Eloping to NYC from UK at New York City Hall | Rachel & Ben

CEREMONY:
MANHATTAN MARRIAGE BUREAU
PORTRAITS:
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK, BALTHAZAR
PHOTOGRAPHER:
EVERLY STUDIOS

When London residents Rachel and Ben decided to get married, they envisioned one thing: eloping to NYC from UK at New York City Hall. The goal was a chic, modern city wedding, and following my elopement guide for foreigners, we planned the classic NYC courthouse elopement.

The pair picked a special day — Rachel’s birthday — for their NYC City Hall wedding. After meeting the pair at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau early in the morning, the pair flashed their passports, got a numbered ticket, and proceeded to wait excitedly in the queue. Soon after, their number was called and the pair said their vows in a short and sweet ceremony. Now, formalities aside, the fun could begin — punctuated with a toss of confetti outside the City Clerk’s Office.

We hailed a yellow taxi cab and headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park to get that epic Manhattan skyline shot and views of the Brooklyn Bridge. The paid were absolute naturals, and also had a little extra surprise: two champagne flutes and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot hidden in their backpack. There, in a little private nook in the shade of the Brooklyn Bridge, we toast their nuptials.

After wandering the length of the promenade, we had one last stop that any New Yorker would appreciate: brunch at Balthazar. We headed to Nolita and I left them perusing menus and toasting each other with more cocktails — just the perfect ending to a morning City Hall elopement, I’d say.