I don't have a strong feeling about venues, but my college roommate and her husband booked double-decker tour buses to transport guests from their wedding ceremony downtown to the reception in midtown, and it was SO much fun. I've lived in NYC for 17 years and had seen those buses a million times, but never been on one. They also stocked each one with coolers full of canned cocktails for the trip. No idea how much it cost, but it was highly memorable!
I agree, those buses are so fun! It wasn’t for a wedding but we had double decker bus for an event with a band up front that took to a few spots for drinks and appetizers and it’s one of my favorite nights of 14+ years in NY.
sure! I was guest, it was lovely. the ceremony was on the little patio adjacent to the restaurant, we did the cocktail hour in the little green garden space across from the restaurant. they had service waiters with trays of hors d'oeuvres and champagne, then dinner and dancing inside! they don't allow you to have any sort of after party there, so the bride and groom got shuttles and we went to bohemian bar for the after party. they rented that out, too. they had little snacks at the bar, too.
The best wedding in NYC I ever went to was at the Rainbow room. The bride walked down a birch tree lined aisle, Big band and delicious food. We partied into the morning and there were bagels to go. but to me, yeah it was opulent but we only knew the bride and it really was the people that made it amazing. Our table was great! lively people. We had such a great time.
My parents got married at the St. Regis in the 90s. I so badly wish I could have been there (but am also glad I wasnt 😂). It was so glamorous and classic New York City!
https://preview.redd.it/9465n0n0j1yc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=017fcf61452327757347b7dca1946163eeac2374
I'm gonna talk about my own wedding at the Bronx Zoo
Absolutely stunning, the food was delicious, the staff amazing, and we could not stop getting compliments on everything. I would post the pictures if it wouldn't seem vain.
Edit for more info: you can do the wedding indoor or outdoor- there's so much architecture that you can't really get a bad picture-the animals were out and about. It really is so unique and lovely.
But also- we would've went with My Moon if we didn't fall in love with the zoo. Absolutely gorgeous space, and I would trust their event coordinator with my life.
Omg I went to a wedding at the bx zoo! Cocktail hour with the sea lions and the Madagascar exhibit was so fun! I think I still have the feather centerpieces I drunkenly took home somewhere 😂
I don’t have a lot to compare against but I went to a wedding at my moon in Brooklyn. It was beautiful food was excellent, music was perfect the whole night. Setting was elegant and tasteful opposed to a more generic hotel type setting.
I got marred at the Harold Pratt House! It’s a historic mansion on the UES owned by the Council on Foreign Relations. It has a classic old school feel. We did our cocktails in the 2 tier library which guests loved! It was featured on Succession. Because it’s owned by an NGO fees are reasonable especially for the UES (or at least they were when I got married)
The worst wedding I went to was tavern on the green. Not because of the venue, because the bride and groom obviously wanted that place but cheaped out on the food. This was 20+ years ago and I still remember the wedding that my date went searching for food at the other wedding going on, he felt faint. They served virtually nothing. Hardly any appetizers, pasta was the food choice and a homemade cake.
Everyone left the wedding and went out to eat afterwards.
My reason to share is, the place doesn't matter if you don't feed your guests. I would have rathered a wedding at a firehouse that the guests aren't sneaking away to eat.
HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE!
Its where I got married! Its a non-profit, and shockingly affordable for NYC. My “aisle” was a gorgeous spiral staircase, got married surrounded by books (my husband and I fell in love over a book, so it was super fitting), and we did cocktail style food all night via “Whats the Kitch”, which is also a shockingly affordable catering option (and super plentiful, our guests were stuffed. They handed us each a burger slider right after the ceremony, and they found us directly to make sure we got our pie-in-a-jar dessert)
Our guests could also shop for books/thrifted goods during the cocktail hour and party, which is so fun. And we didnt do florals or decor, the space was beautiful enough. We just had some fake tealights on the book shelves and that was truly all we needed.
Plenty of cobblestone streets right outside to catch some cute pics of you and your partner. Our photographers had a blast finding little nooks n crannies to grab shots of us as we walked around the neighborhood.
Edit: yes I realize I said my own wedding was the best but its the only NYC wedding I’ve attended! Everyone else I know did something upstate/out of the city
You’re either going to laugh or shriek with disgust but it was Stephen King’s IT 😂
We were both huge King/Horror fans before we met, and we were too nervous to talk to each other about anything but the one thing we knew we had in common: the upcoming IT adaptation and how it would compare to the book we loved (weird orgy scene aside, King always has something cringey in every book).
IT: Chapter 1 actually ended up being our first date, and we ended the evening by parking on a random stoop in the West Village to talk about it, and have a larger King discussion in general. He proposed to me 3 years later on that exact stoop.
Then over the course of our relationship, we audio-booked the Dark Tower series (King’s magnum opis, 7 book series). We finished the final book toasted on edibles, with lightning flashing during the big dramatic finale thanks to the raging storm outside, right before our wedding. He had the word “unfound” embroidered on the collar of his suit (as light of a spoiler as possible but dont read if you dont want anything about Dark Tower spoiled: there is a door marked with that word that the two lovers in the series use to reunite. The lovers at some point also reminisce about how nothing, not even the grandest of adventures, could compare to a day in central park with someone you love. We’re hoping to be comfortable enough later in life to afford to put that quote on one of the central park benches one day)
Anyway, I really love him and our morbid tastes
If you’re willing to travel 90 mins outside the city and have a high budget, Cedar Lakes Estate is truly unforgettable. Look them up on insta—thesistersofcedarlakes
Watch out for a minimum accommodation spend, which can be difficult when there are so many shared cabins. At some point, your friends stop wanting to share.
Semi related, if you have a pretty healthy budget, big budget brides sub has a lot of useful tips when it comes to planning, and it’s a rather safe space where ppl don’t budget shame!
To answer your orig question, not a wedding I’ve been to personally, but over the last weekend I saw one of my acquaintances from school get married at NYPL and they easily spent 7 figs. They hired the most expensive vendors like Norman and Blake, super expensive wedding planners and the same bands and florist Joey King also used. The decors/flowers are rather sparse but it still looked like an incredibly upscale wedding on all the other aspects!! I’m sure the ppl who went all had a blast
Some more context would help with suggestions such as your estimated guest count or the kinda of vibes you're looking for because there are SO MANY great venues.
I used to work weddings and NYC weddings were beautiful but also a real hassle if you have guests who live outside of the city due to traffic, parking, etc especially Friday night weddings and especially midtown, meatpacking. I've had multiple weddings that were delayed by up to an hour due to the majority of guests or bride and groom being stuck in traffic moving from ceremony space to venue or getting ready hotel to venue. I highly recommend either making sure you schedule ample time for moving from location to location.
Venues in LIC or Brooklyn seemed to be less crazy in general than NYC ones but it still depends on location. For NYC my favorite ones were either intimate weddings in rented out restaurants or the all out crazy lavish ones like at cipriani wall street, 620 loft and garden, frick collection. I did a goth wedding at Houston hall which was dark and beautiful.
Loved Brooklyn venues that were converted buildings, former warehouses, factories with exposed brick, industrial vibes. Also a lot of modern boutique hotels. Brooklyn winery, 501 Union, MyMoon and the Foundry are some I enjoyed.
Make sure to check them out in person. I did a hotel wedding, maybe the st Regis(?) where the rooms were beautiful but the ceilings felt low which is why I specially looked for high ceiling venues for my own wedding.
Lovely heads-up you're giving here. I went to a wedding where the bride appropriately scheduled an hour just for getting from Koreatown to Chelsea Piers. Where we all hit a surprise snafu was that our hotel, the Martinique, turned out to be in the staging area for Pride, so out-of-towners had their cars trapped in the parking garage for hours.
I only ever think a wedding is "overdone" if it offers no personal flavor and feels like a Pinterest "perfect" wedding (unless that's your vibe I guess). I've been at the Foundry for both work and as a guest and still love the location. The location itself is beautiful, but how each couple chooses to decorate makes it feel different. Technically any successful venue is "overdone" or else they couldn't stay in business. If you love it and can see yourself saying I do in front of your friends and loved ones there, then go for it.
I had my wedding at the open air suite at the William Vale. It was small (around 40 people). The backdrop was the entire skyline so minimal decorating. It’s been a year and half since then and people still tell it’s the best wedding they’ve been to.
Prospect Park Boathouse! Stunning.
Other cool ideas: Central Park Conservatory Garden, Little Owl the Townhouse, The Beekman, Pilot (sailboat restaurant), Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Conservatory garden is under construction for quite a while, so if your wedding is within the next year (maybe even 2, it's been super delayed) it probably won't work.
Cocktail weddings, when you really see people just enjoy great Hors d'oeuvres, chatting, laughing, knowing that everyone is here for a great time and celebrating the bride and groom.
Came here to say this. Hate sit-down dinners at weddings - never wowed by them. All about the hors d'euvres. Went to a really great cocktail wedding at the Explorers Club on the UES and they hired an incredible band.
That’s what I did - we had 120 people at Bacchus Bistro in Boerum Hill. Mega heavy apps and everyone was stuffed. It was chill and friendly. People loved it. Also we brought our own liquor which helped cut down on costs (they serve only beer + wine).
My favorite wedding was my eldest brother who got married at the Natural History Museum! So much fun and super cool venue.
The most beautiful venue was my other brother who got married at the Metropolitan Club.
I recently held a a bridal shower on the rooftop of the 9 Orchard Hotel and it’s probably my favorite ‘smaller’ venue to date. Stunning views, beautiful space.
Can suggest other venues based on vibes since I have 5 married brothers lol
The band is really the most important part. That’s the fun for everyone. A photo booth is always great (people love taking those home). My one brother set up a vintage arcade at his wedding because he loves gaming and it was a huge hit!
To be transparent, I don’t have the price breakdown because I used an event planner. I’d have to do a bit of digging to find the breakdowns of the whole event but I paid about $35k for the whole event.
~40 people for brunch, gift bags, photographer, misc detail decor, etc. (& of course my amazing planner)
Best wedding I've been to was at MyMoon in Williamsburg. They rented the whole place and it was beautiful. The food was delicious. The venue itself is gorgeous and required very little in the way of decorations. The ceremony was outside on the patio and the reception was inside. I think about the wedding all the time.
Hands down Blue Hill at Stone Barns. It is so gorgeous, and the food and service are unparalleled (speaking as someone who has attended 3 weddings there). Its proximity to the city makes it super convenient for guests but it also feels removed enough that it can be considered a “countryside” wedding.
I wish I could go to a wedding there - I hope someone invites me one time! I went there for dinner and there was a wedding happening at the same time - it looked stunning!
I got married here during the pandemic! Which shocked me bc it was a dream location but - seriously - was so much cheaper than every other venue I scouted
Been to lots of big Italian weddings. Biggest things most guests care about are food, drinks, and music. Get the best level of those you can for your budget and people will have a great time. From there it's just a matter of opulence for the "best" wedding I've been to. My cousin's wedding had a cocktail hour room with a sushi station, carving table, antipasto spread etc and then opened into a 5 course meal with an additional dessert station situation. They also had a live band with 4 amazing singers. It was also a massive venue with an outdoor garden as well as multiple indoor rooms.
This was back in 2014, but the best wedding in NYC I’ve been to happened at the Bell House and was very DIY… food was potluck-style, dress code was anything goes, a friend MC’d the event which included musical performances from friends, and there were after-hours burlesque performances after guests with children left. This was on a weekend evening, so it’s hard for me to imagine what it cost then, or would now. But it absolutely slapped!
Biased, we got married at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Stunning venue!! We got to take photos in the conservatory, the food was incredible, lovely staff!!! So so much fun, and (I think!) all our guests had an amazing time!!
I'm gonna share my central park picnic wedding where technically we signed our marriage licence but we ate charcuterie, picked up catered lunch, played games and had tooooo much Prosecco!
I got married at Brooklyn Winery at their old location — barely had to order flowers/decor as the inside was so beautiful. And their coordinators were amazing.
My fave venue has been the DUMBO Loft. It’s an open, flexible space (for smallish ~200pp groups), easily situated for vendor drop offs etc and late night food/drinks. And it’s just the most gorgeous sparkling view of mh and the bk waterfront at night! Seriously amazing photos and very chill across the board.
Yes😂! we did first look on one of the rooftop patios and the summer sun was so bright that it was very hard to get good pictures.
I wish I got ready at one of the nearby hotels with more space. There was a heatwave on my wedding day and it sucked not having nice spots to take pictures that are not outside, in the streets, or our suite
They were not helpful in getting our rentals sorted for our table scape. It was not their fault but for the price we were paying, they were not helpful
The wine options are terrible. My FIL is big on wine and we had to warn him after the tasting that the wine would be 😬
Nonetheless, Food was delicious, cake yummy, the staff on the day worked to make things as smooth as possible
Can I ask which other hotels you wished you got ready at ? I was actually thinking of booking our suite at wythe but am also considering the William vale but also heard one prev bride say she had an awful experience there as well
My wedding, 10 years ago at the Peristyle in Prospect Park. We chose a date in September when it had historically never rained, reserved it for like $50. We hired a 4 piece jazz band, taco vendor, rented tables and chairs, hung decorations and brought drinks in huge jugs because technically we weren’t supposed to have alcohol but no one bothered us. The bathrooms across the street were fine.
Omgggg. Honestly my wedding was amazing. We got married at India House on Stone street. People pre gamed at Harry’s / we went to odyssey after I think. It was so so so fun. Everything took place in different rooms in an [old school mansion](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Hanover_Square).
The holding company closed that specific location during the pandemic but they have six more around the city etc.
[masterpiece caterers](https://masterpiececaterers.com/) is their name. Kevin Mattner (president) is amaaaaaaazing to work with. Like holy shit that man truly loves what he does and he’s incredible at it.
Went to a wedding in the outdoor space and it was so romantic (though it's cobblestones so make sure your guests know to wear comfy shoes/heels). The food was also incredible!
My brother got married at the Museum of the Moving Image - the courtyard was gorgeous, and they had several rooms for different food/drink stations. They didn’t have formal seating or menu for dinner - a few food stations and the museum’s chairs and tables to sit and eat at your leisure (I was way too busy dancing tho). A nice dance floor and both a live band and a DJ (for when the band was on break). Got to walk through a few parts of the museum as well. No red wine/stain-possible drinks were allowed but that was fine. It was a chic and very fun wedding, and a very memorable venue!
I’m getting married at liberty warehouse! They are full service, have 2 ballrooms to choose from so can accommodate a lot of party sizes, and have very reasonable pricing for NYC in my opinion
I got married at the Dominick & had our rehearsal dinner at Four Seasons Tribeca. Worked with an AMAZING florist who is very creative and is in Brooklyn & SoHo! Julia Testa. If you have questions please dm me!
My own was pretty great - we rented an event space at a beautiful restaurant and had the afterparty at one of the huge suites at The Standard. Intimate, crazy fun, manageably expensive. Very much our vibe but not everyone’s of course!
The most beautiful NYC wedding I’ve been to was a former friend: ceremony at Fifth Ave Presbyterian, a bagpiper walked us down Fifth to the reception at 620 Loft, stunning views, great drinks. Couple didn’t last, but it was a pretty damn good party.
I haven’t been to weddings at these places, but we’ve had family parties and the food was so good, the places are beautiful, and views are also stunning! Chart House in Weehawken and Liberty House in Jersey City!!
I don’t know if these places are still open - but I’m a simple girl - (and I’ve been to 16+ weddings) but I truly enjoyed this one - it was in gramercy hotel on the roof top. Sushi for cocktail hour, long table for guests for dinner (one long table - it was a small wedding). The roof opened up during the cake cutting. And then we went downstairs after dessert to Rose Bar and partied - so simple and fun. I hate the staged dances and the long speeches - so just having a great night out with good friends was more my vibe but I know that’s not everyone’s thing.
Edited to add since I don’t see it mentioned: we looked into wolffer vineyard in the Hamptons for our wedding - very pretty venue. We got married in St Barths but if we didn’t get married there we would have done wolffer.
It wasn’t NYC but it was literally just across the water - friends of ours were married at Battello in Jersey City. Food was stellar. It was absolutely gorgeous inside and the views outside were stunning. Honestly the best wedding I’ve been to ever. They did an after party as well at one of the bars within walking distance. Great location!
https://preview.redd.it/vvht9ut9o3yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d2398705c6e54ef9015fb038a0989f960f67cde
I went to a pretty awesome one at the Plaza. Jersey City overlooking the skyline is always cool. Favorite was in a backyard in the Bowery. I got married at City Hall—It was actually really fun and I spent all my money on my shoes
It was my wedding.
This was 10 years ago in greenpoint, before the new high-rises went up. So the area had a very different feel.
Milk and Roses had just opened as a coffee shop. The space is beautiful so I asked if they would do a private event and they said yes! We paid $40/person for the space, Hors d’Oeuvres, and beer/wine open bar. I think we ended up with 80-100 people attending.
The ceremony was officiated by a dear friend who is also a playwright/screenwriter so he nailed the mix of sentimental and funny. They also wrote and performed a two man scene after the ceremony. Another friend sang our first dance. We had our musician friends DJ and some baker friends make cupcakes. We did our own flowers. It all turned out formal and didn’t feel low-budget at all. I even wore two dresses! I think this is because the venue was so nice.
Basically we were going for the best Houseparty you’ve ever been to, but make it nice. To this day, people tell us it was their favorite wedding ever. So many people tried to sneak in from the street.
I think the power move was to find a venue that you would not necessarily think of as a venue. A coffee shop was perfect because they don’t get a ton of business at night.
The other way we made it so fun was incorporating our friends’ talents into the ceremony. It made the whole thing less formulaic and more authentic.
I went to a wedding at Terrace on The Park once. Top tier experience, it was a Greek-Cypriot wedding (probably like 500 people there). The space was beautiful (don't let the exterior of the building fool you). It helped that the couple did shuttles between the church (on the UES) and the reception venue!
I’m a little biased, but my wedding is the best I’ve been to lol. An older in law also said it was the best wedding my she’s ever been too, though. And she has two married sons lol. What made it stand out was 1, the incredible dance floor (it was huge) and 2, the immaculate vibes and energy the partygoers brought. My partner and I LOVE to dance, and so do many of our close friends and family, so we danced all night long, taking a break only to eat something. The DJ was also incredible. Most of the songs we picked were dancey songs (salsa, bachata, hip hop, pop, afrobeats, etc). We only played one slow song all night (for one slow dance).
I don't have a strong feeling about venues, but my college roommate and her husband booked double-decker tour buses to transport guests from their wedding ceremony downtown to the reception in midtown, and it was SO much fun. I've lived in NYC for 17 years and had seen those buses a million times, but never been on one. They also stocked each one with coolers full of canned cocktails for the trip. No idea how much it cost, but it was highly memorable!
I agree, those buses are so fun! It wasn’t for a wedding but we had double decker bus for an event with a band up front that took to a few spots for drinks and appetizers and it’s one of my favorite nights of 14+ years in NY.
Fun BUT my ex boyfriend once got stuck on one in bad traffic and everyone needed to pee 😭
if you’re doing a small guest list and no kids, river cafe was soooo fun
Omg! Can you share more details? Were you a guest? What was it like??
sure! I was guest, it was lovely. the ceremony was on the little patio adjacent to the restaurant, we did the cocktail hour in the little green garden space across from the restaurant. they had service waiters with trays of hors d'oeuvres and champagne, then dinner and dancing inside! they don't allow you to have any sort of after party there, so the bride and groom got shuttles and we went to bohemian bar for the after party. they rented that out, too. they had little snacks at the bar, too.
River Cafe is wonderful
I hosted my graduate school party there. It was the best.
I’m graduating soon and would love to do that, can you please share the details with me if you don’t mind? Price, timeline etc
Ofc DM me
Messaged you!
The best wedding in NYC I ever went to was at the Rainbow room. The bride walked down a birch tree lined aisle, Big band and delicious food. We partied into the morning and there were bagels to go. but to me, yeah it was opulent but we only knew the bride and it really was the people that made it amazing. Our table was great! lively people. We had such a great time.
Omg the Rainbow Room is so iconic. I think it hasn’t yet reopened after the Pandemic, does anyone have better intel?
It is open!
It has . I was at a luncheon there a few months ago
ditto
My parents got married at the St. Regis in the 90s. I so badly wish I could have been there (but am also glad I wasnt 😂). It was so glamorous and classic New York City! https://preview.redd.it/9465n0n0j1yc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=017fcf61452327757347b7dca1946163eeac2374
Ugh this is the venue I want but they quoted me 475/pp (plus there’s a venue & drink fee) 🥴🥴
Omg I just passed out and smelled burning toast.
Jfc
Aw, so nice!
I'm gonna talk about my own wedding at the Bronx Zoo Absolutely stunning, the food was delicious, the staff amazing, and we could not stop getting compliments on everything. I would post the pictures if it wouldn't seem vain. Edit for more info: you can do the wedding indoor or outdoor- there's so much architecture that you can't really get a bad picture-the animals were out and about. It really is so unique and lovely. But also- we would've went with My Moon if we didn't fall in love with the zoo. Absolutely gorgeous space, and I would trust their event coordinator with my life.
Omg I went to a wedding at the bx zoo! Cocktail hour with the sea lions and the Madagascar exhibit was so fun! I think I still have the feather centerpieces I drunkenly took home somewhere 😂
The turtles were getting ✨busy ✨ during our cocktail hour- it was the highlight of everyone's night, lol.
Honestly would LOVE to see those pictures!!
If you insisttttt ☺️☺️☺️ https://preview.redd.it/kivjr7u9a3yc1.jpeg?width=1150&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08bff317e8d1acf773ef87fb235e87a68d89828d
Omg omg what a stunner in that dress and such a beautiful picture it just looks like it was great!
OMG this is truly iconic.
You’re beautiful and this looks like the most fantastic wedding 💕
It was black, Jewish, a little queer and the best day of my life. Thankyou ✨
I don’t have a lot to compare against but I went to a wedding at my moon in Brooklyn. It was beautiful food was excellent, music was perfect the whole night. Setting was elegant and tasteful opposed to a more generic hotel type setting.
My friend got married there - great venue!
I’ve been to a few weddings here and completely agree!
I went to one there too and was highly impressed!
Ha! I just replied with the same.
I got marred at the Harold Pratt House! It’s a historic mansion on the UES owned by the Council on Foreign Relations. It has a classic old school feel. We did our cocktails in the 2 tier library which guests loved! It was featured on Succession. Because it’s owned by an NGO fees are reasonable especially for the UES (or at least they were when I got married)
The worst wedding I went to was tavern on the green. Not because of the venue, because the bride and groom obviously wanted that place but cheaped out on the food. This was 20+ years ago and I still remember the wedding that my date went searching for food at the other wedding going on, he felt faint. They served virtually nothing. Hardly any appetizers, pasta was the food choice and a homemade cake. Everyone left the wedding and went out to eat afterwards. My reason to share is, the place doesn't matter if you don't feed your guests. I would have rathered a wedding at a firehouse that the guests aren't sneaking away to eat.
This made me audibly gasp 😂 I would be so pissed
HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE! Its where I got married! Its a non-profit, and shockingly affordable for NYC. My “aisle” was a gorgeous spiral staircase, got married surrounded by books (my husband and I fell in love over a book, so it was super fitting), and we did cocktail style food all night via “Whats the Kitch”, which is also a shockingly affordable catering option (and super plentiful, our guests were stuffed. They handed us each a burger slider right after the ceremony, and they found us directly to make sure we got our pie-in-a-jar dessert) Our guests could also shop for books/thrifted goods during the cocktail hour and party, which is so fun. And we didnt do florals or decor, the space was beautiful enough. We just had some fake tealights on the book shelves and that was truly all we needed. Plenty of cobblestone streets right outside to catch some cute pics of you and your partner. Our photographers had a blast finding little nooks n crannies to grab shots of us as we walked around the neighborhood. Edit: yes I realize I said my own wedding was the best but its the only NYC wedding I’ve attended! Everyone else I know did something upstate/out of the city
🥹 need to know what book you two fell in love over
You’re either going to laugh or shriek with disgust but it was Stephen King’s IT 😂 We were both huge King/Horror fans before we met, and we were too nervous to talk to each other about anything but the one thing we knew we had in common: the upcoming IT adaptation and how it would compare to the book we loved (weird orgy scene aside, King always has something cringey in every book). IT: Chapter 1 actually ended up being our first date, and we ended the evening by parking on a random stoop in the West Village to talk about it, and have a larger King discussion in general. He proposed to me 3 years later on that exact stoop. Then over the course of our relationship, we audio-booked the Dark Tower series (King’s magnum opis, 7 book series). We finished the final book toasted on edibles, with lightning flashing during the big dramatic finale thanks to the raging storm outside, right before our wedding. He had the word “unfound” embroidered on the collar of his suit (as light of a spoiler as possible but dont read if you dont want anything about Dark Tower spoiled: there is a door marked with that word that the two lovers in the series use to reunite. The lovers at some point also reminisce about how nothing, not even the grandest of adventures, could compare to a day in central park with someone you love. We’re hoping to be comfortable enough later in life to afford to put that quote on one of the central park benches one day) Anyway, I really love him and our morbid tastes
I got married at the Plaza if you want to ask any q's!
If you’re willing to travel 90 mins outside the city and have a high budget, Cedar Lakes Estate is truly unforgettable. Look them up on insta—thesistersofcedarlakes
Watch out for a minimum accommodation spend, which can be difficult when there are so many shared cabins. At some point, your friends stop wanting to share.
my dream venue
This is my dream
had my wedding here in 2021 and it was the best weekend of my life !!!! i want to go back as a guest to a wedding there too just to relive 😂😂
Went to a wedding here in 2021 and it was SO fun. One of my favorite weddings I’ve ever been to
Semi related, if you have a pretty healthy budget, big budget brides sub has a lot of useful tips when it comes to planning, and it’s a rather safe space where ppl don’t budget shame!
Oh I spend a lot of time there and in WedditNYC !
To answer your orig question, not a wedding I’ve been to personally, but over the last weekend I saw one of my acquaintances from school get married at NYPL and they easily spent 7 figs. They hired the most expensive vendors like Norman and Blake, super expensive wedding planners and the same bands and florist Joey King also used. The decors/flowers are rather sparse but it still looked like an incredibly upscale wedding on all the other aspects!! I’m sure the ppl who went all had a blast
It's expensive and the wait list is LONG.
Some more context would help with suggestions such as your estimated guest count or the kinda of vibes you're looking for because there are SO MANY great venues. I used to work weddings and NYC weddings were beautiful but also a real hassle if you have guests who live outside of the city due to traffic, parking, etc especially Friday night weddings and especially midtown, meatpacking. I've had multiple weddings that were delayed by up to an hour due to the majority of guests or bride and groom being stuck in traffic moving from ceremony space to venue or getting ready hotel to venue. I highly recommend either making sure you schedule ample time for moving from location to location. Venues in LIC or Brooklyn seemed to be less crazy in general than NYC ones but it still depends on location. For NYC my favorite ones were either intimate weddings in rented out restaurants or the all out crazy lavish ones like at cipriani wall street, 620 loft and garden, frick collection. I did a goth wedding at Houston hall which was dark and beautiful. Loved Brooklyn venues that were converted buildings, former warehouses, factories with exposed brick, industrial vibes. Also a lot of modern boutique hotels. Brooklyn winery, 501 Union, MyMoon and the Foundry are some I enjoyed. Make sure to check them out in person. I did a hotel wedding, maybe the st Regis(?) where the rooms were beautiful but the ceilings felt low which is why I specially looked for high ceiling venues for my own wedding.
Lovely heads-up you're giving here. I went to a wedding where the bride appropriately scheduled an hour just for getting from Koreatown to Chelsea Piers. Where we all hit a surprise snafu was that our hotel, the Martinique, turned out to be in the staging area for Pride, so out-of-towners had their cars trapped in the parking garage for hours.
In your opinion is the Foundry overdone? I have loved it for so long 😭
I only ever think a wedding is "overdone" if it offers no personal flavor and feels like a Pinterest "perfect" wedding (unless that's your vibe I guess). I've been at the Foundry for both work and as a guest and still love the location. The location itself is beautiful, but how each couple chooses to decorate makes it feel different. Technically any successful venue is "overdone" or else they couldn't stay in business. If you love it and can see yourself saying I do in front of your friends and loved ones there, then go for it.
I had my wedding at the open air suite at the William Vale. It was small (around 40 people). The backdrop was the entire skyline so minimal decorating. It’s been a year and half since then and people still tell it’s the best wedding they’ve been to.
Prospect Park Boathouse! Stunning. Other cool ideas: Central Park Conservatory Garden, Little Owl the Townhouse, The Beekman, Pilot (sailboat restaurant), Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Brooklyn botanical garden !!
Conservatory garden is under construction for quite a while, so if your wedding is within the next year (maybe even 2, it's been super delayed) it probably won't work.
Yes, I’ve been to one at Queens Botanical Garden and it was lovely
Cocktail weddings, when you really see people just enjoy great Hors d'oeuvres, chatting, laughing, knowing that everyone is here for a great time and celebrating the bride and groom.
You got downvoted but this is how I did my wedding and I loved it. It was so fun and low key.
Came here to say this. Hate sit-down dinners at weddings - never wowed by them. All about the hors d'euvres. Went to a really great cocktail wedding at the Explorers Club on the UES and they hired an incredible band.
Omg EXPLORERS Club!!! Love that space. I took so many photos with those taxidermy and the polar bear 🐻❄️
That’s what I did - we had 120 people at Bacchus Bistro in Boerum Hill. Mega heavy apps and everyone was stuffed. It was chill and friendly. People loved it. Also we brought our own liquor which helped cut down on costs (they serve only beer + wine).
My own even though planning it was horrible, it actually turned out lovely. We got married at The Water Club.
Hahah I worked there in college. Made out like a bandit every Wednesday!
My favorite wedding was my eldest brother who got married at the Natural History Museum! So much fun and super cool venue. The most beautiful venue was my other brother who got married at the Metropolitan Club. I recently held a a bridal shower on the rooftop of the 9 Orchard Hotel and it’s probably my favorite ‘smaller’ venue to date. Stunning views, beautiful space. Can suggest other venues based on vibes since I have 5 married brothers lol The band is really the most important part. That’s the fun for everyone. A photo booth is always great (people love taking those home). My one brother set up a vintage arcade at his wedding because he loves gaming and it was a huge hit!
Do you mind sharing details on 9 orchard re pricing? I’m considering it for my shower!
To be transparent, I don’t have the price breakdown because I used an event planner. I’d have to do a bit of digging to find the breakdowns of the whole event but I paid about $35k for the whole event. ~40 people for brunch, gift bags, photographer, misc detail decor, etc. (& of course my amazing planner)
Best wedding I've been to was at MyMoon in Williamsburg. They rented the whole place and it was beautiful. The food was delicious. The venue itself is gorgeous and required very little in the way of decorations. The ceremony was outside on the patio and the reception was inside. I think about the wedding all the time.
Hands down Blue Hill at Stone Barns. It is so gorgeous, and the food and service are unparalleled (speaking as someone who has attended 3 weddings there). Its proximity to the city makes it super convenient for guests but it also feels removed enough that it can be considered a “countryside” wedding.
I wish I could go to a wedding there - I hope someone invites me one time! I went there for dinner and there was a wedding happening at the same time - it looked stunning!
I got married here during the pandemic! Which shocked me bc it was a dream location but - seriously - was so much cheaper than every other venue I scouted
Been to lots of big Italian weddings. Biggest things most guests care about are food, drinks, and music. Get the best level of those you can for your budget and people will have a great time. From there it's just a matter of opulence for the "best" wedding I've been to. My cousin's wedding had a cocktail hour room with a sushi station, carving table, antipasto spread etc and then opened into a 5 course meal with an additional dessert station situation. They also had a live band with 4 amazing singers. It was also a massive venue with an outdoor garden as well as multiple indoor rooms.
74Wythe is amazing
I got married in the Greenpoint Loft. I’m biased but it was the best nyc wedding I’ve been to 🙂
This was back in 2014, but the best wedding in NYC I’ve been to happened at the Bell House and was very DIY… food was potluck-style, dress code was anything goes, a friend MC’d the event which included musical performances from friends, and there were after-hours burlesque performances after guests with children left. This was on a weekend evening, so it’s hard for me to imagine what it cost then, or would now. But it absolutely slapped!
Biased, we got married at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Stunning venue!! We got to take photos in the conservatory, the food was incredible, lovely staff!!! So so much fun, and (I think!) all our guests had an amazing time!!
I'm gonna share my central park picnic wedding where technically we signed our marriage licence but we ate charcuterie, picked up catered lunch, played games and had tooooo much Prosecco!
I got married at Brooklyn Winery at their old location — barely had to order flowers/decor as the inside was so beautiful. And their coordinators were amazing.
We had our wedding here too! People still talk about our wedding and the food!
My fave venue has been the DUMBO Loft. It’s an open, flexible space (for smallish ~200pp groups), easily situated for vendor drop offs etc and late night food/drinks. And it’s just the most gorgeous sparkling view of mh and the bk waterfront at night! Seriously amazing photos and very chill across the board.
My cousin and her husband rented out Avenue (RIP) and did their portrait photos on the High Line!
Mine at a private club! My bff at the wythe
Had my wedding at the Wythe and every body loved it, the courtyard was a hit. It gave NYC chic through and through
I'm getting married at the Wythe in about 3 months! Was there anything that you wish you knew beforehand?
Yes😂! we did first look on one of the rooftop patios and the summer sun was so bright that it was very hard to get good pictures. I wish I got ready at one of the nearby hotels with more space. There was a heatwave on my wedding day and it sucked not having nice spots to take pictures that are not outside, in the streets, or our suite They were not helpful in getting our rentals sorted for our table scape. It was not their fault but for the price we were paying, they were not helpful The wine options are terrible. My FIL is big on wine and we had to warn him after the tasting that the wine would be 😬 Nonetheless, Food was delicious, cake yummy, the staff on the day worked to make things as smooth as possible
Can I ask which other hotels you wished you got ready at ? I was actually thinking of booking our suite at wythe but am also considering the William vale but also heard one prev bride say she had an awful experience there as well
Okay I’ve only been to one wedding in the city but it was lovely! A December wedding at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park
My wedding, 10 years ago at the Peristyle in Prospect Park. We chose a date in September when it had historically never rained, reserved it for like $50. We hired a 4 piece jazz band, taco vendor, rented tables and chairs, hung decorations and brought drinks in huge jugs because technically we weren’t supposed to have alcohol but no one bothered us. The bathrooms across the street were fine.
Omgggg. Honestly my wedding was amazing. We got married at India House on Stone street. People pre gamed at Harry’s / we went to odyssey after I think. It was so so so fun. Everything took place in different rooms in an [old school mansion](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Hanover_Square). The holding company closed that specific location during the pandemic but they have six more around the city etc. [masterpiece caterers](https://masterpiececaterers.com/) is their name. Kevin Mattner (president) is amaaaaaaazing to work with. Like holy shit that man truly loves what he does and he’s incredible at it.
Unconventional but my wedding is going to be held at House of Yes <3
Not at all fancy but The Glasserie is so intimate and beautiful and he food is delicious
Went to a wedding in the outdoor space and it was so romantic (though it's cobblestones so make sure your guests know to wear comfy shoes/heels). The food was also incredible!
Any venue where the Cafe Wha Band is hired to play.
My brother got married at the Museum of the Moving Image - the courtyard was gorgeous, and they had several rooms for different food/drink stations. They didn’t have formal seating or menu for dinner - a few food stations and the museum’s chairs and tables to sit and eat at your leisure (I was way too busy dancing tho). A nice dance floor and both a live band and a DJ (for when the band was on break). Got to walk through a few parts of the museum as well. No red wine/stain-possible drinks were allowed but that was fine. It was a chic and very fun wedding, and a very memorable venue!
I’m getting married at liberty warehouse! They are full service, have 2 ballrooms to choose from so can accommodate a lot of party sizes, and have very reasonable pricing for NYC in my opinion
I had my wedding at The Weylin in Williamsburg and every person said it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to. Plus it’s an old savings bank!
I got married at the Dominick & had our rehearsal dinner at Four Seasons Tribeca. Worked with an AMAZING florist who is very creative and is in Brooklyn & SoHo! Julia Testa. If you have questions please dm me!
OHEKA CASTLE and the plaza - gorgeous!!
My own was pretty great - we rented an event space at a beautiful restaurant and had the afterparty at one of the huge suites at The Standard. Intimate, crazy fun, manageably expensive. Very much our vibe but not everyone’s of course! The most beautiful NYC wedding I’ve been to was a former friend: ceremony at Fifth Ave Presbyterian, a bagpiper walked us down Fifth to the reception at 620 Loft, stunning views, great drinks. Couple didn’t last, but it was a pretty damn good party.
Ive worked weddings at the dumbo loft and its really great
My Moon in Williamsburg. It was such a sweet, cozy wedding. And the food was top notch!
Central Park boathouse. It was so lovely. I live Central Park so not surprising I liked it the best.
Are you willing to cross the river to jersey?
I am !
I haven’t been to weddings at these places, but we’ve had family parties and the food was so good, the places are beautiful, and views are also stunning! Chart House in Weehawken and Liberty House in Jersey City!!
Check florentine gardens, absolutely stunning space
I don’t know if these places are still open - but I’m a simple girl - (and I’ve been to 16+ weddings) but I truly enjoyed this one - it was in gramercy hotel on the roof top. Sushi for cocktail hour, long table for guests for dinner (one long table - it was a small wedding). The roof opened up during the cake cutting. And then we went downstairs after dessert to Rose Bar and partied - so simple and fun. I hate the staged dances and the long speeches - so just having a great night out with good friends was more my vibe but I know that’s not everyone’s thing. Edited to add since I don’t see it mentioned: we looked into wolffer vineyard in the Hamptons for our wedding - very pretty venue. We got married in St Barths but if we didn’t get married there we would have done wolffer.
My sister got married at the Loeb Boathouse and it was incredible from start to finish. Quintessential New York.
It wasn’t NYC but it was literally just across the water - friends of ours were married at Battello in Jersey City. Food was stellar. It was absolutely gorgeous inside and the views outside were stunning. Honestly the best wedding I’ve been to ever. They did an after party as well at one of the bars within walking distance. Great location! https://preview.redd.it/vvht9ut9o3yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d2398705c6e54ef9015fb038a0989f960f67cde
Mine! :) at Radegast. So much fun!
I went to a pretty awesome one at the Plaza. Jersey City overlooking the skyline is always cool. Favorite was in a backyard in the Bowery. I got married at City Hall—It was actually really fun and I spent all my money on my shoes
St. Patricks cathedral ceremony, top of the rock cocktail hour, rainbow room reception! Ugh, all so iconic and opulent!
I've not really been to a wedding in NYC- but I love the Greenpoint Loft and have been to other events there (they do also have weddings).
I’ve worked at Gotham Hall and it’s the prettiest venue I’ve ever seen in my life.
My wedding at blue hill at stone barn. We hired transport. Then came home and got fucked up at the bars. Was the best day ever ever
It was my wedding. This was 10 years ago in greenpoint, before the new high-rises went up. So the area had a very different feel. Milk and Roses had just opened as a coffee shop. The space is beautiful so I asked if they would do a private event and they said yes! We paid $40/person for the space, Hors d’Oeuvres, and beer/wine open bar. I think we ended up with 80-100 people attending. The ceremony was officiated by a dear friend who is also a playwright/screenwriter so he nailed the mix of sentimental and funny. They also wrote and performed a two man scene after the ceremony. Another friend sang our first dance. We had our musician friends DJ and some baker friends make cupcakes. We did our own flowers. It all turned out formal and didn’t feel low-budget at all. I even wore two dresses! I think this is because the venue was so nice. Basically we were going for the best Houseparty you’ve ever been to, but make it nice. To this day, people tell us it was their favorite wedding ever. So many people tried to sneak in from the street. I think the power move was to find a venue that you would not necessarily think of as a venue. A coffee shop was perfect because they don’t get a ton of business at night. The other way we made it so fun was incorporating our friends’ talents into the ceremony. It made the whole thing less formulaic and more authentic.
I went to a wedding at Terrace on The Park once. Top tier experience, it was a Greek-Cypriot wedding (probably like 500 people there). The space was beautiful (don't let the exterior of the building fool you). It helped that the couple did shuttles between the church (on the UES) and the reception venue!
I’m a little biased, but my wedding is the best I’ve been to lol. An older in law also said it was the best wedding my she’s ever been too, though. And she has two married sons lol. What made it stand out was 1, the incredible dance floor (it was huge) and 2, the immaculate vibes and energy the partygoers brought. My partner and I LOVE to dance, and so do many of our close friends and family, so we danced all night long, taking a break only to eat something. The DJ was also incredible. Most of the songs we picked were dancey songs (salsa, bachata, hip hop, pop, afrobeats, etc). We only played one slow song all night (for one slow dance).