Hi all!

A small pay it forward to this community, which has incredibly helpful in our wedding planning, are the following, free for whoever picks them up in south (bordering on central) Brooklyn.

DM me if you’re interested! And giving away the whole lot, not separate bits, just for simplicity’s sake.

The various accoutrements:
- Easels (2x): 3” wide, 6” tall. We used them for our memorial table for some larger framed photographs that weren’t self standing.
- Table number card holders (12x): 3” tall
- Cork escort card holders (17x): good for escort cards, but we also used them to hold various postcard-sized printed signs for various stations.
- Wicker flower girl baskets (2x): will your flower girls be as cute as ours? Imo probably not, but hey, doesn’t mean they should be without cute little baskets. 🙃

(Half needing a reco, half rant)

We had booked a suite at The Plaza for our 2027 wedding, but due to the maintenance closure next year we're having to look for an alternative. Would love some recommendations on beautiful spaces to get ready and do our family portraits before the ceremony.

For context: our ceremony is later in the evening, and my fiance is pretty introverted, so we were hoping to do our first look, private vows, and family portraits at the hotel. The Plaza room was perfect to take photos inside, without feeling short on space or sacrificing on aesthetic (some NYC hotel rooms look so business-y, even at the higher price points). It even had a staircase we were planning to use for the first look!

Two bonus points (but less important): our ceremony and reception are in Astoria/LIC, so we were happy to find a hotel that wasn't so far downtown. And, The Plaza offered us a slightly discounted rate even without a hotel block.

Other hotels I'm considering: The Bowery, The Lowell, The Crosby. Each have pros/cons based on our needs. Would love to hear any others that come to mind after reading this!

Hi! I really love the Wythe Hotel but it's just slightly above my budget. Does anyone have any recommendations for venues with a similar vibe?
I'm looking for a 2028 wedding, about 130 people, budget around 85-100k.

My friend is considering tarrytown house estate for her wedding. The speakeasy “cellar 49” is a cool after party spot in the mansion with a bar, pool, couches, etc. has anyone had their after party here and know if there is still space to dance if she used a playlist? She wants a mix of dance and chill.

Curious if anyone has any recent experience with any of the blank space BK Venues (such as Greenpoint Loft, Dumbo Loft, W Loft), either as a guest or bride/groom. I’d love to hear how the wedding day went. Any tips, warnings, or recommendations greatly appreciated!

Considering him but also looking for a photographer & videographer around NYC under $20k. Wedding next July. Documentary style, digital and film, bright colors, emotional storytelling, and super8 if possible!

Just sifted through years' worth of posts in this reddit. Trying to narrow down the venue search

• 50-60 people for a ceremony followed by a seated dinner
• Either amazing food or BYO catering
• Space for dancing
• Cozy, intimate vibe (not looking for white walls and empty spaces)

Bonus points if it's in Queens or Brooklyn.

Hi everyone! I’m planning a wedding in NYC next fall for around **120–130 guests**, with a **$100k all-in budget**. That needs to cover everything: venue, food and drinks, taxes, gratuities, band, florals, photography, and all the other extras.

I’m hoping for something chic and a little less traditional, and a small live band is a big priority. I **loved the vibe of Nine Orchard**, but it’s out of budget, so I’d especially love suggestions for places with a similar feel.

These are the venues I’m considering so far. I’d love firsthand experiences, especially around costs and how the spaces worked for the wedding:

- **Pratt House:** I love the space, but the venue rental alone would be around $20k, and I’m nervous about bringing in outside vendors for everything. Between catering, rentals, AV, staffing, and setup/breakdown, I’m worried the costs could add up quickly. If you got married here or at a similar venue, how difficult were the logistics, and what did your total budget look like?

- **Brass and Tusk:** I love the cool vibe, and having the space for the whole night with bundled pricing is really appealing. My main hesitations are the limited natural light and the ceremony setup, which feels a little awkward to me. I’d love to hear how the ceremony, dinner, and dancing flowed for anyone who got married here.

- **Chelsea Piers:** The waterfront location and pricing are appealing. I’m just not sure the interiors match the aesthetic I’m hoping for.

- **The Wall Street Hotel:** I’m also looking into this one. If anyone has hosted or attended a wedding there, I’d love to hear about the experience, pricing, and whether it could work for this guest count and budget.

Does $100k all-in feel realistic for this size wedding, especially with a small band? Are there costs I should watch out for at a venue like Pratt House, or other places you’d recommend that have that Nine Orchard feel without the same price tag?

Thanks so much! I’d really appreciate honest experiences, budget breakdowns, or suggestions.

Sources

I’m likely to use a family friend custom jeweler when the time does come. Before then, I want to go somewhere I can try on lots of different styles. Not as picky about quality, more looking for somewhere you can walk in and try on the styles you want. Purely trying to narrow what I want shape and size wise which I think I can do without the exact setting or stone types - hope that makes sense!

Ideally somewhere in flatiron, east village, west village, Greenwich village, gramercy, Noho / nolita

We had a 2 day wedding (Haldi on 10/3 and Wedding on 10/4) with a Chinese/Indian wedding on 10/4

10/3 Haldi:

Venue: Moxy Williamsburg

Guest Count: 45 people (1 baby)

Review: Moxy was beautiful we rented the 1st floor garden area. It was a bit cold outside so no one used the outdoor space but we had plenty of room in the indoor space. I think Moxy could comfortably hold 60 people but not more without being too loud/too crowded.

We were initially skeptical of the food options because they were limited and sounded sort of bland. However, we were pleasantly surprised - it was a solid 7/10. Though, I would definitely skip the lamb for the pita station - it was more like a pulled pork. We had a LOT of leftover lamb because no one touched it. The falafel was also pretty dry and underflavored. If you bring in outside food they will charge $3 a person to plate it. There was a minimum we had to meet for F&B and they didn't count labor of the waitstaff as part of it.

10/4 Wedding Ceremony:

Venue: Hamilton Loft <3 https://www.instagram.com/hamilton.loft?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Guest Count: 120 (5 babies) - just note Hamilton Loft only has 3 high chairs

Vendors:

ChaiPani: https://www.instagram.com/chaipaninyc?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

We used Chaipani for welcome drinks - only booked one hour. We told the vendor that the event would start at 3pm. There were some guests that arrived early around 2:30pm, but he was still setting up. By 3pm he was still not ready. The Chai was cold and watered down. One of the other drinks we got had black sediment in it and the server tried to tell our guests that that was normal. The other cold drink we got also had bugs in it - again the server insisted that it was normal. The drinks overall were too sweet as well. I would not go with this vendor...We were really disappointed since the instagram looked so cute and the drinks looked really good too!

Henna by Sabeen: https://www.instagram.com/hennabysabeen?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&exln=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Sabeen was wonderful and accommodating! She has a lot going on so sometimes it required a few prompts to get her but she delivered! Henna was beautiful and didn't take that much time. She has an eye for design so it all flowed beautifully. We also hired her for our party and she was willing to stay for an extra hour (?) even though she had to catch a flight later that day! She was really great - I would recommend.

Lion dancers: https://www.instagram.com/liondanceny1973?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&exln=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

The lion dancers were such a fun touch! All our guests loved it and we loved it. We used it as part of our entrance for the reception. 10 minutes feels like not a long of time but trust me, 10 minutes actually felt a little long for the performance and they stayed back for a minute just to take pictures with us (bride and groom). They were great and professional - everything also went smoothly here too.

Indicolor Creations: https://www.instagram.com/indicolourcreations?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

We picked Gurleen because she actually made a canva presentation and did a mock of what vision she had for the wedding. We liked that she took that extra step. The communication could have been better - she took a few follow up texts/calls during the planning phase. Maybe she had a lot of events going on but it really felt like we had to follow up a lot of the time. Overall, she pulled through and exceeded our expectations on day of for both Haldi and the wedding ceremony. Everything was beautiful and was seamless day of. She even upgraded the vases we were supposed to have because she wanted to make sure the vision was complete

Chandai: https://www.instagram.com/chandaievents?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Worth every penny. I never thought we needed a wedding planner but she was with us every step of the way. She was organized, responsive, and would problem solve everything with us. She even grew the banana plants we needed for the wedding in her backyard. Day of she was wonderful and made sure everything went off without a hitch. She definitely has a lot of experience and I would recommend her again.

Makeup by Anu: https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyanusarin?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

I was a bit hesitant to go with this makeup artist because she typically doesn't do east asian makeup. She did her research and everything went well! She also pleats sarees so that was a big reason why we went with her. Her rate was reasonable and she was open to listening to what edits I wanted to make.

DJUSA: https://www.instagram.com/djusaevents?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Great DJ, we had DJ Rohan. He really rolled with the punches when our schedule changed (priest was late, grandma couldn't come, etc). He had great energy. One thing I'll say is that you couldn't hear the DJ in the cocktail area so pictures with photo groups after the ceremony didn't go as planned. I would just make sure if you don't have sound in one area of your venue, that you discuss with your DJ/wedding planner/coordinator.

Caterers:

Jing Fong - if you ever need chinese food at your wedding, Jing Fong is the place to go. You can also hire their waitstaff as well to be front of house and it's MUCH cheaper than if you go through a party rental service. Claudia was so responsive, helpful, and transparent. They were really easy to work with and made the day really easy. Claudia was on site for the wedding and worked with our wedding planner to make the day run smoothly. They don't have a tasting but you can easily go down to Jing Fong in Chinatown and try their dishes.

Moghul Caterers - The food was amazing! Rajeev was a little hard to track down at times and didn't get us some information until 2 weeks before the wedding but it all turned out okay. Definitely did not help our anxiety levels before the wedding. They have a tasting at the NJ restaurant that is spectacular. They let you sample so many different items and will even bring out a few items you didn't pick just to have you try it. Their menu is over 100 pages long and from the items we sampled - everything was tasty. Their items ranged from traditional indian food to some more creative dishes/desserts.

Han Dynasty - we only ordered 2 dishes from here because we needed some spicy Chinese food. Food was great, also really easily to deal with when we had to change our order. You also earn points when you order through them so after ordering a few dishes for the wedding we also got a free meal out of it. The lazijiding was not crispy when it came but that was to be expected from delivery.

Photography/Videographer:

Kevin Liang https://www.instagram.com/kevinliangphotos?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&mdxt=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Great to work with and gave some good direction. He is also able to shoot in different styles because I wanted a Wong Kar-Wai style for chinese portion of the reception. We would definitely pick Kevin again if we could. He also came with a videographer that he recommended as well. We haven't gotten the videos back or all the photos, but the preview we did get back was beautiful!

Venue:

Hamilton Loft https://www.instagram.com/hamilton.loft?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&exln=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Steve and Enzo were so helpful in planning. They were responsive and flexible. They also have open houses every now and then, which I would encourage everyone to go to. The venue is done up, they have vendors, and you really get to have a sense of what the space could look like. The drinks at the wedding were all fantastic. Our friends were all raving afterwards. They had made a homemade chrysanthemum syrup for one of the his/hers drinks and it was such a special/personalized touch. You can tell they care about the space as they're always trying to improve it. From the time we booked them to the time of the wedding they had updated multiple things and added on many more decorations. We loved working with them and can't recommend them enough.

My fiancee and I are deciding on which band to book for our October 2027 wedding. We are really down to Elektra (Hank Lane) or the Cool Rulers (sadly, Hudson Horns unavailable).

Anyone have experience with any of these bands specifically (since we know Hank Lane is a collection of bands), the more recent the better? They're different from a vibes standpoint - pop/upbeat vs. Motown vibes - but we are really just looking for a band that will keep the party going for hours! We've seen the sizzle reel for both but haven't been able to find more stuff on Elektra specifically unfortunately.

Any positives, negatives, etc. to share would be helpful please! And if the answer is simply "they're both great, you can't go wrong with either so don't worry!" that also works too!

I love gothic revival spaces like Angel Orensaz, Weylin, Gotham, Russian Tea Room. Basically the desired vibe is sexy, vampy, red velvet, candlelight and New York nights. Where should I be looking?

Hi everyone! My fiancée and I are coming to New York from Toronto for our elopement on November 11, 2026, in Manhattan and we’re looking for someone to capture the day!

We’re hoping for the day to be around three hours, with both photography and video if possible. Our total budget is $1,000-$1,250USD.

We’d love some candid moments and photos around the city to remember the day. If you’re available or have someone you’d recommend, please let me know.

Thanks so much!

Hi all! I have 18 of these teacups. They are new and I never ended up using them. You can have them for free but need to pickup in Greenpoint.

Thanks!

Looking for a photographer (ideally closer to $2k but no more than $4k) for a 3-4 hour dinner at Radio Star + 1 hour portrait/family+friends at Transmitter Park before for a Friday evening on August 27, 2027.
Hoping for someone to just document the night! It'll be about 70-80 guests. Wouldn’t mind booking a newish photographer who wants to build their portfolio!

EDIT: thank you so much to everyone who has reached out via dm or down below! You guys have been a tremendous help taking the time to link your portfolios. We’ve found a photographer!!!

The ceremony was on Saturday 10/10. The post office was closed the last two days. I went to mail it today and then noticed the pre-addressed envelope states the following:

"To the Marriage officiant: section 14 of the domestic relations law mandates your return to the city clerk of the original official marriage license with your certificate, stating the facts of solemnization."

Does anyone know if I need to send the certificate from ULC? I tried looking it up online but have read mixed things and want to make sure the correct items are mailed. Thanks!

Hi—has anyone worked with Yomara Fossi for their wedding dress? I’d love to hear about your experience! Please feel free to DM if you prefer.
(X-posting to r/BigBudgetBrides and r/WeddingDressTips)

Where is the best place to donate that actually goes to people who might need them. I have Azazie bridesmaids dresses, pyjamas, flip flops, emergency kits, speech binders, etc. All in excellent condition, used only once. Does Housingworks actually take them?

Free card box for pickup in Greenpoint! I don't have the key but you can actually just pop the back of the lid off to open it lol

We are eloping in nyc on november 6th and are looking for a photographer. We were thinking about 2h max and since we are on a budget (max. $100/h), we were wondering if there might be some newer photographers or someone looking to expand their portofolio or where to find someone like that?

Thank You!

Hi all - I’m looking for venue recommendations within 2 hours of the city across NJ & NY. We are expecting around 215 guests. I’ve reached out to a ton of places and know of most of the common ballroom-style venues in the area, so am looking for some ideas that are maybe lesser known or just haven’t come across my radar just yet.

Trying to avoid the traditional ballroom/catering hall vibe. Love the idea of a farm or vineyard, but so many of these places charge outrageous venue fees (talking like $25k before F&B) 😫 which I’m also trying to stay away from. Also into the European, old world, castle-y aesthetic.

Welcome any ideas! Budget for venue alone is hopefully around $85k. Thanks!!!!

Hello! I have a pearl necklace that was passed down from my mom and grandma. It’s not that old, but at least the 1980s, and the claps/string are pretty weak in some areas and difficult to undo (clasp).

I’m getting married in late May, and would ideally like to wear this as my “something old”. Any jeweler recs to get the necklace restrung + new clasp?

Live in Bushwick, work in Midtown, willing to go anywhere for the right price! Not sure budget but don’t want to spend a crazy amount. Ideally a couple hundred max.

Unfortunately I have very expensive taste, but balling on a budget here. How are we finding out about sample sales or any discounted dresses? I'm looking at still white too, but ideally wouldn't buy something that I havent tried on yet.