How To Elope In New York State

Choosing A Courthouse Wedding

Getting married at the courthouse is one of my favorite types of elopements! Perhaps I am biased though since my husband and I chose to get legally married at the Albany Courthouse. You can read exactly about how to get married at a New York courthouse in my blog post. It was a quick process that took place first thing in the morning. Different courthouses have different protocols, so you will have to check with your local courthouse about marriages. The great thing about getting married at the courthouse is that it is so easy to file your marriage license and get your paperwork processed right then and there. No extra steps needed. The best part is that you have the whole rest of the day to spend however you want to!

Elopement Planner In New York

Still not sure where to start? You may want to hire an elopement planner in New York to handle the permits, secure your venue, find an officiant, and hire a photographer for you. That way, all you really need to do is show up! During an initial consultation, let the planner know what you are looking for and an idea of your style, and our expert team will take it from there! Your planner can also help you enjoy the rest of your time in NYC, offering recommendations for the best hotels, restaurants, and shows.

Do You Need An Elopement Venue In New York

New York City is one of the best places to get married. From iconic locations to grand venues, you have a ton of options when it comes to getting married. The best part? You dont necessarily need to elope in a venue at all. Sure, having an elopement venue in NYC is great in case of inclement weather, but its not always necessary.

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What Words Of Encouragement Do You Have For Those Considering Eloping

Its a very special experience. Its intimate and low-key. I always wanted a big, elaborate wedding, and an elopement wasnt something I had considered. But given the circumstances, an elopement in central park was so special and fun. Now well just have two weddings!

Danielle & Oliver chose to elope in one of the most romantic spots in all of New Yorks Central Park. The two of them had already planned to visit NYC and decided to make it the trip of a lifetime! The couple was a vision of sophistication with Danielle wearing a stunning, off the shoulder, lace gown. They stood beneath the rustic, wooden shelter at Wagner Cove and exchanged their promises to one another. On Central Parks lake, the secluded spot was just the vision that Danielle & Oliver had in mind for their New York wedding. Read more to find out how Olivers proposal brought the two of them together for a Simply Eloped experience.

Eloping With An Intimate Group Of Friends And Family

Yes, an elopement can include more than just you and your partner! Remember when I talked about the difference between an elopement and a wedding being where the focus lies? So yes, bring your closest friends and family along to witness your vows. Perhaps you spend the money you would have spent on a wedding on unique experiences like a half-day rafting trip for the whole group followed by dinner at a local farm to table restaurant where everyone can order exactly what they want- no rubber chicken dinners here!

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Can You Get Married At City Hall In Nyc

• Location Permit: $50-150
• Reception Venue: $600-4000

As you can see, the costs vary greatly depending on what you plan to do with your day. The average cost of an elopement in New York City can be anywhere from $750 to $8000 depending on what goes into it. Start reaching out to elopement vendors throughout the city to see what works best for you two as a couple.

Florals For Small Weddings And Elopements

Another additional elopement cost would be having wedding florals. No, you dont necessarily need them but it might feel great to have them. Florist rates for elopements in NYC range greatly, so check in with floral designer on their City Hall wedding bouquets and elopement options.

Personal Florals

What kind of florals do you need for an elopement? That depends on what youre looking for, but the most popular options would be personal florals. This could include elopement bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, floral crowns, and corsages. Any of these floral adornments can add an extra touch of joy to your intimate occasion.

Adding Some Floral Design to Your Ceremony

Trying to add some fanciness to your New York elopement ceremony? Add some floral design elements for an extra touch of joy. From a ceremony arch to some flower petals, there are tons of options when it comes to florals. Just make sure if youre doing an installation that its somewhere that allows for it, like Prospect Park.

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Some Handy Advice From A Local To You:

• The closest subways to the City Clerks office are the 4, 5 and 6 lines , the R and the 2 and 3 line .
• If you need a last minute bouquet, you can buy flowers inside the City Clerks office . Or there is usually a flower stand right outside the clerks office . But what you should do is ask me for my florist contacts so you can be sure that you will have a beautiful bouquet on the day of your wedding .
• Yes, there are bathrooms inside the City Clerks office.
• No, they do not sell water or other beverages at the Clerks office.
• Yes, they actually do sell, I got married in New York magnets, T-Shirts, mugs and other items in the lobby.

I hope this guide helps you when planning your New York City elopement. If you have any other questions, or if you would like more information about my photography services, please feel free to reach out. I am happy to help and cant wait to meet you. Eloping in New York City, its the best thing ever. How can I be so sure? I did it myself! Let me bring that magic to you, too.

Jasmin & Christian

“You need a photographer you can trust, who makes you feel at ease, and someone who has the skills to capture those perfect moments. Sascha met all all of the expectations and so much more!”

Why Have An Elopement Over A Larger Wedding

Eloping has a ton of benefits. As opposed to a larger wedding, elopements are an intimate occasion specifically designed for the two of you as a couple. Sure, your large wedding can be personalized in tons of beautiful ways, but many couples barely even see each other on their large wedding day! Lets go through the benefits of eloping versus having a big wedding.

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Best Places To Elope In Upstate Ny: Get Married At 1 Of These Beautiful Places

Do you have a big wedding in your future? You know, flowers, photographer, 200 guests, carriage ride, expensive DJ? Well, if so, have fun! But some couples like to sneak away for an elegant and much quieter elopement weekend. And there are several places in Upstate New York that have these folks in mind. Here are 12 of the best places to elope in the region. What place would you add to the list?

Posted by The Spencer Hotel & Spa on Monday, June 20, 2016

Spencer Hotel, Chautauqua

This elegant hotel offers a romantic weekend for those wanting to sneak away and a weekend immersed in history. The Spencer is located in the middle of historic Chautauqua Institution. This is one of the most famous communities in Upstate New York, right on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. And toast your happy weekend at any of a number of great wineries nearby.

A post shared by Frampton T on Aug 28, 2016 at 6:45pm PDT

Batcheller Mansion, Saratoga Springs

Truly one of the great Saratoga landmarks. Built in 1873, it sits on the premier residential lot in the city, directly across from famed Congress Park. The elopement package here includes one night lodging , one-hour massage for each of you, sparkling cider toast, gourmet chocolates and more. They can also arrange for a wedding officiant. If you come in August, after you tie the knot here at the “Jewel of Saratoga,” take a stroll down to the Saratoga Race Course and try your luck on the ponies!

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz

Places To Elope In Nyc

If you are looking for places to elope in NYC you will be happy to find tons offree and affordable locations that photograph beautifully! From places to elopein Manhattan to Brooklyn and beyond, our elopement photographers will give youadvice on the best locations to elope and capture amazing photos. Most of theNYC elopement locations below are free or very affordable. Our all-inclusiveelopement package includes the permit for most elopement locations in NYC as well.For couples who love the outdoors, you can choose a park setting for your elopementceremony like Central Park or Brooklyn Bridge Park.

If you want a bit of adventureon your big day, consider Rockefeller Centers Top of the Rock for your elopementceremony and our officiant will marry you above Manhattan! Our elopement team hasworked at intimate elopement locations in private restaurants and venues as wellas City Hall for no-fuss weddings! Whatever your taste our elopement team willprovide everything you need and help you find the right place for your NYC elopement!

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How Do We Obtain Our Marriage License

The first step to getting legally married is to obtain the New York marriage license. The City Clerks office, located at 141 Worth Street in Manhattan, issues the $35 license. While the Manhattan location is the most popular, you can get the license in any New York county including any of NYCs other boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.

You can save a little time by starting the marriage license paperwork online, but either way you and your partner must finish the process together in person. The City Clerks website contains more detailed NYC marriage license information.

Getting Married In Public Spaces

If you get married in a public space in NYC, you can save a lot of money. There are many locations in the city where you can tie the knot for free. From Brooklyns gorgeous Prospect Park to Brooklyn Bridge Park, youve got iconic, scenic spaces in which to say your vows. However, some locations do require a permit ahead of time for the marriage.

Permits to Get Married in New York

Not sure whether or not your dream space needs a permit to get married? Do a quick Google search to see what may be the case. Spaces like the Conservatory Garden in Central Park are stunning, which is exactly why a permit is necessary. There are plenty of couples trying to get married in these sought-after public spaces, so having a permit ensures your elopement will go as smoothly as possible.

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Planning For The Wedding Portraits

The portrait shoot part of the coverage goes for approximately an hour or two and the most ideal time to start shooting the portraits is approximately 2 hours before sunset .

Timing for an outdoor ceremony

If you are marrying outside, I recommend making use of golden hour and plan for your ceremony around this. The main thing to decide is if you want to do the portraits before or after the ceremony the main decision to make here is if you like the idea of exchanging vows at sunset when the afternoon light is at its prettiest.

If you like this idea and happy to do all the portraits before ceremony, we will start the portrait shoot about 2.5 hours before sunset time meaning we will plan for the ceremony to be about 15-30 before the actual sunset time for that day.

If you would like to do the portrait shoot after the ceremony, plan to have the ceremony start about 2.5 hours before sunset. But I am always happy to discuss this more in-depth and make a plan based on your exact details of the day.

A rough timeline for an outdoor ceremony would look like with ceremony at sunset:

4:30pm Meet for start of portrait shoot

6:00pm Depart for ceremony location

6:30pm -Arrive to ceremony location

6:45pm Ceremony starts

7:15pm – Last few portraits at twilight

7:30pm – Approx finish time

Timing for a City Hall wedding

A Clerks Office wedding timeline for the afternoon would look like :

3:00pm Arrive at 141 Worth Street

New York Elopement Packages

When people think of New York elopements, they may immediately think of NYC, but there are so many adventurous places to plan your elopement in New York. Whether you want to elope in upstate NY, plan a sunrise elopement in the city, or explore the Adirondacks together, New York has so many possibilities. Our comprehensive New York elopement package covers everything from locations, vendors, and tips for your New York elopement.

* While we dont offer bundled elopement packages in New York, we do provide you with all of the information and resources you will need to create your perfect elopement package. Our Wandering Weddings members are also amazing vendors to ask questions. These members have plenty of experience curating awesome elopement experiences for couples.

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Got It So How Do We Get Started

First things first, all couples who intend to get married in New York must obtain a Marriage License. The fee for the license is $35, which can be paid by credit card or money order, payable to the City Clerk. This license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere within the state of New York.

Sometimes the wait time at the City Clerks office can be long. So, if youd like to speed up the process you can begin filling out the application for the license online. You then have to complete the application in person at the City Clerks office.

Make sure to bring proper identification when applying. Even though you might have to wait a bit for your license at the clerks office, the people watching definitely makes up for it. Relax and enjoy the hustle and bustle of this unique place. Its all part of the experience when you elope to New York City.

Heres a bonus for you. If you were married before, you will be asked to list all prior marriages. You are required to include your previous spouses full name and the date the divorce decree was granted. You also have to provide the city, state, and country where the divorce was issued.

And heres another one. Make sure to check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, where I walk you through the license application process from start to finish. You also will find all kinds of inspirational videos all about getting married in New York City.

What If You Are Divorced

• If you were married before, you must list all prior marriages. You must include your previous spouses full name the date the divorce decree was granted and the city, state, and country where the divorce was issued.
• All divorces, annulments, and dissolutions must be finalized before you apply for a new Marriage License.
• You may be asked to produce the final divorce decree.
• If your spouse is deceased, you must provide such spouses full name and date of death.

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A Nyc Elopement That Turned Into A Beautiful Central Park Wedding

Its become pretty apparent that not even the coronavirus can stop love, and Claudia and Issacs story is no exception! The couple had their big, traditional wedding perfectly planned in Northern California where Claudia is from until the pandemic stopped them completely in their tracks. Rather than call the whole thing off, Claudia and Isaac decided to elope somewhere fun, recognizable, and exciting: New York Citys Central Park. On August 15th, the couple shared their vows amongst a handful of loved ones, and had an incredible day celebrating! Read all about their love story and their New York elopement experience below!

In Short Eloping Provides You With An Extremely Personalized Experience In Expressing Your Commitment To Each Other

So, we’ve defined what an elopement is…so what is a capital “W” Wedding*?

To me a capital “W” wedding and an elopement are extremely different. A wedding is an event where the focus is on the performance of getting married and guest experience. So, can you have a 10 person elopement? YES! Can you have a 10 person wedding? Also YES! The difference is in where the focus lies.

*For the purposes of this document, an elopement also includes intimate weddings. I find that once the guest count goes over 25 people or so, it is hard to keep the event focused solely on the couple and the experience of getting married.

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Choosing Your Ceremony Spot And Officiant

Here’s the fun part: the city is your oyster! Below are a few ideas/starting spots:

⢠City Hall is open again! You can reserve a weekday in-person ceremony at the city clerk’s office 3 weeks in advance for an inexpensive, intimate NYC elopement against some iconic backdrops! Ceremony appointments can get fully booked up in under 5 minutes, so make sure to check right at 9am on Monday morning to book yours on the date and time you want, 3 weeks ahead.

⢠Restaurants are often open to renting out private rooms or terraces for city weddings

⢠If you’re from out of town , think about staying in a hotel with a balcony/terrace you can use

⢠Central Park – it’s popular for a reason! There are gorgeous spots throughout the park in all seasons , and if you want that iconic NYC look, I really recommend considering it. You don’t need a permit for a wedding under 20 people, but sometimes it’s helpful to get one even for a true elopement if you want to come as close to reserving a popular park spot as possible!

⢠Fort Tryon Park – incredible views of the Hudson River, and an especially spectacular spot in the fall when the leaves start changing

⢠Prospect Park – a classic, sprawling Brooklyn option! There are so, so many gorgeous spots for ceremonies and/or photos

⢠DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights – for views of the Manhattan skyline, cobblestone streets, and my favorite rainbow wall

⢠Local community gardens – hidden gems throughout the city!