Perline and Kwame got married in Cop Cot in July. Technically, they are New Yorkers, They live in New Jersey now, but they are from Queens in New York City originally, and many of their family and friends still live there. Perline was 30 and Kwame 32 when they got married.
Perline and Kwame knew each other in high school, but their lives took different paths for some years after leaving school. They had been a couple for around two years before they got married. They knew pretty much straight away that they were meant for each other, though. “Getting married has always been important to both of us,” said Perline. “We had been discussing marriage at about one year in. It was more a matter of when rather than if it would happen,” she explained.
Kwame had proposed in their apartment, just the two of them. “It was a private and precious moment,” Perline told me. “We are best friends above all else, getting married pretty much sealed the deal for us,” she said.
They did consider other wedding locations, in particular, they gave some consideration to a rooftop venue in Brooklyn. But they were looking for an option with a stress-free, easy package. They were looking for someone like me who will supply all the people needed to make the wedding happen. Perline and I went back and forth a lot, discussing location options and timings and so on, and the barebones venue option they had been looking at would not have delivered that kind of service.
I asked Perline if they had any regrets about not having had a traditional wedding. “Absolutely none!” she said. She told me that she also thinks the non-traditional option is becoming more popular “people are doing what they want nowadays,” she said. I certainly hope so!
So, they found me in March of this year, and originally they were considering getting married in the Spring of next year, but then they decided to just do it and get married this summer! I asked why they chose Central Park. “It’s so iconic!” said Perline.
We discussed the location options and they decided on Cop Cot fairly quickly. It’s big, it has seating and it’s easy to find, what’s not to like! Perline said that they did have some concerns about privacy, getting married in a public park and all, “but everyone was super respectful during the ceremony,” she said.
Because they live in Jersey now, Perline and Kwame decided to stay at the Empire Hotel, which is very close to Central Park. They stayed there for three days. In the run-up to the wedding, the weather forecast was for rain on the afternoon of their wedding day. We discussed moving the ceremony location to underneath Bethesda Terrace but in the end, they were brave and decided to stick with the location they really wanted, Cop Cot, and hope the rain would stay away.
They were very happy to have chosen Cop Cot for the ceremony location. And the rain did stay away! Perline arrived with her mom and they walked up the short hill together from the street. Her mom gave her away. “The ceremony was nothing short of amazing,” said Perline. We had the officiant thank all the most important people in their lives, and then talk about their relationship to date and their hopes for the future. Then, Perline and Kwame exchanged traditional vows before reading out some personal vows that they had prepared in advance.
Their guests were family and close friends, Perline said that their guests had said how beautiful it all was. Perline’s ivory gown was a custom piece, and Kwame’s gray suit was purchased from Suit Supply. Perline carried a bouquet of artificial flowers, and did her own hair and makeup.
After the ceremony and group photos at Cop Cot, the two of them went with our photographer to Bethesda Terrace to take some portrait photos. I asked where their favorite photos had been taken after they event and Perline said they were the ones at both Cop Cot and Bethesda Terrace. “These are beautiful locations, especially Cop Cot and the lush greenery,” she said. After their time in the park, they went to dinner at Victor’s Café, a Cuban restaurant in midtown, they said it was fantastic.
I asked Perline if she had any advice for any couples considering do what they did and getting married in Central Park. “Do it!” she said. I couldn’t agree more! I asked her how we did. Wed in Central Park was truly amazing! I’d highly recommend,” she said.
If you would like me to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding or elopement, whether you live locally or are planning on traveling to New York to get married, 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.
