YES. New York City requires proof of vaccination for all indoor dining, events, performances, fitness, and other activities. You must have proof of vaccination with you in order to enter our wedding venues (and any other restaurants or bars)! You can prove your vaccination status by (1) showing your physical vaccination card and photo ID, (2) downloading the NYC COVID SAFE app and saving photos of your vaccination card and photo ID there, or (3) if you were vaccinated in New York, showing your vaccination records through the Excelsior mobile app. Guests who have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to the wedding will not be permitted to enter the Rehearsal Dinner, Welcome Party, or Reception venues, even with a negative COVID test and mask. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
There will be light hors d'oeuvres at the Welcome Party, but not dinner. We highly recommend going out to dinner on Friday night and taking advantage of NYC's fabulous restaurants! Check out our Things to Do page for restaurant recommendations in the area. The Welcome Party is open house style, so feel free to stop by at any time during the event.
The ceremony site is walkable from all of our recommended hotels. If you're coming from other places in the city, the following subway stops are only a few minutes away: Spring Street (6 line), Bleeker Street/Broadway-Lafayette Street (6, B, D, F, and M lines), and Prince Street (R and W lines). Otherwise, take an Uber/Lyft/cab (they all take credit cards) to 252 Mott Street. There will also be a shuttle from the Bowery Hotel to the church. The shuttle will depart from the Bowery Hotel (on the SE corner of Bowery & E 3rd Street) at 2:30 PM.
We highly recommend strolling over and getting to see a bit of the neighborhood! (It's only a 0.3 mile walk). We will also provide shuttles between the locations after the ceremony. The shuttle will pick up directly in front of the church on Mott Street beginning at 4:30 PM.
You'll have about 30-45 minutes between the ceremony and cocktail hour. At the Bowery Hotel's request, please don't wait in the hotel lobby. If you go straight to the Bowery Hotel, please head directly to the second floor reception space where pre-cocktail hour champagne will be served (or feel free to freshen up in your room if you're staying on site!). Otherwise, feel free to stay at the church, visit the Elizabeth Street Gardens around the corner, or stroll through the neighborhood. There are lovely cobblestone streets between the church and Bowery Hotel (Bond Street in particular) that make for excellent photo ops!
When facing the main entrance to the Bowery Hotel, there will be a door to the right marked "Private Event" or "Private Entrance." Go through that door and follow the stairs to the second floor, where the cocktail hour and reception will take place. If you need an elevator, please let the security guard (or one of the Bowery Hotel doormen) know, and they will show you to the elevators through the hotel's main lobby.
Black tie optional means tuxedos or suits for men, and formal dresses or gowns for women. That said, please wear whatever makes you feel your best (and bring your dancing shoes)!
We've decided to make the weekend an adults-only celebration. Thank you for understanding!