With the legalization of same-sex marriage, there’s neverbeen a better time to celebrate your love in New York! Here’s our list of the top 12 cities to gethitched in the Empire State!
12. Albany
NY’s capital city isn’t just the major political hub, it’salso a great place to experience great local theatre and musicalperformances. Palace Theatre and The Eggare great venues to find music, plays, and spoken word performances. The city is geographically ideal for coupleslooking to explore larger cities. Albanyis equidistant from New York City and Montreal.
11. Rochester
The appropriately named “Flower City” is known for itsnatural beauty and thriving arts scene. Around the Park Avenue neighborhood you find a plethora of coffee shops,bistros, cafes and boutiques. If you’rea sucker for classical music, The Eastman Theatre plays host to the RochesterPhilharmonic Orchestra. Rochester is aliberal, open-minded destination, home to artists, musicians, students and athriving LGBT community.
10. White Plains
About a half-hour outside of Manhattan you’ll find thissuburban jewel of Westchester County. White Plains offers both natural beauty and terrific publictransportation. The city is convenientlylocated less than a 1 hour drive from four major metropolitan airports (JFK,LaGuardia, Newark and Westchester County Airport).
9. Ithaca
Named after the Greek island of Ithaca, this picturesqueupstate NY city is the perfect locale for a dream wedding. Seasonal festivals, farmers markets andbeautiful museums add to the timeless charm. The Apple Festival draws huge crowds in the fall, the Finger LakesInternational Dragon Boat Festival in July.
8. Saranac Lake
This is the ideal spot for a summer wedding. The quaint village fronts on the lake providethe perfect backdrop. After theceremony, take your guests canoeing, boating or hiking in the forest. Camping is also a popular pastime in theregion.
7. Woodstock
Peace, love and great music! The setting of the iconic Woodstock Festival would be a magical localefor your wedding ceremony. The spirit ofcreativity and free thinking is still alive and strong. Be sure to check out the oldest craft shop inWoodstock, the Fleur de Lis Gallery, which features more than 60 artists.
6. Glens Falls
Named after it’s majestic waterfall in the Hudson River,Glens Falls is known as "Hometown USA," a title given to it by LookMagazine in 1944. Today the monikerstill rings true with, with a fun downtown festival and great localrestaurants, shops and landmarks enticing tourists year after year.
5. Fire Island
Flaming Fire Island is the top LGBT resort destination inNew York. A thin barrier island off thecoast of Long Island, gay and lesbian travelers flock here in droves every yearfor respite from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Summer is without a doubt the ideal time to plan your ceremony. Fire Islandis separated from Long Island by a series of interconnected bays andautomobiles are only permitted on the east and west ends. You can get anywhere you need to go by boat,sea plane or ferry (either Bay Shore or Sayville).
4. The Hamptons
Known as a haven for the rich and famous, the villages andhamlets that make up The Hamptons are located on the far east-end of LongIsland, New York. The perfect locale fora posh wedding ceremony, the high-end retail shops, restaurants and galleriesmake the area one of the most desirable places to live and vacation in theUnited States.
3. Lake Placid
Lake Placid, the two-time site of the Winter Olympics andsetting of the 1980 Miracle on Ice, is a great choice for a Winter or Summerwedding. U.S. News & World Reportrated Lake Placid as one of the "6 Forgotten Vacation Spots" in NorthAmerica. The geographic features of the Adirondacks will remind you of theScottish landscape and will provide a dream background for your wedding photos.
2. NYC
If your dream is to marry in the most cosmopolitan city inthe United States, look no further. TheBig Apple is the frenetic home to countless millions of people, zooming aboutwith purpose. For some, it’s intimidating; for others, the pace isexhilarating. There is no shortage of things to do in this epic metropolis;boredom is simply not on the menu. Take in a show on the Great White Way;explore the hipster enclaves around Brooklyn; get lost in the cavernous Museumof Metropolitan Art or be inspired by modern art at the MoMA. Plan your reception at any one of thehundreds of epicurean gems that are scattered throughout.
Plan your dream NYC wedding now!
1. NiagaraFalls
Quite possibly the most romantic destination in NorthAmerica, Niagara Falls welcomes thousands of honeymooners each year. Each night the famed falls are illuminatedand fireworks are fired from the Canadian side each week during the touristseason. The city is home to severaldiverse neighborhoods including Little Italy, the North End, Deveaux, La Salleand the quaint, picturesque Downtown.