So, you’ve got the ring on your finger (or her finger), and you’re ready to get married. But how the heck do you go about doing that? Before panic sets in, let me give you some helpful hints. This series is designed to get you on track to a beautiful and unique wedding.
The Usual
We’ve all been to those weddings that seemed just like every other. They’re usually at church, followed by a party at a boring reception hall spruced up with some flowers and colorful tablecloths. These are perfectly lovely places to celebrate a wedding, and if you have a flair for adding style to blank slates, they might be perfect for you. But if you want something a little more unusual, read below.
Museums
Art galleries and museums are an oft-overlooked place to host a reception, because they often don’t come equipped for your day. Yes, you will most likely have to rent tables, chairs, lighting, and other peripherals that come standard with reception halls. It might require more finagling with your caterer, as they might have to prepare everything beforehand if there isn’t a kitchen handy in the museum itself. But the rewards are endless! Galleries and museums offer an elegance and refinement to a wedding that a hotel hall cannot. Guests get to celebrate while feeling cultured, get to gaze around at works or art or history while dining on the sumptuous shrimp and steak you have chosen to serve them. They can dance beside Van Gogh or Monet, or perhaps a suit of armor, wondering at what a marvelous idea you had to host your party at such a special place.
The American Museum of Natural History makes several of its larger halls available for events from weddings to corporate functions. From the Akeley Hall of African Mammals, which can host 350 people for dinner and 500 for a reception amongst the elephants, to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, which can seat 850 for a dinner dance, the museum offers a wealth of themed areas that will make your wedding reception the talk of the town. Just choose between mammals, whales, the stars, or dinosaurs, and you can have your very own night at the museum. www.amnh.org
If you are a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you are able to rent some of their smaller rooms for more intimate functions (15-30 people). Perhaps these would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner or bridesmaid’s luncheon! www.metmuseum.org
The New York City Fire Museum is yet another unique location, offering over 3,000 square feet so you can dance the night away. The space features hardwood floors and thirteen-foot high ceilings, making it a beautiful location to celebrate in a beautiful city. www.nycfiremuseum.org
The Neue Galerie on the Upper East Side offers 8,000 square feet of event space to corporate members and sponsors. It can hold 64 guests for a seated dinner, or 350 for a cocktail reception. This would be a pricier option as you would have to donate to the museum or become a member in addition to renting the space. However, if you want a reception surrounded by the best the art world has to offer, this gallery, located in a 1914 mansion, is just for you! www.neuegalerie.org
Call one of these, or your dream gallery or museum, and see if they offer the option to host your event. Just one word of warning: if you dream of a candle-infused reception, this might not be the location for you. Most galleries are too afraid of you destroying their latest modern artist to allow flames in the vicinity. Stick to flowers!
Historical Sites
Many old taverns and mansions host events in addition to being cultural and tourist centers. These sites offer a sense of history and wonder, and can help guests and the new couple feel connected to all the lives that have intersected there before. One can design the entire wedding around a period in history, with a Victorian-inspired dress or pewter candlesticks. The possibilities are endless!
The Alger House in the Village offers charm and sophistication. This carriage house offers a Great Room with a mirrored back bar, an antique bathroom, Garden Room with a bridal suite, and can accommodate 25-105 guests. The Alger House also has an on-site caterer to simplify your planning. They can host ceremonies, as well, if you want to keep your guests in one location throughout your celebration. www.algerhouse.com
If you want something a bit more removed from the city, consider Tarrytown House. The estate used to be known as the Biddle Mansion, and belonged to the daughter of a Southern tobacco family. It sits on the Hudson River and offers stunning views and the charm of a 19th-century mansion. They have an on-site wedding coordinator to help you with all of your planning needs, and have four different kinds of wedding packages depending on your needs and budget. www.tarrytownhouseestate.com
The Riverside Church, built in 1930, is an interdenominational church that offers multiple ceremony and reception sites. Their three halls can seat from 100 to 350 guests, while their ceremony sites range from the intimate twelve-guest Meditation Chapel to the grand Nave, which can hold almost 2000 people for your lavish affair. This church adds a touch of European age and history to your special day. www.theriversidechurchny.org
Hot Air Balloon
Obviously, I am recommending this for a ceremony and not a reception. If you are planning a small ceremony with only a few people attending, this breathtaking option is perfect for you. Imagine exchanging vows while soaring through the sky! This option might be a bit pricey, depending on the company you go with, but well worth it for the photographs!
InFlight Balloon Adventures offers several packages in the tri-state area, depending on if you want it to be just you and your spouse-to-be, or if you want to be joined by a few other people. You can even offer flights to large groups (a few at a time, up to 75 guests) followed by a catered dinner at The Spain Inn II Restaurant, which is located less than a mile from the ballooning site. They also offer romantic getaway packages, which offer the choice of several bed and breakfasts at which to stay. This might be perfect for a little getaway before the Big Day so that you and your fiance(e) can enjoy each other amongst the havoc of wedding planning. Just remember that hot air balloons are only safe if the weather permits, and inclement weather could cause your special day to stay on the ground. www.balloonnj.com
Boats
Boats are great for ceremonies and smaller receptions. Timing your vow-swapping for sunset, followed by an intimate reception, is just the way to have a memorable wedding! Just make sure the bride’s dress isn’t going to get blown too much in the wind, or that the groom isn’t prone to sea-sickness, before your big day.
The Manhattan Steamboat Company offers multiple wedding packages depending on your wants and needs, and are available for four-hour cruises either during the day or in the evening. Even on a boat, a bride needs her privacy, and their yacht, the Noa Danielle, offers a suite just for her. The boat can accommodate up to 30 guests for your smaller affair, and offers full catering and bar service as part of the package. For additional fees, flowers and hand-rolled cigars are available. www.manhattansteamboat.com
If you are looking for a slightly larger harbor cruise wedding, the Festiva, owned and operated by NY Boat Charter, might be just what you are looking for. With two decks, a dance floor, professional DJ, lighting, and projection screen, you’ll be partying in style on this boat. They also offer both day and night cruises, and are available for rehearsal dinners, as well. The Festiva can hold up to 100 wedding guests. http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_directory/ny_new_york/event_venue_2033.html
All of these places will help you provide your guests with an experience they will never forget. Instead of just being one of several weddings they attend that year, make yours THE wedding of the year!
