Claudia & Isaac’s Impromptu New York Elopement in Central Park

We met on a dating app when we were both living in the San Francisco Bay Area. We both assumed this would just be another app date and not much would come of it, but we were both pleasantly surprised by how much we got along and liked each other.

We were together all the time and it was just easy being around each other. Something just clicked in a way it never had for either of us before and we both felt that it was just right. A year later, Isaac moved to New York City for a job and we knew we didn’t want to break up. We did long distance for a year and it further solidified the feeling that we didn’t want to be without each other. I  moved to New York City the following year and the rest is history.

Isaac proposed at the spot where we had our first date. It was a beautiful spring day with a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge. He had a photographer standing by to capture the moment and I was completely surprised! He even had his parents (from Boston) and my parents (local) nearby to celebrate after!

Claudia: Isaac always makes me laugh, which I think is a key piece of a long and happy marriage. Life can be tough sometimes and you have to be able to laugh through the difficult times together.

Isaac: I love everything about Claudia. But if I have to be specific, she is sweet and caring and loving. She’s always taking care of everyone and everything around her.

We genuinely like each other as people. We love to be around each other and we get along really well. We’re both intense in different ways but we are able to handle each other better than most anyone else. We just get each other.

We actually had a big wedding planned for the same date in Northern California, where I’m from, but COVID forced us to postpone to next year (at least). We still wanted to get married,  so we decided to have a small elopement ceremony in Central Park with just our close family and two local friends. It felt very New York!

Research and reviews!

I had the big wedding entirely planned, but since that wasn’t going to be possible this year, I wanted a company that would take care of all the details for her. Simply Eloped would take care of all the details and had New York elopement packages that included just the right things.

Central Park is iconic New York. If we were going to elope in New York City, it needed to be somewhere recognizable and exciting. (The dress was also very Carrie Bradshaw!) I liked that it was public and people could watch, too! In fact, everyone around us was watching!

I didn’t really have to do much. I made sure my elopement dress went to the tailor and that Isaac had what he needed for the ceremony. Our parents coordinated a picnic in the park after the ceremony. We both wrote our own vows and I had my hair and makeup done. It was pretty stress-free, which was the point.

Simply Eloped made things easy. I didn’t really have to do anything, which was nice.

We had a picnic in the park, and then everyone came back to our apartment and we had a mini reception on our terrace. Everyone gave a little impromptu speech; we had dessert, danced, and had a great time.

It’s a very special experience. It’s intimate and low-key. I always wanted a big, elaborate wedding, and an elopement wasn’t something I had considered. But given the circumstances, an elopement in central park was so special and fun. Now we’ll just have two weddings!

Planning: Simply Eloped
Officiant: Rev. Chelsea MacMillan
Photographer: Laura Diliberto
Hair & Makeup: Ashley Riley
Flowers: Flowers by Richard