Jacqueline and Jonathan, who live in Brooklyn, got married at Wagner Cove in August. They first contacted me in June, and were considering having their wedding at Bethesda Terrace at that time. When they first contacted me, the Central Park Conservancy still weren’t issuing permits for weddings, after stopping due to Covid 19 restrictions back in March. We had to wait for permit applications to open up again, although since they had no guests, they weren’t strictly required to have one. Actually, they were planning on having just one guest at their wedding – their dog – but in the end they didn’t bring him.
Due to Covid 19 couples cannot just go to City Hall to pick up their license for the time being, they need to make an appointment. Jackie and Jon already had their appointment, and their photographers ready, they just needed me to make the wedding happen.
Jacqueline and Jonathan had been together for five years when they got married. They met through Instagram. Jacqueline had seen Jonathan around in real life for quite some time, and decided to reach out through social media, “and I am forever grateful that I had the courage to do so,” Jacqueline said.
They had been together for four years when they got engaged. Jonathan proposed in Montreal under the famous Ferris wheel. It was the day before their anniversary! “I was caught completely off guard,” Jacqueline said. They got married one year and one day later – this time on their anniversary!
Like so many couples this year, they had big plans for their wedding that they had to cancel. They had planned to get married in Amsterdam and then would have gone on to Paris and the French Riviera for their honeymoon. Covid 19 ruined their plans, just as it ruined lots of other couples’ plans this year, “but our day was just as special regardless of the circumstances,” Jacqueline told me.
Their plan was to elope just the two of them anyway, so they were happy to have this sort of elopement closer to home, it suited them. “It was just us. We wanted it to be romantic and intimate. It was a wonderful choice,” she told me. “So much less stress and so very intimate” Jacqueline said. I asked Jacqueline if she had any regrets about not having a big “traditional” wedding. “ABSOLUTELY not. I’d do it all over in a heartbeat,” she said.
I asked if they had had any concerns about getting married in Central Park or New York? And, just like many other couples marrying outdoors, their only worry was the weather. We kept the ceremony short and sweet, “it was perfect for us,” said Jacqueline. Then their photographers Dream Street Photography took them around Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace for photos. Since they had no guests, their photographers were their witnesses.
Jacqueline wore a vintage style lace ivory gown with buttons all down the back from David’s Bridal and Jonathan wore a gray suit with white tie and white shirt. Jacqueline carried an eighteen rose red bouquet, “it was to die for!” she said. After the wedding they went to nearby Crystal Springs Resort for a minimoon.
I asked Jacqueline how we did. “Wed in Central Park was fantastic. Highly recommend their services,” she said. 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.