NYC Insider’s Tip: Where to Marry

Couples coming to New York to marry face an embarrassment of riches in choosing a spot for their nuptials. Even those who know they want to marry in Central Park must choose from dozens of popular spots for the wedding from the Cop Cot Gazebo and Gapstow bridge on the southern end of the park to the Ladies’ Pavilion, Shakespeare Garden, Bethesda Foundation,and Belvedere Castle to the west to the Conservatory Garden on the north end. Each, of course, has its own unique characteristics, histories, and charms.

Of course, in a city of 7 million, there are other iconic spots for a ceremony including the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Rockefeller Center Promenade, Battery Park, and the Staten Island Ferry!

To assist my couples traveling from another American state or abroad, I have created a fun blog to provide a bit of history and “insider’s information” about their potential as a small wedding venue. I have added slide shows that include photos of some of my couples who have married in the park. I am eager to provide clear, concise, and visually appealing information, in one easy location. Please visit it—and often, as I am continually updating it with innovative “NYC Wedding Spots.”

The blog can be found right here!

NYC Insider’s Tip: Bouquets on a Budget!

Even with a small destination wedding in New York, bouquets and other flowers can add up to serious money. But the savvy bride can find plentiful alternatives to high-end floral designers. For those visiting New York for the first them, they will be pleasantly surprised by inexpensive flower bouquets at virtually every corner. In my experience, one of the hallmarks of virtually any New York neighborhood is the Bodega. The word comes from the Spanish word la bodega, meaning grocery store. In other parts of the country, these would be Convenience Stores. In any event, nearly all bodegas offer a surprisingly large selection of flowers, both single varieties and mixed bouquets. For instance, around any corner or down the street from where I live, I can pick up a dozen roses, of any color, for about $10. Daisies, lilies, peonies and much, much more are there for the taking. The cost conscious bride can easily locate pretty ribbon and possibly small decorative objects and Presto! A lovely bouquet for your special day.

A truly exciting option is a trip down to the flower district. While some large cities have a floral area open to the public, New York has a vast, diverse collection of shops and wholesalers. In the garment district area, around 28th-29th and 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), the adventurous bride and her entourage can explore shop after shop of unimaginable delights—all fresh and priced well below regular commercial florists. In addition, you can find any accessories needed to create an innovative, beautiful arrangement. Finally, a craft project such as this might be just what a lady needs to soothe her nerves before the big event! Contact me if you would like suggestions about particular stores that can help you with your wedding day.

NYC: Insider’s Tip – the Library Hotel

There is a terrific moment in the first Sex and the City movie when Carrie Bradshaw, everyone’s favorite columnist about romance, realizes that she can have her wedding at the incomparable New York Public Library. While we now know that her walk down the aisle was a circuitous one, the movie raised the prospect of ideal wedding spots for books lovers and others. Soon I will be marrying a lovely couple from Glasgow, Scotland. For their destination wedding, they have selected The Library, a boutique hotel on Madison Avenue, near the actual NYPL. The hotel is part of the HK Hotels group, with nifty properties dotting the Big Apple. Part of the charm of the hotel is the fact that the floors are organized by the Dewey Decimal card cataloging system—yes, the same system you found in your primary school library, years ago! The rooms on each floor are enveloped by hundreds of books on a particular subject. So if a guest is interested in history, she should request a room on the ninth floor; the arts, the seventh floor. The twelfth floor—focused on title about religion—includes books on ancient religions, new age topics, Native American practices, and African and Eastern religious philosophy, among others. Brilliant!

Custom weddings, held daily at The Library, are situated on the top floor atrium area, flooding with light and views of the City. Jayla Hughes, the sales and events manager, at the hotel, handles wedding coordination activities, stands ready to assist “destination wedding” brides and grooms with big tasks and small. According to Hughes, the number of couples coming to New York for destination weddings is increasing in recent years. Check out the amenities at The Library as you search for wedding spots in the Big Apple.