As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, I’m well aware of just how burdensome a trip to NYC can be for my rather meager budget. There might be plenty to love about the City That Never Sleeps, but I’ve known since I was in little pants that all of those unique NY experiences and amenities come at a high cost.
From gasping over the check at a high-end Chelsea or Chinatown restaurant to groaning whenever I check theater prices on Broadway, a trip to the Big Apple can prove incredibly expensive for most average people.
But even then, there’s no denying the utter romanticism of New York City or any one of its iconic neighborhoods. Providing the perfect setting for a special evening out on the town, it can also prove to be the ideal environment to pop a certain all-important question.
To that end, here are some fantastic, wallet-friendly NY locales that provide a scenic backdrop for the most meaningful night of you and your loved ones’ life.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Hey, if it’s good enough for the stars to walk down, it’s got to be good enough for a proposal, right? Though best known as the venue for the famed Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art itself offers ample opportunities to bend the knee in any one of its intimate museum wings. Of course, the size of the museum also helps ensure an unforgettable proposal you and your family will be talking about for years.
Whether that special person in your life is an admirer of van Gogh or Monet, Ancient Egyptian architecture, or the abstract work of Matisse or Picasso, there’s something for everyone to enjoy about the world-famous Met.
Central Park
Like the aforementioned Metropolitan Museum of Art, the sheer size of Central Park is reason enough to consider it for a memorable proposal. With plenty of picturesque natural environments on a year-round basis, there’s simply not a bad time to visit Central Park with your cherished significant other.
In winter, you might think about popping the question after a bout of ice skating at Gottesman Rink or Wollman Rink. In summer, you could opt for a starlit carriage ride past some of the park’s historic monuments.
If the weather’s proving a tad unpredictable on the day of your visit, you can always choose to seek refuge in the tranquil lobby of the Ritz-Carlton or the Plaza Hotel. Sure, the rooms might be a tad out of most people’s price range. But the experience of getting down on one knee in their opulent lobby is virtually priceless.
Times Square
Some of you might be rolling your eyes at the prospect of starting your engagement in an environment as touristy as Times Square. Is the area crowded? Absolutely. Are most of the shops and restaurants uber-expensive? You bet.
But while some people might balk at the idea of proposing here, I would go the extra mile arguing in favor of popping the question above Times Square.
In terms of more affordable spots, Margaritaville’s rooftop restaurant (the 5’O’Clock Somewhere Bar) offers stunning views of Times Square and surrounding Manhattan. For more private affairs for those with a deep love for the holidays, you can also rent out the hotel’s festive Christmas Island Suite for a limited time in November and December.
If you’re not planning on spending the night in NY or Times Square, you can also venture to the similarly cost-friendly Hard Rock Cafe right down the road. If you speak to the manager ahead of time, you and your partner might even be able to head out on the resort’s outdoor marquee. Amidst the glittering lights of Manhattan, you’ll have an unmatched opportunity for a private NYC proposal, free from the jostling crowds and gawking expressions of all those on the ground below.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
No disrespect to the GW or Manhattan Bridge, but for most people (myself included), Brooklyn Bridge is the landmark capable of beguiling every visitor fortunate enough to see it. Providing commanding views of Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Park also offers a sweeping look at the towering bridge overhead. In many ways, sitting down on the 85-acre expanse of grass or gazing out over the East River is enough to make you feel like you’re the star of your own private romantic comedy.
For this reason alone, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot to start a new life with your loved one, kicking off the start of your journey together on a breathtaking high note.
