Claire Ady organizes affordable weddings in New York from her UK home. Since 2012, she’s managed 650+ weddings, with packages from $575.
She is originally from Stoke-on-Trent. Claire got married there back in 2011. She lived in NYC at the time. Then she moved to Las Vegas and California. Eventually, she went back to the UK. She wanted to raise her two sons there.
Claire planned her own wedding. It was done through word-of-mouth. She wanted to help others do the same. Claire read a book about website design. She got her first client that way, at first. She started her business back in 2012.
She organized 650 weddings since then. Her packages cost $575 to $3,550. Couples wed with the city skyline. It’s been in shows like “Friends”.
She did fifteen weddings the first year. Then, business picked up quickly later on. Her best year was 2022 after the pandemic. She did 82 weddings at that point.
Claire visits NYC for a week each year. She checks on the weddings in person. She also helps people from all over. She moved to New York with her boyfriend. He had a work visa at that time, so marriage helped. They married in Central Park.
She lives in Solihull now. They lived in New York for one year. After that, it was Vegas and California. Her first son was born in Las Vegas. Her second son was born in the UK.
They raised their children in Solihull. The schools are nice in that area. It is a good place for children. Her clients like unique ceremonies. They want to avoid big, formal weddings.
She works around her children’s schedules. She feels she has enough business that way. Her team is reliable for each event. She used her own wedding vendors at first.
Photographers come and go all the time. Her clients do not know where she is. Claire says she gets five-star reviews. Her social media shows happy couples. She manages expectations for the couples. People save money on the wedding costs.
Couples focus on each other more. They avoid large family dinners together. People want to remove all the stress. Claire started “Wed in Central Park” in 2012.
She cries at all of the weddings. Elopements can be very emotional for her. People say things they would not say to family. It is easier to marry in the United States. You get a license in New York quickly. You wait a day to sign the license form.
She writes the ceremony for the couples. The license goes to the license office. They register the marriage in their records. Then, they send the certificate to you.
Her competitors charge much more money. Thus, they probably make more profit. Her costs cover the team and her time. It depends on what couples need from her. She made more money with a salary once. But, she makes enough money these days. She loves helping people in New York. Planning makes her happy and at peace.
