A 23-Guest Central Park Wedding: Lewis and Matt’s New York Day

Lewis and Matt’s wedding made a full New York day out of an intimate ceremony: 23 guests, vows at Central Park’s Cop Cot, photos across Manhattan and Brooklyn, and a vintage trolley bus to connect the stops. They travelled from the UK in late September with 21 friends and family members. The grooms were 28 and 29, and had been together for six and a half years.

They’d met online through a university connection. Matt proposed at Volcano Bay in Orlando, Florida, a holiday spot they returned to often, and their engagement lasted almost exactly a year. For Lewis, marriage marked their shared commitment and gave their families a symbolic way to unite. The destination also let them shape the day around their own priorities.

Choosing New York and a small guest list

Before settling on New York, they looked at venues in the UK and considered a destination venue in Florida. UK venue costs felt poor value to them, especially with cutlery, crockery and other items still to hire. Neither option felt like the right fit. A 2022 visit to New York changed that: they fell for the city and saw it as a welcoming place to marry. For the couple, the city’s established LGBTQIA community and its acceptance of same-sex weddings mattered in choosing where to celebrate.

Central Park offered the combination they wanted: an iconic setting with quieter corners inside a busy city. Cop Cot sits at the park’s southern end. Lewis described the contrast between the park’s calm and the city around it as part of the appeal. Their guest list brought together immediate family, grandparents and close friends across generations.

A destination wedding did mean some loved ones couldn’t make the trip. Some weren’t able to travel long distances, some couldn’t afford to attend, and friends who were teachers couldn’t take the time off. That’s a real guest-list consideration for couples planning abroad. Lewis and Matt still valued the freedom to choose where, when and how the day unfolded, keeping traditions they liked and leaving out those they didn’t. Some couples mark the occasion again with a gathering at home, though the couple noted that guests may miss a local wedding, too.

Planning for an outdoor ceremony

Rain was their main weather worry. Cop Cot’s foliage-covered roof gives shade, but it doesn’t keep the rain off, and the couple also wondered whether passers-by might interrupt a ceremony in a public park. Neither concern disrupted their day. Their experience offers reassurance, but the shelter’s limits are part of the practical picture when weighing an outdoor location.

Lewis and Matt stayed for five nights at the Hampton Inn by Hilton, then travelled to Orlando for their honeymoon. They wore matching stone-coloured suits from Gere Menswear in Lincoln, paired with white trainers and similar-coloured ties that gave each look a little variation.

The photographer, Jakub Redziniak, met each groom separately at the hotel for getting-ready photos. Then Matt’s guests and Lewis met the officiant at Cop Cot. Matt arrived later with his mother and the photographer.

Vows, park portraits and a citywide celebration

The ceremony paired traditional vows with personal vows each groom had written ahead of time, followed by the ring exchange. Lewis called the officiant kind and supportive, and said Cop Cot made a memorable setting for both the ceremony and photos. After group pictures, guests had time to explore the park while the grooms took portraits.

Their favourite photo spots included the bandshell, Bethesda Terrace, the Chess and Checkers House, and Cats Rock. Lunch at Joanne Trattoria came next, followed by a vintage trolley bus. The group crossed to Brooklyn for photos around DUMBO and a ride on Jane’s Carousel, then returned to Manhattan for pictures in Times Square. They paused at Sir Henry’s Bar on 8^th Avenue before ending the day with food from Raising Cane’s, a short walk from the hotel.

Friends and family still speak warmly about the trip two years later. For some, it was their first time in the United States. Lewis also remembered how much his grandfather Kevin enjoyed the visit and had hoped to return to the city; Kevin has since passed away. Those memories give the guest list a meaning that stretches well beyond the ceremony itself.

What made the day work for them

Lewis and Matt said they’d happily do it all again. They also credited planner Claire’s knowledge of the city’s practical details, along with her reassurance, for easing the planning process. Their account points to a useful consideration for couples organising a destination celebration: local guidance can help with the questions that are easy to miss when planning from afar.

Their celebration wasn’t built around a standard format. It brought together a ceremony, park portraits, a long photo route, time to rest, and a meal to close the day. For couples considering a similar trip, their choices show how a smaller group can make room for meaningful traditions and a wider itinerary, while the travel distance and outdoor setting deserve attention during planning.