Celebrating an Unforgettable Wedding in NYC

The wedding industry in NYC is back in full swing after a difficult couple of years. Although around 70% of couples canceled their big day, in 2021, there were 120,803 weddings in the state of New York and this number is expected to rise in 2022 and 2023. The easing of travel and health restrictions has meant that couples are free to hold their dream celebrations, inviting their intended list of family members and friends, with no need to embrace the ‘micro wedding’ trend. If you have just proposed to your partner and you are excited about hosting your ceremony and celebration in ‘the Big Apple’, read on.

Shopping for Bling

A big part of your celebration will undoubtedly revolve around choosing your engagement and wedding rings and, being the metropolitan that it is, New York has so many boutiques and online businesses tempting for your attention. Many current couples are going beyond traditional wedding jewelry styles, opting instead for original designs such as twisted or infinity pave bands, eternity style diamond-encrusted bands, and bands made in unique materials like gray or black tungsten carbide, matte metals, and mixed metals. In NYC, classic upmarket boutiques selling retail and bespoke pieces include Cartier, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, and more. However, there is also a bevy of boutique stores selling items by up-and-coming designers. These include Wedding Ring Originals (in Rockefeller Center), Greenwich St. Jewelers (near Trinity Church), and Marisa Perry Atelier (on Hudson Street).

Photographable Spaces

New York has numerous architectural wonders, many of which make the perfect backdrop to a dreamlike, Instagrammable wedding. From stately churches to iconic buildings, there are so many spaces that can add an element of romance to your wedding imagery. If you are getting married at a church, temple, or edifice in the city, speak to your photographers about nearby sites that can feature in your pre-and post-wedding shoots. These can range from Central Park right through to the Flatiron Building, Washington Street in Dumbo, Brooklyn, and Grand Central Station. If you are having a vintage-style wedding, one of the oldest streets in all of NYC is Stuyvesant Street in East Village. The Rainbow Room on floor 64 of Rockefeller Plaza, meanwhile, has floor-to-ceiling crystal walls that look over some of the City’s most beautiful buildings.

Choosing Your Reception Venue

You won’t be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a venue with meaning and history. Just a few sophisticated spots chosen by discerning couples include the New York Public Library, the American Museum of Natural History, The Frick Collection, and The Foundry. If you are interested in a more outdoorsy or rustic wedding, consider Blue Hill at Stone Barns (in Westchester), Glenmere Mansion (in Chester), or the open-air Gramercy Park Terrace (in Gramercy). All these places are surrounded by countryside or urban gardens and foliage, adding a green touch to the urban appeal of some of New York’s most characteristic buildings.

NYC is a couple’s dream when it comes to wedding organization. It is famed for its stunning architecture, and many iconic buildings now open by day and close in the afternoon and at night time to serve as wedding venues. There are also many beautiful spots to photograph, ranging from romantic gardens to sleek urban cityscapes.