Limey getting married in New York

I am visiting NYC for a week in early January and we have decided to get married when we are there.
There will only be the two f us plus two friends and we are going to have a family party when we get back to the UK

I have done quite a bit of research online and found out how to get a wedding license. I suppose as I am coming from abroad my only option is to have the ceremony itself at City Hall as well as getting the license there is to go get the license and return a couple of days later to get married. Unless any brides know of better places to actaully get married that I can organise from the UK ?

I know that I have to pay using a money order? I know this may sound stupid to you but where do I buy a US money order.. are they easy to get?

I will be flying into NYC thursday midday and likely get married following monday.

I will be looking for local stockists of flowers and for a hair salon to do my hair . I will be staying near West 56 Street.

I also will be looking for a nice place to have take photos and have a meal afterwards so any suggestions will be most helpful.

Thanks so much fellow brides and nice to meet you

Wendy xx

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Hey sweetie!! Congrats and welcome!!

First off, soemone can correct me on this, but I think you can even check out the yellow pages and you can get someone other than at city hall to marry you.. Look for a justice of the peace or a minister or a judge..

as far as the money order thing.. you can get one at either A) any post offive or a cash checking place.. or you can get one at your bank (or branch) this too can be obtained from searching in the yellow pages.. (www.yellowpages.com) type in the zip 10019

I happen to work on 56th street between 5th and 6th avenues.. how much are you looking to spend on flowers and hair?? there are SOO many dif places to go to! let me know

Re: Limey getting married in New York

You can walk into any bank an get a money order. You give them $30 and pay a surcharge (couple bucks) and they will give you a money order.

I wish I could be more helpful with all your other questions. I lived in NYC for 4 years...so I should be.

There are lots of pretty places to take photos like Central Park or Bryant Park but it will be cold in January. I am not sure about indoors. There is the Botanical Gardens..not sure how much they charge. Just walking in NYC and the buildings, traffic (yes traffic) can make for some beautiful pictures!! I love NYC wedding pictures.

Hair salons.. I am no help. I use to go to this little shop for hairdos but I am not sure they are still there. There are salons on eveyr block though!

Places to eat are also plentiful. Are you looking for the 4 or you? How much $$ do you want to spend...what about One If By Land? I have been there a couple times and the food is good. If they know you just got married they should spoil you!!! It is pricey but it is always listed as one on NY's most romantic restaurants.

Good Luck and post other questions you amy have and I can try to help.

Re: Limey getting married in New York

OH.. and as far as pictures are concerned you can take pics in the one and only Central Park!! You and your new hubby (and your 2 friends) can take pics of you while taking a carriage ride in NYC.. you can also take pics at Rockefeller Center where the tree will be set up and lit!! You can go pretty much ANYWHERE in NYC.. it'll be beautiful that time of year.. Def go to times square and take a pic right in the middle of Broadway!! How bout the top of the Empire State Building??

Def let me know.. there's soo many things you can do!!

also check out..


www.iloveny.com

www.citysearch.com

Re: Limey getting married in New York

First let me say Congratulations to you and Future hubby...that is so great you have chosen NYC to be married in. May I ask what made you choose NY as your wedding location?

To answer som questions, I work on W. 46th...where are you staying?

1) US Money orders can be bought at any US Post office branch and banks- the fee is much cheaper at the PO- 5 bucks American I think.

2) Places to take pictures- Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park on W. 43, South Street Seaport, so many places in the city. Even Broadway & Times Square.

3) Restaurants- so many here are a few personal faves: Citarella on W. 49th & 6th ave. upstairs; Tavern on the Green in Central Park, great Italian place: Becco on 46th bw 9th & 10th. Check out zagat.com (NYC) for a ton of listings.

4) Florists- Philip Baloun Designs
340 West 55th Street
New York, NY 212-307-1675

Good luck & happy planning

Re: Limey getting married in New York

CONGRATULATIONS WENDY!!! It must be so exciting to be coming to NYC to get married! I was thinking of some places for you.

To take pictures you could go to Central Park or some of the places the other ladies suggested. There is also the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, steps of St. Patricks (if appropriate for you) with Rockafeller Center right by it, etc.

For dinner, Taven on the Green would be wonderful, so would the Waldorf Astoria. If you were looking for something else you could try this link: Dinner Spots or gives us an idea of the kind of place (food, atmosphere, etc) you are looking for.

I don't know too much about Florists in NYC, but here's another think, from the same site: NYC Florists . The site seems really good so you may want to check it out.

I'll keep on searching. If I come up with anything else, I'll post it!

-Julianne

Re: Limey getting married in New York

I totally forgot about theknot.com. They have a theknot.com city guide . There is so much there. Some places for photos they suggest are (for some you must be willing to travel a bit, such as to Brooklyn): Grand Central Terminal, The Staircase at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Flatiron Building, Coney Island, and The Promenade in Brooklyn Heights (for a beautiful NYC skyline backdrop!). Also, in Jan./Dec. Rockafeller Center will be decorated for Christmas!

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Thanks so much ladies!!!
You are making me feel so welcome already to NYC.

As to my getting married here, it has been a dream of mine since a little girl to go to New York and somehow it just never happened.

Now I have my tickets in my drawer and am going to my dream city with my dream man!


Keep the suggestions coming. I love them! Anyone any more ideas on alternatives to City Hall for the ceremony?

Thanks

Wendy
:EMO19

Re: Limey getting married in New York

OOOPs forgot to add ,, I assume its going to be very very cold .. I am odering a cream velvet cape to wear over my dress ..

Any good ideas re what to wear in my hair etc??

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Update for you !!


You have all been wonderful and I have, because of you, been able to meet online Rev George Herzog who is going to peform our marriage which is so much better than getting married in an office!

Now location ..... Rev George has married most UK couples like us in Central Park itself. That sounds lovely except isnt it going to be too cold in January?

Any ideas of alternative locations anyone?

Thanks my friends!

Wendy xx

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Congrats and welcome! It will be cold, but it is difficult to predict right now HOW cold it will be in January. My FH proposed last year on Christmas Eve outside at South Street Seaport and it was cold, but not freezing cold. We had actually walked around for a while before we went to the Seaport and it was not too bad. I hate cold weather and I was not complainig about the weather at all. The beginning of the winter last year was pretty mild. But who knows what it will be like this year. If you are getting married in the beginning of January, the cold will most likely be bearable. It sounds just beautiful!

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Thank you all for the input! In the day or so since I first posted I have made so much progress thanks to you all!!

A big hug from the UK to you all and I hope to stay here and make friends !!

I now have a Interfaith lovely minister to marry us and we are thinking alreasdy of the vows we want in our service, but no location as yet. I want to take pics in Central Park but it will be too cold to get married there.

I have looked at locations online but they all seem to be 50 plus person wedding reception venues. Bearing in mine we have a wedding party of four plus minister ( unless any of you care to tag along LOL ), I am not going to hire a full function room.

So you clever lot.. one last challenge for you . Where to actually have the ceremony performed ,, any ideas??

Re: Limey getting married in New York

How about atop the Empire State Building?

http://www.aweddingforyou.com/cruise/nycland.htm

Re: Limey getting married in New York

There are so many places to have the ceremony outdoors. God willing the weather would be good. It doesn't get as cold as it used to here.

This may sound strange but what about finding a good english/irish pub here. I will have to think about it but I may be able to think of one (on the more upscale) You may be able to make it into a mini-reception if the owners are willing to help out another limey out. It could turn out to be lots of fun. I am sure you could recruit some of your new LI Wedding friends to attend.

NYC has endless possibilities. GO on Citysearch.com and see what you can find. Zagat.com may help with retaurants (you can even search by romantic spots) I will do some checking around and see what I can come up with!

Re: Limey getting married in New York

That sounds cool .. and if some LI weddings pals can come along that would be wonderful. I have my celebrant arranged for 4 January so there is time. keep the suggestions coming!

You New York brides are the best.. no wonder I want to be one of you

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Just to let you know, have arranged my wedding for Saturday January!! I am so excited.

We are to be married by Rev George Herzog and at this stage I am considering taking a suite in my hotel for the actual ceremony with photo shoot afterwards in Central Park with carriage etc..

Thanks to the support of my new friends on here my wedding is taking shape ,, thank you all!!

And if anyone wants to come along help us celebrate ,, might be even better !

Thanks again

Wendy

Re: Limey getting married in New York

I'm so glad to hear Wendy! Keep us updated on the details! I would think if the invitation remains open you may see a few of us at your wedding. Have you thought of a place for a reception?

Re: Limey getting married in New York

of course it remains open!! i would love to see some of my fellow brides there. In the past week I feel that I have made so many friends, including you of course Sasha!

And to actually see a few of you would be wonderful!

At the moment it looks like the wedding is likely to be at our hotel near Central Park unless I can find anywhere else between now and then... watch this space!

Re: Limey getting married in New York

Congrats wendy on your engagement and welcome!
I think it is great that you are having a 'destination' wedding. Manahattan is truly beautiful and romantic city.
Using the internet to find your location shouldnt be so hard. there are great websites to help you find something and SOOOO many places to choose from.
citysearch.com
even just to do a search for 'manhattan resteraunts'.. you'll find tons
Just let us know what we can do to help
;-)

Re: Limey getting married in New York

I think I owe you all an explanation of the problem I face re location and its probably because Im British and cant quite get my head round how I go about it.

Until a few years back you could only get married in the UK in a church or local registry office. The law then changed and allowed other locations to apply to be licensed for weddings - typically larger hotels, sporting venues and tourist venues have become licensed for weddings.

Thats where it differs from the US where its the minister etc who is licensed and you can get married anywhere. In the UK it is the location itself which is licensed for weddings.

The licenses are very very expensive and locations such a hotels are looking to make their money back. So having your wedding somewhere like that is the most expensive option in the UK. Typically $3000 or so plus for room hire and you are expected to have at least 50 guests and pay for their meal and drinks etc on top. In the few restaurants you would be required to hire the whole venue - again very expensive and only suitable for larger weddings.

Which brings me back to NYC. You have individual ministers licensed and because of that you can get married most places. I have my officiant and date already booked - just not a location.Because of my tiny wedding party and limited budget I am not sure how having the wedding at a restaurant etc would actually work - the restaurant wouldnt want a wedding to disrupt its normal trade and wouldnt want the whole venue taken up by a tiny wedding party who will only eat and drink so much??

So I'm not sure how it would work and really how I go about asking a restaurateur or what I am really asking for...


I am sorry - I must sound so stupid to you all but I am really am a bit confused where I go from here