New Yorkers LaShana and Mark renewed their marriage vows with us in the Ladies’ Pavilion in April. Though they are originally from New York, they now live in Texas, so they and their daughters traveled to NYC for their vow renewal.
They are a military couple who met when they were stationed overseas in Sicily in Italy. They got engaged in Chicago in 2004, and they got married in Jacksonville, North Carolina in April of 2006. So, being New Yorkers, they were excited to be holding their vow renewal in New York, with so many milestones for their relationship taking place in different states and different countries!
So, they started to look for places to renew their vows in their home state. They found us at Wed in Central Park and LaShana first contacted me in the August, eight months before the event. They chose the Ladies’ Pavilion, because they found it beautiful, but also because it provides some privacy. The plan was to hang out there with their guests after the ceremony for a little while. A lot of couples tell me that Central Park is a cost effective choice for a location compared to an indoor ceremony location and LaShana and Mark agreed.
They renewed their vows on their seventeenth wedding anniversary. Couples tend to wait for a round number – twentieth or thirtieth and so on, but “tomorrow is not promised,” said LaShana. “Over the last few years, we have all faced a pandemic showing us how short life can truly be,” she said. LaShana said she knows of several couples who have been renewing their vows recently and they felt like this was the right time for them. And now their vows are renewed, LaShana said, perhaps the two of them could take a solo trip to New York to celebrate their twentieth anniversary in a few years!
For this trip, the stayed at the Le Meridien Hotel, and that’s where we had the flowers delivered for the couple and their daughters to bring with them to the Park. LaShana, Mark and their two daughters met with our photographer before the ceremony to take some family photos in the Shakespeare Garden and close to the Ladies’ Pavilion. Part of the reason why they wanted to renew their marriage vows in Central Park was to take advantage of the stunning and iconic landscape for some photographs.
LaShana had worn a traditional wedding dress for their wedding ceremony, so she opted for a jumpsuit this time around. “Mark wore some cowboy boots and attire that brought some Texas style to New York City,” said LaShana. We arranged for the family’s beautiful flowers to be delivered to their hotel beforehand. “We had a variety of blush blooms that provided a hint of color but was not overwhelming in bright colors. We loved them,” LaShana told me.
The plan had been for the family to meet the photographer for photos at Bethesda Terrace beforehand, but due to traffic, they didn’t get to the park until later than planned. We had schedule the portrait photo session before the ceremony so that the group could spend some time together in the Ladies’ Pavilion after the ceremony so they had to finished with the photos in order to get to the ceremony on time. So, our photographer changed the plans quickly and took them to Oak Bridge and the Shakespeare Garden instead, which are lovely spots and a little more off-the beaten track. “It actually turned out wonderful with the time constraints,” LaShana said.
The ceremony was held in the Ladies’ Pavilion with around twenty-five guests. We had a violinist play background music for the guests while they waited for the family to arrive. Mark walked in first and greeted the guests, then their daughters followed by LaShana walked in to I Just Can’t Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson, played on the violin. We wrote an introduction with a poem and the story of LaShana and Mark’s relationship to date. They had traditional vows and re-exchanged their rings. We had worried a little that there might be some rain that day, but in the end luckily it held off for them.
After the ceremony in Central Park they all went on to their reception at Sarabeth’s on Central Park South. That evening they all went on to the 40/40 Club, a sports bar in Manhattan, to finish the night with drinks and dancing. I asked how we did. “The overall patience and assistance were a plus and greatly appreciated,” LaShana said. “Being out of state for planning, with your help and guidance we were able to successfully attain our preferred time, location, florist, musician, wedding officiant and photographer, which would have been impossible without you, we are immensely grateful!” she said.
It was an absolute pleasure to plan your vow renewal with you both, LaShana and Mark, and I wish you both continued happiness in your future. If you would like me to help you with planning your own vow renewal or wedding in Central Park, whether you live locally or are planning on traveling to New York, 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.
