New York Weddings - Trip Report

Thursday

We arrived into JFK a relatively stress free journey through from Manchester , went easily through security (immigration not as scary as I remembered) then went outside to join the taxi queue to make our way to our hotel, the taxi was 60 dollars including the tip.

After a hair raising 40 minute journey we finally arrived at the Library Hotel, so small we almost went passed it, the taxi driver wasn't too much help unfortunately, I mean how hard can it really be to find 41 st street!

We had a smooth check in to our room (one of the great things about staying in a boutique hotel) and went straight to bed, we were too tired to even venture outside, we'd been travelling since 7am and it was now 3am UK time! Our room is amazing, very luxurious and comfortable and very little noise to say how close we are to the main road.

Friday

Rockefeller Center , MOMA and Macy's

We were up bright and early thanks to the jet lag and saw that it was raining ‘cats and dogs' so we decided to have a lazy breakfast and enjoy the beautiful breakfast room which also doubles as a library and coffee room during the day, there's a very relaxed atmosphere, just what we needed to prepare for a busy day discovering the city.

Because the weather wasn't great and the visibility quite bad we decided to stay close to the hotel and head down to St Patrick's cathedral which wasn't too far. We borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and walked the 8 blocks away which took about 20 minutes at a lazy pace.

There was a special service in the Cathedral so we couldn't go inside, the weather didn't seem to be improving so we decided to head to MOMA, the museum of modern art. However we were too early, the museum didn't open until 10am, feeling rather cold by now we headed off to the Rockefeller centre (where they film Good Morning America) and found a nice coffee shop (Dean and Deluca) where we enjoyed a coffee and muffin and that certainly did the trick. After walking around the Rockefeller plaza we headed back to MOMA, where we were greeted by a long but well managed queue. In under 10 minutes we had our tickets and where ready to explore, we dropped off our bags and coats in the cloakroom and headed off.

We spent 3 hours walking around the gallery. A tip for anyone considering the same, start on the top floors and work down, all the famous artists are at the top and by the time we got there we were feeling quite tired due to an overdose of art! MOMA is huge, bigger than I ever expected but really enjoyable (and I'm not a big fan of galleries). If we were here for longer we would have split the visit over 2 days. I wouldn't recommend trying to see everything, perhaps do some research online to spend time seeing the exhibitions that you like. The gallery has a very nice café/restaurant, it's quite pricey but very quick service and delicious food.

We walked back up 5 th avenue to do some window shopping, and of course visit the Disney shop! We made our way down to Macy's but, by this time we were feeling really tired so just had a quick look around. We headed back to our hotel to have a rest before heading off to the Oyster Bar, below Grand Central Station, just a block away from the Hotel. We emailed the hotel before hand and they had made us reservations for 8pm.

Heard on the local news that there's a big show biz wedding happening tonight, Beyonce and JZ! So we may see a few celebs out and about, isn't New York great!!

Friday Night

The Oyster Bar and Grill

Well never believe the hype is all I can say about the Oyster Bar, what an expensive disappointment, we ordered Cajun shrimps for starters, well I've had better frozen shrimps from the supermarket. My partner had New England Clam chowder, but they forgot to add any taste!! The main courses weren't much better, the only thing I enjoyed was the creamed spinach and I think that was from a tin!!

The restaurant looks as amazing as it does on the website and the atmosphere is great, but the service is very plastic and the beer wasn't even cold!! Needless to say we didn't bother with dessert! My advice would be to go enjoy the architecture from the bar and make other plans for dinner.

We came back to the hotel for a drink on the roof bar, the weather had improved no end and the evening felt almost warm…very strange. We decided to sit on the outdoor terrace on the 14 floor! It is an amazing spot to enjoy the skyline, you can see the bright glow from Times Square which illuminates the sky and the tip of the Empire State Building . We ordered a cocktail, a Hemingway Mojito (it has Champagne instead of soda water!) which was a bit lethal, they're certainly not tight with the alcohol measures over here.

One drink and we were ready to call it a night, ready for another exciting day tomorrow…

Saturday.

Ground Zero, Brooklyn Bridge , Brooklyn Heights and Macy's (again!)

We watched the daily news to get an idea of the weather, a good idea at this time of year. The weather looked similar to yesterday so we wrapped up warm, so glad I brought my winter coat!

We decided to get the subway to Brooklyn Heights , I was really excited after reading about it in our guide books. Besides having one of the best views in New York it's undergone a lot of investment since 9/11 and there's a real village feeling apparently, with lots of quaint shops and bars/cafes.

The subway was undergoing maintenance so our train was diverted via the financial district so we decided to get off and take a look around and then head over to Brooklyn later.

The subway came up next to the Museum of the Native American, which has some pretty impressive statues outside. We walked across to Battery Park, saw the Globe Statue that used to be in the World Trade Center Plaza and the queues for the ferries across to The Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island . From here we walked up to Ground Zero, it was really moving, I saw the buildings last time I was here and my partner had been to the top of the tower. The site is now being renovated with new office buildings and a memorial site which looks really beautiful.

After lunch at a wonderful deli behind Century 21 (discount department store), we headed over to the Brooklyn Bridge , to walk over instead of back as planned. By now the weather had improved and it was feeling quite warm, good thing we brought our winter coats eh?

On the way to the bridge we passed Pier 17 and decided to have a look whilst we were passing. Pier 17 is a lovely area by the harbour with lots of shops and bars. It was very busy with people enjoying the sunshine, we decided to stop at one of the bars for a drink and enjoy the activity and atmosphere. I was feeling quite nervous, I wasn't sure how my vertigo was going to cope with the height of the bridge so it was a bit of Dutch courage for me! There is a great view of some old masted ships in front of the financial district skyline from here.

We walked up the river towards the bridge and then headed back inland following the bridge, it's a good 20 minute walk away from the pier and we had to ask a policeman for directions! however it's an interesting walk and this is one of the best ways to see parts of Manhattan that you'd miss if you got a taxi.

We made our way onto the bridge, the photographs just don't do it justice, you really have to see it to believe the scale and complexity of the workmanship, when you consider that it was built in 1870 this is even more impressive. The walk only takes around 40 minutes at an easy pace and I would highly recommend it, you can either get the subway straight back or go on to Brooklyn Heights . There are wonderful views back into Manhattan , apparently doing the walk back into Manhattan at sunset is fantastic.

We missed our turning, thanks to our wonderful guide book (that's my excuse anyway) and ended up walking a little off course but easily found our way back to Brooklyn Heights , we came upon an ice-cream shop called the Blue Pig, selling homemade ice-cream! So of course wanting to sample the local cuisine we had to stop. We both had 2 scoops, cookies and cream and rum and raisin for me and vanilla and strawberry for my partner. It was delicious, sitting outside the shop taking in the atmosphere just what's needed on a hot day.

We then followed a recommended walk in our guide book around the pretty streets full of brownstone buildings, I can see why this area is so popular for rich New Yorkers that don't want to live in the city, its so quiet and charming and yet only a few minutes from the excitement of the city. We walked on the promenade which was full with people enjoying the sun, reading or dog walking, a wonderful spot to enjoy the sun and sights, with fantastic views of downtown Manhattan .

We headed back into the city and off to Macy's again to do some shopping, as we were a bit more awake today. With so much choice how is it possible to come away empty handed?

There was a totally different atmosphere today, the bars and cafes were full with people enjoying the sun, I suppose we're not the only ones welcoming the sun when it eventually arrives after a long winter.

Our hotel offers complementary wine and cheese every day between 5 and 8pm, so we decided to head back and try some, just what we needed after another full day on our feet. We decided to have a snooze before heading back out on the town. However we were so tired we ended up having an early night and catching up with some sleep ready for our next adventure!

Sunday

SOHO, Greenwich Village and Times Square

Another early start and today it's off to Soho with plans for central park in the afternoon. The weather has turned again, proper spring weather, it's now cold with intermittent drizzle, so we've wrapped up warm. We caught the subway from Grand Central Station (1 block from the hotel, very convenient!) and were really surprised how busy it was, we weren't even sure it would be running so early on a Sunday morning.

We arrived in Soho and I must say initially I was very disappointed, I had built up an idea of what it would look like and this was totally different. It looked quite run down, lots of closed boarded up shops, lots of graffiti and to be honest the weather didn't help, it was dull and drizzly, any where would struggle to look good in this weather.

We decided to stop for a coffee in a local deli which was really nice as we got to do one of my favourite pastimes ‘people-watch'. It was then I started to appreciate my surroundings. The architecture if you stop to look is really interesting, buildings made with wrought iron facades each one different to the next, even the graffiti (well some of it) had its own art. It really had a nice vibe, lots of people walking around, walking dogs, listening to music, riding bikes, what I would call ‘arty' types, everyone with their own unique style.

The building across from us was adorned with 2 cherubs chiseled in the side of the building which seemed totally out of place but added real character at the same time.

After coffee we ventured back out into the cold, we came across a magazine shop that boasted it carried over 2500 titles. Well, me being a magazine lover I was instantly drawn, you wouldn't believe the range every subject you can think of and a few that you think ‘there's a magazine for that!'. I collected a some wedding magazines, plus a few others I hadn't read since my days working for Royal Caribbean, the shop also had a deli inside where you can relax with your magazines, a great idea, could do with something like this in the UK…however we didn't stop for another drink, I was, after all, here to experience Soho!

We decided to follow a small walking tour from our guide book, the tour took us around different styled streets pointing out different types of architecture. We even saw a photo shoot. We passed all the famous boutiques like PRADA, GUCCI, LOUIS VITTON, yes Posh Spice would be quite at home here!

It was now approaching 11am, the smaller shops weren't due to open until 12ish on a Sunday so we headed to Broadway and did a little shopping, jeans and bags, so much cheaper than the UK . We were getting hungry so headed towards Greenwich Village .

We passed Washington Park , with Washington Arch and the street where Will Smith lives in ‘I am Legend'.

Greenwich Village famous for its art scene and small independent shops is a hive of activity at weekends, according to our guide book, but only a handful of shops were open mainly book shops so we were a little disappointed, I don't think the weather helped, it was very cold and probably kept people inside. The back streets did look very pretty and I was hoping to have time to come back later in the week, depending on our schedule.

The weather wasn't very good for Central Park, so we decided to head back to our hotel for a couple of hours rest before heading down to Times Square .

Times Square is better than ever. Still impressive though we've seen it many times before. You never tire of the scale and colours that greet you as you take your first glimpse. There seemed to be more shops this time and more to see so we spent some time looking around before heading into the Hard Rock Café for something to eat.

The Jetlag was still affecting our eating patterns and although we didn't feel hungry we ordered main courses, salmon and steak and although as a rule we try not to eat too much in large franchised restaurants (especially in New York when there are so many delicious independents) the food and service was the best we'd had during the trip so far. After our experience at the Oyster Bar, our faith in large establishments producing good food was restored. I didn't realise how big the Hard Rock Café is, however even though it was busy it only took 20 minutes to get seated and as we waited at the bar with a drink it was hardly a hard wait! The Hard Rock Café brings back many good memories from our time on the cruise ships so we try to visit if there is one close by.

With full stomachs and tired eyes we headed back to our very comfortable room for another dose of reality TV, ‘The Real Housewives of New York', Yes a whole station dedicated to reality TV!

On the way back we stopped off in our favourite deli for a late night munch, their muffins are delicious!

Monday

42nd Street , 5th Ave , A Taste of India

We were keeping an eye on the weather, waiting for a good day to do Central Park , This isn't it though, so we wrapped up warm and headed out. We decided to do the 42 nd street walk from our guide book. 1 st stop the Chrysler building to look at the foyer, we were surprisingly allowed to take photographs so my partner went mad as this is one of his favourite buildings in Manhattan .

Following our walk we passed many interesting and historic buildings like the Daily News which has some great carvings above its main doorway. I would certainly recommend following a walk, the better guide books have them, otherwise you miss so much just walking around and there's so much history and fascinating architecture to be enjoyed.

We passed Tudor City a residential area with small playgrounds and a school, it's hard to believe that children live here. The apartments have great views of the UN building and the East river .

We headed to the UN building, through the fence we saw manicured lawns and lots of sculptures dotted around the lawn, it's supposed to have an impressive front on the river side and had the weather been kinder we may have stayed for a tour, but it was so cold and windy our lips were starting to turn blue!

We'd decided today not to have anything specific in mind to do, just to walk and see where we ended up. After an hour or so of walking through winding streets we happened upon Tiffany's which is of course a must see for anyone who visits for the first time. Much less stuffy that the London one I hear. The staff are really pleasant and want to help without being overbearing.

A couple of Xmas presents and a keyring later we were done and on our way to the next oversized but impressive store. Next came Niketown which is one of my favourites! You can even design your own trainers now, amazing, could have spent a fortune! Then onto FAO Swartz for a look at the toys, Bergdorf Goodman's which we didn't spend too much time looking around because it was under renovation so you couldn't really see too much

We stopped in a deli for a toasted tuna pita and tuna wrap, fantastic value for a quick meal on the go, around $20 and then it was onwards to more shopping. Tip, we saw lots of people in suits queuing so obviously workers that use the deli regularly, like they say do as the locals do and you can't go wrong.

We then headed up towards the Rockefeller plaza to have a look around, after a little more shopping we rested with a cocktail in the Rockefeller's bar, a great place to watch the skating and see the Christmas decorations in December.

That evening we decided to head towards Times Square taking an alternative route, we came across a small restaurant called ‘A Taste of India', in the window was a sign saying rated highly by Zagat (an American guide) so we decided to stop here for dinner. We really enjoyed the food the service and the price, we can highly recommend it if you have a taste for Indian.

Tuesday

Meeting the planners and visiting indoor venues, W bar

Today we were meeting our wedding planner Angela at 10.30 for a tour of our indoor venues, and Carol our onsite wedding planner also came to meet with us before heading off for a wedding meeting. Whilst we were in the hotel lobby they were setting up outside for a film shoot, we had a busy day ahead though so couldn't stay and see what was being shot.

The weather seemed to have picked up, which was a great improvement on the day before. Angela flagged down a cab and we jumped in.

First stop Tavern on the Green to meet with their event manager and have a look around. I was very impressed by the setting. Although it's early in the season the plants were in spring bloom and very well manicured.

We met with our guide and visited two of the rooms which can be used for smaller weddings up to 50 people. One offered a small fountain outside which can be used in the summer months as the ceremony venue which is particularly nice for very small weddings.

Tavern on the Green is a respected institution in New York and I can see its appeal, the décor is very OTT yet fits with the surroundings perfectly. There's lots of glass and elaborate detail with the most amazing flower arrangements dotted around (they have an in house florist to do the arrangements). The rooms are bright and airy and perfect for year round weddings. With lots of glass they give a feeling of being outside, if your budget allows this is definitely an excellent choice. Unfortunately, we didn't eat at the restaurant but I understand they have a very talented chef.

Our second stop was Times Square and the Marriott Marquis hotel, a hotel that would feel at home in Logan 's Run, it's on a grand scale very modern/futuristic décor which can be very overwhelming initially. This is a huge hotel, and it takes a while to get your bearings. You enter the hotel at street level and get an elevator to the reception on the 8th floor. The building is hollow and has a lovely feeling of openness with the main elevator shaft going straight through the centre so you see the lifts speeding up and down which is quite a fantastic sight.

My partner and Angela went up to The View restaurant on the 50 th floor for a viewing and to take photos. My vertigo won't allow me that high so I waited in the seating area by the reception. We then went to look at two new venues that we are introducing as exclusive to us. The Promenade and Conservatory, both amazing venues...keep an eye out on our web site for details coming very soon!

Our third and final stop was All Souls Church , up on 80 th street , a little out of the centre in the lovely Upper East Side , hidden away amongst residential blocks and shops. The church offers two rooms, a small chapel with garden and the large sanctuary, depending on the size of your wedding and the feel you want to create. Both are beautiful and well maintained, we also met with the people that run the church, they are very accommodating and ensure that all our clients are well taken care of!

After All Souls it was back to the Library on 41 st street and Madison . It was such a pleasant afternoon and we hadn't been to the Upper East Side , we decided to walk instead of catch a cab. I'm glad we did, you get to see so many things you would miss if you spent too much time in a taxi. We even saw another film shoot, not sure who it was though!

That evening we met Angela in the funky bar of the W Hotel, Times Square . This time the reception and bar are on the 7 th floor. It's a very cool bar, straight out of a scene of Sex and the City, be warned though the cocktails are very strong.

One drink later and we were ready for our beds, another successful day.

Wednesday

Art of Shaving, Central Park

Today we had booked an appointment at ‘Art of Shaving' for an old fashioned shave for my partner (he recommends it guys, it's great to be pampered in a masculine way), so bright and early we headed off. I decided to wait in Grand Central Station, there was a book shop I wanted to look in and I was trying to find a map of Central park which was our destination today.

Map in hand I decided to grab a Starbucks coffee which was quite an experience in itself. I joined the queue and was approached by a lady with a headphone who screamed ‘Your Order', I was caught off guard so just requested a skinny decaf late (my usual) and by the time I got to pay, the order was ready. Quite scary but very quick! I suppose when you consider that they normally deal with commuters they need to be quick.

I sat in the dining area of the station which is actually a good place to sit and people watch until my partner returned smooth and ready to go!

The weather was starting to clear we were optimistic about taking good photographs. This was our first visit to the north end of the park and our first so early in the year (apart from visiting the Tavern on the Green). We caught the subway to 110 th street (very urban) and started at the top with the intention of walking the full length of the park, stopping for lunch and an occasional rest on the way.

We entered the park at Harlem Meer, what an amazing view to greet you, the pond seems to spread for miles and even though it wasn't in full season yet the park is full of interest. It's hard to believe that the park was in decline just 28 years ago until a group of citizens got together to raise the money to bring it back to its glory!

We used our handy map that I'd picked up from the station (all our central park couples will be receiving one of these shortly) to guide our way through the park and up to the great hill where I found one of our new wedding locations the Pool.

It's hard to describe the Pool any other way than peaceful, serene and beautiful, nature at its best. The few people around were enjoying the quiet surroundings or a good book. An area of grassy land juts out into the water with a bench sympathetically placed. It seemed like it had been built just for weddings. The Manhattan skyline can still be seen at the back but it still feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. I wish I could see this area in full bloom I'm sure it's even more beautiful. The mirror finish on the green algae water reflects the surrounding trees and plants fantastically casting the illusion of a rainbow of colour in the water. It was hard to drag ourselves away.

We then headed on through the Ravine and North Wood, enjoying the winding pathways, bird watching and hidden water falls. There are hundreds of squirrels scampering about, every now and again we'd happen upon someone studying or nature watching. It seemed that everyone had come out to enjoy one of the first days of spring.

Our next destination was the Conservatory Gardens . Some of the earlier flowering trees were already in bloom, with beautiful (I know I'm using this word a lot, but that's how it is!) white flowers or pink blossom. Parts of the gardens were cornered off for renovations or undergoing repair so we didn't get to see it in its full beauty, but even still, I can imagine how amazing it is in full bloom with the fountains flowing.

We popped out here and grabbed a diet coke and a long donut type thing from a street vendor, passing in and out of the great iron gates that mark the street entrance to the Conservatory Gardens .

After the gardens we headed on round the Jackie Onassis reservoir and paused for ice cream. There is a great view downtown looking south from the north side of the reservoir. This is also the running track that is shown in so many films. We headed on past the Pineum and Great Lawn towards Belvedere Castle and the Shakespeare Garden . The Shakespeare Garden is a popular wedding venue, and it's easy to see why, even though it's early spring you can see the colours just starting to come through. The pink Magnolia was coming in to full bloom. There was a bit of building work going on near the road so it wasn't as peaceful as normal, but even so there are lots of comfy places to sit where I could imagine just stopping for an hour to catch up on my latest novel. The garden only has plants that are featured in Shakespeare's plays so there are some interesting formations, all carefully tended to and cultivated. The winding paths open in areas and offer lots of different viewing points, it's any one of these that you can use for a small wedding. And wow, what an amazing backdrop for your wedding photos.

From the Shakespeare Garden we then headed up to Belvedere Castle . This gothic castle is the second highest natural point in the park and offers 360 degree views from its terraces of which there are 3, each one higher. The castle overlooks turtle pond, I thought this was just a charming name until I saw something swimming around and realized there were hundreds of turtles enjoying the sunshine, it really is a site to be seen.

Weddings take place on the main lower terrace inside one of the two stone gazebos overlooking Delacorte Theatre, or The Shakespeare Garden. The gazebos are a good choice for year round weddings, providing protection against the elements or shade in the hot summer months.

After seeing the castle we headed off to find the Boathouse for some refreshments. We decided to eat in the café side of the boathouse as the restaurant gets mixed reviews and the menu was a little fussy for lunch. There was also a 20 minute wait for a table, so we chose the quick option: burgers, fries and a beer. It was delicious, just what we needed to fuel the rest of our journey.

After lunch my partner suggested that we take a row boat out as a good way to work off lunch. $12 for an hour with a $20 deposit, very reasonable. My partner was keen to do the rowing so I got the pleasure of sitting back and enjoying the scenery. By now the sun was showing its full glory and it had turned into a beautiful day, the bad weather a distant memory. The park was buzzing with life, you could tell everyone had been waiting for this first sign of spring and couldn't wait to get out and start enjoying it.

We rowed past Bethesda Terrace and even though the fountain wasn't working it did look very beautiful. However, I'm not sure I'd recommend this area for a wedding ceremony during high season, it's a very popular area so very busy. I would suggest this as a photo location after a ceremony in a more private venue close by.

We followed the lake round a bend and on to Bow Bridge , even through the plants were not in full bloom it is still quite a sight, we rowed underneath and enjoyed the craftsmanship from below.

Bow Bridge leads into the ramble, unfortunately we didn't have time to explore, maybe next time, but with 4 more venues to see we had to be on our way.

On the other side of Bow Bridge we saw a wedding, well I think it was actually a photo shoot after a wedding, just a couple on their own, having their photos taken by the bank of the water.

We carried on around the lake enjoying the 5 th avenue skyline peering over the thick trees and came upon our most popular location, Ladies Pavilion. The setting is beautiful, on a peninsula, right next to the lake where turtles swim by. Hearnshead (a large rock outcrop, great for photos) next door is a handsome sight and even though not yet in full bloom the shrubs around complemented the pavilion perfectly, a lot of thought has gone into creating this effect. We enjoyed the pavilion from all different angles before rowing back to port to drop the boat off. I highly recommend the boat trip, it's a great way to see some of the park, give your legs a rest and what better way to have a romantic moment on your honeymoon!

We walked past Bethesda fountain and up the Mall, a magnificent tree lined walkway with benches on either side, plaques lay on the floor showing thanks to the people who have donated large amounts to the ongoing upkeep and renovation of the park.

We were almost at the south end and it was time to find the Cop Cot, one of our clients had mentioned it and I was intrigued to find out more. We got lost and ended up at Gapstow bridge, a lovely stone bridge built over a green algae pond which reflects its surroundings creating different colours and scenes all year round, this has to be one of the most photographed bridges second only to Bow Bridge, we stood a while to watch a model shoot and then resumed our journey to find the Cop Cot.

We finally found the right path behind the Wollman rink. Hidden away from the main walk way up a small hill sat the Cop Cot, a beautiful wooden structure reconstructed in 1985. It's a lovely setting because you can hear the traffic of 6 th avenue however you're in this little oasis of greenery, so it's the best of both worlds. The Cop Cot is large enough to seat at least 20 to 30 so it's ideal for larger and small wedding parties, and because it's so close to the entrance it's easily accessible, I couldn't wait to get home and add it to our website.

The light was fading so sadly we decided it was time to say goodbye to the park and head off to our hotel to start packing for our journey home.

New York is a new experience every time, so no matter what time of year or how long you go for, make sure you make the best of it!

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