Weddingbee Blog

The reason we had decided to get ready in Manhattan was so that we could take pictures in the city before heading off to our venue in Westchester. I wanted to hit all the quintessential New York photography spots: the majestic Brooklyn Bridge, the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District, the tree-lined streets of Greenwich Village, the edgy backdrop of TriBeCa… we wanted it all.

In the end we decided to play it safe with time and decided on just one spot: Central Park (with Grand Central station as a backup, just in case it rained).

After doing some research, we discovered that certain locations in Central Park - such as the breathtaking Conservatory Garden - require a photography permit. Ever the lazy bum, I purposely chose a location that does not require a permit: The Pond, located at Central Park South between Fifth and Sixth Avenues…

(All photos by Danny Weiss)

We arrived at Central Park in style. I tried my best not to trip as we traversed the crowds. Many people shouted congratulatory words and wished us well. However, it being New York, there were also the occasional “Don’t do it!”s.

The dirt paths and uneven roads made the walk from the streets to The Pond quite an adventure for this bride. We took a break mid-way and posed for some shots, blocking the path of many angry New Yorkers and curious tourists.

We finally made it down! Of course, we all needed to take a break from this strenuous activity. Okay, I needed to take a break. I’m an out-of-shape computer nerd!

I love this picture. Isn’t my sister (and MOH) a doll?

Mr Peony has the most elastic face of anyone I’ve ever met. I swear the man can control every muscle in his face to contort to his will - he can even wiggle his ears! The downside is that he often makes funny faces for the camera, and he ends up looking different in every picture.

I have known these two girls since sophomore year in high school. It’s amazing how time flies!

And… finally! A decent picture of Mr Peony! (I would say he makes faces in 95% of his pictures… sigh.)

Some couple shots. Feel free to gag.

One thing I must say is that April 18, 2008 gifted us with the most perfect weather for our wedding. I was genuinely worried that my bridesmaids would freeze their cute little tushes off since the entire month had been below average temperatures. In addition, the week of the wedding was filled with cloudy skies and rain showers which led me to ponder getting pashminas and umbrellas. However, I woke up on the day of the wedding to sunny skies and a high of 81°F - PERFECT!

Upon walking a bit further, we found an old tunnel with gorgeously dilapidated brick walls.

Where was the rest of the bridal party while we were taking these couple shots? They were waiting back at the entrance to The Pond, getting food! If you’ve never had a hot dog purchased from a street vendor in New York, you’re missing out!

Walking back to the limo, our photographer was everywhere - in front of us, behind us, crawling next to us, and even disappearing a few times. I’m surprised he didn’t ask to climb on top of us!

Ducks are significant in Korean weddings, as it is believed that ducks mate for life. Traditional Korean weddings often include wooden ducks in decorations, and give them out as favors or presents as well. A pair of wooden ducks often reside in a newlywed couple’s home, and their position tells of the couple’s marital state: nose to nose meaning good, tail to tail meaning bad. I’m pretty sure that our photographer does not know this, so receiving this picture was a very pleasant surprise.

We decided to get together for one last group shot…

Then it was up to the streets! We literally stopped traffic for these photos, but they were worth it!

Goodbye, Central Park. This will be my last time visiting you as a single woman.

We then shuffled into the limo to our next destination: The Fountainhead!