Wedding Officiant in NYC and the Hudson Valley
Judie L. Guild. NY Registration #77862. NewYorkOfficiant@gmail.com.
Day 40 of Winter: Brooklyn Bridge Wedding Officiant
C+B are native Long Islanders who lived in Park Slope for quite some time before receiving a job offer in California that one could not refuse. Because New York –and Brooklyn in particular– is so dear to their hearts, though, they decided to legally marry here with their two beautiful daughters and parents by their […]
MoreDay 39 of Winter: Brooklyn Winery Wedding Officiant
In addition to the larger room, the Brooklyn Winery has an adorable smaller room for very intimate gatherings with a dozen or two dozen guests. Very dimly lit, the room feels cozy, inviting, and warm. It suited N+E perfectly. This pair opted to exchange personal vows, and I’ve never before listened to personal vows with […]
MoreDay 38 of Winter: Shakespeare Garden Wedding Officiant
The lilies in the Shakespeare Garden were magnificiently blooming the day this pair married in early July. Truly magnificient. If any of my future couples love lilies, consider marrying in the Shakespeare Garden the last week of June, as well as the first and second weeks of July. Certainly, no guarantees exist. But I think […]
MoreDay 37 of Winter: Minton Terrace/ Angel of Waters’ Fountain Wedding Officiant
I bought a two rolls of Ilford SFX 200, which has an extended red sensitivity that makes it an “almost infrared film.” On landscapes, I love it with a red filter. On people, I’m not too crazy about the film, which I thought odd: infrared actually does a nice job of capturing people, and I […]
MoreDay 36 of Winter: Jefferson Market Garden Officiant
And here is another one of my couples who wisely opted to marry in a community garden!
MoreDay 35 of Winter: Creative Little Garden Wedding Officiant
I feel as though I’ve written this previously….I will never understand why more of my couples do not marry in community gardens. Firstly, the fee is not so awful (usually $250-500). Secondly, the fee supports green spaces run by real, everyday people. Thirdly, each garden has its own character: the Creative Little Garden is wonderfully […]
MoreDay 34 of Winter: iCi Restaurant (Brooklyn) Wedding Officiant
I know better. I really do. But M+S were looking too cute to resist about ten or fifteen minutes prior to the start of their ceremony. So I asked to take a photo (or rather two), and they agreed with smiles. I was already kicking myself for being silly enough to take a photo with […]
MoreDay 33 of Winter: Gapstow Bridge Wedding Officiant
Notice her unshoed feet and all those harsh shadows? Most wedding vendors understand why couples want to marry outside in the icy, cold center of winter or the bright heat of summer. Parks are pretty! Comfort levels are not so pretty. I am extra wary of park weddings in the winter; I cannot tell you […]
MoreDay 32 of Winter: High Line Wedding Officiant
The High Line is a marvelously fun and rather historical place at which to get married. The very tangible energy makes even tiny weddings and elopements feel more animated and exciting. Of course, since it is so popular for locals, tourists, and wedding and engagement photographer, please pick a time thoughtfully. Some of my couples […]
MoreDay 31 of Winter: Shakespeare Garden Wedding Officiant
Didn’t I just write that I married lots of couples in the Shakespeare Garden? It really is great location.
MoreDay 30 of Winter: Shaksepeare Garden Wedding Officiant
I marry couples all over Central Park. For some reason, the Shakespeare Garden was especially popular in the Spring and Early Summer.
MoreDay 29 of Winter: Pebbles’ Beach/Brooklyn Bridge Park Wedding Officiant
I love this location for intimate wedding ceremonies. The constant roar of the subways making its way over the Manhattan Bridge is the only serious drawback to getting married on the Pebbles’ Beach, which is a part of Brooklyn Bridge Park. When considering this location, remember that the subway runs consistently; that it is loud, […]
MoreDay 27 of Winter: Wedding Cake
I do not eat much cake at all. Nonetheless, I love gazing at photos of cakes. A well-done cake is a work of art in itself. This cake probably falls into the category of “simple wedding cakes.” Still, it’s lovely!
MoreDay 26 of Winter: Top of the Rock Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 25 of Winter: Hernshead Wedding Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 24 of Winter: Central Park Wedding Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 23 of Winter: Guerrilla Wedding Officiant (Museum)
If you are as low-key as these two Canadians, you too can have a quick, guerrilla elopement in the Metropolitan Museum of Art! In fact, the Met is a great space for a very sweet and simple winter marriage ceremony. I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely […]
MoreDay 22 of Winter: Conservatory Gardens Wedding Officiant
Technically contained within the borders of Central Park around Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street, the Conservatory Gardens are run by a true public-private partnership. Do not try a guerrilla ceremony here. Ever. You will get booted, particularly if you wear wedding attire, have flowers, or are there with relatives and friends on a weekend. (Two of […]
MoreDay 21 of Winter: Little Red Lighthouse Wedding Officiant
Situated in Fort Washington Park nearly underneath the George Washington Bridge, the Little Red Lighthouse is an absolutely fabulous place for a marriage ceremony, and I have lots of fun officiating weddings there…in nice, spring or early fall weather (versus the hot summer or cold winter). However, it is a teeny pain to get here; […]
MoreDay 20 of Winter: Prospect Park Wedding Officiant
Prospect Park is a stunning public place. Besides the Boathouse, many other truly beautiful spots exist, such as the Grecian Peristyle, Vale, Pergola, Musical Pagoda, the Shelter in the background of the last photo below, and this quiet spot next to the water in the lower part of the park. Strikingly handsome, these two […]
MoreDay 19 of Winter: Top of the Rock Wedding Officiant
Due to its outdoor and indoor possibilities, Top of the Rock is a fabulous place for a winter elopement in New York! I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x […]
MoreDay 18 of Winter: Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Wedding Officiant
When the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens opens to applications for weddings in the first month of the year, you need to shout one quick “hurray” and then hurry to the office to get a permit: folks covet these permits. Among the many places in which I could officiate weddings, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is among […]
MoreDay 17 of Winter: Shakespeare Garden Wedding Officiant
In April, May, and June, my favorite place in Central Park is the Shakespeare Garden. I love this spot year-round, yet particularly for Spring wedding ceremonies. The flowers are blooming and the air smells sweet. The trees also offer great shade to shelter us from the hot sun. And the location itself tends to be […]
MoreDay 16 of Winter: Ladies Pavilion Wedding Officiant for Same-Sex Couple
I feel almost queasy in the emotional sense writing this entry. These beautiful women enjoyed a commitment ceremony in Hawaii years ago. In Spring 2012, they contacted me to marry in Central Park. A few days prior to their wedding, the woman to the viewer’s left contacted me to postpone: her partner was taken suddenly […]
MoreDay 15 of Winter: Grand Central Elopement Officiant
Grand Central is extremely popular for elopements and small weddings in the winter. I applaud this choice. You can far more easily move a ceremony outside than move it inside. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve officiated outdoor winter weddings for couples who really thought it would be magically warm on their wedding […]
MoreDay 14 of Winter: NYC Park Wedding Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 13 of Winter: Central Park Wedding Officiant
Many of the couples now reading this entry are my future couples. As you consider where you might elope or plan an intimate wedding, do contemplate tying the knot in the Ladies Pavilion, which is what these two guys did. It’s adorable, picturesque, near the water, has great skyline views, and offers shelter. Nonetheless, do […]
MoreDay 12 of Winter: Coney Island Wedding Officiant
Happy New Year! As winter enters its coldest month, here are photos to inspire thoughts of warm days on the beach. These were taken on different days. I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned […]
MoreDay 11 of Winter: Lower Manhattan Wedding Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 10 of Winter: Summit Rock Wedding Officiant
These two women married at Summit Rock — a very quiet niche in Central Park. They were incredibly cute and totally stylish. Maybe because both are in the theater business?
MoreDay 9 of Winter: Wedding Film Project
Today is our anniversary! Due to my allergies, having flowers around is a bit of a hassle. Here are two of my couple’s fake bouquets. (I admit that I still like the real flowers, though!) I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do […]
MoreDay 8 of Winter: NYC Wedding Officiant
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These […]
MoreDay 7 of Winter: Tryon Park Wedding Officiant
Yeah, it’s Kentmere 400 once again. I am feeling a slight sadness only lightened by the memory of marrying this couple in Fort Tryon Park, which is perhaps my favorite park in Manhattan. Despite my dislike of the film, however, I love the images where one can clearly see how the green filter allows different […]
MoreDay 6 of Winter: Queens Botanical Garden Wedding Officiant
I love be a wedding celebrant in Queens, especially when couples ask me to officiate their weddings in the Queens Botanical Garden. I am at once sad and happy that I used Kentmere 400. Sad, because this film does not handle difficult lighting situations well –shade or bright sunshine. Happy, because I learned this bit […]
MoreDay 5 of Winter: Non-Wedding Film Photos
I am spending the day with my family. So it seems only natural to post some NWR photos of them. These are actually from the same roll (Kentmere 400, which I’d probably never buy again). The two of Liam were taken as we waited for one of our couples in Fort Tryon Park. The others […]
MoreDay 4 of Winter: Wedding Film Project
Today is a holiday for many, and this is indeed a holiday season for even more — Jewish, Christian, and Pagan alike. So here is a special post with more photos. This couple married in a “family ceremony” at 5 Pointz. When Liam and I work together, I am often with the couple longer, and […]
MoreDay 3 of Winter: Wedding Film Project
Having paid Adorama just over two hundred dollars for the new Minolta SRT 101 and prime lens, some film, and four filters, I was so excited to carry around the camera! I actually took the first roll to a lab in Manhattan, paid too much (at least in contrast to The Darkroom) just to be […]
MoreDay 2 of Winter: Brooklyn Restaurant Wedding Officiant
I am always amused by the strange coincidence that I am often called upon to officiate wedding ceremonies in certain locations a few times per season. I received lot of inquiries for ceremonies at iCi Restaurant this year; my schedule permitted me to accept three. Here is the first. This is actually the last time […]
MoreWinter Solstice: Day 1 of the Wedding Film Project
Years ago, my Mom gave us her old Minolta SRT 102 camera with a Rokkor 45 f2.8 lens. I used it for a bit — you can actually see some great color photos in the archives. Then I picked up a medium format, TLR Minolta Autocord. I adore that camera, especially being able to look […]
MoreIt was raining cats & dogs and lions & tigers & bears
J+A wanted to marry on the Brooklyn Bridge. I wanted to marry j+A on the Brooklyn Bridge. And Liam wanted to photograph J+A on the Brooklyn Bridge and throughout DUMBO. After all, the groom wore a kilt, and the bride lovingly made her dress. They were so sweet and so cute. The forecast suggested the […]
MoreTwo guys return home to get married in Brooklyn
B+C lived for years in a beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood. Not too long ago, a job offer too amazing to turn down came their way. They packed their bags and moved to California. Still, they kept their home in Brooklyn. And when Marriage Equality passed last year, they decided to “make-it-legal” after eleven years of friendship […]
MoreJefferson Market Garden Wedding
During warm months, garden weddings and waterfront weddings are my two favorites. If the space is private, I confess that I feel relieved. Most of my couples planning informal ceremonies opt for public spaces. And I cherish public parks. At the same time, having officiated so many park marriage ceremonies with strangers taking photos as […]
MoreShakespeare Garden, Central Park Wedding Officiant
I’ve married a remarkable number of couples lately in the Shakespeare Garden. I think the shade and relative seclusion of the space is drawing my couples to this small niche. K+M married in the morning on a hot, although not quite stifling, day. Both looked gorgeous in blue. I love when my couples forgo traditional […]
MoreA heartfelt ceremony in the West Village
I’ve married lots and lots of ladies lately! I’ve also married lots of guys, but very few opted for professional photographers at all. J+G originally planned to marry on the High Line. They changed course, though. Instead, after taking some photos on and around the High Line, they exchanged very personal vows before a few […]
MoreAn intimate wedding becomes an elopement
S+S first contacted me with plans to invite family and friends to their June marriage ceremony in the Shakespeare Garden. A few e-mails later, they booked formally. Weeks rolled by. Then the groom sent an e-mail canceling: they were having a really hard time coordinating schedules with family and friends. A few weeks later, he […]
MoreA few thank you notes
Hi Judie, These are incredible! We LOVE them! The family picture is too funny because it is our family and all of the “graffiti family” around us! On another note, we have a thank you coming your way soon but need a bit more time to get it right. Nick and I truly can’t thank […]
MoreBrighton Beach/Coney Island Marriage Ceremony
These women genuinely appear as though they are ready to chill on the beach! Last year, I experienced awful luck with my beach ceremonies: it kept raining! Although it did sprinkle during this couple’s ceremony, which is why we took cover in the gazebo, the skies soon cleared. I believe my luck has shifted. By […]
MoreA Gorgeous Queens Botanical Garden Wedding Ceremony
I love being a wedding officiant for mid-day garden ceremonies anywhere in New York. Each borough has its own Botanical Garden, and I’ve officiated marriage ceremonies in all for both our local couples and destination weddings. As it turns out, I live in the same neighborhood as this very pretty couple, who tied the knot […]
MoreThe Fabulous Light and Shade of Tryon Park
For the love of comfort, please follow G+J’s lead and consider how you will feel on your wedding day. I think G+J, who are both newlyweds and new home owners, got it all right. Making sure you will feel overall comfy on your big day means choosing a place that you not only love, but […]
MoreThe beauty of a quiet marriage ceremony in the Ramble
I love the Ramble, and I love the way these two Long Islanders interacted before, during, and after their wedding ceremony. Despite a touch of chaos and concerns about other parts of their lives, they were so calm, serene, and emotive on the day they married. I am not sure if they embraced worries as […]
MoreWedding Ceremony at 5 Pointz
A+N planned their NYC elopement months in advance, and their hearts were set on marrying surrounded by the playful, constantly changing graffiti at 5 Pointz in Long Island City. When we arrived, we all encountered a booth selling advertising for 5 Pointz and new artists preparing their redecorating plans. Fortunately, a basic fee ($100) paid […]
MoreWhen you marry, you should feel free to be yourselves
S+S had some serious fun on their wedding day. And I had fun marrying them too! These two women brought along friends from home, another guest took a bus from a nearby state, and S’s daughter and partner attended as well. We are so happy that everyone felt comfortable enough to relax and “reveal their […]
MoreCop Cot Wedding Ceremony
Just over one year ago, the lovely and low-key E+W traveled from Ireland to marry in the Ladies Pavilion. This May, I married their wonderful friends (G+E), who also traveled from Ireland! These two couples are among the nicest, cutest, and gentlest couples I’ve ever met. In fact, both pairs were together for years and […]
MoreBrooklyn Bridge Marriage Ceremony / DUMBO Wedding Tour
In the urban world, summer commences with Memorial Day weekend. S+J married in mid-May on a weekday in the middle of the day. If you want to marry on the Brooklyn Bridge, please, please consider the timing during the summer. Please, please imagine the crowds that will be present normally. Then envision a Saturday or […]
MoreProspect Park Boathouse wedding for a pretty and sweet couple
A bit about these local New Yorkers: Shamik and Shannon met in their senior years of high school during a Model United Nations’ conference at Yale. They were both on the future Security Council, where Shamik demonstrated a knack for dominating debates. His skills impressed Shannon enough to compel her to walk near him to […]
MoreThen and Now: An Incredibly Feel-Good Moment
Back in August 2008, I performed a ceremony in the Conservatory Gardens for a couple from Queens. I dragged Liam with me for company, which proved to be a good idea, since the couple was over one hour late and because…… As I officiated, Liam snapped a few photos just for fun (well, for my […]
MoreParents marry during their NYC vacation–a “marrymoon”
T+S now hold the record for “our couple who covered the most ground by foot.” After their ceremony alongside the Glen Span Arch (Central Park West & 103rd Street), we walked down to the Bethesda Terrace (Central Park West/5th Avenue and 72nd Street). Yes, many of couples have covered twenty-three blocks inside the park, but […]
MoreTiny marriage ceremony in a hotel suite
Small ceremonies in hotel suites are great alternatives for those who prefer a private service away from prying eyes. They are also fantastic during cold or steamy hot temperatures, as well as when rain cascades. A+S married in the New York Palace. The Waldorf-Astoria and Roosevelt Hotels also offer lovely suites and beautiful niches throughout […]
MoreA few thank you notes
Hi Judie, Hope all is well. We already received the marriage license. Thank you for officiating at our wedding and helping make our day special. We received so many compliments on the ceremony. Someone commented that it felt like a fairy tale because of your story like voice. Thanks again! And we wish you all […]
MoreA Beautifully Blue, If Windy, Spring Day Wedding
A little bit about this bride and groom (their story in my words): Jamie met Jesse and his two daughters, Lex and Liv, through e-harmony about two years ago. Although Jamie was busy enjoying single life, she was impressed by Jesse. A fantastic parent, Jesse also quickly proved to be a fantastic companion during their […]
MoreA guy, a girl, and a vintage yellow cab
As much as my spouse sincerely loves cars and i-products, I do not. The shadow of radical politics will never depart from my mind. But I do like most vintage things. Even I admit that vintage cars are very nifty. And I do think that any couple planning myriad activities or photos on their wedding […]
MoreA lovely couple from Queens marries in Central Park
J+P opted for a most unusual ceremony and reception arrangement. I’ve married couples who planned private ceremonies immediately (versus the next day or week or month, which is very common) followed by a larger reception previously, but most invite parents or siblings to witness the exchange of vows. This pattern–a local couple who truly eloped […]
MoreDear Blog:
I confess that I neglected you over the past week. And I know that this neglect may continue for another week. Please show mercy. I married two dozen couples in April, and I will marry about thirty–perhaps more– in May. Amid these wonderful ceremonies that are keeping me busy with writing, travel, officiating, and e-mails, […]
MoreA family wedding
M+T first visited the High Line back in 2009, which was its first year as a park–when it was about half its current size and when M+T were expecting a little person. On a working trip to NYC a few short weeks ago, they decided to marry. With less than two weeks to “plan,” they […]
MoreA Brit and Long Islander travel from the New York Palace to Grand Central to exchange wedding vows
Most of my couples who marry in Grand Central invite a few guests at most. Until T+D’s marriage ceremony there, I think my “largest wedding” in this beautiful terminal included just twenty guests or so. With a forewarning to thirty of their nearest and dearest about noise and chaos, though, T+D bravely married on a […]
MoreSometimes you need to skip a few states to really get married by an officiant
Most *choose* to elope or marry in an intimate wedding. Sadly, due to cowardice and ignorance, some couples must elope. C+N drove from the mid-West to get married here in Queens, NYC. In part, they did choose to come here. Since they are planning a celebration with family and friends in the future, though, I […]
MoreSophisticated and Relaxed Home Wedding Ceremony
T+T are an elegant pair. They planned to marry in Battery Park on the Esplanande until cold and rain deterred these plans. Fortunately, they lived nearby. When I casually inquired about what the rest of their wedding day would hold, the groom replied “dinner and a trip to get some M&Ms in the evening.” The […]
MoreOne of my most informal wedding ceremonies ever
Over a year has past since I posted a few photos of a couple who wore jeans when they exchanged vows. As I began creating this post, I received an e-mail from one of my future brides: she planned to adorn a casual white dress until some friends “dragged” her to a bridal salon where […]
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