How to get married in a community garden in NYC

Community gardens in NYC are mini oasis that allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of NYC. They are woven into the fabric of our city landscape and the heart of the community garden movement is in the East Village and Lower East Side. Originally made famous by the “Sex and the City Wedding “ of Miranda Hobbes, These gardens can actually be tricky to navigate and get permission for your wedding ceremony. 

But before we get into that, as a native New Yorker, it’s my duty to give you a little history lesson on the magical Community Gardens of NYC. 

It all started in the 1970s when much of the infrastructure of NYC collapsed. The country was in a deep recession, and NYC was hit really hard. There was a famous quote immortalized on the cover of the Daily News from October 30, 1975, in which then-President Ford responded after NYC asked for federal funding to save our city:

Ford to City: Drop dead

And that’s what happened. NYC was left to fend for ourselves. Many of the Lower East Side (LES)  and East Village’s large apartment buildings crumbled and collapsed, leaving empty plots in their wake. Eventually, residents swooped in and turned those empty lots into gardens.  

Imbued with a rich history of community activism and creative energy, the community gardens of the LES and East Village are still thriving today. They are vital cultural and community cornerstones, and the love and care that has been poured into them for decades is awe-inspiring.

I am a big fan of community gardens. Ten years ago, I was married in my local Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn community garden. Did I mention that my wedding ceremony was right next to the compost pile? 

Here is the dose of reality when it comes to getting married at a community garden. Many of our community gardens are places for locals to tend to a plot, grow vegetables, and connect with their community. They are all volunteer-run and notoriously hard to get ahold of anyone in charge. 

There is some good news when it comes to planning your NYC community garden wedding

Now, with a decade of scouting out and searching for the most beautiful, private outdoor wedding venues in NYC under our belt, we have found a few contenders for “Most Beautiful NYC Community Garden,” and one very special one in particular of which I’ll tell you about shortly.

I’m talking about gardens that are focused on flowers such as peonies, dahlias, hydrangeas, dogwoods, flowering vines, and gorgeously photogenic “Pinterest-worthy” horticulture, rather than just potatoes, kale, and composting.

But it’s not easy to find a NYC community garden that can accommodate your wedding ceremony

Planning a wedding at a community garden in NYC can be frustrating. At Eloping is Fun, we have scouted almost every garden in NYC, and we know the ups and downs of coordinating this type of event. Let’s say you have started down the path of planning your own community garden wedding in NYC, Here are just some of the issues (featuring two famous sought after community garden wedding venues) that you may run into along the way:

Costs and restrictions

#1 Jefferson Market Garden

Take, the Jefferson Market Garden, made famous for Miranda’s wedding on Sex and the City (S6/E14). I have done weddings here, and it’s undoubtedly an idyllic spot. And they know it. They provide exactly twelve chairs and there are no restrooms. There is no contingency plan for inclement weather, no food or beverages allowed, nor are rehearsals allowed. And the cost for all this restrictive minimalism is FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!

As Arianna grande famously said, ‘Thank you… next’.

#2 Elizabeth Street Garden

This gem of a garden, amazingly located in the heart of NoLIta, is beautifully adorned with statues and sculptures, charming walkways, and captivating foliage. They even have a huge fig tree. On any given day, you will find the fashionable SOHO set hanging out, reading poetry books, or sipping a matcha latte. This place is très chic. The cost for open public hours is $1,500 per hour. And when they say “public,” well, they mean public. There is not a square inch that is not occupied. But the good news is that you can hire the garden privately for a mere FIFTEEN THOUSAND dollars! (And they make you sign a clause saying that the park may or may not be shut down and they cannot guarantee your date.)

You want a community garden wedding, but is this all giving you a ton of anxiety?!?

I don’t blame you! It also makes my nerves stand on end, but rest assured, I am sharing this information to save you hours and hours of emails and unnecessary stress.

I have a remedy, though.

So without further ado, I share with you one of my favorite NYC garden wedding spots: The 6BC Botanical Garden!

Tucked away in the East Village, the 6BC is a botanical wonder.

Enter through a large cast-iron gate into this lush, magical garden oasis. 6BC is an absolute work of art. Once inside the gate, a welcoming entryway arbor leads you onto winding stone paths of horticultural decadence. There are tons of hidden nooks throughout. There is even a tree house. Yes, an actual tree house! It’s a bit small for photos but as a fun spot to visit and peer out over the garden. There is also a koi pond and even a small waterfall.

We have been coming to 6BC Botanical Garden since the 1990s and hosting intimate weddings and elopements here since 2014. In 2023, when their events director moved to Ohio, we were asked to join the board and be the head of events for the garden. We couldn’t say no. This garden has given so much to us, our couples, and the community.

The 6BC Botanical Garden has regular public hours, but as a member, we have access to the garden during nonpublic hours, which is when we recommend hosting your intimate wedding with Eloping Is Fun.

We offer this unique semi-private venue as an add-on for any of our elopement packages.