At some point, all New York singles who believe in love find their true soulmates. And this is when the time to plan your wedding comes. Fortunately or unfortunately, New York can give so many opportunities for a wedding ceremony. However, this city is also known to be the most expensive city to have a wedding in the US. Official stats say that the average wedding costs here about $66,000. Today, we want to briefly answer some of your questions about weddings in New York.
Get a Marriage License
Getting a marriage license is an obligatory step before exchanging rings in New York. The good news is you can get it anywhere in New York and still get married in New York City. You can apply for the license online, via the Project Cupid, a portal of the New York Marriage Bureau offices. The license costs $35. Take your ID card and go to the Bureau no later than 24 hours before marriage. The license expires only after 60 days, so you can get one in advance.
Select the Best Time for a Wedding in New York
Winter
The key pluses of this season are: the reduced number of tourists and cheaper prices. Though it is quite cold, wedding photos with a natural snow blanket look very beautiful. In addition, the city is usually decorated before Christmas day, so you can use these decorations as a nice background for your photos as well. As for the weather, the temperature is about 26°-31°F and the number of rainy days is no more than 7.
Spring
Spring months are quite good for a wedding. April is the season of blossoming cherry trees, so it makes sense to plan your wedding ceremony and photo session in the Botanic Garden or Central Park. Usually, the spring months have about 7 days of rain each, and the lowest temperature is 35° F in March and 61° F in May.
Summer
If your ideal wedding needs sunshine, then summer is the best season for you. It is usually warm even at night, so you can easily plan a late dinner and a night party. The weather is warm around 69° F and rainy days are few (no more than 7).
Autumn
Autumn in New York is beautiful with moderate temperatures, not much rain, and breathtaking colors. November is probably the most beautiful time for photos. As for the weather, you can expect about 7 rainy days every month and the average temperature going down from 61° F in September to 42° F in November.
Pick a Good Venue
New York can offer wedding venues probably for any taste. So whether you want a ceremony in a green park, on a roof of a building, on in a luxurious restaurant, New York will have something to offer you.
The venue choice is crucial because it has an impact on all your later wedding costs. A full-service venue in New York can charge you up to $60,000. If you want to save and take an empty venue, keep in mind that you will still need to pay for rentals, catering, decor, and beverage service.
After you pick a venue that you like, go there and investigate the place. How do you feel? Do you want this place to home your special day? Take a look at the Brooklyn Winery, 501 Union, MyMoon, NYC City Hall, and Central Park.
To make the place more intimate, think about how you can highlight the moments of your love story in the decor and dishes. Go beyond casual menu choices and use tiny details to tell your couples’ unique moments even in the way you choose decor.
Find all the Additional Service Providers
Everything from the hair and makeup artist to the bakery should be booked and tasted in advance. Make your checklist of additional services and choose them long before the wedding because good specialists can be booked for your day. As for wedding cake bakeries, give a try to Ovenly, Empire cakes, and Wild Flour.
Make up a Timeline
You need to thoroughly plan everything in advance. On the wedding day, you can get so nervous that following a plan will be a lot easier than deciding something on the go. You will most likely want to take a photo session of the whole day – how the bride and the groom are getting ready, how the ceremony goes, how you celebrate.
A sample timeline can be like that:
12:00 pm – The photographer arrives and takes photos of the bride while she is getting ready, the rings, and the dress.
12:30 pm- Bridesmaids and the bride’s mom help her get dressed.
12:45 pm – Photos of the bride.
13:10-13:30 pm – Photos of the bridesmaids.
13:30 pm – First look of the couple before they exchange vows at the ceremony.
13:40-14:10 pm – Taking portrait photos of the couple.
14:10-15:00 pm – Family photos and party.
15:30 pm – The Start time that you put in the invitation.
15:45 – 16:15 pm – The wedding ceremony itself.
16:15-17:15 pm – Post-ceremony photos and a cocktail party for guests.
18:00 pm – Wedding dinner invitation.
18:15 pm – The first dance.
18:30-19:45 pm – Welcome toasts, dinner, and bridal toasts.
19:45-20:00 pm – Parent dancing and the beginning of dancing.
20:00-20:15 pm – Cake cutting.
20:15 pm – Open dancing for everyone.
23:00 pm – A final song and grand exit.
A wedding is a unique day in your life. Though it can seem a costly adventure, you can always take a pause and prioritize things that are really important to you. This way, you can have a wedding ideal for you and still suited to your budget.