Public vs. Private Spaces: How Cakewalk Approaches Ceremony Locations in NYC
One of the most unique parts of getting married in New York is that the entire city can be your venue. You’re not limited to ballrooms or backyards. You have five boroughs worth of architecture, waterfronts, bridges, museums, parks, and streets — and Cakewalk specializes in helping you use them well.
This guide explains how we approach public and private spaces, what’s included, what isn’t, and how to choose the right environment for your ceremony.Cakewalk Specializes in Public Space (And Not the Boring Ones)
When we say “public space,” we don’t just mean Central Park — though Central Park will always be iconic. We mean all the places that make New York New York.
Some of the public locations we’ve used for real Cakewalk weddings include:
The High Line
Broadway and Times Square (yes, really — at intermission)
The Met steps and tucked-away museum corners
Grand Central
Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
West Village brownstone blocks
Tribeca cobblestones
East River waterfronts
DUMBO archways
Greenpoint piers
Domino Park
Chinatown side streets
Lincoln Center plaza
These are the kinds of spaces where small, intentional ceremonies shine. The light is better. The architecture is better. The energy is better. And because Cakewalk weddings are designed for 2–20 guests, the city opens up to you in a way larger events will never experience.
We know when a spot is quiet, when it’s too crowded, where the best angles are, and how to move through the space so your ceremony feels natural — not staged.
Public spaces are where Cakewalk does its best work.
But What If You Prefer a Private Space?
You absolutely can have a private space for your Cakewalk.
The only difference is you choose and book it, and we handle everything else.
Here’s how that works:
You’re responsible for:
Finding the private space
Communicating with the venue
Securing the booking or rental
Handling the venue’s internal rules, fees, or insurance
Cakewalk is responsible for:
Officiant
Photographer
Ceremony writing
Full planning support
Location-based timing
Run of show
Shot list
Marriage license guidance and management
Day-of coordination by your officiant
In other words:
If you bring the space, we bring the wedding.
Examples of Private Spaces Couples Have Booked Themselves
Some couples want a location with a door they can close behind them — totally valid. Here are some private options our past clients have loved:
Housing Works Bookstore
Strand Bookstore
A friend’s gallery in Chelsea
Private dining rooms at hotels or restaurants
Rooftops on their apartment buildings
A rented townhouse
A friend’s brownstone stoop
A family member’s backyard in Brooklyn
Boutique event studios
Quiet cafés before opening hours
Think of private spaces not as “venues” but as “places you love or have access to.”
Personal, intimate, flexible.
We’re happy to give you suggestions, but the booking stays with you.
How to Know Which Option Is Right for You
Choose Public Space If You Want:
Movement
Iconic New York backdrops
Editorial photos
No venue fees
Flexibility
Light, effortless energy
A ceremony that feels cinematic, not staged
Choose Private Space If You Want:
A controlled environment
Complete quiet
Guaranteed privacy
Seating
Weather protection
A sentimental indoor location
Both work beautifully — they just create different kinds of experiences.
The Bottom Line
Cakewalk’s strength is in using New York City as the venue.
Public spaces are where your wedding becomes art — where the light, movement, and pace of the city all work together.
But if you prefer a private space, we are absolutely happy to build your entire Cakewalk inside it.
You handle the booking. We handle the ceremony, the planning, the coordination, the license, and the flow.
Either way, the result is the same:
A beautiful, intentional, low-drama wedding in a city that knows how to make magic out of ordinary places.