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!

A View Like No Other!

Far and away, the most popular spot for small elopement ceremonies is Central Park….and with good reason. There are innumerable locations that are well-suited to a little wedding. But for a real city wedding, consider the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Sam & Colin (natives of Scotland and New Zealand, who now live in Brazil!) came to New York and wanted to have a ceremony that reflected the vibrancy of one of their favorite international cities. So, we hopscotched over to Brooklyn to the DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood and the nifty Brooklyn Bridge Park. As you’ll see from the slideshow below, the Park offers a stunning sweep of New York’s skyline. In addition, the famed Brooklyn Bridge is a stone’s throw away, making for a fabulous backdrop for wedding photographs. For those of us who live in Manhattan, a trip to Brooklyn seems like a long way from home. But in this case, it is well worth the trip.

Wagner Cove-Central Park

By far the most popular spot in New York for elopements or small ceremonies is Central Park.  It is a treasured public garden among New Yorkers and familiar to those from other states and countries.  The Park is filled with seemingly limitless areas for ceremonies meeting the preferences of any couple.  Favorite wedding landmarks include the Gapstow Bridge, Ladies Pavilion, and Cop Cot Gazebo, among many others.  A sometimes overlooked wedding spot is the Wagner Cove.

In many respects Wagner Cove is an ideal location for a wedding ceremony or vow renewal.  It is easily accessible to the street and not too far “embedded” in the Park, meaning brides and grooms and their guests won’t need to hike great distances in wedding attire.  The easiest point of entry is 72^nd street and Central Park West.  Yet, despite being in the “middle of it all,” it is relatively secluded.  It is discretely marked with a small stone and plaque, with a set of stone stairs leading to a little shelter on the water.  With a dozen or more steps, fashioned in a “L-shape,” it is an awesome entrance for a wedding processional.  The tiny covering is open, but may provide some bit of covering should the summer rains appear.  The Wagner Cove is surrounded by the pond, keeping onlookers away from the area.  And because of the way it is situated on the pond, slightly below the main road, it provides terrific backdrops for beautiful photographs, with a variety of backdrops. 

According to the Central Park Conservancy, Wagner Cove, named for famed New York politician Robert Wagner, is one of the oldest locations in the Park.  It was erected in a long ago era, when boats ferried passengers between locations in the Park.  Like the other areas in the Park, a permit is required for wedding gatherings of more than about two dozen individuals.  However, with some flexibility and a willingness to consider “off times” (morning or early afternoon ceremonies or weddings during the week), the strategic bride and groom can use the facility for free!  Even during popular times, like a Saturday evening during “high” wedding season, if a couple has some flexibility and is willing to accommodate those with Park permits, they can shoe horn their ceremonies between those in which permits are secured.  

Take a look at some of the fun pictures of ceremonies that I have conducted there over the past several weeks—a young couple eloping from California, a “surprise” wedding vow renewal given to a Canadian wife by her beloved husband, and a long-awaited union for a gay couple from Louisiana.  Each and every couple adored this spot.  Consider it for your event during any season of the year! 

Imagine Mosaic: All You Need is Love

I have noticed something of a trend with Beatles musics making their way into wedding ceremonies.  Songs like "Here Comes the Sun" and "All You Need is Love" are being used as both processional and recessional music by a number of brides and grooms (and not all from the U.K.!).  I recently worked with a groom who was an extremely devoted Beatles fan.  Not only did the ceremony include a quote from John Lennon ("A dream you dream alone is only a dream.  A dream you dream together is reality.") but it was held at the Imagine mosaic in Central Park, near the home of the late Mr. Lennon.  The symbolism of the mosaic is wonderful.  When John was struck down, his beloved Yoko Ono created a garden in his memory.  As a testament to his desire for peace is the Imagine mosaic was crafted by artisans in Naples.  On the pathway of peace are the names of 121 countries who wished to be remembered in John and Yoko's quest for peace.

Should a couple choose to have a little ceremony in this sweet Central Park location, there is no doubt that they will be accompanied by a number of onlookers.  However, without question, people in the Park love a wedding!  For this couple we kept the Beatle theme going with my IPod and portable speaker, which was "loaded up with Beatles favorites.  We enjoyed the tunes during my requisite champagne toast and cake sharing.  As John would beautifully articulate, "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

All Souls Church: A Fabulous Option for Couples Seeking a "Church" Wedding

Some brides and grooms, New Yorkers as well as those coming to the city for a destination wedding, would like to marry in a church.  Yet even in a place like the Big Apple--with a bountiful array of houses of worship, it is a surprisingly difficult task to find a church that will allow these ceremonies. Many churches require that the brIde and or groom belong to their church, in order to secure the venue for a ceremony.  In certain cases, there is a mandatory pre-marital counseling that must be completed, too. And in nearly every situation, there is a fee to use the facility--and often a hefty one!  However. I am happy to report that there is an outstanding exception to this rule;  All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  I can't heap enough praise on this wonderful worship community and their beautiful church. For those not familiar with the UU denomination, it grows from the Judeo-Christian tradition.  All Souls and other UU congregations are filled with interfaith familes, "spiritual but not religious" members, and people who practice all manner of faith traditions, As the beloved long-time pastor othe the church, the incomparable late Forrest Church would say, "We are people who have more questions than answers.". (On a side note: yes his surname really was Church. He was the son of the Late Senator Frank Church of Idaho who ran for the presidency decades ago).  Not only do they adopt an embracing, inclusive approach, they organize awesome social outreach programs ranging from feeding the hungry to lobbying Congress for just legislation.

All Souls provides their Sanctuary and Chapel for rental for marriages and union ceremonies at a very affordable price. They also provide options to secure the organist and other staff members.  However, couples are allowed to bring other clergy to the church to perform their ceremonies.  I, for instance, was allowed to officiate a wedding there in December.

I include photos here which don't do it justice.  It was originally constructed as a Congregational Church (a mainline Protestant denomination in New England and on the east coast).  As such the architecture is simple (from the Georgia tradition, perhaps) with beautiful lighting, windows and simple chandeliers.  Throughout the church are plaques of remembrance. The altar is simple as well. And perched above the pulpit, one will find the familiar mathematical symbol for infinity, a representation the life force in all--welcoming people of all faiths.  As Mr. Church would say, the beautiful windows show the streams of various faiths.  Many paths to one truth.

So not only is All Souls a rare option to unaffiliated couples, it is an excellent choice for all.

High Times on the High Line

For a couple looking to have an outdoor wedding in a more urban setting, perhaps the “High Line,” a relatively new landmark, fits the bill.  As described in the Garden Guide: NYC by Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry, the High Line is a “21^st Century Promenade, having all the poetry and thrill of the street but none of the noise and hustle.”   In its original state, the elevated rail lines served commercial ventures running between Spring Street and 34^th.  It operated form some 90 years, beginning in the 1840s, serving industry and factories on the far west side of Manhattan.  The last train traversed the High Line 30 years ago, when the property was essentially abandoned.  

As the High Line languished, there were political factions advanced options for the rail artery that once served the City.  While there were some who wanted it demolished, others argued for its restoration as a working rail line.  But led by two young New Yorkers, an organization—Friends of the High Line—argued for an innovative public space.  A competition was held to select a vision for the park, and a plan devised by two New York City design firms combined an open, elevated public space that retained its industrial feel. Great attention was paid to allowing natural plant growth to continue decorating the space.  The High Line meanders over the course of numerous blocks, with plenty of little alcoves where a private wedding could be held, no doubt engaging passers-by.  As is evidenced by the photos, the High Line is a striking venue for either a ceremony or post wedding portraits, conveying the intersection of natural beauty and commerce in the Big Apple.

Hotel Giraffe: Perfect for your Wedding (or Honeymoon Stay!)

In my opinion, one of the bonuses of European travel is the generous selection of small, lovely hotels that dot the landscape of cities like Paris, London, Rome, and beyond.  I think of such boutique hotels as “homes away from home.”  These accommodations focus on the basics of hospitality (commonly overlooked by the gigantic corporate hotel chains) including well-appointed rooms, comfortable common areas, extremely attentive staff members, and those “little extras” (complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, etc.) that provide pleasant surprises after a long day of site-seeing. 

To replicate this experience, a New York tourist—or destination wedding couple—would be well-advised to visit one of the small hotels run by the HKH Corporation.  The constellation of hotels, including the Library, Hotel Giraffe, The Casablanca Hotel, and Hotel Elysse, are part of a family-owned company—and it shows.   The Library and Hotel Giraffe provide services for weddings (including reserving hotel room blocks), but all are fine places to stay in NYC. 

My first experience with an HK Hotel was last winter when I officiated the marriage of Gordon and Anne, a fabulous couple from Scotland.  The wedding was held on their top floor terrace area, and couldn’t have been any sweeter.  At the time the event coordinator for the Library was Jayla Hughes.  I was impressed by professionalism and warm personality, so I wasn't surprised to learn that she had received a promotion to serve as the Director of Sales at the Hotel Giraffe, another HK Hotel.   

The Hotel Giraffe is a stylized, chic spot at 365 Park Avenue (at 26th street).  The art deco inspired hotel is a stone’s throw away from many NYC attractions including the Empire State Building, Grand  Central Station,  Macy's at Herald Square, and New York's famous "boulevards" including Park, Madison and Fifth Avenues.  It is in close proximity to cultural stops ranging from the fashionable Gramercy Park, the NY Public Library, MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), and the International Center for Photography. Finally, the Hotel Giraffe is a stone’s throw from many of New York’s excellent restaurants such as Eleven Madison, Tabla, Union Square Café, and Gramercy Tavern.  The list goes on and on. 

This hotel will gladly host your wedding ceremony, rehearsal dinner, or guest accommodations.  Hotel Giraffe has put together affordable wedding packages that offer space for a NYC wedding (along with set up and breakdown), a well-appointed reception, and guest stays in the hotel.  Site selections include their roof-top garden and the piano suite penthouse.  If you are looking for a place for your wedding or simply a wonderful place to stay on your visit to The Big Apple—or maybe just a nice spot to enjoy a cocktail, head to the Hotel Giraffe and wait to pleasantly surprised....again and again!

Interested in learning more?  Contact Emily White, Sales Manager at the Hotel Giraffe at 212.894.0494 or by email at emily@hotelgiraffe.com.  Enjoy!