Weddings Winter 2011 > Planner

MUSEUMS & PUBLIC VENUES

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park W., at 79th St.; 212-769-5350; amnh.org

Dinosaur enthusiasts willing to pony up this illustrious venue’s $3,500 membership fee will get access to the Powerhouse, which accommodates up to 315 guests for a seated dinner (a higher fee applies for use of the exhibition halls). The 6,100-square-foot loftlike space features French doors that open onto the Arthur Ross Terrace, offering dramatic views of the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Pre-event receptions can also be held in the glass-walled North Galleria. Restaurant Associates provides catering. From $8,500.

Americas Society

680 Park Ave., at 68th St.; 212-249-8950; americas-society.org

This educational society, housed in a landmarked mansion, exudes class. There’s a marble foyer and a spiral staircase; the wood-paneled library, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, is lovely for ceremonies. The dining room holds 120 seated guests with dancing. A $6,450 fee buys eight hours, day or night.

Angel Orensanz Foundation, Inc.

172 Norfolk St., nr. Houston St.; 212-529-7194; orensanz.org

The exterior of this 1849 building, the oldest synagogue in New York, was designed to replicate the Cathedral of Cologne. The interior, however, was inspired by the Sistine Chapel, comprising Gothic-style windows, a dramatic, rib-vaulted ceiling, and even a Gothic arch. The space fits 250 for a seated dinner and up to 350 for cocktails. From $15,000.

Apella

450 E. 29th St., nr. East River Dr., second fl., in the Alexandria Center; 212-706-4100; apella.com

Guests arrive through a tree-lined circular driveway and are greeted by a dramatic spiral staircase and expansive East River views. With ten beautifully designed event spaces, the recently opened venue can accommodate a chic cocktail reception or a large, multi-day occasion. It fits up to 120 guests for a ceremony or dinner and dancing, or 300 for cocktails; bridal suites are available. Catering is by Riverpark, a Tom Colicchio restaurant. Prices upon request.

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

895 Shore Rd., nr. Orchard Beach Rd., Bronx; 718-885-1461; bartowpellmansionmuseum.org

Nestled in the heart of Pelham Bay Park, this nineteenth-century Greek Revival stone mansion makes a stunning backdrop for weddings. The museum’s large formal garden (the site’s only venue option) is open year-round. There are no major restrictions, but couples planning winter weddings are responsible for arranging a source of heat. Rental fees begin at $3,500 for a maximum of 125 guests. (good value)

Bronx Zoo

2300 Southern Blvd., at Grote St., Bronx; 718-741-3836; bronxzoo.com

Start with a ceremony in the most historic part of the zoo, Astor Court’s expansive gardens. Then sit down with 200 of your closest friends and family members in the recently renovated Schiff Family Great Hall. The hall shares a building with the Madagascar exhibit, so there’s always the option of hosting a cocktail reception within spitting distance of lemurs and fifteen-foot crocodiles. Site fee is $3,500; ceremony fee is $2,500; and exclusive in-house catering runs from $135 to $190.

Brooklyn Academy of Music

30 Lafayette Ave., at Ashland Pl., Fort Greene; 718-636-4198; bam.org

This popular performing-arts center has been around since the Civil War era. The artsy BAMCafé, located above the Grand Lobby, holds up to 350 for a cocktail reception. Great Performances is the in-house caterer. A five-hour ceremony-and-cocktails event starts at $6,700 (catering not included).

Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Pkwy., nr. Washington Ave., Prospect Heights; 718-501-6408; brooklynmuseum.org

One of the largest art museums in the country, the Brooklyn Museum provides a majestic backdrop for any wedding. The Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, overlooking the welcoming plaza, features a dramatic sheer-glass atrium and can accommodate up to 300 guests for the ceremony. The beautiful Beaux-Arts Court, which houses the European Art collection, features historic archways and an elegant brass chandelier, and accommodates up to 500 for cocktails or dinner. Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer. Rental fees from $10,000.

Central Park Zoo

830 Fifth Ave., nr. 64th St.; 718-741-3836; centralparkzoo.com

This iconic landmark is available for cocktail receptions year-round (in the Rainforest exhibit and such, from $7,500) and for sit-down dinners in the garden during the warm-weather months (from $30,000). For an extra shot of animal-loving fun, couples can book live sea lion demonstrations and guided tours. Proceeds benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society. (ecofriendly)

Citi Field

12001 Roosevelt Ave., Corona, Queens; 718-424-2984; mets.mlb.com

For a certain kind of couple (that’s you, Mets fans), getting married in this stadium is the perfect idea—if not for the novelty factor, then for the state-of-the-art facilities and chefs with which it comes equipped. On-site spaces include the Acela Club, which accommodates 350 guests, and the sweeping Jackie Robinson Rotunda, which accommodates a whopping 1,500; many bookable areas offer vertiginous views of the field. Prices upon request.

Columbia University Faculty House

64 Morningside Dr., nr. 116th St.; 212-854-1200; columbia.edu/cu/fachouse

This limestone-and-redbrick building dates from 1923 and was renovated in 2009. It contains 38,000 square feet of event space and is popular with couples getting married at nearby St. Paul’s Chapel and St. John the Divine. Bookable areas include the Presidential Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 260 guests for dinner and dancing, and the Skyline Level, which fits 150 and offers vaulted ceilings, arched windows, and an outdoor terrace. From $2,000. (good value)

The Council on Foreign Relations/Harold Pratt House

58 E. 68th St., at Park Ave.; 212-434-9576; cfr.org

This grand turn-of-the-century mansion features a marble staircase that connects the ballroom to a variety of smaller wedding-ready spaces, from the library, complete with fireplace and wraparound balcony, to the dainty drawing room and sitting room. The rooms can hold up to 180 for a seated dinner. Prices start at $5,000.

Frederick P. Rose Hall

Broadway at 60th St.; 212-258-9535; jalc.org

Weddings at the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center may be few and far between (they are usually booked for concerts), but this is nonetheless a standout venue. The grand Rose Theater and the Atrium are perfect choices for a ceremony, followed by a reception in the Allen Room, an amphitheater that holds up to 600 (standing) and features a wall of glass and first-rate views of Central Park and Columbus Circle. Catering is by Great Performances. Prices upon request.

Grand Central Terminal

42nd St. at Park Ave.; 212-340-3404; grandcentralterminal.com

Vanderbilt Hall, the terminal’s 12,000-square-foot main waiting room, is decorated with chandeliers and tons of pink marble and can be rented for weddings after 5 p.m. Rental fees are $25,000 and up, and clients can choose from a selection of twelve exclusive caterers. The space is not available from mid-November through the end of December.

The House of the Redeemer

7 E. 95th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-289-0399; houseoftheredeemer.org

The contents of the fifteenth-century wood-paneled library in this Italian-style palazzo were all imported from Europe by Cornelius Vanderbilt’s great-granddaughter during the first World War, and the effect is straight out of the Renaissance. The first floor of the landmark house is available for a 100-person sit-down dinner; the second floor can hold receptions for 125 or fewer. Rental fees from $800 to $5,000; in-house catering, by Bread & Circus, is additional. (good value)

Hudson Theatre

145 W. 44th St., nr. Broadway; 212-789-7502; millenniumbroadway.com

This landmark theater, first opened in 1903, is one of the city’s oldest showplaces, marked by backlit, stained-glass Tiffany ceilings and gilded box seating that makes a dramatic backdrop for the cake-cutting. For weddings, banquet tables are matched to the burgundy stage curtains and draperies; the space can seat 300 for dinner. From $150 per person.

Merchant's House Museum

29 E. 4th St., nr. Bowery; 212-777-1089; merchantshouse.com

Home to a well-to-do merchant family for nearly a century, this immaculately preserved, nineteenth-century brick-and-marble row house is a real stunner. Its features include a granite-tiled garden filled with lush plants and cast-iron furniture. The ground-floor dining room, period kitchen, and Greek Revival parlors can accommodate up to 50 people for a seated dinner. All rooms are decorated with their original furniture. Prices upon request.

Museum of the City of New York

1220 Fifth Ave., at 103rd St.; 212-534-1672. ext. 3323; mcny.org

The walls of this museum’s galleries are fortified by dramatic Greek columns, and arched hallways connect the various rooms, where current exhibitions are installed. There is also the Marble Rotunda, which features a grand spiral staircase, and two outdoor terraces. The first and second floors (as well as the auditorium) are available for rent; a flat rate of $5,000 will net you access to all the aforementioned spaces.

Museum of the Moving Image

3601 35th Ave., nr. 37th St., Astoria; 718-777-6800; movingimage.us

Guests can view the interactive exhibits and sleek galleries in between dinner and dancing at this recently renovated space. (Museum educators are on hand to explain installations, and classic video arcade games will entertain kids and groomsmen.) There’s a 267-seat theater for ceremonies, a bridal suite, and—no surprise—extensive audio-visual capabilities. Prices upon request.

New Museum

235 Bowery, nr. Prince St.; 212-219-1222; newmuseum.org

This contemporary-art space has three reception halls on offer. The most popular is the all-white Sky Room (space rental is $5,000 plus an individual donation; seats 120 for dinner, 200 for cocktails), which grants guests access to its wraparound terrace. The lobby-level Marcia Tucker Hall, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, is perfect for large, modern cocktail parties (up to 400 guests), while the theater, which comes equipped with a huge projection screen and a high-end sound system, can seat up to 182 for dinner. Catering is by Creative Edge Parties and City Bakery.

New York City Fire Museum

278 Spring St., nr. Hudson St.; 212-691-1303; nycfiremuseum.org

The museum, which occupies two floors, is filled with antique fire trucks and old firefighting equipment. Couples who rent the 3,000-plus-square-foot third floor for their wedding and reception ($3,500) will get access to the whole shebang for eight hours (includes three hours for setup and cleanup). (good value)

New York Hall of Science

47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Corona; 718-699-0005; nyscience.org

With more than 400 interactive exhibits, the Hall of Science will entertain even the most jaded guests. Couples can have their wedding and reception (up to 350 people) in the colorful, high-ceilinged Viscusi Gallery and serve cocktails for up to 2,500 in the exhibition halls. Space rental starts at $7,000.

The New York Public Library

476 Fifth Ave., at 41st St.; 212-930-0730; nypl.org/spacerental

This cultural landmark boasts a number of impressive spaces, including the Celeste Bartos Forum, Astor Hall, and the McGraw Rotunda. Expect a lot of red tape to accompany just about every decision, but for grandiosity and sweeping drama, the venue is virtually unbeatable. Prices upon request.

South Street Seaport Museum

12 Fulton St., nr. East River Dr.; 212-748-8774; southstseaport.org

The South Street Seaport isn’t just for nautical enthusiasts. Anyone with an affinity for open air and a love of history will be thrilled with these spaces, from the high-ceilinged Melville Gallery (holds 80 for cocktails) to the ships (the docked tall ship Peking and the nineteenth-century schooner Pioneer, for example). Gallery rates start at $2,500; boat and pier rentals start at $5,000. (good value)

From the Winter 2011 New York Wedding Guide