NYC Reception site

IreneinChicago Posted: Jun 30, 2003 04:08 PM

NYC Reception site

I just got engaged last month and now its off to the planning. I live in Chicago, but my family is from NY so the plan is to have the wedding there. Saw a bunch of places 2 weeks ago and we're going back this weekend to see more. What we are looking for is something in the city that has outdoor space, since I want a summer/early fall wedding 2004. I would love to have my ceremony and ****tail hour outdoors at the reception place. We are trying to stay under $130 pp + tax/tip. Any thougts/help would be much appreciated.

Eli Posted: Jun 30, 2003 04:28 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

I was just at a wedding at NYC's central park Boathouse...it was so lovely right in the middle of the park, right on the lake. the bride and groom made their 'entrance' on a gondola! it was really a beautful, simple setting-can't get better than central park!
however....don't know the exact price but since she had it over memorial day weekend she said she got a great deal! good luck and congrats!

shawl Posted: Jun 30, 2003 04:50 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

The Conservatory Gardens in Central Park are beautiful, and I think, free (tho' you probably need a permit)! We have seen a number of ceremonies there, and they are lovely; random passers-by are quite respectful.

Also check out museums with courtyards - I don't know if they do weddings, but the Cooper-Hewitt design museum (90th & 5th) is lovely, as is the Frick. Another option is the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, or the NY Botanic Gardens (in the Bronx).

You might want to check out the recent weddings issue of New York Magazine, and also City Weddings by Joan Hamburg (I think). Oh - another option is a boat that goes around Manhattan.

Best of luck to you!

Maribelle7777 Posted: Jun 30, 2003 06:07 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

why did you put stars for the word 'cocktail'? It's not like that means anything bad...

Scoop Posted: Jun 30, 2003 06:18 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

I forget what it is called but the restaurant in Bryant Park caters to smaller weddings too.

groovypeg Posted: Jun 30, 2003 06:50 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

i think the same people who own flowerfield have 2 places in nyc. i think is the 200 fifth club and tribeca.

spel Posted: Jun 30, 2003 06:53 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

maribelle, she didn't. the website does that automatically. isn't bizarre?
cocktail!!
cocktail!!
cocktail!!

we recently attended a lovely wedding at the lighthouse at chelsea piers. probably pretty pricey though.

ThongLori Posted: Jun 30, 2003 07:31 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

hey there! well i was in the same boat as you a short time ago- planning a NYC wedding in fall of 2004. This of course is prime season and I priced a LOT of places- a LOT, and $130pp I would say is the minimum you should expect to pay. The only place I found cheaper than that was Manhattan Penthouse (they do not have an outdoor area). Lots of places in Manhattan charge a site fee-- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Manhattan Penthouse , forget the museums - they are insanely expensive. If you can go higher than $130 I would suggest Tribeca Rooftop (for a Friday night it is $150 pp). They have a HUGE great roofdeck, we loved it but it was too pricey for us! Also, checkout Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, I think this was $130pp with no site fee. I did not look at this place but it is Abigail Kirsch which is supposed to be good. (FYI, we wound up at Harrison House on Long Island)

IreneinChicago Posted: Jun 30, 2003 08:52 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

I'm actually going to see Bryant Park Grill. How you been o a wedding there? I'm wondering how the food is.

ThongLori Posted: Jun 30, 2003 11:11 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

Irene, you have FM :-)

amyt324 Posted: Jul 01, 2003 11:44 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

I'm about to let out a BIG secret here - but have you ever seen the Boat Basin? It's under the West Side Highway at 79th Street. It's my FH and I's FAVORITE place. But somehow we TOTALLY got swept up in deciding to have our wedding in LI b/c of family that we forgot to check into it....
http://www.boatbasincafe.com/index.html
.....and now we're kicking ourselves! I wish the web site had pictures. Actually, I may have some - forum mail me if you're interested and I'll scan them and send them to you. It's all outdoors but 50% is under the highway so you're covered if it rains.... Plus like I said....not too many people know about it!! That's the best part!

IreneinChicago Posted: Jul 02, 2003 12:50 AM

Re: NYC Reception site

what does fm stand for?

swags1016 Posted: Jul 02, 2003 12:55 AM

Re: NYC Reception site

Forum Mail. The mailbox that we each have on this site!

janette Posted: Jul 02, 2003 07:10 AM

Re: NYC Reception site

My favorite NYC venues for weddings:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is gorgeous, and while on the high side, it's still a relatively decent price when you consider location and the food you get there.

Our top choice, except we were planning our wedding in 8 months, and the BBG books way in advance.

It's much easier to do the Bronx Botanical Gardens, which are an Abigail Kirsch site. Also a nice location and good food.

Another AK site is the Lighthouse. A friend went to a wedding there recently and told me the food was very good.

Wave Hill, which is a bit uptown, has a fabulous location ofr the ceremony, and also wonderful food. I attended a wedding there that was beautiful.

American Park at Battery -- no idea what the price is there, but they have pretty water views and I think you can even see the statue of liberty from the restaurant.

Just remember that, in my experience, the price pp is ALWAYS negotiable. It's even more negotiable if you are having a larger-size wedding, or a Friday or Sunday wedding. But there is always some leeway in price.

julybride444 Posted: Jul 02, 2003 09:24 AM

Re: NYC Reception site

Try the Palm House in Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, or the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. And, American Park.

Wave Hill is over $200 pp. Don't bother, although it's worth a visit if you have free time-it's beautiful.

Edited to add some more:

the WaterClub, Tribeca Rooftop, Giondo on the Water in Brooklyn (not my fav. but good price).

Niecey Posted: Jul 02, 2003 09:33 AM

Re: NYC Reception site

I went to a wedding at
http://www.americanpark.com/ in Battery Park a couple weekends ago. It was a wedidng of probably about 100 people. It may be in your budget (I think my friend paid less than what you quoted for a Sat. night but only did a buffet dinner). It has a pretty view. The cocktail hour was outside on a patio and the reception was upstairs with a terrace with the view. They did not have there ceremony there - used a unitarian church uptown.

I have also been to a wedding at Bryant Park. The ceremony was held on the rooftop, I believe of the restaurant and it was setup so pretty and you had a gorgeous view of the park surrounded by all the buildings - I just loved the view - being ina pretty park in the middle of a big city. They had the cocktail hour outside - tented (it was very hot that day!) and the reception in the restaurant. It was nice but the room was crowded and kind of set up awkward - it could be that they had too many people for the size of the room. The food was good from what I remember - a lot of goat cheese for some reason!

My friend (wedding planner in NYC - on maternity leave now though!) always recommends a place calls Players - not sure but I think it may be in either Union Square area or Sty-town. She said it only does a max of 125 people but she said it has a gorgeous garden, it is really nice and relatively inexpensive for NYC. Not sure how you can find out more about it....I guess some research.

IreneinChicago Posted: Jul 02, 2003 02:21 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

Thanks this has been so helpful, one thing to note is that American Park on Battery is going bankrupt and I believe aren't scheduling anything past Jan 2004. Its really sad actually, they were a command site during 9/11 and stopped paying their rent during that time since they couldn't be open. Unfortunately, they lost their lease. I feel for the bride that scheduled there next spring.

Niecey Posted: Jul 02, 2003 02:27 PM

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wow! I hadn't heard that!!! that's terrible to hear!

The Original 2nd-time-around Posted: Jul 10, 2003 01:01 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

I second the Central Park Boathouse. It is absolutely beautiful and the food is excellent!!

Sassyz75 Posted: Jul 10, 2003 01:13 PM

Re: NYC Reception site

Why not try the Water's Edge in Long Island City just across the East River.. it's very beautiful and you can enjoy the view of the city since it's right on the water. They even time ceremonies to happen during sunset. They have an outdoor deck on the water too... and they have ferry service to take people from the city and back.