Our friends over at Great Performances named their favorite spots in and around the New York Metro area to tie the knot, and Caramoor's on the list! Original Post via Great Performances
CARAMOOR Caramoor is the quintessential sprawling garden venue. We love this venue because our couples feel like they’ve rented their own private estate. The Sunken Garden is the spot of choice to tie the knot, followed by a gorgeous walk down the Cedar Walk Path, and capping the night in a clear sided 4,300 square foot Reception Tent that overlooks the Butterfly Garden. The space is pure magical wonderland. WAVE HILLIt was always a dream of mine to get married at Wave Hill (and my mother’s…) and if I had gotten married in New York it would have been at Wave Hill. Luckily I am able to enjoy a wedding every Saturday in the Spring, Summer and Fall there, so did not have to pick a favorite time of year because they are all incredible! I consider Wave Hill the “hidden gem” of New York Weddings, with intimate gardens and spectacular views of the Palisades, Wave Hill offers the most romantic setting in New York City for your unforgettable wedding. Exchange vows under the lushly planted Pergola at sunset overlooking the Hudson and when guests first arrive the view will take their breath away (until the bride arrives!), as it does to me every time I walk in. Your guests will be treated to a memorable experience, at a location just minutes from midtown Manhattan that is equally convenient to Westchester, western Connecticut, and northeastern New Jersey. Just walk onto the Upper Lawn and you understand what I mean… Maureen620 LOFT & GARDEN 620 feels like a secret because you enter amidst the hustle & bustle of Rock Center and are deposited seven floors up in a tranquil garden. The lights of the city illuminate the garden as dusk darkens the skies, and guests can linger with a glass of champagne outside on the lawn, or they can dance the night away in the loft space. One couple filled the garden with candles and lanterns, and waited until the sun set to have a candlelit ceremony. Another brought a riot of color into the loft space with bright pink and red floral centerpieces and arrangements. 620 Loft & Garden is my favorite wedding venue because it is a study in contrasts. A perfect balance of nature and city, modern and classic. Its versatility makes it a wonderful canvas for a couple to bring in their unique style. CallieTHE PLAZA HOTEL The Plaza Hotel is a New York spot like no other. The Grand Ballroom, which has NYC Landmark status, and The Terrace Room are unmatched in terms of their timeless magnificence. Our incredible partners transform both spaces in a way that reflects the couple's taste. Whether it's an opulent canopy, flowers in soft pastels, vibrant lighting, long tables, the CPS team strives to bring to life the couple's vision. It is the greatest joy to see couples and guests exuding happiness and love. This exceptional setting will make for a one-of-a-kind wedding celebration that is both modern and timeless. MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK If you are the bride whose been dreaming of a “grand entrance” her whole life, there is no place that beats The Museum of the City of New York. Every time a bride begins her procession down the winding marble staircase, there is without fail a communal gasp of awe from the guests seated below. It is a moment so stunning that it feels straight out of a classic movie. And as the ceremony begins, lit from the sparkling lights of the cascading chandelier, you are truly surrounded by glamour, romance and art (all the makings for a great wedding)! For every wedding I’ve worked, I always make sure to take a break from all the planning and just watch this breathtaking moment. I think this is a great venue for any New York couple looking for a space that is a little unique and quirky but classic in its architecture and design. Whether taking photos just across the street in Central Park or dancing the night away on the Fifth Ave Terrace, MCNY provides an experience that is uniquely New York and will be remembered by guests for years to come. ChristinaJAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER Jazz at Lincoln Center is a magical place to have a wedding. For those passionate music lovers (or the couples who want their reception to be filled with nonstop dancing!), or for the couple that wants to take in the most breathtaking views of Central Park, Jazz is a special spot to celebrate your nuptials. In fact, did you know that Columbus Circle is the official "to" and "from" measuring point to NYC? (Don't you just love the highway signs that read...NYC, 300 miles away?). How special would it be to start your life together in the "heart" of Manhattan? A guest at one wedding commented that she felt "as if we had been transported into a higher, more elegant and magical space than we had certainly been in while riding the taxi across town." Spectacular, indeed! NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY An NYC Landmark, the New York Public Library will lend a sense of grandeur and sophistication to your wedding. There is something magical about getting married in a setting that transports you to another place and time. And how thrilling that such an iconic place can belong to you for just one night. Your wedding at the Library will make its history a part of your own. Last spring, we were proud to cater Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's wedding, the first same-sex wedding in the landmark. FABBRI MANSION / HOUSE OF THE REDEEMER Step through the heavy oversized oak door of the Fabbri Mansion on East 95th Street, and you might as well be in 15th century Italy. Built in the early 1900s , this historic house features numerous Italian Renaissance and Baroque furnishings and architectural details: marble steps; wrought iron interior doors; earth-tone tile floors; stone fireplaces. The signature feature, however is the second floor Library, with its 25' high vaulted ceiling boasting historic panels from the Urbino Palazzo Ducale, as well as an Aeolian Opus 1398 organ. An intimate venue inherent with romance - getting married here will make you fall in love all over again. LindaBROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC At every BAM wedding, guests are surprised that we do weddings in the space. I cannot help but tell them that, yes, we do weddings at BAM, but most importantly, we'll do your wedding as you want it done, no matter how conventional or unconventional the plan. Lepercq is a dazzling spot with red vaulted arches and silver-tipped lightbulbs, and provides a beautiful, stylish background for any style of wedding. Another special aspect of BAM is the programming in the Lepercq space- BAMcafe is the place to go Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner, drinks, and live music. You can return to BAM and enjoy a romantic evening in the same spot you were married! ShaunPRIVATE HOME My favorite wedding venue is the client’s childhood home or summer house. By extending catering services outside NYC, we are able to work in private homes in spots including the Hamptons, Westchester, Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and Connecticut. I always enjoy creating a menu with my clients that reflect the best seasonal items of the location. For example, we love serving Lobster Rolls in the Hamptons and Apple Pie in the Hudson Valley. At a private home, the party can go all night, and we usually throw after parties. Mini sliders, pizza, or a midnight breakfast bar are all fun ways to end the evening. HeatherELLIS ISLAND There is no place to start a beginning than where America itself began. A picture is worth a thousand words. RonnieGOTHAM HALL I really love the elegant grandeur of Gotham Hall. It is amazing to walk into the Rotunda of this former Greenwich Savings Bank. From your Ceremony, Cocktails on the Mezzanine and then dancing the night away in the Ballroom, you really can’t get better than that. You always get to select your favorite caterer (Great Performances of course) to enjoy great food & service. Lauren