No matter how simple or sophisticated you envision your wedding to be, the one thing you absolutely need is a venue for your event. In New York City, wedding venues come in all sizes and shapes. So how do you select the perfect venue when there are thousands to choose from? What are the key questions you should be asking? Here are several things to consider when choosing the perfect venue for your special day in one of the busiest cities in the world.
Talk to Your Wedding Planner
Instead of searching among thousands of places, why not have your wedding planner select a few options that closely match your criteria? After all, your wedding planner already know the area and the local venue options. Instead of randomly hunting for prices and reviews hoping for a match, talk to your wedding planner for a list of potential venues to drastically narrow down the number of phone calls you need to make.
Know Your Guest List
Having an idea of the size and people on your guest list is the start of the planning process. Most venues have a limit on the number of guests they are able to accommodate. Will you have young children attending? Will you need children or special diet menu options? Will your guest list mostly comprise of single career-oriented millennials?
Or will it be a family-based cozy event with lots of children? Are your in-laws planning on inviting additional guests outside of your own guest list? Because so much of a wedding’s expense is dependent on your guest list and the number attending, getting a rough idea of what your guest list looks like is an essential first step when deciding on a venue.
Know Your Budget
Budgeting for your wedding can be one of the most stressful aspects of planning a wedding. Some couples find it more prudent to start with a budget and stick to it throughout the journey. Organize everything that comes with a price tag onto a spreadsheet, and make sure you filter prices according to what you and your significant other can actually afford. The biggest portion of most wedding budgets usually goes to the venue, florals, decor, and photography. Other things such as the music, the wedding dress, and the wedding favor have a more flexible price tag due to the sheer range of options available. Other essential items to include onto your budget are taxes and gratuity.
Know What Is Included
Asking questions and being clear about what is included with your venue with your wedding planner and venue coordinator can help eliminate any hidden fee surprises. For example, if you are having a catered beach or garden wedding, you don’t want to find out that the tables and linen are not supplied by the venue or caterer, or that there is an extra rental cost for anything that is not basic white. Other expenses that may fall into an extra expense category include audio and video equipment, cake, alcohol, decor, and florals.
The Manhattan Penthouse
The Manhattan Penthouse is one of the hidden wedding venues located on Fifth Ave, the heart of New York City. The penthouse on the 17th floor of the Beaux Arts Tower overlooks the entire Manhattan downtown skyline. With a reception room and a ballroom, the gorgeous wedding and event venue can host a wedding ceremony, reception, and dance with dramatic window frames to take in the 360 view of the skyline. The Manhattan Penthouse can be an option if you are searching for wedding venues for an event of 75 to 200 guests.
Manhattan Penthouse offers venue services such as food, bar, equipment, set up, clean up, lighting, sound, and Wi-Fi. Additional resources and amenities can be chosen from their list of recommended local vendors. With magnificent views during the night on the top floor of the building, the Manhattan Penthouse can be the perfect wedding venue that you’ve been searching for.
Planning for your special day can take a lot of effort, but can be ultimately rewarding. There are many resources around to help you every step of the way, from wedding planners to online reviews. Above all, preparedness, staying organized, and asking the right questions during the search for wedding venues is possibly the best and most efficient way to be sure that your special day goes perfectly.
