Location, Location, Location

Getting married in New York City offers you a TON of options for your reception location alone. From sleek, modern lofts to rooftops with amazing views to legendary hotels like The Plaza. Each one offers its own amazing benefits and styles.

credit

credit

credit

If you know me well, you'll know I'm a fan of anything classic. Unlike my parent's more modern style, I was never drawn to the modern loft/empty space look. I like warm colors, texture and things like columns.

On a couple different weekends last fall, we sneaked into a few of the hotels, including The Plaza, The Palace, The Waldorf and The Carlyle. We felt like they were either too gaudy, too small or just missing something.

We then set up appointments at the event halls like Gotham Hall. These were getting closer to what we were looking for. They still had that grandness, but were warm and had a more simple design.

During each of these first visits, I kept Cipriani 42nd Street in the back of my head. While never having actually been in the space, I walk past it twice a day to and from work and Grand Central. I squinted past the doors a couple days and saw huge chandeliers, big, beautiful columns and warm marble colors.

credit (we're actually using a different photographer from this studio)

Once we finished our appointment there with my family, we knew this was where we wanted to have our reception. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE ROOM. It has a unique history, as it used to be a bank, grandness and texture, while avoiding the "gaudy" we saw in the older hotels. My favorite part is the balance of the dark walls against the bright creams and whites of the decorations.

Then came another decision: do we have the ceremony there, too?

Pluses: Avoiding NYC traveling between venues, convenience, a cocktail room to the side to switch the main room over, and did I mention that it is GORGEOUS? The ceremony photos in the venue's packet were unbelievable.

credit (RIGHT?!)

Negatives: I always pictured getting married in a church, less traditional, and you can't have heavy decorations for either the ceremony or the reception, as they need to be switched out quickly.

We honestly leaned toward having both the ceremony and the reception at Cipriani for a few months. We love the space so much, and we hadn't joined a Church up here yet. To make the final decision, Charlie and I visited Christ Church, that is both in our denomination and only twenty blocks uptown from Cipriani (yes, I admit this played a role in choosing our church. I'm honest.)

After our first service, we immediately felt comfortable. So comfortable that, in fact, we ended up joining the church after only a few months and new member classes later. This made us revisit the ceremony decision, which we ended up going with the church. Getting married in a church is not only more in line with our backgrounds/families, but it will also be so worth it to be able to come back and visit without having to ask the doorman permission (like we would if we went with a Cipriani ceremony).

Also, did I mention the church is ALSO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!? We're spoiled up here in NYC.

credit

credit

Now, a few months later, we're really glad we went with the decision we made. To us, it just feels so much more like a wedding if it is in a church. And it just gives us another excuse to roll up in our vintage car we just booked as well!

On another note, exactly two weeks ago we had our engagement shoot! It was such a fun day. Promise to share more about our photographer and the shoot when we get the photos (which will hopefully be any day now!).