Jenny and Billy came over to New York from their home in Norfolk to get married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in December. They met through a dating site in 2020. Jenny was 59 when they got married, and is originally from Norfolk and Billy was 54 and is from Glasgow. They got engaged in August of 2021, they moved in together that December, and they first contacted me in January of 2022, just under a year before their wedding date. Both Jenny and Billy have been married before, so they knew they wanted a small wedding. They had originally planned to get married close to home with a honeymoon in New York. Jenny happened to find my Wed in Central Park website while doing some research for the honeymoon, so they quickly changed their minds!
Jenny and Billy liked the idea of eloping since it made the day just about the two of them, they were able to get married somewhere truly beautiful and memorable and they got a holiday thrown in. Their only regret was they didn’t have close family present to witness the wedding and to celebrate with them in New York, but they plan to hold a celebration party in March with family and friends, so they don’t miss out on that side of things. We had a videographer capture the ceremony, which is a nice thing to do if you plan to have a party on your return home, because you can show that to everyone and they almost feel as if they were there!
I always ask couples if they had any worries in the run up to the wedding. “We had no concerns as Claire explained everything from the beginning and her help and guidance was superb,” said Jenny. Jenny and Billy stayed at the Riu Plaza Manhattan hotel on Times Square for seven nights. “It was the perfect location for us,” said Jenny.
We had the ceremony in the Ladies’ Pavilion. “We chose it because we thought the structure was beautiful and ideal in case weather was not kind on the day,” said Jenny. In the end, the weather was dry on their day. It was a bit windy, but it was also lovely and sunny. December weather in New York is very hard to predict and you really could get anything! We had a short introduction in the ceremony, and the officiant read the poem “The One.” I will put the poem at the end of this post. They exchanged traditional vows and also they repeated line by line some personal vows that were specific just to them. Then they exchanged the rings.
Jenny wore a berry colored dress purchased from bridal shop close to her home, with a white fur jacket and white satin shoes and bag. She did her own hair and makeup. Billy wore Pride of Scotland tartan formal dress, complete with kilt. Regular readers of this blog will know that I do appreciate a groom in a kilt. Jenny made the buttonhole and bouquet from white roses, tiny carnations and red thistle type flowers with ribbon matching Billy’s tartan. She added memorial charms of her mom and dad to her bouquet.
After the ceremony in the Ladies’ Pavilion, their photographer Jakub Redziniak took them around Central Park to take some portrait photos, and after he had left they stayed on a little, having passers-by take some more photos! “Our day was sunny and the leaves on the trees were multicoloured and with the backdrop of skyscrapers and the locations we stopped at this made our photos so beautiful,” said Jenny. After Central Park, they went over to the Rockefeller Centre and took photos by the famous tree, “the lights had been switched on the night before so looked beautiful,” said Jenny. Then they went up to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view (including of course the place where they get married, which you can see from there).
Jenny and Billy finished the day with a lovely meal at the Ocean Prime restaurant on 52nd Street. “The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and spoilt us all evening,” said Jenny. They allowed them to take their own cake in, complete with personalised topper and flowers. They got the cake from Juniors on 49th Street, which they highly recommend. Jenny says that if you’re considering eloping, not to worry about having anyone around to help because they found that passers-by and others were already ready to help them out, and they were awash with best wishes and compliments all day, so they felt very special.
I asked how we did. “Everything went perfectly on the day and we are so glad we found Claire. We couldn’t ask for anything better or improve on anything,” Jenny said. I always ask couples if they have any advice for others considering doing what they did. “If you chose a winter wedding just be prepared for the weather,” said Jenny. I completely agree, and you can apply that advice to any season for an outdoor wedding!
Jenny’s other advice for anyone planned to get married in Central Park is to take a cruise to see the Statue of Liberty, see a show on Broadway and visit the Empire State Building while in town. Again, I completely agree. The views from the Top of the Rock are perhaps more striking, but the Empire State Building itself is legendary, as you learn so much about its fascinating history if you go inside and to the top. “Lastly, I cannot recommend Claire and Wed in Central Park more highly. She provided an excellent service so don’t be afraid to take the plunge and book with Claire – go on, do it, you know you want to. You won’t be disappointed,” Jenny said. I agree; go on, do it! 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 poem “The One”
When the one whose hand you’re holding
Is the one who holds your heart
When the one whose eyes you gaze into
Gives your hopes and dreams their start
When the one you think of first and last
Is the one who holds you tight
And the things you plan together
Make the whole world seem right
When the one whom you believe in
Puts their faith and trust in you
You’ve found the one and only love
You’ll share your whole life through.
