October is a lovely time of year to get married in Central Park and it might actually be our most popular month for weddings (although May could also be our most popular month!). This is the start of Fall in New York. At the start of the month the trees are mostly still green, but by the end of the month, many leaves have started to change color or fall from the trees, although by no means all of them!
All the greenery that has been growing over the summer will mostly still be there in October. So, Cop Cot will still have a green and fairly lush cover, trees will still have most of their leaves and all the lawns will still look great. Expect a smattering of golden leaves on the ground over the lawns and the Mall, although the park is kept very tidy by its many staff.
The days start to shorten in October. Sunrise happens at around 7am at the beginning of the month and around 8am by the end of the month. The sun sets around 6:30pm at the beginning of the month and around 6pm by the end of the month. There’s always a risk of rain when getting married outdoors, although it’s a fairly low risk in New York at this time of year.
We have done many weddings in October with very sunny days. Often guests and couples are surprised by the lovely weather we see in New York in October. Though the sun will often be bright, making photos beautiful, the temperature will be starting to drop at this time of year, so keep that in mind when deciding what to wear and what to do on you wedding day.
There are two major holidays in October to be aware of. The couple must pick up their marriage license in advance of their wedding. They must have it at least 24 hours in advance of the ceremony. City Hall will also be closed on Columbus Day, which is observed on the second Monday in October, so keep that in mind when making plans to pick up your license. The other holiday does not affect City Hall opening, but it does affect almost everything else in New York – it is Halloween. All of the bars and restaurants will be decorated for Halloween and there will be a huge parade through the city that evening.
