Tanya and Wayne traveled from their home in Australia to New York in September for their wedding in Central Park. They had been together for six years when they got married.
The couple met through playing baseball at their local winter club. Their friendship grew slowly over the paths of the game. Several years after meeting, both of their relationships ended, their friendship grew stronger, and they eventually started dating.
We held the ceremony in the Ladies’ Pavilion. They knew from the very start of our planning process that was where they wanted to get married, but they had Wagner Cove as their second choice if it turned out that the Ladies’ Pavilion wasn’t available when it came to making our permit application. They were getting married on a Tuesday, though, which isn’t too busy for weddings, so we were able to secure their first choice.
I always advise that we get an event permit, even for a small group and even on a weekday. I’m glad that I did this time for Tanya and Wayne. They told me that when they got there, another couple was there hoping to get married, but of course they did not have a permit for this timeslot. So their celebrant asked them to wait for the short time it took for Tanya and Wayne to get married.
They had six guests to witness the wedding, two of whom were Wayne’s sons. They told me that the major drawback of getting married so far from home was that they couldn’t have all of their loved ones with them to witness their wedding. They were certainly thinking of their families back in Australia on the day, and they made a video so that they could share their wedding with them on their return home as best as the situation would allow.
Many of our couples agree that not having everyone they love there to witness the wedding is the main drawback. Many also agree with Tanya and Wayne that the benefits of getting married in New York do outweigh the downsides. “This trip to New York was a once in a lifetime and that makes it even more of a unique wedding,” Wayne said.
The whole group arrived together to Central Park for the wedding, but the guests and groom walked down to the Ladies’ Pavilion first while the bride hung back. Then she could walk down the pathway to the Ladies’ Pavilion alone to make her entrance. We had the officiant talk a little about their relationship to date as introduction to the ceremony. Then Tanya and Wayne exchanged traditional vows before they exchanged rings.
We had both a photographer and videographer there to capture the ceremony. “The photographer and videographer were really great,” Tanya said. She also told me that our videographer happened to spot the French President’s wife hanging out nearby while the wedding took place. “She wished us both congratulations and said how stunning my dress looked,” Tanya told me. Our videographer always creates a fully edited video of the ceremony with sound, and also a highlight reel set to music of the couples’ choosing. Tanya and Wayne chose “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young for their highlight reel.
After Tanya and Wayne signed the license with the officiant and two adult witnesses, the photographer took the Tanya and Wayne, and Wayne’s two sons to Bethesda Terrace to take some portrait photos together. They had a very sunny day in New York, as we often do in mid September, which is why this is one of the most popular months for weddings for us, along with May. “The weather was just right. Not too hot and was just stunning, Tanya said.
Tanya and Wayne got married in the late morning, so were able to go off for lunch afterwards and then the day was their to continue exploring New York together. I asked how we did. “The day went so smoothly and couldn’t fault anything,” Tanya said. “Thank you Claire for organising our special day. It turned out really good – everything was so smooth,” she said.
If you would like me to help you with your own Central Park wedding, whether you’re visiting New York from as far away as Australia, or if you live locally, visit our website. Keep updated with our news and see lots of beautiful photos, follow us on Instagram, follow us on Facebook, follow us on TikTok, and follow us on Pinterest.
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