100 Person Wedding in BK? With outdoor space. Where to go?

[matthewborden]

Hi,

Me and my fiancee are planning to wed in the spring. We have been racking our heads trying to come up with cool retaurants in BK to get married. We expect about 100 people. We've looked into the Boathouse in Prospect Park, Cafe Dumont (too small), Flatbush Farm (possibility), but was curious if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[ShanDeez]

My friends had a beautiful wedding at My Moon, in Williamsburg. It was planned as an outdoor ceremony, but was held indoors due to rain. Either way, it was a spacious and unique venue.

[bobjbkln]

If you are looking for something cool and different, yesterday I went to a dinner event at the Irondale Center. Irondale is a community theater group housed in the former Sunday School building of the Historic Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene. They rent out their space when they are not using it. It is a two level space with a main floor and a balcony (for cocktails) I assume they have a list of caterers. http://www.irondale.org/rental-info.html

[chompchomp]

Wow, that space looks really cool! I am already married, but I wonder how much it is just out of curiosity.

[bobjbkln]

Don't really know, but I'm sure they would give you a ballpark number if you called or emailed them: [e-mail] or 718.488.9233 x252

[caraherself]

DO NOT go with Scottadito in Park Slope. I booked my wedding there and they canceled on us with no explanation totally out of the blue only 3 months before the wedding. I posted above, but we ended up at The Farm on Adderley (91 guests) and were incredibly impressed with the way they handled everything so quickly and professionally.

[Claire]

Maybe the Farm on Adderley in Ditmas Park? The place is plenty big for a 100 and there's a nice outdoor space in the back too.

[chorosch]

The Farm on Adderley is great, but I'd be surprised if you could get a hundred people in there. People like to mill around at weddings... the bar area alone is too narrow in my opinion.

A place that might fit your group is Robin du Bois on Smith St. Maybe a little too funky for a wedding party (depends on your style I guess,) but they have a nice sized garden with an outdoor raw bar in the summer.

[roux42]

I got married at the Picnic House and it was an amazing wedding. Simple and lovely, not to brag... but folks still comment on how lovely it was. If we could not get the Picnic House our second choice was Pochron Studios in DUMBO. Very plain and simple space, a more industrial Picnic House - http://www.pochronstudios.com/

Good luck!

[monikamost]

I am in the process of planning this exact event too! I emailed these people at pochron, and they aren't doing events anymore. But the space DID look really nice. In your experience, how was the Picnic House price-wise in comparison with other places in Brooklyn/NYC? I am trying to figure this out, but places aren't being very forthcoming with their pricing policies!

[chorosch]

If I remember correctly, I think the Picnic House is $3000 for 8 hours, but you have to subtract set up and break-down time from that. We ended up buying another 2 hours.

[caraherself]

I just had my wedding reception at The Farm on Adderley 2 weeks ago with 91 guests (they were willing to accommodate up to 115). It was spectacular! I had several guests comment on how friendly and attentive the staff was and everyone was blown away by the food. And their prices are ridiculously reasonable. I highly, highly recommend it!

[chorosch]

I stand corrected! I really like the Farm.... just couldn't picture getting that many people in there. A good suggestion.

[Jack_]

But was there dancing? I can't picture enough room there for all those people AND a dance floor

[cglove]

Just wondering about the dancing question. Did the Farm have room for dancing? Did you have the ceremony there as well?

[Geo8rge]

http://www.pitstopny.com/

[Geo8rge]

Pit stop may be too small for 100 I remember their garden as big but not that big, or maybe it is that big. Contact the parks department or one of the museums, perhaps the Brooklyn Museum or Botonical gardens (Green house restaurant area I have seen wedding there).

[Jack_]

I say this with some hesitancy but what about Giando on the Water? Don't know what the banquet food is like but the food in the restaurant is perfectly acceptable and the view is killer

Though we ended up getting married at Moran's in Chelsea

[selenster]

there's a lovely restaurant called baci & abbracci in williamsburg on grand street w/ an outdoor patio. the food is pretty fantastic. they'd probably have to close down for the night to accommodate your party but their service and offerings are well worth it.

[chompchomp]

My friends went to a wedding party at Aurora in Williamsburg and said it was fantastic. It has a lovely patio.

[chorosch]

My wife and I got married in the Picnic House in Prospect Park. Easily fit 125 guests.... it's a lot bigger than the boat house. We had a great experience.

[tabs]

It's so nice that you are able to say you had a great experience. Can/Did you get your own caterers/decorators?

[chorosch]

We did the decorating and music ourselves. The Picnic House has a list of approved caterers you must pick from. We interviewed a bunch and in the end chose Charles Susswein of Park Slope, who was FANTASTIC. I cannot rave enough about his service. Someday for a special occasion I hope to hire him to cook a private dinner for my wife and some close friends.

In general, the Picnic House is a big blank canvas, which we liked because we wanted to create our own vibe. The building itself is so lovely, and the park is such a nice setting. We were lucky enough to have a fresh blanket of snow for our February wedding, and a roaring fire in the fireplace.

[pitakidd]

Chorosch...can you tell me approximately how much Charles Susswein charged per person. i want to try to use someone in my family who is a caterer but having some difficulty with the picnic house allowing it. thank you.

[chorosch]

You know, I don't remember exactly what we paid. We didn't do a sit down dinner, it was lots of hors d'oeuvres and carving stations, sandwiches, etc. I can e-mail him if you want. He was really flexible. I imagine the price per person varies widely depending on what you want.

But let me say, he was a lot cheaper than the other places we interviewed. Our wedding was not all that expensive. I don't think the Picnic House will let you bring in outside caterers, but what I liked about Chuck was that he came over to our house a few times for meetings, and our tasting was in his house in Park Slope. After a while, it really felt like working with a friend rather than a caterer. And his staff was great.

[pitakidd]

I am looking to do hors d'oeuvres and carving stations as well. If you could email him that would be awesome. thank you so much for your help. Would 150 fit into the space?

[chorosch]

Actually, I just checked and he has a website now:

http://www.loudfoodnyc.com/

Also, if you google the picnic house you can get a bunch of information. 150 will definitely fit. We had 125 and there was plenty of space, even though I couldn't really picture it until I got there.

[Claire]

Five Front in Dumbo may consider renting you the entire restaurant. Their outdoor space is gorgeous. I was there for a party last year, and they had a bar outside in the back. Everyone enjoyed it and the food was good too.

[Brooklyn11210]

Frankie's is going to be too small for you, but it is a super space and their party menus are super reasonable. Joya, River Cafe, Relish (Williamsburg), Alma (Red Hook), Farm on Adderly (Ditmas). Outside space + 100 people is a tall order (I included better than decent food as a criteria). Good luck.

[jen kalb]

have to admit I wasnt thinking about an event with a seated dinner, more with a bar and passed canapes or buffet serving with folks milling around. At that size I guess you have looked at the BBG and Ethical Culture, right?

[matthewborden]

I haven't looked at Ethical Culture. Do I have to be a member or something to have an event there? Do they have an outside space? I've seen some pictures online and it looked cool.

[jen kalb]

Im confident they rent to outsiders - its probably a big cash cow to them - yes they have an outside space

http://www.bsec.org/9901/index.html

bty this is all offtopic for chowhound unless you start talking about food

[jen kalb]

Ici and Frankies 457 both handle weddings and have outdoor space. At that size think about restaurants you like and ask if they would close for your event.

[pitu]

Anybody know how many people ICI and Frankies 457 fit? This question comes up periodically, and it's not listed on their sites.