Haley and Zachary got married on a sunny day in November at Wagner Cove. They met at a concert in Nashville, Tennessee. They had been together for six years on the date of their wedding.
Haley and Zachary had gotten engaged in 2019 at Harry Potter World at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. Zachary proposed in front of Hogwarts Castle. Of course Haley said yes! “Getting married was more so of a no-brainer situation for us,” Haley told me. “We knew we would marry each other eventually,” she said. They got married in 2021, as Covid restrictions were easing, but it was still a factor to many when planning their wedding. “We considered locations closer to family, or even out of the country, but chose not to travel too far because of Covid 19,” said Haley.
Initially, Haley and Zachary had thought that they might want to have a ceremony rehearsal in Central Park in advance of the real wedding. Once we had gone down some of the planning process, however, they were feeling more confident that they didn’t need to do this, and they decide to have a rehearsal over the phone with our officiant instead. Due to time constraints and travel we have to charge for an in-person rehearsal, but not for doing it over the phone.
Haley and Zachary got married on the Sunday afternoon, but were visiting New York City for a long weekend for the wedding. “We decided on Central Park because we both love New York City and have many memories there,” Haley told me. They decided to get married in Central Park to make some more memories!
I ask all of my couples if they had any regrets about not having a “traditional” wedding and Haley was firm on this. “I have absolutely no regrets,” she said. “I personally loved having a small wedding that involved a destination. They are easily becoming more popular post pandemic,” she said.
We had a violinist play at the ceremony. Haley walked down the steps to Wagner Cove with her uncle, who was giving her away, to I Will Follow You into the Dark Death Cab for Cutie. We kept the ceremony fairly short and straightforward. Haley and Zachary said the traditional vows to each other. Their officiant read from a portion of a letter that Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote to his secret love, which I’ll put at the end of this post.
Haley and Zachary had only very close family at the ceremony. “They thought it was so cool and beautiful to have been married in Central Park,” said Haley. I asked where their favorite photos were taken, and Haley said that their favorites were taken in Wagner Cove. Haley wore a custom lace sleeved wedding dress that had been her mother’s. She carried white and red roses in her bouquet. Haley did her hair and makeup herself.
After the ceremony, their photographer Jakub Redziniak took them for photographs in the area very near to where they had the ceremony – Cherry Hill, Bow Bridge, by the Lake, Bethesda Terrace and the Mall. Because Wagner Cove is in a very central location, they didn’t have to do too much walking and they were able to capture lots of photos of the lovely colors of the changing leaves. After their time in the park, they took their guests to a reception dinner.
I asked Haley if she had any thoughts to share with anyone who might be considering getting married in Central Park themselves. “All I have to say is, if you are thinking about getting married in Central Park, then do it. Get married in Central Park! You will not regret it!” she said. Of course I think this is excellent advice!
I asked Haley how we did. “I have nothing but great things to say about Wed in Central Park. Claire was very responsive and transparent throughout the whole process. Everything that we had discussed, happened exactly how I hoped it would,” she said. That’s great to hear, we have planned hundreds of weddings now and myself and the people I work with are pretty slick! “Claire was very professional, and took the stress completely off my shoulders by contacting everyone needed to make our special day happen. Thanks to Wed in Central Park, not only was my wedding more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, but it was also so stress free. I would recommend going through Wed in Central Park to anyone looking for a destination wedding, or elopement,” Haley said. Thanks so much for your kind words, and for sharing your story with us!
If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you’re from near or far, visit our website. Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest.
The portion of a letter that Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote to his secret love that was read in Haley and Zachary’s ceremony:
My thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved.
I can live only wholly with you, or not at all.
Be calm, my life, my all.
Only by calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together.
Oh, continue to love me, never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.
Ever thine.
Ever mine.
Ever ours.
