Kelly and Claire visited New York with Kelly’s daughter, Keira from their home in Hampshire, England. The intimate wedding took place in the Ladies’ Pavilion on a Sunday in May.
They were both 44 when they got married. They had met on an online dating app in 2020. They were living in cities that were a two hour drive away. When you know, you know, and 2020 was an unusual year, so Claire moved in with Kelly and her daughter within just a few months.
In April of 2022, Kelly got down on one knee and asked Claire to marry her in a small village called Ramsbury, which is where they had had their first date. Once engaged, they considered a large wedding in Ramsbury with family and friends. “We eventually decided that this wasn’t what we really wanted and both agreed that a small intimate ceremony would suit us better,” Claire told me. They already had a trip to New York booked and realised that they could combine getting married with the trip and still have a memorable and special ceremony.
They first contacted me in January of 2023, which is by far my busiest month for enquiries from new clients. They were excited about their trip to New York, but they are outdoorsy people. So, they liked the idea of getting married outdoors. “We thought we would like to get married somewhere leafy so Central Park seemed like the perfect place to do it,” said Claire. It really does offer he best of both worlds – a peaceful place to make these important promises, right in the heart of a vibrant city with incredible places to celebrate in.
I asked them if they had any regrets about their decision not to have a “traditional” wedding closer to home, “No, we are delighted with the decision we made. The day was perfect and we wouldn’t have changed a thing,” said Claire. She also told me that when they discussed their plans with family and friends they were surprised with how many people commented on what a good idea it was. “Some people even said that although they had enjoyed their own weddings, they wished that they had done something similar,” said Claire. I’m sure they will hear this a lot in future, too, because I certainly do!
I always ask couples if they had any concerns about getting married in New York. Mostly, they say the weather. Claire and Kelly had bigger worries. “Only getting mugged!” Claire said. “Everyone kept saying don’t leave anything lying around,” she told me. “To be honest, we didn’t feel unsafe or at risk at any stage,” she said. I’m glad to hear it! I wouldn’t advise leaving a bag unattended anywhere, including New York.
The three of them had bought their dresses in England and carefully carried them in their hand luggage. Here’s my advice on bringing wedding attire on the plan to the US. Their flowers were obtained from a florist close to the hotel, the day before the ceremony. They just found the florist once they’d got to New York, and they were really happy with their bouquets. The three of them stayed in the Hilton Midtown hotel. They stayed for four nights, “which was just the right amount of time,” they told me.
They held the ceremony in the Ladies’ Pavilion. “The ceremony was incredible, we loved the location, the officiant was lovely and the back drop was superb,” Claire said. “We wished it had lasted longer,” she added. We had written a brief introduction with a big thanks to their guest of honor, Kelly’s daughter, Keira. Then we briefly outlined their relationship to date. They exchanged both traditional vows, then some they had written especially for each other, before the ring exchange for the grand finale.
After the ceremony and photos in Central Park, they popped back to the hotel to change their footwear to something more comfortable. They kept their gorgeous wedding gowns on, though, and visited some of the sights of New York in their wedding attire. They visited Grand Central to take some pictures and from there visited The Summit, which is nearby. That evening they ate at Club A Steakhouse. They would highly recommend all of these places.
I asked them how we did. “The ceremony and our day was perfect. Wed in Central Park were far more organised than we were! They had all arrangements down to a T and everything ran like clockwork,” she said. Well, that’s why you hired us! I consider it my job to ask enough questions to find out what a couple need form their special day and then make sure it is delivered. “We couldn’t have wished for a nicer officiant or better photographer and are so pleased with the service we received from Wed in Central Park. Thank you so much,” Claire said.
Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your story, Kelly and Claire. It was an absolute pleasure planning your wedding with you both. I wish you and Keira the best of luck for your future. If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, either a large affair or a small and intimate one like theirs, 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.
