Bethesda Fountain and Terrace

About the venue

Located in the heart of the park, the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is perhaps the most iconic location in Central Park. With lakeside views, rolling greenery, and beautiful architecture, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is the largest ceremony location in the park and offers several ceremony locations. From lakeside to adjacent to the iconic fountain to the covered lower terrace, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain offers a highly memorable experience for your wedding ceremony.

Lakeside ceremonies take place on the north side of the fountain and offer a sense of wonderment to celebrants and their guests. Featuring the 20-acre lake that sits in the center of the park, dotted with row boats steered by park visitors, lakeside weddings have a painting-like feel.

The Angel of the Waters bronze fountain is the central focus point of Bethesda Terrace. The 26-foot-high neoclassical fountain faces the arcade making it enjoyable for ceremonies in front of the fountain and covered terrace ceremonies. In the summer, the pool surrounding the statue is filled with aquatic plants, adding an extra bit of greenery to your ceremony backdrop. The two grand staircases flank the arcade and can easily be used as a natural entrance to the ceremony.

The arcade, or lower passage, is another popular location for wedding ceremonies. This covered terrace acts as a tunnel under the upper level of the terrace that features a carriage road. It features an ornately tiled ceiling and beautiful arched columns at both ends, giving the entire space a ballroom-life feel. The lower passage also offers a natural grand staircase and aisle that can be used to create a smaller, more intimate chapel-like feel if desired.

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is by far one of our most popular locations. It has served as the backdrop in many movies and tv shows, including Made of Honor, Sex and the City, Enchanted, and Love Story. It is also the location of the famous Gossip Girl wedding between Blair and Chuck.

Found in the center of the park between the Loeb Boathouse Lakeside Restaurant on the East and Cherry Hill on the West, the terrace itself forms the Northern end of the Central Park Mall overlooking the Ramble. It can easily be accessed using the 72nd Street entrance on both the East and West sides of the park.

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is wheelchair accessible and features limited seating around the perimeter of the terrace. Restrooms are available at the terrace, with wheelchair-accessible restrooms available nearby at Loeb Boathouse and Mineral Springs.

With Bethesda Terrace and Fountain being one of the most popular attractions in Central Park, it sees significant foot traffic. Couples that choose this ceremony location find that all park visitors are very respectful when it comes to offering space to celebrants and their guests. If you’re looking for a ceremony without other guests around, there are plenty of options in the park, such as Wagner Cove and Belvedere Castle.