A wedding in New York

PHOTO// SAMM BLAKE

A wedding in a lush Central Park, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The sun is shining after several days of rain. Thirty-five guests from Sweden, Mallorca, England and the US are attending Annika and Liam’s wedding. So simple and lovely. They both really wanted to get married – but they didn’t want it to be too big or lavish. The first question they had to decide on was, of course, where they would get married. In England, where Liam’s family lived, or in Sweden, where Annika’s family lived? The answer was – New York.
— Both Liam and I like New York, and besides, it felt like a fair solution. If some of the guests had to travel to a different country anyway, it was only fair that everyone should have to go. New York is, after all, a city that’s high on many people’s list of dream destinations, explains Annika.
And a long weekend in New York with a wedding as an added bonus – that can never feel wrong.
For Annika and Liam, it was also important not to put any pressure on family and friends.
— Of course we wanted our loved ones to be there, but you can’t expect people to come when you’re not getting married on home turf.
But of course they did. Thirty-five guests from Sweden, Mallorca, England and the US were keen to come. Given Annika and Liam’s preference for simplicity, Central Park felt like the obvious choice for the wedding venue.
— It’s both a romantic and relaxed place that suited us perfectly. We also wanted a civil ceremony, so we didn’t go through the Church of Sweden.
Annika and Liam searched online for information on how to go about getting married in the park and to find an officiant (see further down the page).
— We wanted to get married at the Strawberry Fields Memorial, the memorial to John Lennon, but that wasn’t allowed. Instead, we chose a spot called Cherry Hill nearby, with a small gazebo right by the water. Absolutely lovely!

The wedding was set for 21 May 2011, and on the Wednesday before, the couple travelled to New York. The main thing was to collect the wedding licence, but they also managed to do some last-minute shopping for clothes and sort out the final details for the reception. And perhaps most important of all: spending time with their loved ones.
Annika and Liam had chosen the Hudson Hotel, which is on the West Side and not too far from the wedding venue. To make things easier for their guests, they’d checked with the hotel to see if they could get a group discount.
— Pretty much all the guests stayed there. It was absolutely marvellous because it meant we had time to spend with everyone, and each person at slightly different times.
And then the big day arrives. Annika and Liam get ready at the hotel and then take a taxi to Central Park. By the little gazebo, the officiant and the guests were eagerly awaiting the beautiful couple: Annika in a long, simple, cream-coloured dress with thin shoulder straps and embroidered flowers on the waist, carrying a bouquet of pale lilac lilacs.
— I didn’t think a proper wedding dress would suit me, but I didn’t want a short dress either. I wanted something romantic but not too cutesy, and I found this one by chance in London.
Annika (who, incidentally, is a professional hair and make-up artist specialising in weddings) has short hair.
— But I wanted to do something, so I decided to bleach my normally brown hair.
With her Liam in a suit and a lilac shirt, and a bridesmaid in a vintage dress with a lilac pattern, the colour scheme looked as though it had been thought out down to the smallest detail.
— But actually, it wasn’t; it all just fell into place over time, says Annika with a laugh.
The ceremony was kept simple.
— We emailed the officiant about how we wanted it to be, and we also met her before the wedding.
One tip that Annika and Liam are particularly keen to share is to hire a professional photographer.
— I’m sure many of your friends will have their cameras with them, but there’s no comparison with having a couple of hundred brilliant photos to choose from, says Annika.

After the ceremony, everyone headed to the Swedish restaurant Aquavit, where a Swedish smörgåsbord had been laid on. Salmon, Västerbotten cheese pie, herring and pytt were a big hit.
At around 4 pm, everyone headed back to the hotel, and the whole party later gathered in the hotel’s sky bar.
— It felt just right – cosy and unpretentious, with a bit of bubbly and tapas – and plenty of chatter. In the early hours, a few people went to a nightclub; it was entirely up to each individual.
Back home in London again, after a short but wonderful honeymoon in San Francisco and with a move back to Mallorca on the cards, I get Annika on the phone for one final comment about the wedding.
— It really was everything we could have wished for. And then some! Fancy getting married in New York? Here are Annika and Liam’s top tips: Don’t be afraid to organise as much as possible yourselves; it’s usually both cheaper and more personal.

Make sure your officiant is registered to perform weddings in New York, otherwise the marriage won’t be valid when you come to register it in Sweden. We used Allison at www.alwaysnyweddings.com.

Make sure you obtain a marriage permit if you want to get married in, for example, Central Park and there are more than twenty people attending. That way, you can be sure it won’t clash with anyone else’s ceremony. Apply at least one month in advance: www.nycgovpark.org.

Complete the wedding licence application online, so that everything is sorted by the time you arrive. They’ll also tell you what documents, if any, you need to bring with you. Usually, a passport is sufficient. www.cityclerk.nyc.gov. You must collect your marriage licence from the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the wedding. It is then valid for 60 days.

Make sure the restaurant where you’re holding your reception understands your requirements before you sign the contract and pay a deposit. Never pay more than a deposit in advance!

Don’t skimp on a professional photographer! Sure, many of your friends will have their cameras with them, but it’s no comparison to having a couple of hundred brilliant photos to choose from!! You won’t regret it! Make sure your wedding is exactly as YOU want it to be! It’s YOUR day and YOU decide!

Enjoy the day and enjoy New York!!!

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