The Top 10 Best Places for a Central Park Micro Wedding or Elopement
There are so many great places to have a micro wedding in NYC. As an elopement photographer, I’ve captured elopements and micro weddings everywhere from Top of the Rock, the back of the Staten Island Ferry, hotel rooftops, to tiny community gardens in the East Village. If you’re looking for tucked away spots to have your wedding or elopement, I’d love to help you find them. One of the most popular spots for elopements and micro weddings in NYC will always be Central Park!
If you’re looking for where to have your Central Park Micro Wedding, this post is for you. Central Park is HUGE. Within the park there are so many hidden nooks and pathways and there are loads of wonderful places to have a wedding or elopement. This post will focus on some of my favorites and the most popular, but if you don’t see anything that catches your eye here, reach out, this list is by no means exhaustive. As a Central Park Wedding Photographer, I’m always happy to recommend other places and help find the perfect spot for you!
First, there are a few things to consider when planning where to have your micro wedding in Central Park.
Who are you bringing to your Central Park Wedding?
How many people are you bringing to your micro wedding? What counts as a micro wedding varies widely for each couple. I regularly photograph Central Park elopements where it is just the couple, myself and an officiant. However, for some, they’d like a few close friends or family to be present, which is great. Knowing how many guests is helpful in determining which venue would be best for you as you don’t want to cram a big group into a tiny space.
Do you any of your guests need a seat? There are a few spots where a grandparent or other guests with mobility issues could easily be seated. Some spots are also more easily accessible than others.
What kind of view do you want for your small wedding in Central Park?
Would you like to get married with a view of the skyline? The Belvedere Castle? We can do that! Or we can just be close enough so you can get photos with family with skyline right after.
Is being covered from the elements important to you?
There are a few spots that are more covered then others, some are more out in the open. We can always bring umbrellas even it does decide to rain.
How private do you want your Central Park Micro Wedding to be?
This is a tricky one for small weddings and elopements in Central Park as it is a public park and nowhere is ever going to be completely closed off. There are a few spots that are certainly quieter than others. If privacy is a concern, I always highly recommend opting for early in the morning. The earlier you go, the less likely you will be to face a crowd for portraits or the ceremony.
So where should you get married in Central Park?
Below are a list of some options, and as I mentioned, if you don’t see anything that strikes your fancy, let me know, I’m always happy to hunt out more spots, the options are virtually endless in the park! This post doesn’t even explore on the North Woods, the Harlem Meer, Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond, or Bow Bridge so if you’re looking for options, don’t be shy, we’ll find something for you.
Ladies Pavilion & The Rocks at Hernshead
The Ladies Pavilion is one of the most popular places for weddings in Central Park. It’s quite central to other photo locations and offers some cover from the elements. It also provides two benches for guests on either side if you have relatives who need a seat.
Other things to note: it’s fairly accessible, no stairs are required, and it’s directly down a path from Central Park West.
Permit Required: No, but recommended during busy season/hours to reserve the space.
Guests: I’d say comfortably around 10. With most outside the pavilion. You could do more, but it will get crowded very quick.
Privacy: You’ll have the pavilion to yourself, but park goers will be walking past and may stop to watch.
The Rocks at Hearnshead
I include this spot in tandem with Ladies Pavilion as it’s directly adjacent. I’ve only done a couple ceremonies here, but I love this spot. It offers awesome views of the midtown skyline and requires a touch of adventure to reach.
Notes: This spot is not accessible for any guests with mobility issues and no permits are issued as it’s not a defined space for weddings.
Guests: 1-3, this is not a big space for guests.
Privacy: Totally dependent on time of day, but generally you’re open to the public and this is a busier spot in the park right next to the Ladies Pavilion.
Cop Cot
This is the biggest shelter in the park and great if you’re having a slightly bigger affair. It’s somewhat covered, pending the season. In the summer and fall the vines fill in and provide some shelter from passing rain and shade from the sun. It’s also very accessible, no stairs, but a brief uphill walk from Central Park south. There’s no view from within the shelter, but the skyline views are available for photos right outside.
Guests: You can have a fairly big crowd here, 25 guests would be comfortable and there are benches around the pavilion.
Permits: If you’re having a bigger wedding here, it may be wise to get a permit so you can have the space reserved.
Privacy: You would have privacy within the shelter and there aren’t too many folks walking by. While not required, this is another spot where a reservation/permit can be good to make sure you have dibs on the space unless you’re going very early morning.
Dene Shelter
I love this shelter and it’s very under utilized for weddings! There are skyline views right outside, and even somewhat visible from the entrance. There are benches along the side for guests who may need them.
Guests: About 5-10 can be comfortable here. It’s located along a flat path so accessible for guests who may have mobility issues.
Permits: Not required, but having one reserves the space for you just in case.
Privacy: Fairly private. There can be people wandering outside, but it’s not nearly as busy as around Ladies Pavilion.
Cat Rock
Probably the premiere spot in the park if you’re looking for skyline views. As such, it can get busy depending the weather and the time of day/week, so plan accordingly. It’s not really a space you can get a permit for, more just a show up and go for it kind of spot.
Guests: You could have as many as you like as it’s an open space. But I’d say 10 would be a good number and there’s no seating. You have to enter over a few roots and dirt path, but otherwise it’s fairly accessible.
Privacy: Not at all, but earlier morning will provide fewer onlookers.
Bethesda Terrace
This is probably the most popular spot for tourists in the park. So keep that in mind for crowd control. I don’t normally recommend doing a ceremony here because it is so busy. However, it is the one spot in the park that is completely covered, so on a rainy day, it can be a lifesaver, and will also be fairly empty on a poor weather day.
Guests: I wouldn’t plan for too many since there are already usually large crowds. That said, since it’s not a super enclosed space more folks will be able to fit.
Privacy: It’s a crowded spot, so even in morning hours it’s likely you’d have an onlooker or two. As the day goes on there will almost always be musicians playing underneath, something to keep in mind as well.
Ramble with San Remo Towers
I’ve been shooting at this spot more often lately and I really like it. It’s nicely secluded, though there are often people walking by on the path farther back. It has a nice view of the towers, but isn’t quite as popular as other spots. It’s a short walk from Bow Bridge, so we’re very close to all the traditional Central Park spots. In addition to this spot, there are many wonderful nooks and crannies of the Ramble. There are waterfalls, bird feeders, Bethesda Terrace overlooks, Chamber’s Landing pavilion, and quiet meadows that would all make great ceremony spots.
Guests: 10-15 would be very comfortable here
Privacy: The actual spot is quite secluded, but folks are often walking by about 20 yards back.
Conservatory Garden
The Conservatory Garden is unique in that it is the one spot in the park that it is absolutely required that you have a permit to get married and/or take photographs. If you are up for the permit, it’s a beautiful landscaped garden and has some great spots for ceremonies, perfect for a micro wedding.
Guests: I’ve seen larger weddings upwards of 50 here on the terrace, but it gets crowded. Smaller gatherings in the 20ish realm would be very comfortable.
Privacy: The Conservatory Garden is very quiet and ceremonies here do tend to be fairly private, though even with a permit the public is still permitted in the garden.
Gapstow Bridge
There are a couple spots around the Gapstow Bridge that work great for micro wedding ceremonies. I wouldn’t recommend doing a wedding directly on the bridge, but both behind and in front of the bridge as well as up on the rocks in front of the pond with the bridge in the background are great for ceremonies and have an excellent view of the midtown skyline.
Guests: Depends on the location, but 5-8 is very doable. Larger groups can fit behind the bridge.
Privacy: Slightly more privacy behind the bridge, but you still will likely have a few onlookers and cheerleaders.
Wagner Cove
Wagner Cove is probably the most popular spot for micro weddings and elopements in Central Park along with the Ladies Pavilion. This tiny pavilion is very secluded and offers the perfect spot for a bit of privacy and a quiet atmosphere for your elopement.
Guests: This is a TINY location. I would suggest no more then 5-6 guests here at most. This spot is ideal for just the couple and an officiant and maybe two witnesses. The path curves around behind the structure, so any guests beyond the minimum will have a very hard time seeing the couple.
Privacy: This is probably one of the most private spots in the park for an elopement.
Where ever you chose, Central Park is an amazing place for your elopement or micro wedding. The backdrops are endless and it’s beautiful in every season! If you’d like more information on getting married in Central Park, be sure to check out my Central Park Wedding Guide or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you and photographing your Central Park Elopement!
