A Dream Wedding in Grand Central Terminal: One Couple’s Spectacular Celebration
Meredith Giuliani always envisioned saying “I do” in a spectacular fashion, and her wedding at New York City’s Grand Central Terminal was the perfect manifestation of that dream. “We just thought, ‘How cool would it be to turn one of New York’s most stunningly beautiful landmarks into a main character at our wedding?'” the 32-year-old Upper West Side resident told The Post. For Meredith, a strategy and operations manager at a tech startup, and her fiancé David Garrett, a 32-year-old corporate real estate expert, the iconic terminal wasn’t just a venue—it became the architectural “best man” of their celebration. The couple exchanged vows in the terminal’s majestic Vanderbilt Hall on October 11, creating a wedding that honored their love for each other and for the city that had become their home.
The ceremony was nothing short of extraordinary, officiated by NFL Hall of Famer and New York Giants veteran Harry Carson—a touch that added to the uniquely New York atmosphere of the day. The couple transformed Vanderbilt Hall into a breathtaking wedding space with 12-foot floral installations, elegant golden mirrored flooring, and the soothing melodies of a harpist and violinist duo. One of the most creative elements was a custom-designed faux vintage ticketing booth where their 340 guests received personalized train tickets that served as seating assignments for the reception at the renowned Cipriani. This attention to detail perfectly blended the venue’s transportation heritage with their wedding theme. “We have such an amazing group of friends and family,” Meredith explained. “We wanted to make this an amazing experience for them.” This dedication to creating “the best party ever” was evident in every aspect of their celebration.
The couple made history as the first to transform Grand Central Terminal into a wedding venue in more than a decade, a feat that required significant planning and resources. While Meredith chose not to reveal the total cost of their New York City extravaganza, Aaron Donovan, an MTA spokesperson, shared that renting Vanderbilt Hall typically costs between $25,000 and $40,000, with the price varying based on space requirements, time, and the logistics needed to redirect public transit users. “Additional fees to secure space controlled by Grand Central retailers, such as Vanderbilt Hall’s Grand Brasserie, could more than double that cost,” Donovan explained. The couple did indeed rent out sections of the terminal to manage commuter traffic during their ceremony. The substantial expenses for this extraordinary celebration were covered by Meredith’s parents, who work in software procurement, and David’s parents, who are in healthcare administration.
The wedding itself was a visual masterpiece, with Meredith gliding down the aisle in a custom ballgown by haute couturier Ysa Makino, adorned with sparkles and feathers. The couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife beneath the historic clock that overlooks Vanderbilt Hall—a symbolic moment in a space that has witnessed countless journeys beginning and ending since its construction in 1913. The venue, which underwent restoration in 1998, offers approximately 6,000 square feet of space with impressive 55-foot ceilings and two magnificent gold chandeliers. However, orchestrating such an event at this busy transit hub presented unique challenges. “The MTA is delighted to be able to host weddings at Grand Central’s iconic Vanderbilt Hall, but they are challenging to support due to requirements to allow continuing public access,” Donovan noted. David Florio, the MTA’s chief real estate transactions and operations officer, recommended that couples should start planning at least 11 months in advance for such an event—though Meredith and David managed to pull everything together in just over a year, having gotten engaged in May 2023 at Little Island along the West Side Highway.
For Meredith, the public nature of their celebration was part of its charm. She had specifically wanted a proposal in a popular area where passersby could witness and share in their joy, and their wedding day followed this same philosophy. The couple took photos at Grand Central’s 42nd Street and Park Avenue entrance and inside the main concourse, delighting in the reactions of strangers who stopped to take pictures and offer congratulations. “It was so overwhelmingly positive—people were congratulating us, complimenting my dress and wishing us well for the future,” said Meredith, who plans to take her husband’s last name. These spontaneous interactions with New Yorkers became some of the most cherished moments of their day, allowing them to share their love with the city that had been the backdrop to their relationship.
As the newlyweds prepare for their honeymoon in the Maldives next month, they reflect on how their spectacular wedding celebration became a love letter to New York City itself. “We have so much to thank this city for,” Meredith expressed. “We feel really grateful and honored to be able to do this really crazy and unique thing in a city that means so much to us.” Their Grand Central Terminal wedding wasn’t just about creating a lavish event—though it certainly achieved that—but about honoring the place that had brought them together and shaped their love story. In choosing one of New York’s most iconic landmarks for their nuptials, Meredith and David created not just a wedding but a moment that celebrated the intersection of personal milestones and public spaces, private love and communal joy, in a way that could only happen in the heart of New York City.
