Open Question: NY Park Photo Permits
February 16th, 2007 @ 12:47 pm by Open Question
Hi Mrs. Bee!
My fiancÆ’© and I are getting married in NYC at a church on the Upper East Side, and our plan all along was to head over to Central Park after the church to take photos with us and the wedding party. Unfortunately, we just learned that (a) you need a permit to take photos in Central Park (b) the permit costs $100, and (c) they only let you stay for 30 minutes!
I was wondering if you could start a discussion about this on WeddingBee. I’d like to know what other brides’ experiences have been like if they’ve taken photos in Central Park, and if they really enforce the 30 minute rule. I’d also love to know if other parks in the city (Battery Park in particular) have similar restrictions.
Thank you so much!!
Sarah
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9 Responses to “Open Question: NY Park Photo Permits”
I agree with Miss Bear - the permit and time applies only if you want to get married at the Conservatory Garden.
In regards to the rest - i dont’ think you need permission elsewhere - its a public park and thats why we pay such high taxes!
at the very least - no one is really going to deny a bride pictures on her wedding day - ITS VERY RARE .. so worse case scenario - go and if you have to move move to a different part of the park
also question - the great pics of soho street with the brick floors and pretty buildings (think Friends (the show) when theyr’e walking down w/ the umbrellas) - does anyone know where that or somewhere else thats photogenic is?
No one is going to enforce the 30 minute rule unless you are seriously hindering traffic or something. People love to watch brides take pictures, so dont worry about it. I took my engagement photos in the conservatory - we got the license because we wanted to be safe, but no one came up to us. I dont even think we ran into the guards or anything. As long as you’re not in the public’s way for a long time, they wont say anything.
Guess what? One of my bridesmaids happens to work for Central Park–so I sent her an e-mail to ask her what the official story is and this is what she wrote back—–
The fee and time limit only apply to Consevatory Garden and it is indeed
enforced.
People do not need permits for photo shoots with less than 20 people in
any city park - Central Park included (FYI Battery Park City Park is not
a city park and requires fees and permits of their own.)
Many couples choose to get photo permits for popular Central Park
locations even if they do not need them as an extra level of
comfort/security. A special event permit is 25 dollars and can be
obtained here: nyc.gov/parks
Dj, I think the Friends buildings you’re talking about are in the west village
i live right by the friends building! its on grove and bedford. i did a post about west village photo ops here: http://www.weddingbee.com/2006/11/09/west-village-photo-ops/
good luck sarah! and thanks for the inside scoop moohaha!
Photographers are always shotting weddings and e-pics (including ours) in Central Park. I can’t see anyone telling you that you can’t. I think it’s just the Conservatory that requires a permit. In addition, you should ask your photographer about permits because our Photographer Henry Chan told us that any permits that we need, he will actually go handle it for us! I thought that was very helpful actually so I do’nt have to run there to do it.
Thank you so much everyone! I’m so glad I asked!!!
Hi - for anyone interested in shooting at Brooklyn Bridge Park - we tried to do and and were kicked out because we did not have a permit. It’s a state park, not a city park so it’s different from central park.
the guard was really mean too 
Open Question
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The permit and time limit only apply to the Conservatory Garden at 105th.
You may need to get permission from parks and recreation to shoot elsewhere - my FI and I were going to do our wedding photos in the lower parts of the park as well, and we are looking into that. Does anyone know for sure?
There is more information here:
http://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/weddings