editorial Wedding Photography

The Wednesday Blog

Holiday Elopement Ideas in New York City

The bride and groom are happily holding wine glasses inside their wedding venue after their New York City Hall elopement. Image by Jenny Fu Studio

You’ve been engaged probably throughout the pandemic or just recently, and you’re planning to elope. Where? You’re thinking, New York City Hall. When? This holiday season. Perfect! It’s undoubtedly the best way to celebrate your love (and the holidays) in the fantastic city of New York. Now, read on for some ideas to make your holiday elopement in New York City a breeze and your stay fun and memorable.

Elegant dining room for the reception after a holiday New York City Hall elopement. Image by Jenny Fu Studio

Apply for a Marriage License 24 Hours to 60 Days Ahead of Time

Bear in mind that you need to wait for at least 24 hours after getting the marriage license before you can go to New York City Hall for the wedding ceremony. You can apply for a marriage license in New York City Hall either in-person or virtually. You just have to pay $35 by credit card or money order payable to the City Clerk. And you can do it 60 days before the ceremony at most. So it would be wise to accomplish it first above anything else, to be sure everything goes smoothly on your special day.

Peach and white flowers in as a dining table centerpiece inside the elegant venue after a holiday elopement in NY City. Image by Jenny Fu Studio
The groom is happily holding a wine glass inside the elegant venue after a holiday elopement in NY City. Image by Jenny Fu Studio

Create your Itinerary

If you’re a foreigner who just wants to elope in New York, then you should make the most out of your time there. After your holiday elopement in New York City Hall, you can roam around and visit must-see places around the city. It’s adorable to see New York during the Christmas holiday season when you can feel the magic in the air with all the glorious décor and lights. Check out these fantastic places: Lumino City, Bryant Park, Dyker Heights, 5th Ave window displays. And, of course, you wouldn’t want to miss the iconic places in NYC such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock Observation Deck, New York Public Library, and a lot more!

The groom is happily holding a wine glass inside the elegant venue after a holiday elopement in NY City. Image by Jenny Fu Studio
The bride and groom are having a toast with guests inside the elegant venue after a holiday elopement in NY City. Image by Jenny Fu Studio

Book a New York City Hall Elopement Photographer

Consider investing in an experienced NYC Elopement Photographer for your holiday elopement in New York City Hall. Because your elopement will only happen once in your life as a couple, investing in really good-quality photos that capture precious memories will never disappoint you. When you go home, these are the only ones left of your fabulous elopement in New York! You can constantly relive these memories through your photos, and you can pass this on for generations to come. Also, you will delight in hiring an experienced NY City Hall Elopement Photographer as they can suggest beautiful places near City Hall or around the city to take photos. And what’s great is that if it’s going to be just the two of you, your photographer will be more than willing to be your witness in your wedding ceremony too!  

The bride and groom are entertaining their guests inside the elegant venue after a holiday elopement in NY City. Image by Jenny Fu Studio
Black and white photo of the groom kissing the bride inside the venue after their holiday elopement in New York City Hall. Image by Jenny Fu Studio

Have Fun with Some Activities

Enjoy the best winter holiday activities NYC has to offer. You could ice skate for free at Bryant Park; just bring your own ice skates. If none, you could rent one for a little over $20. It’s best to bring a padlock of your own, too, for the lockers, because it’s a hefty price if you’ll purchase it there. Then, explore the holiday market for some great food and souvenir items to take home. You could also enjoy ice skating under the giant Rockefeller Christmas Tree, though it’s not for free. If you’re up to seeing glorious lights display, you could walk around Lumino City and Dyker Heights to feast your eyes with a remarkable Christmas Lights display. And if you would be shopping, the best place is at 5th Avenue where you would also enjoy the window displays. Some of the best Christmas window displays are in Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, and Louis Vuitton.

Keep Warm and Snuggle Up

Include a day in your itinerary to just stay in your hotel, keep warm and snuggle up. Sip a cup of hot chocolate while savoring each moment in New York City with your love. Besides, your holiday elopement in New York City is only once in a lifetime.  

The bride and groom together with a few guests are in an elegant dining room. Holiday New York City Hall elopement Image by Jenny Fu Studio