Elope in NYC: The Ultimate 2021 Guide to NYC Elopement Packages

Places to elope in NYC

Wagner Cove is an ideal location for a wedding ceremony or vow renewal. It is easily accessible from the street and not too far embedded in the park. This means...

A Treehouse for Dreaming

Around 5th Avenue and 67th Street, one can gaze atop a little hill in Central Park to find a nuzzled and private gazebo. The sweet spot, unnamed minus a plaque...

Bow Bridge

The Bow Bridge, located in the central area of the park, is one the most popular locations for wedding ceremonies and photographs. Bow Bridge is a 90-foot long bridge, two-thirds...

Bethesda Terrace

The Bethesda Terrace is one of the iconic landmarks of Central Park, and is located mid-park, providing access from both Fifth Avenue and Central Park West at 72nd. The fountain...

Prospect Park

If Central Park doesn’t quite fit your fancy, check out Prospect Park in Brooklyn. A little quieter a less-trafficked, you’ll love the escape this gem offers. Water features, trees, bridges,...

High Line

If you’re interested in an architecturally aesthetic location, the High Line is the place for your small elopement. Once an above-ground central railway, transformed in early 2000’s, the High Line...

Brooklyn Bridge Park

For a real city wedding, consider the Brooklyn Bridge Park. This park offers a stunning sweep of New York’s skyline. In addition, the famed Brooklyn Bridge is a stone’s throw...

The Pool

Description: Central Park is a very large park and sometimes the hustle and bustle can be an additional overwhelming piece of your ceremony. If you’re seeking a private, more quiet...

Coney Island

For those colorful of heart and soul, Coney Island can be such a blast! While a very public location, you can’t beat the bright and delightful backdrops for your ceremony...

Top of the Rock

If you’re cool with getting married in a public place and love a good view, Top of the Rock is perfect for you. This NYC staple makes for darling intimate...

New York Public Library

If you’re a sucker for unbelievable architecture and historic landmarks, The New York Public Library is a stellar choice to swap your vows at. While they don’t allow ceremonies inside,...

Fort Tryon Park

If you’re wanting something that is off the beaten path, but still stunning and original, we super recommend Fort Tryon Park for your ceremony. Nuzzled up against the Cloisters, from...

Archer Hotel Spyglass Rooftop Bar

If envisioning getting married with the New York skyline behind you makes your heart skip a beat excited, you’ll love Archer’s Hotel Spyglass® Rooftop Bar as a venue. Your intimate...

MADE Hotel, Good Behavior Rooftop Lounge

Good Behavior creates the perfect scenery for your wedding ceremony. Located on the 18th floor of the MADE Hotel, it features indoor and outdoor seating in a garden-like setting that...

North Woods

If you’re seeking a quieter and more private experience inside of Central Park, the North Woods is a perfect location for you. Tucked on the opposite side of high-tourist attractions,...

Ladies Pavilion

Ladies Pavilion is a darling metal structure right beside The Lake in Central Park. It’s a bit off the beaten path so rather intimate, though not much more than the...

Cop Cot

Cop Cot is a beautiful gazebo in Central Park covered by Trumpet Vine. This is a great structure for a bit of a larger ceremony size.

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How do I make our New York City elopement legal?

Getting married in New York City starts with getting your wedding license. New York state requires both parties to have identification such as a driver’s license or passport, your social security numbers (you can keep your social security card at home, though!), and official copies of your divorce decree, if either of you were previously married. There is a $35 fee to pay for filing the license, so make sure to have a credit card or money order ready.

Can you get married the same day in New York City?

While you can receive a marriage license the same day you apply for it, there is a 24-hour waiting period that needs to occur, no matter if you’re a New York resident or not. If you’re unable to wait 24 hours, you can request a judicial waiver to override the waiting period.

If you’re eloping to New York internationally, make note that, although your marriage certificate is legally valid, your home country might require specific information to ensure your marriage will be recognized. For instance, the UK requires an Extended Marriage Certificate, authenticated by an apostille before it is 100% guaranteed to be recognized. We offer our services to international couples looking for help navigating the rules and regulations of the Extended Marriage Certificate requirements for $250.

Can you get married in Central Park for free?

Yes and no! Some well-known locations within Central Park – like The Ladies Pavilion or Wagner Cove – do require permits, but there are a variety of beautiful locations that do not require a permit for your big day. Areas of the park like Bow Bridge, the North Woods or the Treehouse for Dreaming are all permit-free, meaning you can simply have your ceremony at zero cost – but keep in mind that Central Park is a public space, and there’s no exclusive use of any area, even with a permit!

When is the best time to elope in New York City?

There’s a reason you hear so much about New York in the fall! Late September through mid-November is prime season for stunning photos, beautiful colors, and comfortable temperatures. Crowds are also a bit calmer just before the holidays. With that said, spring, and early summer have their benefits as well. Just be sure to take a thorough look at the forecast for the week of your preferred date, and pack accordingly.

NYC is also packed with fun — and often free — activities in the summer and around the holidays. Small wedding parties could easily time their celebrations around these extra perks! Be aware that weather extremes of summer and winter months could affect travel times, so planning ahead of time can go a long way in making sure you have a stress-free day.

What are the most popular places to elope in New York City?

New York City has an endless list of iconic locations for an elopement ceremony – it all depends on what you are looking for in a backdrop. If you never tire of the dazzling skyscrapers this city has to offer, consider Top of the Rock – an observatory on top of Rockefeller Center – for sweeping city views (and likely tons of happy onlookers!). Also worth noting are Archer Hotel’s Spyglass Rooftop Bar and MADE Hotel’s Good Behavior Rooftop Lounge for more intimate celebrations with 360-degree views of the Big Apple.

The most quintessential New York City elopement location? Central Park, of course! But finding the right spot in the Park’s hundreds of acres can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to look. Looking for something whimsical and romantic? The park’s Treehouse for Dreaming or Wagner Cove both have unique wooden gazebos that will make you feel like you’re in another world entirely. Longing for New York City’s gorgeous architecture? Bethesda Terrace or even the historic New York Public Library (located outside of Central Park) might be the perfect spot. New York City has so much to offer in terms of where to elope, so find one that speaks to who you are as a couple for an unforgettable day.

Article written by

Karen Norian

Karen Norian is an elopement photographer and has photographed over a hundred elopements. Karen has also worked as an elopement planner for Simply Eloped, as well as a writer, editor, and content strategist.

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Read the real stories of couples who eloped in New York City!

Patrycja + Marc

Ever wonder what a classic New York City wedding in Central Park would look like? Look no further! After dating and quickly falling in love, Patrycja and Marc knew that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. But they both felt like a traditional wedding wasn’t “them,” and neither was going to a courthouse to tie the knot. Researching their options, they realized that an elopement with their closest loved ones was the perfect idea. Patrycja and Marc were married September 21, 2019 ⁠at Summit Rock in New York City’s Central Park – you’ll want to scroll through and check out all of the photos from their beautiful day!

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I started out by looking at City Hall, but I didn’t want to just go to City Hall because it didn’t feel special enough. I started to look for something that wasn’t City Hall but wasn’t a catering hall, either. I stumbled onto the Simply Eloped website and fell in love with the whole experience.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

We loved the idea of getting married outside. We first wanted to get married at Fort Tryon but unfortunately another wedding was booked there for that day. I started to try to find other places and came across Summit Rock. The more I read about Summit Rock the more I loved about it. It is the highest point in Central Park – Central Park is one of our favorite places. We would always go to Time Square to walk around, and then walk through Central Park. It was almost like it was meant to be.

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day!

Simply Eloped help us so much! They were able to connect us with so many great people. At our wedding we had a guitarist playing our wedding song, “Beyond,” by Leon Bridges, a photographer, videographer, and officiant. They were all such amazing people. Everything that we wanted they were able to help us with and more.

How did you celebrate after?

We bought out a restaurant on the Upper West Side by Saint John the Baptist Church. The name of the restaurant is Marlow Bistro. It is a cute corner restaurant that serves farm to table food – the food is absolutely delicious. The restaurant had the vibe that we wanted for our guests. The owner was so accommodating … Everything from the decor of the restaurant to the cake. When we first starting planning we thought that we would have about 20 guests. Well, the list kept growing and we ended up with about 70 people attending!

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Jenn + Michael

Jenn & Michael’s Central Park Wedding

Moments after their introduction, Michael confided in a friend that he had just met the woman he was going to marry. Jenn and Michael first encountered each other at a wedding—the perfect place to spark the beginning of their Central Park elopement story.

During the six years following this fateful day, they built a full life together—purchasing a fixer-upper, transforming it into a beautiful home, and welcoming several dogs into their family. One afternoon, when Jenn was arriving home from work, Michael sat waiting to pop the question—with a musician playing their favorite song, a chef cooking her favorite meal, and a journey of rose petals.

Before they were engaged, the two envisioned an elaborate destination wedding in Cabo. But as planning got underway, the stress of the process overshadowed the intimate ceremony they longed to experience. So they contacted Simply Eloped in NYC and decided to combine their upcoming trip to the Big Apple with an unforgettable adventure of a wedding. They envisioned exchanging vows tucked in the verdant sanctuary of Central Park, inspiring Janessa from Simply Eloped to recommend The Treehouse of Dreaming for their perfect New York elopement. Soon enough, the swift arrangements fell into place.

Their big day developed into nothing short of an iconic NYC wedding—incorporating the city’s beautiful fall foliage, the excitement of the NYC marathon, and one of the area’s most well-known romantic restaurants. But one of the biggest adventures occurred before Jenn even made it to the wedding. As she approached her awaiting groom—wedding dress and all—her cab became trapped in a bumper-to-bumper traffic. So in movie-like fashion, she leapt out of the car and hustled across the city to her Central Park wedding. As she ran, New Yorkers and tourists cheered her on, yelling congratulations as she wove through the crowds. But since Central Park is quite the expansive labyrinth, she jumped back into a cab, making it to her awaiting fiancé in time.

The site of him waiting on the hill of the park—violinist and officiant standing by—is an image she’ll never forget. At last, surrounded by the stunning autumn sights of NYC in the fall, Michael and Jenn said their “I Do’s” beneath the vines of the rustic treehouse, serenaded by the music of a New York violinist. A nearby trumpet player added music to the park’s afternoon, and welcomed Jenn and Michael to dance an impromptu first dance to his melody.

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Claudia + Isaac

A NYC elopement that turned into a beautiful Central Park wedding

It’s become pretty apparent that not even the coronavirus can stop love, and Claudia and Issac’s story is no exception! The couple had their big, traditional wedding perfectly planned in Northern California – where Claudia is from – until the pandemic stopped them completely in their tracks. Rather than call the whole thing off, Claudia and Isaac decided to elope somewhere fun, recognizable, and exciting: New York City’s Central Park. On August 15th, the couple shared their vows amongst a handful of loved ones, and had an incredible day celebrating! Read all about their love story and their New York elopement experience below!

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

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.

Why did you decide to elope in Central Park?

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!

What attracted you to the New York elopement venue you eloped at?

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!

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

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!

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Danielle + Oliver

Danielle & Oliver chose to elope in one of the most romantic spots in all of New York’s Central Park. The two of them had already planned to visit NYC and decided to make it the trip of a lifetime! The couple was a vision of sophistication with Danielle wearing a stunning, off the shoulder, lace gown. They stood beneath the rustic, wooden shelter at Wagner Cove and exchanged their promises to one another. On Central Park’s lake, the secluded spot was just the vision that Danielle & Oliver had in mind for their New York wedding. Read more to find out how Oliver’s proposal brought the two of them together for a Simply Eloped experience.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Danielle: Oliver dragged me out in the middle of the wind, cold and rain, through the mud, to get to a tree. I was really upset Oliver was dragging me through such awful weather and we were not in the proper shoes. Then he got down on one knee and everything melted away. He cried. I cried. It was beautiful. He asked me if I would be his forever and, of course, I said ‘Yes!’.

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination?

Danielle: We chose to elope in NYC. We had a trip planned to go to New York City anyway, and we thought, ‘why not just elope!’. We did not know what was going to happen with Covid-19, so we might as well just do it. We thought it would be really romantic. Just the two of us.

What attracted you to the venue where you eloped? What are your favorite memories about eloping there?

Danielle: Wagner Cove is a private little place in Central Park, where you are transported out of the city and into nature. Wagner Cove is right on The Lake. It is just beautiful and quiet.

How did you spend your time before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?

Danielle: On the day of our wedding, we went to the Brooklyn Bridge. I thought, ‘I am so glad we are not getting married on the Brooklyn Bridge!’. It’s a beautiful bridge, but there were so many people there! So we went back to our hotel, ate lunch, got ready, and then took a cab to our ceremony. We were both really excited.

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Sara + Siggy

Sara & Siggy are quintessential New Yorkers with tons in common. The question is, how did they NOT meet while attending the same university? Fate intervened, and the two of them connected through a meet-cute involving work and music. After a wonderful party proposal, the couple knew they wanted to elope in their favorite place in New York City – Central Park. They were excited to find that Wagner Cove, a peaceful and serene spot in the middle of the Park, had a chuppah-like wooden arch for their ceremony. Sara & Siggy tied the knot while family and friends stood by them, and fellow New Yorkers waved from their boats on the water. A truly picturesque Simply Eloped wedding!

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Sara & Siggy: We chose to elope in Wagner Cove in Central Park. We are both Jewish and love how the structure resembles a chuppah! It seemed totally destined. We also both love animals and nature and appreciated how this spot felt a bit rugged and off the beaten path.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Sara & Siggy: We love that it was accessible and in our favorite park in NYC, Central Park. However, it still felt a bit like a hidden gem at the same time. We also loved the pond where ducks (and even turtles!) swam by. It was particularly fun when, during our vows, people waved at us while paddling in canoes! So sweet, and so undeniably New York.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Sara & Siggy: We kept things simple and enjoyed an intimate dinner at an Italian restaurant, Il Piccolo Ristoro, in Chelsea. We shared stories, enjoyed great food and wine, and celebrated the day!

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Elope in NYC

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1 hour of Videography

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Violinist (3 songs or less)

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Tell us about one of your most magical elopements in NYC!

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Team

How do I make our New York City elopement legal?

Can you get married the same day in New York City?

Can you get married in Central Park for free?

When is the best time to elope in New York City?

What are the most popular places to elope in New York City?

Karen Norian

Reading corner

A Central Park Wedding: Jenn and Michael's New York Elopement

How Couples from the UK Can Get Married in NYC

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

How to Elope in NYC

Patrycja & Marc's Fabulous Central Park Elopement

Arleshia and Quincy's Top of the Rock Ceremony Under the Stars

A Rooftop Elopement at MADE Hotel in New York City for Ursula & Daniel

How did you celebrate after?

Jenn & Michael’s Central Park Wedding

A NYC elopement that turned into a beautiful Central Park wedding

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

What attracted you to the New York elopement venue you eloped at?

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination?

What attracted you to the venue where you eloped? What are your favorite memories about eloping there?

How did you spend your time before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

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