Weddings Summer 2012 > 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 300 guests for a seated dinner (a higher fee applies for use of the exhibition halls). The 6,195-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 $245 per person. Space rental from $8,500.

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 270 for a seated dinner and up to 700 for cocktails. Prices upon request.

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 venue can accommodate a chic cocktail reception or a large, multiday occasion. It fits up to 120 guests for a ceremony and dinner and dancing, or 250 for cocktails. Catering is by Riverpark, a Tom Colicchio restaurant. Prices upon request.

Asia Society and Museum

725 Park Ave., at 70th St.; 212-327-9322; asiasociety.org

Patrons can rent one of two spaces in this red granite building: the glass-enclosed Garden Court Atrium, which is a popular choice for the ceremony or reception, or the eighth-floor penthouse, which offers sweeping city views and is dominated by a 42-foot arched window. The spaces can accommodate 150 guests with dinner and dancing. From $5,500 for one space or $7,500 for both.

The 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. 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 $140 to $250 per person.

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 penguin exhibit ($10,000) 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)

Columbia University Faculty House

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

1923 and was renovated in 2009. It contains 30,000 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 200 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 $5,500.

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 is a perfect choice 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., when the space can be privatized with draped curtains and stanchions. Rental fees are $25,000 and up. 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 up to 125. Rental fees from $800 to $5,000; inhouse catering, by Bread & Circus, is additional. (good value)

Hudson Theatre

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

This landmark theater, first opened in 1903, is one of the city’s oldest showplaces, marked by backlit, Tiffany stained-glass 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 $175 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, nineteenthcentury 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. 3327; 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 $10,000 will net you access to all the aforementioned spaces.

Museum of the Moving Image

3601 35th Ave., nr. 37th St., Astoria; 718-777-6868; 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 audiovisual capabilities. Prices upon request.

New Museum

235 Bowery, nr. Prince St.; 212-219-1222, ext. 254; newmuseum.org

This contemporary-art hub has three event spaces on offer. The popular all-white Sky Room seats 120 for dinner and 200 for cocktails, which grants guests access to its wraparound terrace. The lobby-level Marcia Tucker Hall holds up to 400 for cocktails, while the theater seats 140 for dinner. Catering is by Creative Edge Parties and City Bakery. Space rental ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, plus an individual donation of $5,000.

New York City Fire Museum

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

This two-floor museum 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, Queens’s Hall of Science will entertain even the most jaded guests. Couples can have their wedding and reception (up to 250 people) in the colorful, high-ceilinged Viscusi Gallery and serve cocktails for up to 1,000 in the exhibition halls. Space rental starts at $7,000.

The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

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.

From the Summer 2012 New York Wedding Guide