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WEDDING CEREMONY LOCATIONS We conduct formal, traditional wedding ceremonies, and also informal, intimate elopements and private marriage ceremonies. We have performed weddings at many usual and unusual locations in New York, including on (and under) the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge (DUMBO), in roof gardens, civic gardens, botanical gardens, private homes, restaurants, museums, art galleries, lofts, event spaces, and even a barn. There are more discussions of wedding locations on ElopeNewYork.com
Gallery -- see a few more of our location pictures Weddings in Central Park:
There are many lovely locations in Central Park, including the Shakespeare Garden, the Bethesda Fountain (noisy in summer with breakdancers), Bow Bridge. Cherry Hill fountain, Hernshead, the Obelisk or the pavilion at the top of the Belvedere Castle You should BOOK some of these location, even if your party is small. (Avoid the Ladies Pavilion at Saturdays Apr - Oct from 11 - 6pm, because of an amplified singer nearby). Ladies Pavilion, Hernshead, Central Park
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PARK PERMITS
If the wedding is small, you may simply assemble, and hold the ceremony. However, "any event with more than twenty people
requires a permit from Parks", and you may also reserve a location even if you have less than 20 people.
The permit fee is $25. It may take approximately 21 to 30 days to process a permit application for
a special event, though you can now apply online. Permits are also required for
'formal' photo shoots (not family photos). You can download a permit from
the NYC parks website | |||||
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Brooklyn's Prospect Park
has many options,
including 'hidden' locations, where you will be relatively private. You will need a permit over 20 persons.
The Picnic House and the Boat House in
Prospect Park are nice for medium-size weddings (50-175). | ||||
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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, next to Prospect Park, is a private garden, like the NY Conservatory Garden and the Bronx Botanical Garden, and more expensive than Prospect Park. It offers both reserved spaces, and bookable catering venues for large weddings such as the Palm House. We have married several couples in the Japanese Pavilion, at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. | |||||
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The Jefferson Market Garden in Greenwich village, is available for CEREMONIES ONLY (no receptions) for a donation for upkeep - nb The price has gone up dramatically after Sex and the City filmed there. | ||||
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Central Park Conservatory Garden is a private garden in the northern end of Central Park, open to the public, but available for weddings for a fee (like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden). It must be reserved in advance due to great popularity. There are many locations in the garden, and you will be assigned a section and a time period. You must reserve the garden for wedding photographs as well as ceremonies. It is expensive, and the north end of Central Park is just as lovely, for the smaller price of $25. If you can, walk around the northern part of Central Park outside the Conservatory Garden and look at the Waterfall by the Harlem Meer and other nice locations. Other City parks we have used for weddings are Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan by the Cloisters, Riverside Park, City Hall Park (by the fountain), Battery Park, Madison Park (Flatiron), Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Check for parks near your hotel on in your neighborhood, little community parks are often a nice alternative. We have conducted several weddings at the New York Botanical Garden (aka the Bronx Botanical Garden). This gorgeous location offers outdoor and indoor reception spaces such as the Garden Terrace Room and the Snuff Mill. You can also investigate the Queens Botanical Garden, and the Staten Island Botanical Garden at Snug Harbor.
Indoor and covered locations
> see other comments on our elopenewyork blog: wet weather weddings
You should always plan for inclement weather, with a backup plan for an indoor ceremony or a semi-covered space. Semi-covered locations range from covered restaurant gardens, to boathouses, gazebos, roof terraces, and other places with a little shelter. There are few covered spaces in Central Park and Prospect Park, and they aren't suitable if it's really raining. (The gazebo by the Belvedere Castle in Central Park has a roof - but you need to climb the stairs to the Castle to get to it). Also, you ENTER the park on foot and walk to the ceremony location - not easy in rain.
 Ask your hotel in advance if there is a suite available if your park wedding gets rained out. Ask if they have a roof terrace, penthouse or 'party' room at the top of the building you can use. Here is a private "penthouse wedding" which was arranged by the concierge at the NYC Royalton Hotel at W 44th, when the weather was not cooperating. If the penthouse suite or one of the other fancier rooms is NOT OCCUPIED between checkin and checkout (early afternoon) you might be able to arrange to use a suite for half an hour - gratuity expected.
You can often book covered gardens at New York restaurants, especially if you have a party who will have drinks, or dine. This is often suitable for groups of 10-20. Look on nycitysearch.com for 'private dining' and venues with gardens. It is a common request at Tavern on the Green, who will rent you a room with drinks - esp in mid-afternoon.You can also arrange your private wedding on the balcony at Grand Central Station by booking a lunch table. Or use the Vanderbilt balcony early in the day.
Lofts, Halls, Museums, Townhouses, Hotels We highly recommend The Ladies Tea Room and the Ballroom at the Prince George Hotel near Madison/27th. The facility rental fee goes to supportive housing at Commonground.org.
contact: Jonathan Rives, Ballroom Manager 212-471-0870 Jrives@commonground.org Top of the Times 255 W. 43rd St. at Eighth Ave. 212-768-8989, also commonground.org Like the Ladies Tea Room and Ballroom at the Prince George, the rental from Top of the Times supports non-profit housing.The fifteenth-floor space has warm, terra-cotta-tile, windows on all sides, a 4,350-foot canopied outdoor terrace, and roof gardens. Fees start at $1,600; catering can be done either in-house or independently. The Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island is an atmospheric Victorian Cottage on the waterfront, with spectacular views of Manhattan. We have conducted weddings on the front lawn. The location is not suitable for a reception, however.
The Merchant's House Museum in NOHO makes a lovely, private venue. The Garden is available for weddings, and the parlor for photos. We had a lovely wedding there for 10 people and had the house to ourselves for photos.
Restaurants
Almost ANY restaurant will consider a private wedding, or even a small event in a private room or in a back area, especially in the period between lunch and supper, and if you arrange for dinner and drinks. For atmosphere, try One if By Land, Two if by Sea, or park restaurants such as Tavern on the Green, the Boathouse or Fort Tryon Park's New Leaf Cafe. Lofts and industrial spaces
Always check to see whether you have to use the resident caterer. Ramscale Penthouse, stunning west side penthouse in Westbeth. Used as Glenn Close's apartment in "The Heights".
Alger house loft (a coachhouse in Greenwich village) and the Manhattan Penthouse Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO is an option, (left, below) which is a stunning location. However, be warned that the two subways crossing the Manhattan bridge every 6 minutes make it hard to hear the ceremony. It's a good idea to reserve this park, as it's thronged with wedding party photographers. The Empire State Park, UNDER the bridge is much horrendously expensive now Another option is the Fulton Ferry Landing Park under the Brooklyn Bridge (right, below). Pretty, but often full of wedding photographers. Can you find at least 5 brides?
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Japanese Pavilion, Brooklyn Botanic Garden > 
The English Garden, Central Park Conservatory Garden > 
We also enjoy the 
