I have been running this business, planning weddings in Central Park for eloping couples since 2012. Since then, I’ve had so many couples tell me that they want to elope to New York City. Some people would still consider their wedding an elopement with a small group of under ten guests in attendance, some don’t think it’s an elopement unless it’s just the two of you. There are plenty of options for a couple who wants to elope – a castle, a beach, a canyon, a hilltop, and so on. But if none of these places appeal to you and you’ve decided that you want to elope to get married in an urban environment – a city elopement – then which city is the best city to elope to?
Of course my views are very biased on this, but I’m going to argue the case that New York City is easily the best city to elope to. The whole point of eloping is that the wedding is about the two of you, though, so it doesn’t really matter what I think, or what anyone else thinks. But which other city in the world can cater to absolutely any interest – culture, music, sports, Broadway shows, history, and of course so many bars and restaurants? So, if you’re planning to bring some close friends or family with you to celebrate your wedding, then there’s sure to be something about NYC that will appeal to them.
It’s pretty easy to get married in New York, for a visitor. Lots of European countries require a couple to be in the country for a long time before they can get married there. There’s no restriction like this in the USA. You can arrive in New York, go straight to City Hall from the airport and pick up your married license. The only time restriction is that you must wait 24 hours after getting the license before you get married. Here’s what you need to know about getting your marriage license from New York City Hall. You will need a NY registered officiant to perform the wedding, and at least one adult witness (who could be your photographer) and then send the license back to City Hall, and for many countries, that’s all you need to do to make your marriage legally binding.
If you’re a visitor to New York City then you’ve got to get here. There are flights to JFK and to Newark from just about everywhere. And hotels? There are lots to choose from in New York! The cost of hotels is likely to be similar most very large cities – you can go really fancy and spend a lot, but there are lower budget options everywhere. Many of our eloping couples tell me that the trip is wedding and honeymoon in one. Some couples stay in New York after their wedding and continue the sightseeing and fun, or they fly off to another spot in the US to have their honeymoon.
OK, a wedding shouldn’t be all about the photos. But especially when it come to elopements (because nobody is there in person to see how incredible you look!) it is at least partly about the photos. I specialize in weddings in Central Park, which is unarguably very photogenic. There is greenery, flowers, trees, lakes and bridges, all with the backdrop of the iconic tall buildings of Manhattan in the distance. Most of our eloping couples have lots of photos taken in Central Park, but many also want to have photos taken in some of the other awesome locations in New York. There are iconic landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, and Grand Central that couples want to be photographed with. And there are just so many lesser-known but classically iconic NYC spots throughout the city that we can suggest. Lots of couples like to go to one of the viewing platforms, such as the Top of the Rock, or to the Brooklyn waterfront to take photos of the skyline there. The possibilities for a unique photoshoot in NYC are truly limitless!
Whether it’s just the two of you looking for a romantic evening, or a small group; there are so many bars and restaurants to choose from. New York has romantic cocktail bars and rooftop bars with incredible views. If you’re part of a group there are fun, busy bars with entertainment and music. And when it comes to food – the world really is your oyster in NYC.
When it comes to the weather, it depends on what time of year you visit. New York gets cold in the Winter, and you may see some snow. The Spring is lovely, and brings cherry blossoms to Central Park. Summer is hot and humid in New York, but Central Park is always the coolest place in Manhattan because of all the grass and trees. Central Park in the Fall is stunning, as the leaves change color on the trees. So, you can take your pick, depending on your personal taste. New York City is world-famous for it’s 24/7 culture. It’s the city that never sleeps, of course. It’s the Big Apple, it’s so good they named it twice. “New York is not a city, it’s a world” as Truman Capote said.
I truly believe that your wedding should be about what you want and I hope this blog post has raised some points to consider that will be helpful in making a decision if you’re trying to choose between New York or some other city that’s not as exciting, not as chic, not as romantic and that won’t give you such iconic photos as New York will for your elopement! Soon I’ll be posting an equally biased post discussing whether Central Park is the best place in New York for an elopement wedding (spoiler: of course it is!). If you would like me to help you with your own Central Park wedding, visit our website. Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest.
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