, romantic, and everything we hoped for. It was a really dream come true for both of us!” Franchesca said. I asked how we did. “The fact that I contacted Wed in Central Park less than two weeks before our wedding and still pulled everything together flawlessly says it all. You truly know what you’re doing, and helped us make our dream New York wedding come true,” she said. Thanks so much for your kind words, and for sharing your story, Franchesca and Andrew, and I wish you both the very best of luck for the future. If you would like me to help you with your own Central Park wedding, whether want to celebrate in New York with family as this couple did, or eloping alone, visit our website. I think most of our out-of-state US couples come from Texas! 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.
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