Practical Information

Weather: For outdoor weddings, late Spring, early Summer, and Fall are your best bets. For indoor weddings, you might still want to avoid mid-winter's cold and mid-summer's heat and humidity. However, if your heart is set on a romantic winter wedding in New York, you can plan your itinerary around particularly cozy venues, and plan your wardrobe to include layers! Be advised as well that the holiday season in New York can be very busy for venues and vendors...plan well in advance if you're considering a date near Christmas or Hanukah.

New York City Convention and Visitor's Bureau 1(877)FUN-IN-NY

Parks, Monuments and Historical Sites

For information on licenses, and other requirements:

New York State Department of Health

New York City Marriage Bureau

Unique Vendors and Venues

The first glimpse of New York for many of our ancestors was the view from Ellis Island. The island's 360-degree view is still spectacular; share it with your guests! It is now possible to have your wedding and reception at this historical site. (212-363-3206) Your guests can arrive by boat, as their ancestors did, and cross the lawn by the light of the Statue of Liberty. You can hold the event outside, under a tent (permits can run $20,000), or celebrate in the Registry Room, whose brick walls and high ceilings afford an incredible sense of history...and plenty of room for dining and dancing.

Consider sophisticated cocktails and champagne to accompany dinner by Great Performances (212-337-6076) the venue's caterer. The music, too, should be pure New York, such as Sinatra classics and New York swing performed well into the night by a world-class dance band orchestra.

New York City is known for many things, but not for being inexpensive. There are many extraordinary and very pricey venues, but New York City also offers great variety. With creativity you can fashion a singular, wonderful event without sticker shock. Many people's vision of a romantic Manhattan wedding happens to be the least expensive: a civil ceremony at City Hall! Or consider a wedding in Central Park. Onlookers and well-wishers add to the fun, and the money you save on your ceremony location can be put towards your reception dinner, or honeymoon accommodations. Another Central Park option is The Boathouse, which can accommodate parties of 100-230 year round in their Lake Room, and which also offers boats and gondolas to rent. Check out these pictures of a very glamorous and romantic long weekend in New York complete with a wedding ceremony performed on a gondola.

New York's historic hotels make classic (and convenient) wedding venues. Each has dedicated wedding staffs, tremendous experience and know-how, and impeccable service. Some of the best are The Waldorf Astoria (which hosted the wedding party of Princess Grace and Prince Ranier) (212 355 3000), The Pierre New York (212 838-8000), and The St. Regis (212-753-4500).

If you want pure New York elegance, and are willing to pay for it, consider renting the Otto Kahn or James Burden mansios for your wedding and reception (212-722-4745 ext 112). The Otto Kahn mansion overlooks Central Park, and can accommodate up to 120 guests. The James Burden mansion includes a ballroom, music room, and banquet hall, and can accommodate 280 guests.

Another exquisite mansion locale is the historic Gotham Hall (212-244-4300). Its gilded ballroom with inlaid marble floors is Art Nouveau magnificence. It also offers a number of other rooms for smaller, more intimate gatherings. The warm elegance of the Oak Room, with leather chairs, fireplace, and private bathroom would make an unforgettable space for the bride and bridesmaids to prepare.

Stan Weist is a great resource for music for New York weddings, whether your heart is set on a ballroom dance band, steel drums, a mariachi group or bagpipers. For the best variety of tunes, to insure dancing all night long, consider hiring a DJ, or mix it up with a spirited band that will follow your lead, such as In The Moment.

The only trouble you'll have finding a photographer in NYC is choosing among the many terrifically talented professionals. Corbin Curkin is known also for his travel and fashion work as well as his exquisite wedding coverage; often in black and white. Barnaby Draper Studios features award winning photo & video documentaries; based in New York, they also cover destination events.

Whichever space you choose, Manhattan has any number of talented floral designers who can transform that space with artistry and enchantment. One of our favorites is Isabelle Bosquet, whose company is Fleurisa. She has a reputation for being a "designer's designer," having done events for some of New York's most prestigious artists and fashion designers. Look in our Wedding Gallery for pictures of Isabelle's own country wedding to artist John Morra.

For gorgeous, custom leather bound wedding albums, hand decorated in 22karat gold, consider Albums, Albums, Albums. Kate's Paperie is a terrific place to go to browse or shop for anything paper-related, from invites to place cards.

Planning Your New York City Wedding

Need help bringing all of your ideas and plans together? Contact the team at Lisa Light Ltd. for a consultation. Petals and Wine describe themselves as "romance concierges" who specialize in romantic events for 2 to 100 in New York City. For day-of services and event coordination, consider See Jane Run Destination Events to insure that everything comes together just as you dreamed it would.