New York City is at the top of the bucket list for travelers worldwide. The largest city in the USA is also a magical place for a wedding. Riding in a horse-drawn carriage up to the aisle, saying your vows on The High Line, or kissing the bride at Top of the Rock are all magical moments you can share during a destination wedding in NYC.
Ways to Celebrate Your Wedding in NYC
Whether you plan to elope (make sure you check out our list of dos and don’ts) or you’d like to plan out your NYC wedding itinerary with friends and family—NYC offers all types of destination weddings. No matter where you choose to elope or have a microwedding, we obtain the permits, handle photos and video, and make sure every detail for your big day is perfect.
Candlelight Elopement
If your perfect NYC destination wedding involves you and your partner only, a candlelight elopement is a perfect choice. 150 candles light up the forest floors around you in locations like Cop Cot Gazebo or Belvedere Castle. You will spend an evening in one of our favorite locations in Central Park—the setting for movies like Serendipity.
Don’t worry; if you’re planning a microwedding, we can accommodate up to 10 people.
Rooftop Wedding
There is no better place for a rooftop wedding than the city that never sleeps. Whether you want to be in the heart of the action in Midtown, or looking at Manhattan from across the East River in Dumbo, you can plan the perfect destination wedding in NYC.
You can plan a rooftop elopement at a public destination like Top of the Rock, or let us help you plan a private rooftop wedding at one of our favorite locations, like Midtown View Terrace—where you can add more personalized touches.
City Hall Microwedding
If you and a small group of your friends (up to 4 guests) want a low-key ceremony and save the big party for your NYC honeymoon, a city hall wedding is the way to go. While we can’t decorate the space itself, our planner Tatiana Caicedo has a few tricks to put a personal touch on the wedding within City Hall’s rules.
Planning a NYC Destination Wedding
- Legal Requirements
Before your big day in the Big Apple, you will need to get a marriage license. To do this, schedule an appointment ahead of time at the New York City Marriage Bureau in the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building. You can sign up for a virtual or in-person appointment on nyc.gov/cupid.
- Wedding Size/Style
Whether you plan to elope in New York City or celebrate with your friends and family, you should plan the details of your destination wedding in NYC ahead of time. Most pop-up and micro weddings have 20 people or fewer, with some venues only available for a few guests. You can have a religious ceremony or use our wedding planning services to find an officiant for you.
- Dress Rental
When you elope, you can plan your wedding details to meet your and your partner’s preferences, including what you wear. While you can find traditional dress rentals near many of our favorite NYC destination wedding locations, including near City Hall and Central Park, you’re also free to style your wedding attire exactly how you want. Maybe you’ll even find it in a LES thrift shop.
Destination weddings are a welcome alternative to traditional ceremonies that give couples more freedom over location, style, and the guest list. New York City’s iconic buildings and idyllic parks not only add excitement to your big day, but they provide a one-of-a-kind backdrop for photos that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
No matter where and how you picture your perfect NYC destination wedding, we can help! Contact us at info@daretodream.com to learn more about why NYC is perfect for a destination wedding.
It goes without saying that Top of the Rock has magnificent views of the NYC skyline and it has a direct view of the Empire State Building. Since the area can not be booked for a private event, be aware that the other guests will be taking pictures around as well. As mentioned earlier, there might be no view due to rain or heavy fog, but you will be notified prior to the entrance in this case.
