NYC's coolest little elopement planners
We plan fully managed ceremonies for up to 20 guests across all five boroughs. You pick the vibe. We handle the officiant, photographer, permits, and marriage license. Starting at $4,000.
Why Couples Elope in NYC
New York City doesn't need a venue. The city is the venue.
Every year, thousands of couples come to NYC to get married, and most of them skip the traditional route entirely. No ballrooms. No DJ. No seating charts. Just a ceremony in a place that actually means something, with the people who matter most, and a photographer who knows where the light hits.
That's what Cakewalk does. We plan ceremony-only weddings across all five boroughs for couples who want the marriage without the production. Our clients come from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. They also come from London, Sydney, and São Paulo. What they have in common: they want a wedding that feels like them, not like a template.
NYC is one of the easiest places in the world to get married. There's no residency requirement, no waiting period beyond 24 hours, and the marriage license process can be completed in about a week. International couples can legally marry in New York with a valid passport, and the marriage is recognized worldwide.
Four steps. One rad day.
Step 1: Tell us what you want
Take our 2-minute quiz or fill out the inquiry form. Tell us your date, your guest count, and whether you want Central Park or a decommissioned subway station. We don't judge.
Step 2: We Build your Ceremony
We source your ceremony location, match you with a photographer and officiant, build your timeline, and handle any permits. You get a visual mood board before anything is locked in.
Step 3: We handle the paperwork
Marriage license appointment? Booked. Permit application? Filed. Day-of coordination? Handled. You do not need to call anyone at any city office. That's the whole point.
Step 4: Show up and get married
Your officiant runs the ceremony and coordinates the day. Your photographer captures it. You're in and out in about an hour, married, with photos you'll actually want to look at.
130+ Ceremony Spots in New York City
Central Park
Central Park is 843 acres, and most people only know about three of them. We know the rest.
Cop Cot is a vine-covered shelter that feels like a greenhouse. Wagner Cove sits below grade on the Lake, tucked away from everything. Bow Bridge gives you the skyline and the rowboats. Ladies Pavilion is a cast-iron gazebo with city views. And Bethesda Terrace is Bethesda Terrace — you already know.
DUMBO + Brooklyn Waterfront
Two bridges, cobblestone streets, and a 1922 carousel that glows like a lantern at night. DUMBO is the most photographed ceremony backdrop in the city, but the waterfront goes a lot further than Washington Street. Brooklyn Bridge Park has 85 acres of piers, lawns, and beach. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is old-money quiet with an unbroken Lower Manhattan view. And Jane's Carousel is the kind of backdrop that makes people stop scrolling.
Off the Beaten Path
This is why you hire us. New York has ceremony spots in every corner of the city, and most of them aren't in any wedding blog. Washington Square Park with the arch and the fountain. Hudson River Park at sunset. The High Line above the streets. 6BC Garden, a community garden most New Yorkers have walked past a hundred times. Transmitter Park on the Greenpoint waterfront. Gantry Plaza in Long Island City. We've scouted all five boroughs, and we're still adding locations to the list.
Under the Radar
Some of the best spots in this city weren't built for ceremonies. They just reward good timing and a little tact. The Met steps. Intermission at a Broadway show. The middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. Grand Central Terminal. The Staten Island Ferry. We're not saying anything. We're just saying.
The Classic Cakewalk Elopement is $4,000 and includes:
We don’t do packages. A Classic Cakewalk has everything you need for a super chill wedding day.
But if you want to add something, here’s what we have to offer.
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Ally and Ryan
THANK YOU Cakewalk team! Just thank you. We watched so many of our friends do huge weddings – it all felt so forced to us. We wanted to have a wedding that felt very New York, but honestly just could not afford it (ha, what could feel more New York than that?). Getting married in the neighborhood where we had our first date was so cool. So special. We will never forget it. Thanks for making it easy.
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Lala and Romy
Cakewalk absolutely nailed it. Our wedding day was genuinely fun, and it truly reflected who we are. When we look back on the experience, we're grateful to have partnered with a company that completely understood our vision – Lia and Annie just got us. Our wedding was effortlessly cool and simple. We loved it!
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Eleni and Will
I mean, come on. We got married at the Brooklyn Public Library for goodness sake. It was seriously so fun and so many of our friends have told us they wished they approached their wedding the way we did. We absolutely LOVE our photos, the Cakewalk photographers actually captured the spirit of our relationship in those candid moments. Can’t recommend Cakewalk enough.
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Gabby and Lucy
We had a huge wedding planned. Right when it got to the point of signing huge checks we looked at each other and basically realized we didn’t want to go down that road. When we found Cakewalk, it’s like they sensed exactly what we wanted: a wedding ceremony that felt significant, but wasn’t going to financially and emotionally stress us out. We’re seriously so happy with our photos and our memories of that day – no regrets whatsoever. We recommend Cakewalk to all our friends.
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Alex and Julia
When we were trying to figure out the wedding we wanted, we both agreed we wanted it to feel like we were truly surrounded by the people we loved and have this be a warm intimate experience. Cakewalk got it. They planned the perfect ceremony surrounded by the people that mattered most to my husband and I. The footprint was small, the feeling was so full. Highly recommend.
NYC Elopement FAQ: Your Questions Answered
NYC Elopement FAQ
Do we need a permit to get married in NYC? It depends on the location. Most NYC Parks locations require a Special Event Permit for ceremonies. The permit costs around $400 and needs to be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance. Cakewalk handles the entire permit process. For a list of spots that don't need a permit, see our no-permit locations guide. We also have a full list of indoor rain plan options.
How do we get a marriage license in NYC? Both partners need to appear in person at the NYC City Clerk's office. Appointments are booked through Project Cupid, the city's online system. New slots are released every Monday at 8:30 AM for dates three weeks out. After your appointment, there's a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before your ceremony can happen. We manage the entire process. Read our full marriage license guide.
Can international couples get married in NYC? Yes. New York has no residency requirement and no citizenship requirement. You need a valid passport, and the marriage is legally recognized worldwide. Here's our complete guide for international couples.
How many guests can we invite? Cakewalk weddings accommodate up to 20 guests. That's our sweet spot for keeping things intimate, manageable, and well-documented by your photographer. Most of our couples bring 4 to 12 guests. Read more about our guest count philosophy.
What happens if it rains? Every Cakewalk ceremony has a rain plan. For outdoor locations, we identify a covered or indoor alternative that matches the vibe of your original choice. Your officiant makes the call on the morning of the ceremony based on the forecast. See our rain plan location guide.
Can we bring our own officiant? Yes. If you have a friend or family member who's ordained (or wants to get ordained), they can perform your ceremony. Cakewalk still provides day-of coordination separately. Read our guide to bringing your own officiant.
What's the difference between City Hall and a Cakewalk wedding? City Hall costs $60 total, takes about 90 seconds, and limits you to 4 guests in a government office. A Cakewalk ceremony happens at the location of your choice, with a personalized ceremony, professional photography, and up to 20 guests. Full comparison here.
Do you plan weddings outside NYC? We're expanding to Washington DC, San Francisco, and Austin. If you're interested in one of those cities, get in touch and we'll let you know where we are with availability.
