Kristina and Christopher got married under a tree that is special to them at the south end of Central Park at the end of December. Kristina is 33 and Christopher is 30 years old. They’re both from Germany and had been together for just over three years when they got married.
The couple first met at a Christmas market in Hamburg. “We were both pretty new to the city and hardly knew anyone there because we had just moved there to start our PhD studies,” they told me. They discovered that they were both vegan (luckily there was a stall at the Christmas market that sold delicious vegan churros) so they decided to explore the city and its many vegan cafes and restaurants together. They share an interest in independent cinema and music, too, so they quickly found that they had lots and lots to talk about.
The previous year, Kristina had been working in France and Christopher was working in the US, and Kristina visited the US to see Christopher. On that trip they visited New York together. During that vacation they were walking through Central Park and they loved it. “We were completely amazed by the calm you can find there – which is surprising considering that it’s right in the center of one of the most exciting cities of the world,” they told me. I completely agree.
During their visit to Central Park on that trip, it started pouring down with rain. They took shelter under a tree, quite close to the Pond and Gapstow Bridge. They stayed there together for about half an hour and they passed the time admiring the city in the rain. “Normally sudden rain is very annoying when you were planning for a day outside but the park and the city in the background looked so beautiful in the rain,” they said. So, when they were ready to get married, they immediately thought of Central Park, and that tree.
Kristina and Christopher first contacted me on December 3rd to enquire about our availability for their December 27th wedding. They both knew that they never wanted a big wedding. They told me that they wanted to hold the ceremony under that very tree where they had sheltered on that previous trip to New York.
They told me that they were in close contact with their family and friends throughout their wedding day. “We both loved our experience because it allowed us to really focus on each other on our wedding day,” they told me. They admitted that it would have been nice to have them around, but they wouldn’t have enjoyed a big wedding. They felt that everyone who was important to them was very involved and excited for them but in the end they were able to focus on just each other for the ceremony.
I asked if they had any advice for anyone else considering doing what they had done. “We highly recommend it, it was an unforgettable experience we will always cherish,” they said. “The location is just beautiful and guarantees incredible wedding photos!” they added.
As with many of our couples, Christopher was a bit concerned about the weather in the run-up to the wedding. That tree had provided the both shelter from the rain previously when it had leaves on it. We knew that there wouldn’t be any leaves in December! In the end there was a light drizzle that started just after the ceremony but they said that they didn’t mind that at all. “It was even quite fitting considering our first Central Park experience that made us choose the location in the first place,” Kristina said.
The couple stayed at the Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue for three days. “It was a very nice hotel that gave us a ‘60s in New York’ vibe and the location was perfect,” Kristina said.
Before the ceremony, our photographer took some photos of the couple on the street, and afterwards, they focused on taking portrait photos round the south end of the park. Kristina and Christopher really like the tall buildings that are in that area, so they wanted them as the backdrop to many of their photos – they like the contrast of the park with the iconic skyline. “It’s difficult to say which locations were our favorites for photos because they were all very different and very special,” they said. One place they really loved was Cats Rock, which I had suggested as a photo location once they’d told me about their preference for this backdrop – it’s a great spot for that skyline! “It gives you a really nice view of the park and the city rising behind the trees. We are extremely grateful to Claire who suggested this place to us!” said Kristina.
They told me that they were having some lyrics from a song that is important to them both engraved in their wedding rings. They have the line “However far away” from the song Lovesong by The Cure engraved because their jobs require some travel. So, in the past their relationship has stood up to the pressure of taking time apart every now and then, and they expect that may continue in the future. I checked and found that the song isn’t too long, so we decided to have the officiant read the whole song lyrics out as part of the ceremony. I’ll put the lyrics at the end of this blog post.
Kristina and Christopher did not invite any guests, because much of their friends and family are in Germany, and we had planned the wedding in under a month. “That does not mean though that we did not have an audience,” Kristina said. “By the end of the ceremony we realized that a large number of people had gathered around us as they were passing by and stopped to watch our ceremony,” she told me. Some of our couples choose more hidden-away locations than others. Kristina and Christopher’s tree (as it shall be forever known to us at Wed in Central Park) was right beside a footpath. When they were pronounced married and asked to kiss, everyone cheered, applauded and congratulated them. “We were very touched by how happy everyone was for us even though we were just strangers to them. It was a really special moment!” she told me.
Kristina carried a small dried flower bouquet from Honey and the Moon and a dried flower crown from Mason and Harlow. Both are Massachusetts-based small businesses that she would recommend. She liked having dried flowers because then she could keep them as a souvenir afterwards. After the ceremony, they took some photos around the Pond and Gapstow Bridge area and then walked the short distance up to Cats Rock, and their photographer left them after that.
On the evening of their wedding, they went to Delice and Sarrasin, a French vegan restaurant in Greenwich Village that Kristina and Christopher tell me they loved, and is popular among meat-eaters as well as vegans. They had planned to visit the Empire State Building after dinner, but it was too foggy. They wouldn’t have seen very much if they visited that night, so they decided to do that when they next come to New York. Instead, they took a very long walk and went to an Irish Pub where they happened to meet a couple from Croatia who has also just got married and were in New York on their honeymoon.
I asked how we did. “We were nothing but happy with the service! Claire was a tremendous help in organizing everything last minute and after a few emails she immediately understood exactly what we were looking for,” they said. “We had a fantastic photographer and he was just such a great person to be around. Our officiant was so sweet and the ceremony went absolutely smoothly. The day exceeded our expectations!”
Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your story with us, Kristina and Christopher I wish you both lots of luck for your future together. If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you can give us lots of notice or want to plan it in under a month, 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.
Lovesong by The Cure
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again
However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again
However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you
