Throw your money at this

As many a NY (and many an anywhere) couple knows .. finding a venue is hard. What do you do if you don't want a big classic wedding but your also not into the City Hall thing? Well right now, you pout and suck it up. But we can use our dolla dolla bills to remedy the situation. Click here to support a fantastic project trying to create a Wedding Chapel in the NYC.

Here is the pitch:

"Wedding Chapel" will be New York City's most fun and affordable 

wedding spot, offering couples the chance to have long lasting 

memories without a church or city hall. Wedding Chapel clergy will 

marry couples at the Grand Opening storefront on 139 Norfolk street in 

Manhattan's Lower East Side. It's Vegas -- the New York way.

Engagement Pics!

Check out more of Sandy's work on her blog.

Venue: The Players Club

"We do not mingle enough with minds that influence the world," Edwin Booth said of his fellow actors,"We should measure ourselves through personal contact with outsiders … I want my club to be a place where actors are away from the glamour of the theatre." And two years later The Players Club was formed as just that place. The Club is right across the street from Gramercy Park (and they have the key to the park ... can you say pictures! I know you can). 

This venue piqued my interest, its not my usual style (I tend to go for that modern minimalist thing) but I figured I would give it a shot since it looks so unique and interesting and I gotta say ... its pretty cool. It looks like the house of an eccentric millionaire who is obsessed with theater ... its full of paintings, statutes, old books, leather chairs, and old rugs.

The price is high but pretty reasonable ... for NYC. There is a site fee of approx $4500 and the catering costs about #135 per person (the caterer is Elegant Affairs). But you don't need to rent anything, all tables, chairs, linens are included and you definitely do not need much in the way of decoration because the place itself is so elaborate.

Unfortunately, it gives the classic wedding place time limit but on the bright side to add time they do not charge per person, but just a flat rate for every extra hour.  Also, a big pro in their favor, they said they would put vodka bottles on the table (woohoo!) but for an extra fee per bottle (booo!). All in all, it is definitely on the short list of potential venues.

Why I love living in NYC ...

And now I have brand new pair of designer jeans on the uber-cheap ... yep my weekend just got that much better.

FREE Tickets to the Wedding Salon

Unfortunately, I cannot attend (I will be skiing with my mom and my sister in Vail!) but if your in the NYC you should go to the Wedding Library's Wedding Salon and here is a chance to score free tix. 

The Wedding Library is pleased to offer you two complimentary tickets

a $50 value

click here and use code WLNY09C

Venue: Manhattan Penthouse

I have been meaning to post on this venue for soooo long but with all of the other stuff going on I just haven't had time but if we plan on getting hitched (which we do) I think I might need to get a move on with this wedding plan business. So here is one more potential venue that the Big Guy and I are considering, Manhattan Penthouse.

Manhattan Penthouse is located on 5th Ave close to Union Square (and my law school ... woot!) on the 17th Floor. The inside has an old-NY look and is definitely NOT one of those ruffly, lavish, chandelier swinging, windy staircase having, princess-dream-land catering halls which made me one very happy non-princessy bride to be. The simple and classic look of the decor made me break into a huge smile and a deep sigh of relief upon seeing it. 

The first room is where the cocktail hour would be and has its own grand piano and huge oval windows.

The next room is the banquet room where the ceremony and reception would be. Overall, I really liked the look of it but it left me wishing that the ceiling were just a bit higher, I mean what if my head hits the ceiling during that whole chair lift thing?? (I know I am being a brat now ... maybe I can just construct a wedding venue and then have a wedding there? That wouldn't be insane right? right!)

Now down to the nitty gritty .... the price is one of the lowest I have seen for a venue in NYC, especially for one that only hosts one wedding at a time. When I spoke to them they said the price would be between 100 - 130 per person. 

Plus, the biggest news is this: they actually said YES to having vodka bottle on the table!!! No, I am not kidding. Normally, when I ask that question, the wedding coordinator for that space looks at me with a mix of shock, disgust, terror, and confusion but the woman at Manhattan Penthouse just said, "Oh, is it a Russian wedding? Sure, we have plenty of those!" I almost cried and hugged her, but I remained composed, mostly because it still has the whole time limit problem. They only give 5 hours for the wedding which is way short for the Ruskies. They would be willing to extend the time, for a price of course but of all the other places I have seen they seemed the most willing to negotiate.

So far, this is one of our best options. I have some more places to check out this week and then we have to make a decision asap otherwise all of our friends and family members are gonna pick for us ... and that may get .... ummm lets just say we need to pick something soon.

I won!

Woohoo! Today the Unbride made my day because she let me know that I won her NYC Wedding Event contest. So now I have to stick my nose even further into my books cause I will be taking one large study break on Saturday when I go to the 

New York Wedding Workshop’s “How to Get the Most for Your Money” event!

I will be sure to dutifully report back on all of the advice.

Finals Tally:

Exams: 1 down, 2 to go

Papers: 1 half-done, 1 to go

Sample Sale Alert

For all my NY ladies... 

Venue: NYC Fire Museum

In honor of Mrs. in May's suggestion, I am featuring a venue that doesn't have their own caterer.  The New York City Fire Museum allows brides and grooms to rent out their entire space for 8 hours and bring in your own catering!

I got in touch with them as soon as I learned that they had rentals available...I know, I know, I am engaged but come on... firemen! Plus, Big Guy thinks its a great idea (what little boy doesn't dream about playing in an old firehouse at one point or another???)

They were very nice and sent me all of their rates and space specifications:

"Although most of your festivities would take place in our third floor loft, you and your guests will have access to the entire Museum. Your guests will be able to visit our two exhibition floors and view the beautiful antique fire apparatus and artifacts that are on display."

The good news: "Our fee is a flat rate- there are no additional taxes - included in the fee is a firefighter on duty for security and a handyman to assist with clean-up."

- No taxes! Firefighter! .... that might be favorite sentence ever.

The not as good (although not bad) news:  "The cost of rental is $3300 for 8 hours (2 hours to set-up, 5 hours for your party and 1 hour for clean-up)."

- The fee is very reasonable for Manhattan and using my guesstimated guest count would become approximately $20 per person

- But yet again we only get 5 hours to party hardy... which is ... sigh... short... especially if we do the ceremony there too

Still the thought of roaming around an old firehouse with our guests seems like it would be really fun...especially since no amount of self-control would stop me from sliding down the pole in my wedding dress!

I need to start looking into wedding caterers... I wonder if their are Russian wedding caterers independent of established Russian restos... if anyone knows, please shoot me an email!

{images from the NYC Fire Museum}

Venue: Pratt Mansion

In my search for a wedding venue I have been in touch with a lot...A LOT of venues in NYC. The first venue I got in touch with was The Harold Pratt House which can be found on NY's posh Upper East Side.

This is one venue that I haven't visited myself but below is the information that I got from their special events director:

"Our rental fee varies from $5,500 to $8,500 depending upon the date you choose and the space you select for your wedding. Our rental fee is based upon an eight hour time frame inclusive of set-up and break-down and includes the use of any in-house tables, chairs and audio-visual equipment. "

The mansion is slightly above my budget (and its not exactly the "modern" look I am going for) but if you like a more antique look I would definitely recommend checking it out, especially since they have in house tables and chairs which will save you bundles in rental fees.

Take a peak for yourselves: www.prattmansion.com

*All photos from www.prattmansion.com