If I had a dollar for every time I told someone that their wedding day is their day and they should do it just how they want it I’d have quite a few dollars! But, if you’re planning have a destination wedding and to invite a group of people to travel a long way to see you get married then it’s certainly worth the effort to make the whole thing and fun and memorable event for them too.
Such a lot of our couples getting married in Central Park have been to New York before. Many of them have gotten engaged in Central Park, which I really love. They want to come back to this city that means so much to them and to show it to their loved ones. If you are asking your nearest and dearest to fly to New York to celebrate your love then it’s only fair to make the trip as good as it can possibly be for all involved. Many of our couples tell me that they love travel, and it’s often a surprise to those of us who do, that not everyone has a great appetite for travel, so it may be that some of your guests may need more help than others.
Many of our couples choose to elope to avoid the stress that guests can bring. More people will involve more effort and that’s just a fact. To begin with, you need to settle on a date. Of course one option is to just choose a date that work for you and hope that others can make it, but if there are special people that you really want to be there, then there has to be some consultation beforehand. With some of our groups, we find that guests may take the opportunity to see anther part of the US either before or after NYC, and not everyone flies in at the same time or indeed from the same place, so that will take some organising.
Once you have an idea of how many people want to come and when you’ll be traveling, and also where you might be staying, then it’s time to think about money. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to destination weddings, but it is generally assumed that guests will pay their own travel expenses and accommodation but they don’t pay for anything on the day of the wedding. So, what you do on the day is on you! And of course it’s helpful if you can do things to keep the budget down for the travel expenses.
Some hotels offer a block booking discount, so that’s worth looking in to once you have an idea of numbers. Even if you don’t spend every day together as a group, it might be nice to breakfast together and to end the day in the bar together, so staying in the same hotel can help to bring a group together if you think people will want to do their own thing throughout the trip. On the other hand, you might want the whole trip to be your wedding celebration – you might want to show your loved ones this incredible city. Perhaps take people out for a mini hen / bachelorette and stag / bachelor party in the days before the wedding.
Talk to your loved ones in the run-up to the trip about New York and what they (and you) would like to do there. This is all part of the fun – the planning. I truly believe that there is something for everyone in New York, and if you want to bring friends and family to this city then it’s worth taking the time to make sure they enjoy it.
All of our weddings are different, some couples have the group show up to Central Park, hold the ceremony, let them all go off to do their own thing for a short time while the couple take portrait photos, and then meet up with them again for the reception. Some have a more structured plan for the day – perhaps each side of the family will breakfast together, then the wedding in Central Park, followed by some transport that takes them on the tour of the city, all together, before finishing up in a bar.
So many of our couples tell us that their guests love New York and Central Park. I think it’s very easy to be impressed by Central Park, it’s one of my favorite places in the world, but then I’ve been planning weddings here for twelve years. But there’s no harm in showing your guests a little extra – perhaps a vintage trolley bus tour around midtown, or over to Brooklyn, or an open topped bus tour, or drinks at one of the fancy hotels on Central Park south or at a rooftop bar. Think about your group, and I can usually help with suggestions that might suit a wide range of people from different generations. Some of our couples are taking their guests to one of the many viewing platforms with stunning views of the city – now that will make for a memorable destination wedding!
Depending on the time of year, and what else you want to do during the day, it may be better to get married earlier in the day or later, so that’s another thing to consider – and take into account what your guests may prefer. Sunset times for the day may also affect your plans, because that affects views, something that many people come to New York for.
Some of our couples bring friends with them to New York to celebrate with them. Things are very likely to be easier with friends – they’re a similar age, they will probably like similar things. If you’re bringing family then they come with the complication of different generations. Their might be children to think about and perhaps older people with mobility issues – or just a need to rest more! Their needs should be taken into account. Check in with them beforehand and make sure that everyone has a realistic idea of what to expect, then they can prepare.
I wrote another post with some tips for bringing a group to New York a while back, and another one about making everything easier on your guests a few years ago, and this is just an update of those in a way. 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. I’d love to hear out-of-the-ordinary suggestions from anyone else about what to do if you’re getting married in New York – either for an elopement or for a small group.