Eloping in NYC with 10 Guests or Less: A Cakewalk Guide
There’s something special about a tiny wedding in a giant city.
New York is known for grand gestures and big venues, but some of the most memorable ceremonies happen with just a handful of guests — or no guests at all. If you're planning to elope in NYC with 10 people or fewer, you're not downsizing — you're refining. Fewer people, more meaning, better photos, zero stress.
Here’s how to pull off an intimate, beautiful NYC elopement with 10 guests or less — the Cakewalk way.
💡 Why Keep It Small?
A small wedding doesn’t mean less joy — it means more control. More room to breathe. More time to focus on your person. It also means:
No reception planning (unless you want one)
No seating charts, favors, or $20k floral budgets
Just the good stuff: vows, champagne, great light, and the people who matter most
📍 Best NYC Locations for Small Weddings
With 10 guests or fewer, you can go where bigger weddings can’t. Our favorite spots for intimate ceremonies include:
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
The skyline, the breeze, the benches, the brownstones. Feels like a movie.
City Hall Park
Right next to the Marriage Bureau. Quiet paths, blooming gardens, and cast iron fences — romantic and super convenient.
Fort Tryon Park
Up in Washington Heights, this one’s full of medieval stonework, lush gardens, and not a tourist in sight.
Washington Square Park (early morning)
You get the arch, the trees, the NYU buzz — before it gets loud.
Under-the-radar corners of Central Park
We’ll show you the quiet spots most people miss: rustic bridges, lakeside paths, and hidden staircases.
Guerilla locations
Got a favorite stoop? A neighborhood mural? A bar you met at? With a small group, we can usually make it work — and make it look incredible.
📝 Do You Need a Permit?
Usually not. With 10 or fewer people and no setup (like chairs or arches), most NYC parks and public spaces don’t require a permit. That said, Cakewalk always does a case-by-case check — and we’ll build a rain plan just in case.
💍 Legal Details (Still Easy)
You’ll still need:
A New York marriage license
A licensed officiant (we’ve got you)
At least one witness (Cakewalk can help if needed)
We’ll help coordinate all the paperwork, timing, and on-site details so you don’t have to think about anything but showing up.
📸 What About Photos?
With a small group, you can move quickly and shoot in more locations. Think:
Post-ceremony photo walk through cobblestone streets
Quick portraits in the subway
Candid group shots on a park bench
A champagne pop under the arch at Grand Army Plaza
Our photographers shoot a mix of candids and quick portraits. No stiff posing, no wedding factory vibes — just a fast-moving, real-life highlight reel.
🥂 After the Ceremony: Celebrate Simply
Just because you kept the ceremony small doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. We’ve seen couples:
Reserve a table at a favorite restaurant (with a prix fixe for their crew)
Head to a cocktail bar for a toast and cake
Go on a photo adventure through the city
Just… go home, order pizza, and call it the best day ever
You don’t need a venue to mark the moment. You need a little intention and a place to be yourselves.
✨ Tiny Guest List, Big Impact
At Cakewalk, we believe that weddings should be less about logistics and more about meaning. Keeping it small is a powerful choice — one that makes room for joy, beauty, and real connection. In NYC, you don’t need much to make it unforgettable.
Ready to plan your elopement with 10 guests or fewer? → Let’s talk.