New York City Elopement Guide
There is endless inspiration when you choose to plan a New York City elopement!! There’s the lights of Times Square, peaceful and serene Central Park, endless options for self-proclaimed foodies, and the amazing and unique architecture for beautiful photos. This NYC elopement guide includes all the info you need to know from sharing locations, activities to do, answering FAQs, and more!
Where is New York City?
New York City is located on the southern tip of New York. NYC is located right on the Hudson River; on the other side of the river is New Jersey.
Boroughs in NYC
There are 5 boroughs (or neighborhoods) in New York City.
- Manhatten
- Queens
- Brooklyn
- The Bronx
- Staten Island
Each borough has its own unique culture, lifestyle, and characteristics. If you’re wanting to explore multiple neighborhoods within your elopement day (or days), it does take some time to travel between each neighborhood – but it’s certainly possible to explore more than one neighborhood!
How to Get to NYC
There are 3 main airports to get into New York City:
- JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport is located in Queens, New York
- LGA – LaGuardia International Airport is located in East Elmhurst Queens, New York
- EWR – Newark International Airport is located in New Jersey
If you’re planning on driving in New York City, here’s a tip: don’t. I’m kidding!! But make sure to consider the busyness of the city and having to find parking (and most likely having to pay for parking, as well). I really recommend using public transportation and taxis or Uber/Lyft for the majority of your time getting around the city unless you’re an experienced city driver.
Why You Should Elope in New York City
Eloping in New York City is super easy and stress-free regarding getting a marriage license. There are also a ton of options for backdrops and locations (and most of them are free!). New York City is so diverse, welcoming, and inclusive towards everyone from all backgrounds and the LGBTQ+ community. Eloping in NYC also makes it easy to have a honeymoon either still in the city or traveling to upstate New York to the Catskill Mountains or to the Adirondack Mountains.
FAQs about Eloping in New York City
Do I need to live in or be from New York City to get a marriage license? No, you do not need to live in or be from New York City to get a marriage license from NYC.
How much does it cost to get a marriage license in New York City? It costs $65 to attain a marriage license in New York City. After attaining your marriage license, you have up to 60 days to get married. You can read more about the process and what you need to get your marriage license in NYC here.
Can we have a family member or friend perform the ceremony in NYC? A family member or friend can obtain a “One-Day Officiant Marriage License” from the Office of the City Clerk either in-person or online. Learn more info here.
Will we need a witness to get married in New York City? In New York, one witness is required to sign the marriage license. A witness can be a guest, a vendor, or you can ask a stranger that is hanging out near your ceremony. I’m always happy to sign your witness paper if you do not want any guests present at your elopement in NYC too!
Best Locations for Eloping in New York City
The options on where to get married in NYC are truly endless. Most (not all) public places are free to go to for photos.
Around the City
Manhattan
Manhattan has the classic New York City views with more local areas as you go downtown with the villages. This borough has so much to offer with a lot of really fun areas to create a full day of sightseeing, good food, and activities!
Some of my favorite Manhattan locations:
- Central Park
- The Top of the Rock
- Rockefeller Center / Ice Rink
- Bryant Park
- The NYC Public Library
- The Lincoln Center
- Union Square
- Madison Square Park
- The High Line
- The Vessel / Hudson Garden
- Any rooftop
- Grand Central
Central Park
Although Central Park is within Manhattan, Central Park deserves its own category since it’s such a big park. Central Park is the perfect location if you’re wanting to mix both nature and city vibes in one location. You’re able to get the skyline in the background of your photos and outdoorsy park photos with trees and some water, making it an awesome location for couples wanting both!
Some of my favorite Central Park locations:
- Gapstow Bridge
- Cop Cot
- Bethesda Fountain — check out this elopement here
- Bow Bridge
- Lake view
- Ladies Pavilion
- Bow Bridge
- Belvedere Castle
- Oak Bridge
- Shakespeare Garden
Brooklyn
Brooklyn has some of the best city views. You can get the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline all in one photo. From there, take a walk in Dumbo enjoying the views, eating a good meal, and end at the most iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge.
- Dumbo
- Manhattan Bridge
- Jane’s Carousel
- Ann’s warehouse
- Pebble Beach
- Manhattan Bridge Park
- A rooftop
- Prospect Park
- Botanic Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Williamsburg
- Domino Park
- LIC waterfront
New York City Wedding Venues
Even though you’re eloping, you could still consider getting married at a wedding venue (especially if you’re planning to have a few guests present) for privacy, access to heat or A/C depending on the time of year, bathroom availability, and for ADA accessibility. A lot of wedding venues typically give discounts if you get married on a weekday, which is something to consider. Also, there’s way more wedding venues all over NYC, but here’s a few ideas to get you started:
620 Loft and Garden
This beautiful spot allows for an intimate elopement in the middle of the city while completely avoiding the crowds of people. The loft is filled with tons of natural light and has high ceilings with a rooftop garden. It’s absolutely stunning against the concrete cityscape over Manhattan. Learn more here.
60 Les Penthouse Suite
This luxury hotel has stunning rooftop views of the city. This spot offers elopement packages (10 or less guests) and intimate wedding packages (100 guests or less) – and allows you to crash here for the night as well. It’s located right in the middle of the Lower East side. Get more info about getting married here.
The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel
This luxury hotel in Manhattan is gorgeous with tons of beautiful and unique architecture. This hotel has kept its Gothic-style despite the city modernizing. Even better, you can also crash here for the night after getting married. Learn more about getting married at The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel here.
The River Cafe
This quaint water-front restaurant is the perfect place to have a meal with guests after saying your vows. The restaurant has a fantastic view of the New York skyline from the location. They also offer custom menus, can create meals for a variety of dietary restrictions, and help you to celebrate in style. Learn more about having an event at The River Cafe here.
The Foundry
This beautiful industrial venue is located in Long Island. There’s a lot of space available, an indoor greenhouse, an outdoor courtyard with views of the NY skyline, and a fully equipped industrial kitchen. You can even eat under cozy lights. Everything about this venue is gorgeous!! Learn more about getting married at The Foundry here.
The Best Time to Get Married in New York City
Honestly, you cannot go wrong with eloping in New York City during any time of the year. New York City is truly so beautiful throughout the year! There are endless amounts of activities and events to do throughout the year, the city is so walkable, and has tons of good food to eat.
Weather: The weather is hot and humid during the summer with June, July, and August being the hottest months during the year. On the opposite side, January and February are the coldest and snowiest months. NYC gets the most rain in April, May, and June. The spring and fall months are the best months weather-wise with it not being too hot nor too cold!
Crowds: New York City is typically the most crowded during the summer months (June through August) and during the holiday season (from the end of November through the beginning of January). The best time to get married to avoid crowds is March through June and September through November. Spring and fall are the least crowded times of the year in NYC. Spring might be a bit rainier, but is still a great time to explore the city. Fall is the best time to check out the city crowd-wise – and you might even get some fall foliage.
Where to Stay in NYC
Hotels in NYC
Hampton Inn in Manhattan/Times Square
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg-Brooklyn
Airbnbs in NYC
Penthouse Studio East 50s with Roof Terrance
Brooklyn Private Cozy Artistic Haven
Modern Retreat | Yoga and Bicycle Rentals
Sunny Brownstone Studio in BedStuy Brooklyn
Manhattan Loft Studio Located Midtown NYC
Timeless Elegance | Lower East Side
NYC Escape | Sightseeing. Fitness Center
What to Do on Your Elopement Day in New York City
- Hang out in Central Park for a mix of nature and city vibes. Have a picnic lunch, say your vows in a private spot, and/or just walk around and admire the beauty (and to take some fun photos). Going earlier in the day is better to beat the crowds and for more privacy!
- Check out Top of the Rock for epic views of the city from a rooftop, including an iconic view of the Empire State Building. You can go during the day or at night to see the city all lit up. Buy tickets for Top of the Rock here.
- Go on a helicopter ride over the city. It’s an exhilarating adventure while also getting to see incredible views of New York City from above. There are multiple companies that offer helicopter tours in NYC.
- Take the ferry or a private boat to see the city from yet another viewpoint. There are multiple ferries that offer a variety of views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and more.
- Make reservations to eat a fancy meal at a new restaurant or just show up to your favorite go-to casual spot to eat at in New York City. NYC truly has any kind of food or meal you’re wanting on your wedding day!
- If your favorite movie or TV show as a couple is featured in New York City, check if any famous landmarks from it actually exist in New York City. Some restaurants, bars, coffee shops, museums, apartment buildings, etc. from movies/TV shows really do exist and operate in real life in NYC that you could try eating at or recreating a scene from. (Ask Google for “famous restaurants in nyc from movies”, “famous restaurant in nyc from X tv show”, etc.)
- Go totally ham on going to all of your favorite New York City tourist spots: Times Square, Washington Square Park, Grand Central, Radio City Music Call, The Met, etc. There’s truly SO many “must see/do” tourist attractions in NYC, so pick your top options to cover on your wedding day.
- Go to a sports game. There’s the NY Yankees and NY Mets (baseball); the NY Giants and NY Jets (football – although both of their home fields are actually in New Jersey); the NY Knicks (basketball); and the NY Rangers and NY Islanders (hockey).
- See a show on Broadway. I recommend buying tickets in advanced, but there’s always the option of buying tickets the day-of.
- Walk along The High Line. It was previously a freight rail line that closed in 1980 that has been turned into a public park on Manhattan’s West Side. There’s beautiful views of the city from here.
New York City Elopement Photographer
Well hey there – if you didn’t know me already, I’m Emily! I’m a New York City elopement photographer based in California. I spend a lot of time photographing adventure elopements of rad couples around the world. I’m obsessed with all things elopements, outdoor adventure, and am truly so grateful that I get to call this my job!!!
If you’re looking for a photographer for your New York City elopement who will:
- Photograph your beautiful New York City elopement ceremony and activities through storytelling photos that you can look back on for the rest of your life
- Help you come up with your dream elopement day and itinerary
- Help you find activities in the New York City area to make your elopement intentional, unique, and memorable
…then I’m your person!!!
Visit my website to learn more about me, get to know my approach to elopement photography, and then reach out to me if you think we’re a good fit. I cannot wait to hear from you and start planning your dream New York City elopement!!
Final Tips for Eloping in New York City
- Here is an NYC elopement I have done in the past
- Here is more NYC elopement inspo
- Should I Do a First Look at my Wedding? and Other Alternatives
- What to Do With Your Photos After Your Elopement
- 12 Ways to Have a Unique Elopement
- All-Day Elopement Timeline Examples
- Considering other potential elopement locations? Where to Elope on the East Coast
