London couple Fiona Evans and Josh Chan knew pretty early into wedding planning that the typical big English celebration wasn’t for them. “We started looking at venues, and in the UK, they're very expensive, and they have a long waiting time – 18 months to two years,” says Fiona, who works in tech. “We didn’t really fancy that.”
The more they researched, the more “detached” they felt about the idea: “We came to the conclusion that getting married was just for the two of us, and that was the most important thing,” says Josh, an engineer in the railway industry.
The couple, who met playing on a co-ed field hockey team at the University of Birmingham, got engaged in November 2022. They had plotted a short trip to New York City shortly thereafter for Josh’s birthday on 30 April. As the dates got closer, the concept started to crystallise: They could just get married in the Big Apple, in what would be a destination elopement. “In the back of our minds, we thought it would be a great opportunity to just do it,” says Josh.
America’s biggest city didn’t hold special meaning for their relationship, per se: They’d just been a few times and loved the place. “It's lots of fun,” says Josh. “We just really enjoy it.”
The pair tied the knot at City Hall in May 2023, followed by several stops across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The experience was so intimate that they didn’t even tell their family or friends until they got home, invited loved ones over, and pulled out their American marriage certificate (which is recognised in the UK, making them married in both countries). Ahead, the newlyweds explain how they plotted their nuptials, and share their best advice for other couples who might be considering something similar in the city that never sleeps.
Define “your” New York City – and avoid cliches
Many NYC visitors are rightfully psyched to snap pics at the top of Empire State Building, along the water with the Statue of Liberty in the background, or under the starry ceiling of Grand Central Terminal. But Fiona and Josh wanted to make sure their wedding album couldn’t be mistaken for a pile of postcards. “I had absolutely no desire to have a picture in Times Square or anything like that,” says Josh.
Instead, the couple stayed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and spent their wedding day hopping back and forth to the borough: They wed at City Hall in Manhattan, grabbed lunch in Chinatown, exchanged vows at St. Ann’s Warehouse near Brooklyn Bridge Park, sipped cocktails back in Williamsburg at the Wythe Hotel's Bar Blondeau, then headed into Manhattan again for an omakase dinner at Sekai.
Find a photographer who specialises in urban settings
Once they’d hatched their plan, Fiona and Josh tried to figure out their priorities for the day, and great photos topped the list. In their research, they found Jocelyn Voo of Everly Studios, who specialises in New York elopements. “Because she’d done hundreds, if not thousands, of weddings, Jocelyn was helpful with logistics,” says Josh. While they were pretty set on chill Brooklyn vibe and venues, she could piece together travel between spots and shared tips on City Hall admin.
Plus, her expertise on the NYC streets meant she could pull the couple quickly into special spots and cool angles – as well as help them nab the one semi-corny photo they did want. “Josh wanted that skyline picture,” says Fiona. “We are not New Yorkers, so seeing the skyline is still quite exciting to us.” While strolling through the neighbourhood of DUMBO, their photographer pulled them onto a street she knew would have the perfect unobstructed view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan. “The Brooklyn Bridge was my non-negotiable – it’s just a great piece of architecture!” Josh gushes.
Don’t expect much romance at City Hall
While they had chosen the City Hall route for its simplicity, the couple were taken aback by how truly bureaucratic the whole experience felt. “It’s so unromantic that it’s funny. Going through basically airport security while going to get married is hilarious,” says Josh. “You’re in a wedding dress, and they’re scanning you with a metal detector. Your traditional English bride would be horrified!”
They were also surprised to see other couples dressed for the occasion in jeans and baseball caps. “This is all part of the New York charm, right?” says Josh. “New Yorkers are quite a bit more… brash. If you want the romantic thing, get an officiant and do it somewhere else.” On the bright side, New York state’s Project Cupid portal, established in the early months of the pandemic, made the process really straightforward; additionally, the UK recognises marriages registered in the United States, so no extra paperwork was needed when they got home.
Make space for touches of home
Among all this ‘tude, the couple found ways to celebrate their Englishness. Fiona asked a local florist, Rosehip, to make a bouquet with English flowers, and was delighted when the hair and makeup person whom Jocelyn had recommended, Miss Harlequin, turned out to be from Yorkshire.
Josh, meanwhile, donned an outfit by English designer Paul Smith. “In a nod to [Smith’s native] Nottingham, which was my home for seven or eight years, I went out and treated myself to a nice Paul Smith suit and trousers,” he says. “Which, let's put it this way, was more expensive than any other piece of clothing I own.”
Eat your way around
One more recognition of their cultures came at lunch time. Josh’s father’s family is Chinese, so the couple made a point to walk to Chinatown after their ceremony, where they grabbed pork buns and snapped photos in front of the century-old Nom Wah Tea Parlor on colourful Doyers Street. Turns out the fuel was a necessity more than a nod. “Make sure you plan for snacks and food!” says Fiona, noting how hungry they found themselves. “Even though there were only two of us, you forget it’s a whole day.” Yes, it’s a common mistake to let nerves get in the way of eating on one’s wedding day, no matter how small the celebration.
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Leave time to enjoy the city together
The newlyweds made the most of the city: They hit up craft breweries around Brooklyn for beers that were “too expensive and too strong,” and got one last culture shock at a New York Mets game. English soccer games can be quite intense and angry, Josh notes, “whereas at this baseball game, everyone was just so happy!”
Though they were very happy they’d found Jocelyn and thrilled with their photos, Fiona and Josh remember feeling relieved when the photo portion of the day was over and they could finally relax on their trip.
“The best times were when it was just Fi and I,” Josh says. “Especially when you’re eloping, and the whole idea is that it’s a day for the two of you.”