Central Park is the most popular location for New York City elopements. Covering almost 850 acres, it offers a variety of landscapes for weddings—ponds and waterfalls, rolling hills, gazebos, fountains, pavilions, and much more. One of the most filmed locations in the world, this historic 150+ year old civic treasure was visited by over 40 million visitors in recent years.
I’m always on the lookout for new spots to host beautiful ceremonies that offer as much privacy as possible, along with beautiful photo opportunities in America’s most famous park. At a recent wedding organized by the Simply Eloped team, we came upon a lovely spot—the Wisteria Pergola—mid park around 72nd Street, just south of the Bethesda Arcade and Fountain. The area played host to a sweet young couple from the UK.
The term pergola is not altogether familiar to many. A type of gazebo, the pergola is a shaded walkway or sitting area featuring vertical posts or pillars that support crossbeams with woody vines (like wisteria), interwoven. Central Park’s Conservatory Garden (104th-106th Street on Fifth Avenue) has a beautiful pergola of impressive size. However to marry in that location requires a relatively expensive permit for the day (yet, still a bargain by New York’s standards!).
