Queens, on the East River

Weddings at Long Island City

Long Island City sits on the Queens side of the East River, and its waterfront faces Midtown directly: the UN, the Empire State Building and the towers in between. We have planned a wedding here with the ceremony outdoors by the river. The couple got ready at Arlo Williamsburg, crossed to Long Island City, and married beneath a canopy with Manhattan across the water.

The bride on a wooden pier holding white orchids, the Manhattan skyline across the water. — Long Island City. On the pier, Midtown across the river.

The view is the widest in the city, and it comes with space: piers, decks and waterfront terraces where a ceremony can be held in the open air. The neighborhood’s industrial buildings, murals and spiral stairs give the photographs a character a ballroom cannot.

The waterfrontCeremony: Our couple married beneath a canopy by the river, with Midtown across the water behind them. A white umbrella kept the sun off during the vows, and the breeze off the river was part of the day.
The deckCocktails: Champagne and cocktails by the water after the ceremony, with the skyline turning gold as the evening came.
The neighborhoodPortraits: A spiral stair, a mural, a piano and the pier: Long Island City gives portraits both the city and the grain of the neighborhood.

Sun and wind by the river

An open waterfront ceremony has no shade and plenty of breeze. We plan for both, with shade for guests, a veil that can take the wind, and a ceremony design that stays put.

A weather plan by the water

With the ceremony outdoors, the rain plan is a full second design, decided on a schedule days ahead. Our rain plan guide explains how we work.

Getting ready across the river

Our couple got ready in Williamsburg and crossed to Queens for the ceremony. We time the cars for the hour of the day, so the bride arrives calm and on time.