So, you’re considering getting married in Central Park in the summertime. New York sees quite extreme temperatures, and it gets very cold in the winter and very hot and humid in the summer. And, because Manhattan is an island, it does see some unusual rain storms. But Central Park is beautiful in the summer time! The flowers are all blooming, the gardens are stunning and the greenery is lovely. Actually, Central Park is the best place to be in Manhattan when it’s really hot; because the concrete warms up and just throws the heat back out, being on lawns and among trees will actually keep you cool.
High summer is a lovely time of year to get married in Central Park. Trust me, I got married on July 1st. Every year we celebrate our anniversary in good weather, so keep in mind the many anniversary celebrations you have to look forward to when choosing your wedding date. Summer is a busy time for weddings in Central Park. This is when many people take their yearly vacation, and it is a good time to get people together if you’re having guests at your wedding. This time of year also offers the wider choice of honeymoon destinations.
When it comes to choosing a bride’s dress, you will have a vast choice of gowns and know that you won’t be cold on your wedding day. Grooms may want to choose a suit that they will be cool in. If you get married and take photos when the sun is high and bright then your photographer won’t be able to get the best pictures of you. Light is good for photos, but very bright sunlight makes things very difficult. So, you may want to get married in the morning, or later in the afternoon. It is quite popular to start a wedding ceremony between 1pm and 3pm, but this is about the time when the sun is strongest, so photos will be the least flattering. These warmer months are the ideal time for a sunset wedding.
Think carefully about where you want to have your ceremony. There are some spots in Central Park which have stunning vistas, such as Bow Bridge or Gapstow Bridge, but getting married out in the open in the bright sun might not be a great idea. If the sun is high and bright then you will be squinting. The lesser-known Dene Summer House, or popular Cop Cot and the Wisteria Pergola in the Conservatory Gardens will be covered in lush foliage by the end of the summer, so these areas have a lovely, dappled shade. If you want complete cover from the sun, or any rain that you might be worried about, then go for somewhere with a roof, such as the Ladies’ Pavilion or underneath Bethesda Terrace. Belvedere Castle will be a lovely wedding ceremony location in the summer, affording views of turtle pond (which will be full of turtles in the summer), and out over the lovely green park, and is close to the Shakespeare Garden, which will be full of flowers and butterflies at this time of year.
There is lots to do in New York during the summer time, and also in Central Park. Be aware of holidays and parades around this time, since you may want to join in or avoid them! The Central Park Carousel is open during summer months, and the boats go out on the lake at this time, too, so these are nice options to consider after a wedding while still in Central Park.
New York offers a wide choice of restaurants and bars with outdoor space, and the warmer months are when you can truly appreciate them. The view from a rooftop bar will be stunning at any time of year, but in the summer, you can feel fairly confident that you won’t be freezing cold if you go several floors up!
If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, whatever the time of year, visit our website, or “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest where we pin all things New York or wedding-related.
