Calling NakedFinger - aka NYC wedding planner to the stars! - Question for you girlie!

[Bia]

I was just reminded by our dear friend and fellow LIW audball, that you are a wedding planner in NYC!

Since I am most likely planning a wedding in NYC maybe you can help me?

I guess first and foremost...

What do you know about the following venues:

-Battery Gardens
-Abigail Kirsch (Manhattan -The Lighthouse, Stage 6 / Bronx - NY Botanicals / Tarrytown - Tappan Hill)
-Bridgewaters
-Waters Edge (LIC)

Secondly...
I am hearing a lot of buzzing that places in Manhattan are lowing prices for next year, so I might be able to do a NYC wedding after all ($250 pp was definitely OUT of my budget--and even if it wasn''t, I''m way too cheap). I''m hearing a lot of good things about Battery Gardens, and we all know The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers is to die for! But I need info about what''s included/ what to expect/ what to ask/ etc.

Maybe you can give me some pointers?

 

[audball]

Aww, I love the spinning smiley on a thank you stick, hah.

 

[NakedFinger]

Hey Bia! Glad to here you are getting your wedding plans in motion!

Ok, I will be honest, I do a lot of six figure weddings, so I am a little jaded on the options out there I think.

So may I say, you have picked some great possible venues for your list!

First- be careful will restaurants (Battery Gardens and Waters Edge). Because it is a restaurant first and foremost, and then a catering option, a lot aren't really full service. Meaning, you basically get tables and food. Make sure you ask about who sets up, who breaks down, who cleans, who is responsible for putting out favors, place cards, etc etc. Many places like hotels and some catering facilities do that for you. They have a banquet staff that set the tables up and clean up afterwards, and a catering manager that handles favors, place cards, organizing the ceremony, coordinating with the DJ/Band, etc. If you don't have a wedding planner, then there needs to be someone to help with these things. And you do not want to be in your wedding dress at 12am cleaning up trash. I haven't worked with Battery Gardens before, so just make sure you get the full scoop before hand since its a restaurant.

Abigail Kirsch....let me just say I HEAAARRTTT them. You cant go wrong with AK. Food quality/taste is fantastic, presentation is cutting edge and creative, and the service is great.

I'm guessing that based on the selections you have listed, you are looking for something more contemporary? Because they are all contemporary spaces with the exception of Tappan Hill. Make sure you factor in all costs. AK may give you a price per person, but that is for catering only. They also do even design services if you want to do the whole table, chiavari chair, underlay/overlay, charger, tablescape thing.

Of them all, I would say lighthouse is the best for most, although I am partial to Tappan Hill (more my style).

Tribeca is SEVERELY discounting, but you need to push it, test them. I had a bride get quoted $285, the a week went by with no answer, the the manager emailed to see if she was still interested and could offer $250, then it went down to $200, then to $185, then to $175.....we ended up booking at $140.00 per person (250 person minimum guarantee though). Most places will negotiate, you just need to ASK.

AK can be very flexible, but there prices vary a lot. Many of their venues will go as low as $110 per person, but it is HUGELY dependant on month, day of week, and the number of guests. If you are willing to book Fri/Sun, big discount. If you can do off month (Sept/Oct/Nov are peak months) you'll get a discount. And if you REALLY want to be ambitious, and can book for a date in 2009, you'll be amazed at the discounts! Just negotiate negotiate negotiate!

 

[lilmissrugger]

Oooh, Nakedfinger, that is so awesome that you are a wedding planner! I''ve spent the last year and a half reading up on EVERYTHING I can wedding planner style- it just seems like such an amazing, fun, fulfilling job (stressful too, but I like pressure!)

Best part of the job? Worst?

 

[Bia]

Wow, NF, thanks. Very helpful.

I spoke to a Julie at The Lighthouse--she was very good. She said prices for Spring had dropped for next year, not necessarily the fall. While we were considering Tappan Hill, FI doesn''t really like the space inside--although we haven''t see it firsthand. NY Botanicals in the BX is out because his sister got married there 3 years ago. The Lighthouse is perfect, but one of the more expensive venues (Stage 6, being in BK, might be more of a hassle for everyone, particularly since we live in Westchester). However, she did say, if I was interested in booking a wedding during Thanksgiving weekend OR a Sunday in December, she could quote me somewhere around $185. Too high I said. So she came back with, ''well, if you come in and decide you like the space, we can work with you and see what''s what...'' So, that seemed promising. I don''t want to spend $50k on a wedding. I haven''t gotten a ballpark figure from my/FI''s parents yet, but regardless, I''d like to stay under $30k, even that is hard for me. Do you think it''s possible? That is the question of the hour...

I don''t need glitz and glam, I just want quality food, music and nice ambiance--winter theme, candles, and a nice back drop of Christmas in NY will do nicely I think.

It''s not easy planning a wedding.

 

[NakedFinger]

$30,000 for food & beverage or $30,000 for the entire wedding?

 

[Bia]

ehhhhh...everything?

Keep in mind, the people attending shouldn''t exceed 150.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 7/1/2009 3:59:24 PM
Author: Bia
ehhhhh...everything?

Keep in mind, the people attending shouldn't exceed 150.

LOL.

30,000 for food ONLY? Oh mah gah...

Can't even imagine spending that much money. I was grossed out about the idea of spending so much money on a dress.. and I kept it under 1000!

ETA: That 150 better include me!

 

[emeraldlover1]

ellediz...its a good thing you live where you do. If I were planning the same wedding back in Michigan it would have cost me about well...half. Now, I wish I was planning my wedding with the prices now cause back when we booked they were even higher. Its good that you are getting this advice now though, Bia. When we first started planning we were looking at places that usually book up a year or so in advance. Well, with the economy a lot of those places are struggling. Had we forseen the future we would have pushed a lot harder for our venue to drop the price. Would have done it with every venue that we looked at, but we didn''t. What I will say is that with a total budget of $30,000 for everything including all expenses (honeymoon, decor, dress, venue, food, tax, tip, rehersal dinner...etc.), its really sad but you won''t be able to do that at any of the places you listed. Let''s say that they bring their prices down to a low (for NYC) $135 per person which normally just includes food (maybe some tables) for 150 people that is still $20,250 without tax and tip. Tax will run you at 8% and most places will be from 18 - 22% gratuity included and that doesn''t include a site fee.

I wish you luck. The best thing is calling around and visiting. Some places will do a lot more for you if you take the time to meet with them in person. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 7/1/2009 4:25:39 PM
Author: emeraldlover1
ellediz...its a good thing you live where you do. If I were planning the same wedding back in Michigan it would have cost me about well...half. Now, I wish I was planning my wedding with the prices now cause back when we booked they were even higher. Its good that you are getting this advice now though, Bia. When we first started planning we were looking at places that usually book up a year or so in advance. Well, with the economy a lot of those places are struggling. Had we forseen the future we would have pushed a lot harder for our venue to drop the price. Would have done it with every venue that we looked at, but we didn''t. What I will say is that with a total budget of $30,000 for everything including all expenses (honeymoon, decor, dress, venue, food, tax, tip, rehersal dinner...etc.), its really sad but you won''t be able to do that at any of the places you listed. Let''s say that they bring their prices down to a low (for NYC) $135 per person which normally just includes food (maybe some tables) for 150 people that is still $20,250 without tax and tip. Tax will run you at 8% and most places will be from 18 - 22% gratuity included and that doesn''t include a site fee.

I wish you luck. The best thing is calling around and visiting. Some places will do a lot more for you if you take the time to meet with them in person. Let us know how it works out.

You''re absolutely right, Em... I''m glad the midwest is so much more reasonably priced. I would never want to spend that much on a wedding!

 

[NakedFinger]

Date: 7/1/2009 3:59:24 PM
Author: Bia
ehhhhh...everything?

Keep in mind, the people attending shouldn't exceed 150.

eeeeeeekkkkkkk.............not to be a downer, but highly unlikely.

I havent seen anything under $165 at any places, and thats after heavy discounting, off dates, etc. The $140 at Tribeca was because they were doing a Friday in 2009 and guaranteed 250 people. The problem is, most places have a "minimum f&b guarantee", which means the wedding needs to produce a certain amount of revenue to be booked. So say Tribeca is normally $280pp but the sales manager's boss gave her the go ahead to book anything as long as it was 30k or more. So she knew that $140 pp with at least 250 people is $35,000 and therefore still within reason. But at 150 people, $140 would only be $21k and therefore the $140 would be unable to be extended to an event your size. Unfortunately, that will be the case for a lot of places.

But lets say for arguments sake, you negotiate like hell, and can find something for $150pp. At $150 people, thats $22,500. Keep in mind, that you have nyc tax which is 8.375% and most places charge anywhere from 18-23% service charge (most are about 21%). So $22,500 plus 21% taxable service charge, and the 8.375% tax, brings you to $29,505 for just the F&B.

So thats before the ceremony fee (assuming you have it onsite, which all those places charge for), your dress, hair/make up, photographer which runs about $5k and up, the Band which is about $10k and up, flowers which can easily cost $5-10k etc etc. Now obviously there are exceptions to those averages. I've seen $100,00 on flowers alone, but they can be done for $2,000 too. It all depends on what you are willing to budget on. Either way, they are all added expenses that can severely increase your total cost.

ETA: just saw Emerald's post. Must have posted while I was typing! Pretty much said exactly what I was saying

 

[emeraldlover1]

lol...naked. I think after I''m done with this wedding I should come work with you.

I have a question for you though. If someone gives you a budget of 100k for flowers do you neggotiate to get them more or do you say, I have 100k...what can you do? I always wondered that. I think I''d still try to neggotiate but I have no idea what 100k worth of flowers looks like.

 

[NakedFinger]

Date: 7/1/2009 4:56:54 PM
Author: emeraldlover1
lol...naked. I think after I''m done with this wedding I should come work with you.

I have a question for you though. If someone gives you a budget of 100k for flowers do you neggotiate to get them more or do you say, I have 100k...what can you do? I always wondered that. I think I''d still try to neggotiate but I have no idea what 100k worth of flowers looks like.

Haha you should, you''re a pro!

Its funny, because you''d think people would be cautious with spending $100k, but honestly when people have that kind of money, it really is "What can I get for X amount of money". I mean we''ll meet with the florist, brainstorm, give ideas/vision of what they want the day to look like, etc. But the majority of the convo is the florist saying "What do you think of me doing such and such". And the bride being like "ooooohhhh yeah! Mom I have to have that!".

The problem (and perk) of NYC is you have so many high end, talented and famous vendors at your disposal. But they are also very expensive (ie: Preston Bailey, Sylvia Weinstock/Ron Ben Israel, etc etc). Its hard though, because once you see what can be done, everything else is underwhelming. Which is why when it comes time for me to plan my wedding, I''m going to be in aaaaaalllllooooootttt of trouble

 

[cakeny]

Hi Bia,

re: Battery Gardens.
As you know, I just got married there earlier this year and I just wanted to chime in that while it is indeed a restaurant, they also do a lot of weddings and corp parties (their entire second floor is dedicated to private functions such as this) and I can assure you that you will not be the one cleaning up, etc. My contact there acted as my wedding coordinator and was extremely helpful with set ups and stuff the days leading up to the event. The day of she made a fabulous DOC. She did 100% of the set up for me (with help from my florist with the flowers on the tables, etc). She also packed EVERYTHING up for me at the end of the evening so i really didn't have to worry about little things like cake cutting set, the toasting flutes, etc.

hope this helps!

ETA: One thing we did that saved us a little money is that most of our vendors were actually not from NY but from surrounding areas and states. Florist from CT, Photographer from Westchester, etc. Please do let me know if you need any suggestions from a fellow NYC exLIW

 

[Bia]

cakeny: I got you over in BWW...questions, questions, questions about your venue! The woman I spoke to was Ilene and she was great!

I don''t have a budget yet, as our parents haven''t told us what they are contributing. BUT, I don''t think I can justify spending more than 30K on a wedding...I just don''t think I can.

Ladies, thank you for your help. I will definitely keep you posted!

 

[Bia]

Too bad because The Lighthouse was DOPE!

 

[ckrickett]

Date: 7/1/2009 4:11:13 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 7/1/2009 3:59:24 PM
Author: Bia
ehhhhh...everything?

Keep in mind, the people attending shouldn''t exceed 150.

LOL.

30,000 for food ONLY? Oh mah gah...

Can''t even imagine spending that much money. I was grossed out about the idea of spending so much money on a dress.. and I kept it under 1000!

ETA: That 150 better include me!

my budget will probably be half that..... i might give out mcdonalds coupons as favors

 

[ckrickett]

Date: 7/1/2009 5:26:33 PM
Author: Bia
cakeny: I got you over in BWW...questions, questions, questions about your venue! The woman I spoke to was Ilene and she was great!

I don''t have a budget yet, as our parents haven''t told us what they are contributing. BUT, I don''t think I can justify spending more than 30K on a wedding...I just don''t think I can.

Ladies, thank you for your help. I will definitely keep you posted!

can''t wait to hear details.... Im vicariously planning my wedding through you and elle, ya''ll don''t know it yet

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 7/1/2009 7:59:07 PM
Author: ckrickett

Date: 7/1/2009 4:11:13 PM

Author: elledizzy5

Date: 7/1/2009 3:59:24 PM

Author: Bia

ehhhhh...everything?

Keep in mind, the people attending shouldn''t exceed 150.

LOL.


30,000 for food ONLY? Oh mah gah...


Can''t even imagine spending that much money. I was grossed out about the idea of spending so much money on a dress.. and I kept it under 1000!


ETA: That 150 better include me!

my budget will probably be half that..... i might give out mcdonalds coupons as favors

LOL. My budget IS half that. but... only 30 people.

 

[Bia]

I know...it''s hurting my head to think of spending so much money!

DW is starting to look good to me again

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 7/1/2009 8:19:38 PM
Author: Bia
I know...it''s hurting my head to think of spending so much money!


DW is starting to look good to me again

Awww... poor Bia! You''ll figure it out soon lady!