Conservatory Garden Wedding Photos

Have you heard the latest? The South Garden of the Central Park Conservatory Garden is finally open and ready for weddings. After being under construction for most of the fall and winter, the garden looks refreshed and renewed. In honor of the garden’s grand reopening, I have for you Grace and Scott’s Conservatory Garden wedding photos. Join me as we tiptoe through the tulips in Central Park.

Meet Grace and Scott

While the COVID-19 epidemic seems to have downsized most weddings, Grace and Scott always knew they wanted to keep their wedding small. With an intimate guest list of just 29, the couple were surrounded by their closest friends and family on their wedding day.

Conservatory Garden Wedding Photos – Getting Ready

We began the day at the Mark Hotel for Grace’s getting ready photos. She and her girlfriends had lots of fun popping champagne before the big event was to begin. The windows in her hotel room were flooded with light, and the bay window made for a glorious composite shot of the dress and shoes.

Conservatory Garden Wedding Photos – First Look

Once she was zipped up into her dress, Grace and I dashed off to the Conservatory Garden. Her first look took place in the South Garden. Most ‘first looks’ have the groom standing somewhere and the bride tapping him on the shoulder. But Grace and Scott wanted to turn the tables, so it was Grace standing by the little pond and Scott who came through the garden to see her in her dress for the first time.

Conservatory Garden Wedding Photos –Portraits

The weather on their wedding day could not have been more fantastic, even though rain was originally in the forecast. Everything was in bloom, and we even got a beautiful reflection shot of the couple in the koi pond.

By the way, I do not have a good track record, weather-wise, when it comes to photos in the Conservatory Garden. Two of my previous weddings in the garden have been almost rained out (check out the photos here and here), so I was very thankful for the sunny skies.

I encouraged Grace and Scott to take care of all their portraits prior to the ceremony, so next up were the family photos. As usual we chose the side patio to the left of the Wisteria Terrace. This is my favorite spot for family photos because it is usually quite private and you have a green, blank background of trees for all of your photos.

Conservatory Garden Wedding Photos – Wisteria Terrace Ceremony

We knocked out all of Grace and Scott’s photos and now there was nothing left to do but have the bride walk down the aisle. Their ceremony was short and sweet, and best of all, it was officiated by two of the couple’s best friends.

Cocktails and Reception

So now comes the celebration! The bride and groom enjoyed a moment alone in the garden, and the rest of the guests all took taxis to the reception venue. The plan was for guests to enjoy a private dinner at Amali. Before dinner, however, guests were treated to cocktails at the next-door bar, The Bar Room. It was a fun hangout session and the perfect way to start the evening.

Since the couple would be having a low-key evening, photography ended after the cocktail hour. Grace and Scott’s wedding is proof that you can pack a lot into a three-hour photography schedule.

Conservatory Garden – Construction Update

I have the privilege of photographing Camille and Mubin’s Wisteria Terrace wedding in the Conservatory Garden next week. In anticipation of their big day, I made a venue check last week. While construction in the South Garden is now complete, this garden is still surrounded by fences. This shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for photo shoots, however. The garden is not quite as lush as it was during Grace and Scott’s nuptials, but I have faith that the garden will fill out, foliage-wise, over the summer. Also, the koi aren’t back in the pond yet, but I’m sure they will be back soon.

As for other construction projects in the garden, you should know that construction is just beginning on the fountain. When I was in the garden I spoke with a guard, and the fountain will be undergoing painting starting this week. As such the main fountain is not currently turned on.

The North Garden, with the roses and Three Dancing Maidens fountain, is the newest part of the park to go under the hammer. This portion of the Conservatory Garden is completely closed off and I would expect it to be closed all summer.

The Wisteria Terrace itself is still lovely, with no obvious changes. The wisteria was not in bloom at all during my visit, so the terrace was quite bare. Wisteria is supposed to bloom from April through August, so I’m sure our warm NYC weather will make the flowers pop soon. In case you are ever curious about what is blooming in Central Park, here is a handy bloom and tree guide published by Central Park.

Enjoy the images and I’ll have more photo adventures for you next week!

Vendors