There’s something quite magical about a New York elopement. The idea of running off to the big city to get lost amongst the busy streets so you can secretly exchange your vows and get married? It’s the stuff Hollywood movies are made of, right? But what those movies don’t show is how busy a city like New York is. And while you may only have eyes for each other, we’re pretty sure you don’t want crowds of people in all your photographs! So, here’s how to avoid the crowds for your NYC elopement.

Start Bright and Early for Your NYC Elopement

Yes, New York is the city that never sleeps. No matter what time of day or night, you’ll always see someone around, whatever part of the city you’re in. But people do sleep. And the vast majority sleep at regular times and have everyday routines like we do! This means early mornings are your best bet when it comes to avoiding the crowds in NYC.

Start your day early. Get up before sunrise and get yourself ready to go. As NYC elopement photographers, we are more than happy to be up super early to capture beautiful pictures with barely another human in sight.

If you’re planning a City Hall wedding, getting there before they open at 8.30 am will definitely mean you’ll avoid the crowds. And an early ceremony means you can have a celebratory breakfast and photos in all your favourite spots before most people have even started their day.

TOP TIP: We know mornings can be tough, so we recommend planning well ahead and having everything ready the night before. Then relax by taking a long, hot soak in the tub before you have an early night! You’ll be fresh as daisies the morning of your elopement and so happy you made the choice to start early.

Avoid Tourist Traps at Certain Times of Day

NYC is awash with beautiful spots. Unfortunately, the most popular ones appear on almost all the tourist guides, so they’re usually full of visitors wanting to get a look too.

The thing is, the city is also jam-packed with incredible spaces that are off the beaten track. Places that don’t typically appear in tourist guides and travel websites. And that usually means fewer people!

Small parks, pretty street corners and spots overlooking the river are great places to start. If you’re a local, start looking at the places around you as you go about the city. We bet you’ll find some lovely areas to host your NYC elopement this way. You can, of course, look at more popular destinations, like Central Park. You just need to know where the more private spots are. Check out our guide for the best Central Park elopement spots!

TOP TIP: When you plan your NYC elopement, hop onto some local groups and community boards to determine where some of these hidden gems are. Better yet, ask us, your NYC elopement photographers! We live in the city, and we consider ourselves locals these days, so we’re always happy to share our knowledge with you.

Go Mid-Week for Your Elopement

Think about all those times you’ve planned a little trip away. We’re betting it’s usually a weekend, right? And you are definitely not alone in that thinking. The majority of visitors descend on the city for the weekend. So, if you want to avoid the crowds for your NYC elopement, the best thing you can do is have it in the middle of the week!

Yes, the city is still pretty busy with people going to work. But, if you combine mid-week with an early start, we promise you won’t be disappointed.

TOP TIP: A mid-week elopement means you’ll have more luck booking the wedding vendors you want. That’s because most of us have our weekends booked out quite a way in advance!

Rent A Venue for Your Intimate Wedding

For the absolute ultimate privacy goals, you can’t go wrong with renting a space to ensure no one else will be around when you exchange your vows. A beautiful garden, a gallery, museum, hotel suite, or restaurant. All these places, and so many more, are options for your NYC elopement.

By renting a private location, you’re guaranteeing no one else can use the space while you’re getting wed. So, if having total privacy and no one around other than you two, your officiant and your photographers is important, we recommend this option.

TOP TIP: Get on sites like Airbnb for some beautiful and unique spaces to rent. Many spaces are available for hosting wedding events these days, though check with the owners first before you firm up your plans!

Confident you can have the NYC elopement you’ve been dreaming of? Then let’s chat and see how we can capture it all for you!