Where to Get Married in Central Park

I would be honored to be your NYC registered wedding officiant for your wedding in Central Park! Eloping with only a witness or two present in Central Park is very common. Intimate weddings with twenty or more relatives and friends surrounding marrying couples are very common too. Rarely will a few hours pass without a sighting of newlyweds taking photos or a couple exchanging wedding vows in this 800+ urban oasis. The Park provides many beautiful spaces. Some are more natural landscapes, and others are a fantastic mix of trees, water, and the city skyline. Central Park offers bridges, ponds, wooded areas, gardens, gazebos, and more dramatic structures.

The NYC Parks’ Department offers permits for $25. The permit is not mandatory for gatherings with fewer than twenty guests. However, if you marry when the weather is warmer or marry in a popular setting (i.e. the Ladies Pavilion), I very strongly advise that secure the permit anyway. Couples must apply at least twenty-one days in advance.

Here is a list of popular locations for weddings: Angel of Waters’ Fountain and Bethesda Terrace (offers ample cover); Ladies Pavilion (gazebo with some seating); Wagner’s Cove (minimal cover); Belvedere Castle Plaza (one larger + one smaller gazebo); Chambers Landing in the Ramble (very minimal covering); West Side Rustic Shelter ( some cover); Cop Cot (lots of seating for guests but minimal cover); Dene Shelter/House of Dreaming; Ramble (varies niches); Bow Bridge; Gapstow Bridge (many niches around it); Hernshead Rocks; Cat Rock; Shakespeare Garden (lovely for elopements); Cherry Hill; Turtle Pond; Conservatory Waters (not to be confused with the Conservatory Gardens); Glen Span Arch (northern area of park).

Below is a sample of the most popular spaces chosen by couples. I have officiated weddings in many, many other areas of the park too.

Bow Bridge Wedding. Photo taken by http://DeNuevaPhoto.com