The Pool in Northern Central Park

Particularly for elopements, Central Park remains a favorite location in NYC, filled with popular spots that couples love including the Ladies Pavilion, Bow Bridge, Shakespeare Garden, Bethesda Fountain, Belvedere Castle, and Wagner Cove.  To be sure, each location has its charms.  The Bow Bridge, for instance, is the longest and arguably most romantic bridge in the Park.  With sweeping vistas in all directions, it is lovely.  Wagner Cove is a sweet gazebo, tucked away on the pond, yet accessible by the 72^nd street entrance.  The gorgeous Bethesda Fountain has been featured in many films—to the north of the fountain is the lake and Boathouse; to the south is the Bethesda Arcade, with it unique mosaic tiles.  And, rolling hills envelop the iconic statue, to the east and west.

All of these locations are “mid-park,” and a casual observer might think that the northern area of the Park is far less beautiful.  However, this is surely not the case!  The far reaches of the park, between 96^th street and 110^th, the top of the Park, host fabulous locations for private weddings.  Moreover, these areas are utilized by far fewer people.  In other words, if privacy is important to you and your beloved, consider this area for the ceremony and portraits, too. 

Around the 103^rd Street and Central Park West entrance is an area known to Central Park enthusiasts as “The Pool.”  It has everything one could want for a picture perfect wedding spot:  slightly elevated climbing rocks, with the cityscape in the Southern background.  A beautiful lake and gentle waterfall dot the landscape, with beautiful flowering trees and sweet flowers.   

Many New Yorkers are not familiar with this part of the Park, and that is doubly true for out-of-towners.  Easy to get to on the subway (103^rd street stop on the A, B & C lines), I guarantee that it is well worth the trip.  Enjoy some sweet images from a recent elopement on a rainy Saturday.  

Jefferson Market Garden

Photo Courtesy of Daniel Portalatin

For those of us who are Sex and the City Fans, we will happily remember the autumn episode where Miranda marries (finally) her on-again, off-again boyfriend Steve Brady. Unlike Charlotte’s extravagant weddings in the beloved series or Carrie’s heart stopping wedding in the first SATC movie, Miranda’s wedding was a rather impromptu affair. Miranda made a casual proposal of marriage to her beau, followed by hilarious scenes of finding an appropriate wedding dress. For their location, she and Steve literally fell into their wedding venue, the Jefferson Market Garden in Greenwich Village, as they ran errands one day. Miranda says that the garden “feels like us….. not like all of those cookie cutter weddings.”

The Garden is on Greenwich Avenue, between Sixth Avenue and West 10th Street. One has the luxury of renting a permit for the entire garden for an hour or two, guaranteeing perfect privacy. The garden sits in the shadow of the Gothic red brick Jefferson Market Library, a village landmark. The library, originally designed as a courthouse, was fashioned by Frederic Clarke Withers and Calvert Vaux in the late 1870s. Immediately, it was considered among the most beautiful buildings in the country. Nearly a century later, it became part of the New York Public Library. After years in disrepair, the garden was reclaimed by Pamela Berdan, the designer of numerous projects in the village, who used Central Park as inspiration. Enjoy a few moments from a recent wedding of a stunning Aussie Bride and English Groom at this little piece of Heaven in the Village.

Bow Bridge

The Bow Bridge, in the central area of the park, is among the most popular locations for wedding photographs.  Some couples find it so breathtaking that they wish to have their ceremony on the bridge.  The Central Park Conservancy explains that the bridge measures nearly 90 feet, with two-thirds of the bridge crossing the Lake, linking the flowering landscape of Cherry Hill and the sprawling woodland of the Ramble.  The Bow Bridge, arching gracefully like a bow of an archer or violinists, is the oldest cast-iron bridge in the Park (and the second oldest in the nation).

While the bridge can be a bustling location during the busiest parts of the day, ceremonies in the morning and before sunset will enjoy a greater degree of privacy.  But I've found at any time of the day, passers-by are respectful of wedding activities.

An added bonus of weddings and photos in this area are secret nooks, featured in some of the fabulous photos of Divine Light Wedding Photography, that create beautiful, romantic portraits for the day. 

 

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Bethesda Fountain, Central Park

The Bethesda Fountain is one of the iconic landmarks of Central Park, included in numerous movies, including Angels in America.   The area is easy to locate, mid-park and convenient from both Fifth Avenue and Central Park West at 72^nd.  It’s impossible to miss the Fountain, with the beautiful Terrace, grand staircase and plaza area, adjacent to the lovely pond with the Central Park Boathouse in the background.

The Fountain is one of the largest in New York, 26 feet high and 96 wide. It’s the only sculpture in the park to have been commissioned as part of the Park’s original design.  Known as the Angel of Waters, it features and eight-foot bronze angel standing above four small cherubim representing health, purity, temperance, and peace.  The angel herself carries a lily in one hand while the other remains outstretched, poised in the action of delivering a blessing on the water pouring from around her feet and into the basin at the bottom of the fountain. This is to commemorate the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct, which supplied New York City with fresh water.

Bethesda Fountain is an excellent area for wedding photos, and one of the most alluring features of the area is the Bethesda arcade, a great “back-up” location for a wedding impacted by rain (or snow!).  A ceremony can take place near the Fountain, in the arcade (which is filled with stunning mosaics and interesting lighting), or the grand staircase and mezzanine, all featured in the slideshow below.  One consideration:  the Fountain is a busy area, filled with Park visitors and, from time-to-time street performers, so it probably wouldn’t be the best location for those seeking privacy for their special occasion.  But certainly, it is worth a visit when strolling about the Park!

Carl Shurz Park, UES Gem

While Central Park is the most popular outdoor location for small weddings, the five boroughs of New York are filled to the brim with other terrific municipal spaces that make for a special wedding. Consider the Carl Schurz Park, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The Park is adjacent to Gracie Mansion, the official home of the Mayor of New York City. There are terrific nooks and flowering gardens that provide a lovely backdrop for the wedding. Likewise, the park hugs the East River, providing spectacular views for wedding photographs. Carl Schurz park is a favorite spot for Upper East Side locals…and may be just what you are looking for if you are seeking a more secluded spot for your special day.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

While Central Park is certainly the most popular garden location for New York weddings, but other boroughs have fantastic venues for your consideration.  Yesterday, I officiated a wedding at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.   This garden provides an economical option for   weddings with various size guest lists.  And, unlike most sections of Central Park, one may secure space, before the Park opens, allowing for complete privacy. 

The garden locations are described in detail on the Brooklyn Garden’s website. 

There are many delightful settings to choose from, including the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, with its magical mirrorlike waterscapes, cloud-pruned maples, and waterfalls; the Cranford Rose Garden, where tens of thousands of fragrant roses bloom in summertime; and the Osborne Garden, with its classical architecture, cascading fountain, and stately procession of crabapple trees and azaleas. Celebrate your wedding at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and create an exquisite event that will be forever treasured by all those who attend.

Enjoy photos from several ceremonies over the last two years! 

A Secret Gazebo: Hidden in Plain Sight

During the summer, the most popular wedding spots in Central Park are jam packed with couples from all over the world. Locations such as the Ladies Pavilion, Shakespeare Garden and Wagner Cove may seem like revolving doors on weekend afternoons. However, I was recently reminded of a fabulous ceremony location that is hidden in plain sight.  Around 5th Avenue at about 67th Street, one can gaze atop a little hill in Central Park to find a perfect gazebo, which is much the same style as the very popular Cop Cot Gazebo in the south side of the park. The sweet spot features beautiful views all around, with some stunning 5th Avenue properties on the east side of the structure, offering an iconic New York City photo opportunity. Like Cop Cot, this area provides terrific seating for wedding guests in need of a rest. This tree house, of sorts, is nearly always empty, so it is perfect for a secret elopement or small ceremony. I was first introduced to the location by a young New York couple who scouted out the area for their spring 2011 wedding. More recently, a couple from the U.K. noticed the gazebo, where we held a moonlight ceremony.

I have a couple of educated guesses as to why this Gazebo is so often empty. First, since it is not a named location highlighted on the website of the Central Park Conservancy and other organizations, it is not evident to those looking online for a place to marry. In fact, the only "name" associated with this gazebo was found on plaque which reads: "A Tree House for Dreaming," dedicated in 2007. Likewise, because it is pitched on a little hill, it is not altogether obvious how one gains access to the gazebo. Needless to say, in a crowded summer park, this “tree house” is a hidden treasure!