New York Wedding Venues

New York Wedding Venues

According to statisticians, there are around 120,890 weddings held per year in New York City. The city ranks number 1 out of all 199 metropolitan areas in the United States for this special occasion, which means that there are a lot of brides, just like you, looking for the perfect venue to host their big day. The good news is that there are many options to choose from in “the city that never sleeps.” As you take steps to narrow the playing field, here are some important facts to help you prepare for what’s ahead.

Are you looking for an intimate celebration on a rooftop overlooking the city, or a grand-scale event in a high-class ballroom? No matter your style, there are plenty of wedding venue options in New York. Here’s the general range of venue availabilities through five popular wedding regions in the metropolitan area.

Manhattan has many offerings, but one of the most spectacular settings isn’t on land...its at sea! These venues emphasize the beauty of the skyline, allowing you to see the best side of New York City. Of course, Manhattan is also known for its modern loft spaces and posh hotels featuring rooftop ceremony spots and gorgeous city views.

Long Island has a very strong Italian influence when it comes to wedding venues. Leonard’s Palazzo and Mediterranean Manor are just two of the many interesting and culturally inspired spaces brides have to choose from. A fantastic addition to many of these venues is the active involvement of in-house wedding planners. Events also are offered the option of having indoor and outdoor aspects, as space is more liberal in this region.

Queens is inhabited by venues that are both spacious and lovely. Brides favoring a variety of styles have happily been able to transform these spaces into the wedding they’ve always envisioned. The ballrooms and reception halls often feature traditional layouts with generous indoor spaces that allow you to invite all your family and friends without the fear of overcrowding. However, weddings of 200 guests or more may find it difficult to find a space large enough in this borough.

The common theme of Staten Island venues is elegance. With names like Grand Oaks and the Island Chateau, these locations are making efforts to utilize the quaint and quiet character of this offshore New York City area to construct a Neo-French Riviera. They invite couples to come have their ceremony on the beach, followed by a refined reception in their glass-walled ballrooms. Some even have their own personal botanical gardens for your guests to wander through during cocktail hour.

If you're looking for a lovely historical or art-inspired venue, Brooklyn is the place to go. Options vary between bayside locations, unique, urban spots, and chic spaces. With around 129 wedding venues throughout the Brooklyn area, all you have to do is choose a view to your liking and see who has set up shop in that area!

Wedding Venue Prices in New York

Venues vary in cost depending on what they offer and how many events they can hold at once. If you're taking up the entire space for the duration of your event, you will most likely end up paying more for it. Also, think about whether you want to outsource your catering, or if you would like your venue to cover the food as well. Location costs alone range from $3,672 - $6,120 in the metropolitan area. This is if you intend on seeking out various other vendors for food, decor, linens, and so on.

Here is another cost you may not expect: tax and service fees. When you start looking at venues, you need to remember that there are state-allowed taxes that tack on surprising in-creases to your bill. In New York State, the sales tax is currently 8.875 percent on all purchases above $110. As for service fees, they are more loosely based on each specific venue. This charge usually varies between 18-20% of your venue costs.

Information and Resources for Weddings in New York

In New York, you must go to a city clerk’s office to apply for the marriage license. The City of New York (like most cities) has an official Marriage Bureau that manages everything from marriage licenses to getting copies of your marriage certificate, should you lose it. The basic requirements for New York application are:

1. An on-line or in-person application, where you and your spouse must fill out your personal address, social security, and an affidavit declaring that you know of no impediment to your legal union. If you are divorced or widowed, you must provide accurate details of those events as well (name, date of divorce/ death).

2. One form of “Proper Identification” per person, such as a driver’s license, passport, or a US permanent resident card.

3. A fee of $35 via credit card or money order.

Licenses are usually given the day of application. It can be used anywhere in New York State, in the span of 60 days from its issue date. You must wait at least 24 hours after its issue to be married.

On Budgeting

The most hassle-free way of approaching your budget is to do a little research before you start spending. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of bridal stress later on. Online forums, wedding blogs, and Wedding Spot can help you estimate what your wedding costs will be.

Most importantly, you don’t need to do this alone! Once you get your bridesmaids in order, have each friend tackle a certain element of the wedding. Let one friend look up research on linen rentals while another gets the goods on your local bakery prices. Money is always a challenge, but you will enjoy your wedding planning process a lot more if you are a peace with your budgeting choices.