Our Favorite NYC Venues

We just love it when couples decide to tie the knot in our home city! There is nothing more exciting nor exhilarating than an NYC wedding. Home to some gorgeous boutique event spaces and world-famous historical hotels, there really is something for everyone. With the warmer weather approaching, it’s also a great time to take advantage of the city’s outdoor venues and glamorous rooftops, which offer unparalleled views and stunning backdrops for your special celebrations.

Here are some of our favorites:

One World Observatory

The Plaza

 

The Mandarin

The Pierre

The Palace

 

Cipriani’s

The Waldorf Astoria

 The Hudson

Tribecca Rooftop

Décor Ideas For Outdoor Weddings

Warm summer nights create just the right vibe to hold your reception or event outdoors. We just love sipping on champagne under the stars and eating al-fresco. Here are some of our favorite ideas to make your outdoor wedding as perfect as possible:

1. White lights – we love any excuse to use these! Strings of twinkling white lights  or glass orbs really add a glow to the surroundings and create that magical, romantic feel.

2. Lanterns – these look great either dotted around pathways or even as table centerpieces.

  

3. Candles - There’s nothing more romantic than the dark night being lit by the glow of hundreds of candles. And luckily, candles are inexpensive while looking elegant.

4. Organic greenery – we love it when our brides opt for greenery and natural elements such as branches. Not only does this work really well when paired with white lights or small accents of color, but its also eliminates the need to go overboard with flowers.

5. Mis-matched chairs - It is becoming even more common to mix and match chairs of different styles for a more vintage look. This trend is certainly extremely popular at rustic, outdoor weddings and can definitely help you to save part of your budget for other things! 

How to have a successful outdoor wedding:

This year’s summer season may be behind us but the planning for 2015’s summer weddings is already in full swing! So many of our brides like to take full advantage of the beautiful warm weather and stage spectacular outdoor ceremonies which gives them the opportunity to add an additional location to their events. Although it is true that outdoor venues make for beautiful photos, it is essential to take a range of other factors into consideration, from the weather to the wildlife, and seriously evaluate your ability to handle them all. Failing to plan for any number of things can really create a bad atmosphere and have your guests remembering your events for all the wrong reasons.

If you’re considering getting married outside, planning for some of these provisions will surely keep your guests happy: 

Water stations  - it is important to keep everyone hydrated and since alcohol is dehydrating be sure to serve a variety of teas, flavored and iced water. 

 http://www.orientaltrading.com/party-supplies/invitations-and-stationery/bottle-labels-a1-551498-1.fltr

Hand-held fans – these can be laid out on every chair before the ceremony starts in order to keep guests comfortable in the hot weather. Paper or battery operated, they could be color coordinated to match your décor or even multi-purposed and created out of your wedding program!

http://myweddingreceptionideas.com/folding_hand_fans_favors.asp

Parasols - leave a basket of these at the entrance to the ceremony in order to provide some much needed shade in venues where this is lacking

 http://weddingshop.theknot.com/fans-parasols.aspx

Suncream – leave a few bottles at the entrance to your venue to allow guests to stay protected from the sun’s strong rays

http://www.beau-coup.com/personalized-sunscreen-wedding-favor.htm

Bug Repellent – there is nothing worse than flying bugs to kill the mood or distract a guest. Ensure you remain the main focus of the day by providing sprays or citronella candles to keep the unwanted visitors at bay.

http://www.happywhiskers.com/citronella-candle.html

Sunshine –  consider timing your outdoor event for sunset to avoid a sunshine glare or provide sunglasses as wedding favors to keep all eyes on you.

https://www.etsy.com/market/wedding_sunglasses

Outdoor venues in the New York area

Incorporating an outdoor space into your event can help add some variation to you special day. Be it an outdoor ceremony during the day or an outdoor cocktail reception in the evening, using the exterior of venues gives your guests the chance to experience a different atmosphere while allowing you to make the most of your venue.

From country club gardens, to urban rooftops in the heart of the city, outdoor spaces really do allow you to change it up while also giving you an additional setting for your just-married photos.

Here are some outdoor venues that we just love:

NY:

360 Loft and Garden

http://www.rockefellercenter.com/private-events

Tribeca Roof Top

http://www.apogeeevents.com/about_tribeca.asp

Hilton Pearl River

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/hilton-pearl-river-PRLBHHF/index.html

Oheka Castle

http://www.oheka.com

Ellis Island

http://thestatueofliberty.com/events/about-ellis-island-weddings/

NJ:

Birchwood Manor

http://www.birchwoodmanor.com

The Palace

http://palacesomersetpark.com

 Hyatt Jersey City

http://www.jerseycity.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Sheraton Mahwah

http://www.sheratonmahwah.com

The Rockleigh Country Club

http://www.therockleigh.net