A Spring Wedding in Wagner Cove, Central Park

Laura is from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and her groom, Iain, is from Ealing, London. They met in November 2007 when they were both traveling in New Zealand. Laura and Iain got engaged in Peacehaven, Brighton on a weekend away. They had been together for five years, and lived together for four years before marrying in March 2013. Getting married was important to them to show that they are a part of each other's families.

They both wanted a destination wedding, and has discussed a hot location, but Laura decided against it for “vanity reasons - being too hot and having bad frizzy hair in the humidity” and they agreed that they could go somewhere warm for their honeymoon. Laura said that they chose to get married in Central Park “because it is classic, somewhere I've always wanted to go back to and it offers something for all of our guests, there is plenty for everyone to see and do.”

Laura liked the idea of getting married outdoors and always had from watching films growing up. She noticed that many American films featuring weddings have them outside in gardens or by lakes. She liked the relaxed look of an outdoor wedding and she knew there were some lovely parts of Central Park and great opportunities for photos. Quite a lot of their family members were able to attend and they were all really excited about a wedding in Central Park and such a unique wedding location.

Laura said that she was concerned about the New York weather – the main drawback of the outdoors wedding, but their days was beautiful, if on the cold side. Laura said their wedding day saw the best weather of their trip to New York. She also worried a little about whether all would be fine with the license, a common concern for couples because they have to collect it from City Hall in New York when they get there. Laura said that in the end it actually only took and hour and it was quite straightforward.

The wedding ceremony itself was held at Wagner Cove because they had wanted privacy. Their favourite pictures were taken on Bow Bridge, because they felt they looked most natural there. This is a popular spot, because they bride is so pretty and the background of the Lake, tress and Manhattan skyline are so iconic.

Laura and Ian had arranged a limo to take themselves and their guests back to the hotel for a three course champagne lunch in a private suite with musicians. Then later on they all got changed and went to the revolving restaurant for drinks at the Marriott Hotel in Times Square. They went to quite a few other places while they were in New York, I had recommended Sparks Steakhouse to them, which they also liked, although they found the wine list rather pricey. They also went to the lounge in the Renaissance Hotel where they have fabulous wall to ceiling windows with great views of Times Square.

Laura said “we had a perfect wedding day; blue sky, sun, lovely, fresh Spring day. It was relaxed and open.” They had fifteen guests at their wedding, but Laura said that the “passers by in the Park made our wedding day - complimenting and congratulating us, cheering when I arrived at Wagner Cove and my groom turned around to see me, filming and photographing during the walk down from Strawberry Fields- I felt like a celebrity. I'm usually a shy person but in bride mode it really made me feel good and like it was important event that everyone was pleased about and happy for us.” I hear this a lot from couples, they don't expect that they will want the attention but New Yorkers are always so pleased to see a wedding in Central Park their positivity and congratulations bring up the mood of the wedding. Laura said she got some lovely photos, “such great shots in different Park locations and a video, I would recommend getting married in Central Park.” Thanks for sharing your story with us, Laura and Iain, and we wish you the best of luck for your future together!

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