Blog ~ Elopements
I’m very excited to officially announce the launch of Third Rail Photo Booths, an NYC photobooth rental company! This sister company to JC Lemon Photography provides modern, open-air photo booth rentals for corporate and social events in New York City. From weddings at all my favorite venues to product launch parties and social activations, we’ll have booths creating fun times with some valuable takeaways.
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I used to offer a studio-style photo booth rental in NYC, so when I was ready to expand opening a photo booth studio was a no brainer. But in the time since I last did a photo booth, both the expectations of what a photo booth is and the technology available to run it have vastly changed. When deciding what to offer it was very important for me to offer booths that look great in a room, are easy to use and customize, and are connected for instant sharing.
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Looks Amazing, Goes Anywhere.
Photo booths have to look great in any room for any event. The booths we’ll have on deck are sleek in their own right, with beautiful lighting built right in. Their light footprints also mean that they can serve event floorplans that some NYC photo booth rentals can’t touch.
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Customize Your Photobooth to Your Event.
On top of providing a good time, a photo booth must also act like a chameleon and blend seamlessly into the event it’s a part of. All booths can be fully customized from the overlays on the final photos and boomerangs to the screens that guests interact with.
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Connected. Dialed In. Hooked Up.
Prints will always be important in the photo booth world. But more and more people are looking for instant sharing instead of a physical takeaway. Right out of the box all of our booths are WiFi connected to allow for texting, emailing, and the building of a live online gallery while the event unfolds.
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Head over to https://thirdrailphotobooths.com to learn more, I’m excited to start serving all of your photo booth needs!
Central Park is one of the most popular locations for wedding photos in NYC. It’s been featured in countless films and TV shows so it’s a draw for both locals and couples coming in for destination weddings. At 843 acres large, it has a lot of variety to offer while still being easy to get to and explore. So what are some of the best wedding photo locations in Central Park?
In this second Wedding Photo Location Guide I’ll cover what makes New York’s Central Park so great on a wedding day. Let’s dive in!
Why Central Park is Great for Wedding Photos
This is THE park of all parks, where countless films and TV shows from Elf to Law & Order have used it as a backdrop to convey one thing: classic New York City. It has the visual appeal of a great landscaped park while still pulling in the city around itself like a blanket of skylines. And oh, the variety! Need a secluded woodsy location that still has an urban feel? Check! Want an instantly recognizable backdrop for that killer dip & kiss photo? Gotcha covered!
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The park also has incredible appeal because it’s very easy to access from multiple points around the city. Stretching from 59th to 110th Streets and 5th to 8th Avenues, the sheer size of the park means there’s a lot of entry points and key points to explore. And considering you can get there easily by car or subway, those are sure to make great photos as well!
What are the best locations inside Central Park?
Narrowing down the park to a few key areas is definitely a hard task, but below are my favorite locations due to visual appeal, ease of access, and proximity to other locations of interest.
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
This is the photogenic heart of Central Park for wedding photos. There are multiple levels to use, and even on the most crowded days there’s opportunities to make it look like you’re all alone in the space. But sometimes the crowd is a fun thing to use to our advantage! A must stop location for any trip to the park.
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NYC Skyline Views
While the point of wandering into a park might seem to just aim for greenery, the true appeal of Central Park comes from its situation within the NYC landscape. In particular are a few places where the openings in the tree coverage allows for amazing views of the surrounding buildings. Three great spots in particular are the boulder located above Wollman Rink, the south end of The Lake, and the north side of Sheep Meadow.
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Naumburg Bandshell
Just south of Bethesda Terrace is the Naumburg Bandshell. It’s not the flashiest structure, but I love its simplicity compared to the heavily trafficked and visually dense spots nearby. It works well as a big large backdrop or as a simple background for up close bride and groom portraits.
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Around the Lake & Just Outside the Park
The loop around Central Park’s Lake contains some great hidden gems. Ladies Pavilion, a structure on the west side, is a great spot to pop by. Wagner Cove is down a set of stairs and offers a really secluded spot to utilize. Some of the iconic archways are also in the area, which offer some unique wedding photo options.
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Central Park is surrounded by some of the most classic NYC architecture, from the private homes to the museums like The Met and Guggenheim. As you make your way into or out of the park, make sure to spend a few moments capturing some wedding photos with these classic backdrops.
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A few Central Park weddings to dive into
The Bethesda Terrace wedding of Sarah & Eric is a great example of an intimate Central Park wedding. After a short getting ready session at their nearby hotel, we headed to Bethesda Terrace for the ceremony, followed by some portraits as we made our way to Tavern on the Green for their small lunch reception.
Lauren & Cody had a private elopement near The Lake followed by a few portraits inside Central Park. Even in the rain we got some amazing photos by being adventurous and sticking to a great walking loop!
What neighborhood should I feature next?
Do you have a favorite neighborhood you’d like to see featured next? New York is such a wonderful city to explore on your wedding day. Let me know!
I’m so stoked to finally share the Bethesda Terrace wedding of Sarah & Eric with you! They stayed at the awesome (and awesomely located) Park Central Hotel, then migrated up to Central Park for their wedding ceremony, followed by a brunch reception a short walk away at Tavern on the Green. How do you keep it simple and classy when getting married in NYC? Follow Sarah & Eric’s lead! Get ready somewhere great. Have the ceremony somewhere cool. And go somewhere delicious for a meal with your family and friends.
Getting Ready at The Park Central Hotel
I spent a few minutes with Eric getting ready as he put on his jacket and made sure his pocket square was on point. As he left for the ceremony, I spent some time with Sarah getting some details of her wedding dress and her awesome Betsey Johnson lace bridal shoes. As we walked to their Bethesda Terrace wedding, we caught lots of great candid moments.
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Bethesda Terrace Wedding Ceremony
Before the start of their Bethesda Terrace wedding, Sarah stayed back with her dad for a few moments together. As he walked her down the stairs and through Bethesda Terrace, you could see the joy and pride on his face. I love the hug he had with Eric as he handed her off to get married! The rest of the ceremony contained just as many great moments, especially when they exchanged vows.
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Tears all around! Great ceremonies like this keep me on my toes, and my head constantly looking around for moments unfolding. Such a great Bethesda Terrace wedding!
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I’m a huge fan of all of the hugs and congratulations that happen right after the ceremony. I stick close to the couple and get as many as I can, because they come quick!
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Wedding Portraits in Central Park
Bethesda Terrace is a great part of Central Park to start taking wedding portraits. The classic architectural elements show that you’re not just in any park, but one of the most iconic parks in the world. In fact, most of the locations you see in movies and TV shows are from this southern end of the park. Bethesda Terrace and Naumburg Bandshell in particular are two of the most recognizable locations, so why not use them for your wedding photos too?
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Sheep Meadow is one of my favorite spots in Central Park. Skyscrapers emerge from the dense greens of the park while a wide clearing opens in front of you. Usually it’s full of locals sunbathing and grabbing a margarita from the cooler guy. Sprinkle in the tourists that have stumbled upon this field and you have a great mix of characters to watch. As Sarah & Eric walked towards Tavern on the Green, it was still pretty empty so the views were extra nice.
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Brunch Reception at Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green is a classic choice for taking people out for special meal. Brunch after your wedding? Definitely a good call.
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Sarah & Eric, thank you for having me along to document your story for you! Stay tuned for another installment, because a month later they hosted a party for their friends and family at a bar in the West Village…
Are you considering eloping in NYC? Wondering where to start? Check out our Essential Guide to Eloping in NYC!
The Best NYC Elopement Vendors
Getting ready hotel – Park Central Hotel
Wedding officiant – Our Wedding Officiant NYC
Florist – Bettlebug
Lunch reception venue – Tavern on the Green
NYC elopement photographer – JC Lemon Photography