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Before I begin to talk about our ceremony, I want to tell you a little bit about our “other” guests. Who were they? Well “they’re the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street each day.” (Thank you, Sesame Street!)
No, seriously… as a New Yorker, I’m used to doing everything “on the street”. The notion of public space is real to me. I’ve done darn near everything out in the open or on a sidewalk (um… well… not EVERYTHING, but you know…): I eat and buy food on the street; I stumble onto to street fairs almost every weekend in the summer; and I buy clothes on the street (my favorite summer dress for years was one that I bought, guess where? On the street!!). You get the idea.
When it came to our wedding, I guess I didn’t really think about the fact that it would end up being super public in the middle of a very touristy park on a Saturday morning/early afternoon with perfect weather. I guess subconsciously I just I didn’t mind, or rather, put it out of my mind. I saw our wedding ceremony as a public declaration of my love and commitment to Mr. Swan. It ended up being that in the literal sense of the word “public”. In that way, I wasn’t fazed that the only separation between us and passersby in Battery Park was essentially a barrier that our venue, Battery Gardens, had provided. We had guests that I hadn’t anticipated, but I was more than happy to share our loving words and promises of commitment with them, too.
Our first run in with our “other guests” came before we even had our ceremony. During our mini-photo shoot, a lovely Italian family of tourists noticed us. In between the daughters’ and the mother’s squeals, shooting us begging puppy dog eyes and yelling “Sposa! Sposa!” (Italian speakers, I assume this means “bride”?), Mr. Swan and I gave them a look that said, “Okay, sure. You can take a picture with us.” Besides, the Dad was wearing one of our wedding colors. It was serendipitous!
Wherever you are, Italian family, I hope we made the final cut in your vacation album.
Little did we know that our Italian friends were not the norm, and that most of our “other guests” would decide to join us at our ceremony. I was honestly too caught up in the moment to notice them when I was walking down the aisle and finally reached the end, but apparently they were there for that, too.
There was definitely a point in the ceremony where I broke concentration, looked up and noticed a guy videotaping the ceremony. Now come on! Are you really going to watch the video of my ceremony when you get home, brotha man?! I barely even have a video of my ceremony (it’s on a friend’s video camera, and we haven’t seen it.). I gave myself a mental kick in the pants, reminded myself that I was actually getting married and refocused. Geesh….
So how many “other guests” did we actually attract? Take a look!
Everybody wanted a picture. Who knew that people found weddings this fascinating? It was like having our own paparazzi. I don’t know who this guy is, but this may be one of my top 20 favorite pictures Dante, our photographer, took for us.
Luckily for us, everyone who ended up watching our ceremony was so quiet and respectful. There was barely a peep, which is why I probably didn’t realize how many people had stopped to look. Well, actually that’s not true. Mr. Swan’s Uncle V. did tell us one story. Apparently during our vows, he heard someone softly crying. I guess they were feeling the love in the ceremony. He looked around and couldn’t figure out who it could be. It turns out that one of our “other guests” was moved to tears. How sweet! 
So, there you have it. I shared my wedding day not only with family and friends but also with some of my other favorite people… my fellow New Yorkers (and tourists from around the world), our “other guests.”
Is anyone else having/had their ceremony in very public place? Would you mind sharing this moment in time with non-family and friends?
Swan Tip #9 - Everybody loves a wedding. There are going to be people you don’t expect who will love yours, too.
All images taken with the foresight and artistic flair of Dante Williams. D, thanks for taking these!
So what happened before this? Check it out:
Haha, this makes me feel better, as our ceremony at the winery will be held when the winery is still open to the public 
I think it’s so cool that total strangers wanted so badly to be a part of your wedding! Good think you’re a go-with-the-flow kinda person.
That’s too funny! At least they were respectful and quite. I was warned that random people might show up at my wedding ceremony venue, so it’s nice to know things don’t always go poorly.
i think it’s kind of sweet and special, like you described, to have people share in your ceremony (as long as they are being respectful, of course). you two are such a gorgeous couple i bet they thought you were celebrities, and that helped draw the interest!
Ha - this is such a NY thing. We did our engagement pictures in Brooklyn Bridge park and totally stopped to watch a couple get married after we were done. I couldn’t help it - I was in planning mode, I wanted to see what her ceremony looked like!
Yes, we are having our ceremony at the zoo- an hour before it closes…on a Saturday. Should be interesting!! It makes my FMIL nervous, but as long as everyone keeps it down to a dull roar I think it will be ok.
Holy shmoly that’s a lot of on-lookers! It’s crazy it looks like a movie with all the crew around. I can’t believe so many strangers took video of your wedding! I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda happy we moved ours from the beach to the more private terrace.
haha! i’m glad your photographer captured that!
we had ours in a french restaurant, but the restaurant had HUGE floor-to-ceiling windows, and when our introductory slideshow was being played inside before my arrival, people walking by just stopped and watched too!
i was waiting in a car for my cue to walk in, and i started yelling “Hey!!! Get out of the way!!!” because they were blocking my path. Thankfully they couldn’t hear me. And my BMs looked at me like I was NUTS.
It’s funny now that I think about it 
And yes, all night people kept stopping to stare in!
Ha! The pictures of the peeping toms are funny — at least everyone was respectful at the ceremony.
oh wow! I’m happy they were so respectful to you guys
Our wedding is in a public park, but a semi-secluded one. I know there is a possiblity of others watching and I’m ok with that - I just hope they are as respectful as your “other guests” were.
I would totally stop to watch if I came across a wedding like that!
Wow, this made me get all warm and fuzzy thinking about a total stranger choking up at your wedding!
“Only in New York” - actually I remember the Mister and I were right in that area on your wedding day! This was earlier on, in the morning - we were sitting on the benches right by that “piano keys” steppie thing, and I thought “Let’s go” I knew it was your wedding day, and I didn’t want to be all intrusive (b/c I *knew* I would have to watch, if I were there). But apparently you already had a large audience!
This is so cool! I think I would love it, actually. I wouldn’t mind at all. It’s so great you have all of those pictures of your “paparazzi”. And I’m positive you made the album of that Italian family (and you probably made their day, too!)
Yes - I totally agree with all of this! There are definitely other people - “outsiders” - that will love your wedding too. One of my most vivid memories of my wedding day is when my husband and I walked back to our hotel after it was all over. It was around midnight and some people walking on the sidewalk towards us shouted congratulations and bowed down to us. Funny.
I also remember driving to the church in my mom’s SUV in the morning. I was all dressed and had my veil on. Every stoplight we stopped at the car next to us would wave and smile. It was odd to have so much attention from strangers. I guess people get really excited to see a bride.
Oh my god. How cute is that? I love that you have so many pictures of your other guests! That would make me so uncomfortable if I noticed, but it’s so sweet at the same time. Everyone loves a bride, and everyone loves a wedding.
I got married in one of Savannah’s many squares. While I don’t think too many strangers stopped to watch, the public nature of the park allowed a friend to drop by with her granddaughter. This friend had recently lost her husband and had RSVPed no to the wedding because of grief. That she stopped by to see the ceremony anyway was a true delight for us. Had we been indoors, I don’t think she would have come.
Oh my you were not kidding about your extra guests!! But you know, a bride is in such a daze for most of her wedding day, having some onlookers is not such a big deal! However, I do hope we don’t have as many at our Friday evening wedding at BG — I just get uncomfortable with other people staring, nevermind taking pictures and video, geez! Really loving your beautiful recaps!
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Mrs. Swan, New York City Age and Occupation: 31, Legislative Representative Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance Guy Engagement Date: August 9, 2008 Wedding Date: August 2009 Venue: Battery Gardens About Me: I am an un-crafty but resourceful, Caribbean-born but New York-raised woman who's been known to analyze "Dancing with the Stars" and “So You Think You Can Dance”, buy stinky cheese, and use way too many parentheses. I keep lists for fun, am constantly daydreaming of my next international travel adventure (four continents down, three to go), debating sports (let’s Got Mets/Giants!) and dancing around my apartment to stay sane. I am excited to share our wedding planning journey as I hope to plan a streamlined, personal, and fun wedding with the greatest life partner I could ever imagine, Mr. Swan.
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