Post # 1
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
Hi Bees,
I’ve been doing some extensive research on rehearsal dinner venues and thought I’d share the info (and maybe everyone else can contribute as well so we have a solid list for anyone looking).
For some context, we’re looking for a place that accomodates approx 30 people for a dinner (buffet, family style, seated). For me personally I’m looking for 2 additional factors 1. that the space can ideally transform into a bar after dinner since we want to invite the rest of the wedding guests for welcome drinks and 2. that it has a nice outdoor garden are since our photogs are shooting and it would be nice to get some natural light. So here goes:
- The Park (you know, the sort of douchy bar/lounge/club in Chelsea where I had both my 19th and 23rd bday parties). Dinner starts at $85/pp not including drinks
- Maritime Hotel – Also $85pp not including drinks
- Revel – $60 for a 4 course seated meal in the garden. $120 with open bar. Charges an extra 6% admin fee on top of tax and 20% tip!
- Villa Mosconi – $50 for a 5 course italian family style meal
- Back Forty – $42 for a 4 course family style meal ($1700 min spend for half night, $2500 min spend for full night)
- Betel – $50 for a 4-5 course meal. Also some decent open bar options
- Mymoon – $35, $40, and $45 options for 3 course meal and open bar options (but due to my Summer date, they were requiring $6000 min spend which was ridiculous!)
- Home – $38 for a 3 course meal. However, $3000 min spend for food + drinks before tip/tax
- Rebar – so far the cheapest! 3 apps, 2 salads, 3 entrees and 2 sides served buffet style for $29.50!
So far our top choices are Revel and Rebar. What i love about Revel is that it is in Manhattan (and accessible for out of town guests) and the garden area is beautiful! However, when I tried to negotiate taking out 1 course and lowering the prix fixe price (in a really nice way), I sort of got a snotty and decidedly solid NO. My concern with Rebar is that it’s really dark and all photos I’ve seen have been reddish in color due to poor lighting and it’s such a shame my photogs won’t be able to capture the best photos.
So what do you think? Have you guys found any other great locations for reh dinners?
Post # 3
Member
162 posts
Blushing bee
I’ve been looking at Blue Water Grill which has a respectable $65 per person for 3-4 courses (and no minimum) and seats up to 34 people I believe in the mezzanine. They also have another space downstairs in the jazz area which def turns into a bar. They don’t have the garden you’re looking for, but it is a great deal. Everyone else I’ve looked into has a $5500 minimum (The National/The Smith I’m looking at you). We decided to book an uptown hotel for people, so we may go with Paola’s on the UES.
Post # 4
Member
757 posts
Busy bee
I have been to a private party at Back Forty and it was amazing, plus the back garden is gorgeous. The food there is so good, but you need to be going to something casual and sort of rustic if that is the vibe you want.
Post # 5
Member
587 posts
Busy bee
I also vote for Back Forty because it’s just one of my favorite restaurants. I’ve had an issue with service with them ONCE out of the several times I’ve been there so I wouldn’t worry about it. The food is good and consistent and the outdoor space is really cute. Their minimum for the night is really low!
Post # 6
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
Hmm actually I’ve never been to Back Forty (I live on the other side of town in the W Village) but have heard such great things about it and it came up in my search for restaurants with gardens. I also love their farm to table concept.
I think I’ll make a trip there for dinner/lunch and see. Do you know if they can turn into more of a “bar” scene later on? That was the biggest sell for Revel and Rebar. If they do, it’s a total win win! Casual rustic is exactly what I’m looking for so I don’t mind if it’s not totally fancy or anything.
Thanks for the tips bees!
Post # 7
Member
587 posts
Busy bee
They do have a bar at Back Forty so I’m sure they can accomodate people hanging around and drinking. Their specialty drinks are really good too. Definitely worth checking out regardless. When I lived in the EV I went there a lot for both brunch and dinner and never had a bad meal. Though their brunch is sooo fatty 😉
Post # 8
Member
757 posts
Busy bee
Yeah the bar is small, but is good. You could also just plan to meet people at one of the 1 million bars around the corner from it. They might let you keep the backyard and just turn into a non-hosted bar also.
Post # 9
Member
95 posts
Worker bee
We are having our rehearsal dinner at Frankie’s 457 in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. This is one of our most favorite Brooklyn restaurants so it was a bit of a no brainer for us. The carriage house behind the rehearsal dinner is a lovely, warm intimate space and it accommodates up to 40 people. There is a beautiful garden area as well which works well for pics. It doesn’t turn into a bar later in the evening, howerver, there are many bars in the neighborhood which will make it easy for our guests to meet us later on. It prices out to about $4500 for 3 hours of open bar, private bartender, family style for 40 people, incuding all taxes and gratuities.
Post # 10
Member
757 posts
Busy bee
@BrooklynBride2013: Oooh Frankie’s is a great idea, the food there is so good and that is a really pretty space.
Post # 11
Member
93 posts
Worker bee
Hi
I’ve also done some research.
Smorgas Chef (I checked for midtown) but also in the West Village and Financial District has a 3 course dinner including wine and beer for $68, a good deal I thought
Docks in midtown (Seafood) has a wide range of offerings and no minimums, from 35 per person to 80 per person. They have a semi private dining room as well
Pranna, 27th and Madison, has several lounges and private rooms with dinner starting at $45-50 for family style and options going to $80 ++
Hope this helps
Post # 12
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
@BrooklynBride2013: I LOVE Frankies! I go to Frankies 570 all the time in the west village. We did consider it but we actually ended up ruling out all the Brooklyn places *sigh even though I personally prefer the more lowkey options, the Fiance made a good point that it would make it confusing for out of towners to navigate out there.
I’m definitely giving Back Forty another call to discuss the option of whether we can have that space the whole night. I remember their pricing model says if you rent for full night, it’s a min spend of $2500, so with dinner + after party drinks, I do think we’ll likely reach that.
@PixieNYC – I was JUST at Pranna for a 30th bday party the other weekend! I think it’s a really pretty space. The only thing is that it turns into a FULL ON CLUB after midnight at least on the first floor (crowded, bartenders coming through with bottles with sparklers on top, super young crowd). But I did see all the private lounges and they looked really cozy! There’s also an awesome violinist that comes out to playon the platform (to all the hip hop/pop music – it’s definitely really different)
Keep the suggestions coming!
Post # 13
Member
2059 posts
Buzzing bee
I LOVE FRANKIES! Almost all of our guests are Out of Town though, and our invite list for the rehearsal dinner will be almost 100! We think it would be impossible to somehow get 100 OOTers there without paying for transport, which we don’t want to do =T
We wanted to keep it within walking distance to our hotels where we have wedding blocks – around 30th street and 6th avenue. We wanted a private space so we could do speeches and an open bar for our guests. Luckily FI’s parents are hosting, because it looks like it’s going to be as expensive as another wedding!!
Here’s what I came up with (note these prices are for a cocktail hour with passed apps, a buffet dinner & dessert w/ open bar for 3 hours)
Helen Mills Theater (26th St btw 6th & 7th Ave) – $130pp
Liberty Hall at the Ace Hotel (29th St & Broadway) – $165pp
Midtown Loft (5th Ave btw 29th & 30th St) – I stopped inquiring after I heard the $5k – $7k site rental fee that didn’t include any food or drinks!
230 Fifth (5th Ave at 27th St) – $153pp
Brother Jimmy’s (31st St at 8th Ave) – $90pp
Bryant Park Grill (40th St btw 5th & 6th Ave) – Min $20k buyout
Humphrey (6th Ave btw 29th & 30th St in the Eventi Hotel) – $135pp
Post # 14
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
@CityBearBride: You’re really splurging! Your guests are totally in for a treat!
Btw, do you mind me asking which hotel you booked blocks for and what the rates were? We’re Starwood SPG members (FI is a consultant) so found the W downtown room block rate at $219, which was the cheapest I saw. I did want to offer a midtown option for those who want to be in the thick of things but everywhere else in Manhattan was really $$
Post # 15
Member
162 posts
Blushing bee
@lilcshelli: I couldn’t even get the W hotel people to call me back! That’s really great pricing! Do you have a good contact there? It’s a great location. Right now I have a block booked at the Hotel Wales on the UES (my wedding is at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx), but it’s for a little more than $219 per night.
Post # 16
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
@chippybee: I just PMed you with the contact person 🙂
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