Issue Project Room

For the past two weeks I've been researching reception sites with one guiding principle in mind: While our parents don't have to love the space, it can't make them cry.

And for that reason, Issue Project Room was out. The room is small - 1,000 sq feet - and up a flight of stairs, which wouldn't work for the over-70 crowd. (Both my parents are in their 70s, as are their friends.) Plus, it's situated just off the Gowanus Canal, which is kind of like an industrial swamp. While the environs surrounding the Canal don't always smell like sewage, the odds on a warm day aren't good... which isn't to say that the funkiness of the area doesn't have its own kind of charm. I like the Gowanus. I walk across it often when I'm out delivering magazines. But it would make my mother cry.

I mention the Issue Project Room only because it illustrates how disillusioned I've become with the whole reception-site-hunting process after only two weeks. I must have called or emailed every "affordable" site in the city and even those are out of our price range. So I dug up the Issue Project Room contact info.

The Room is a nonprofit organization serving local artists; my friend Kurt knew one of the guys and recommended the place when I was organizing a party last year. It doesn't come with any amenities -- no tables, chairs, linens, etc. We would just be renting the space, so I figured it'd be cheap. At the very least, Charles and I could have it as a fallback. So I sent an email asking for a price quote.

And the response? Cost for an evening rental: $3,000. When I expressed surprise, I was told that the cost includes "a large outdoor territory." In other words: a swamp. It includes a swamp.

Comments

[cb]

I had a Brooklyn wedding and a small budget. Best bet and least headache -- find a restaurant you like with an outdoor space and do the whole thing there. We did it at Relish on a Sunday (got a discount for Sunday use) and the food was great, space was funky, and everyone had a great time.
Renting a space and bringing in caterers and renting the tables, chairs, glasses, etc. seemed so overwhelming and expensive in comparison to the restaurant solution.

[staceyjoy]

Have you checked out Grand Space in Prospect Heights?

http://www.grandspace.com/home.html

Congratulations!

[Kathy Geier]

Congratulations, guys!

Carrie, my husband Rick and I got married in Brooklyn a few years ago. It was an ultra-low budget deal -- about 5 to 6K and 100 to 125 guests. We held the ceremony and reception in The Living Room Cafe, a restaurant that's right next to the Pavilion movie theater in Windsor Terrace. (It's where we had our first date). We've moved out of NYC since and I'm not sure it's still there.

Anyway, it was pretty bare bones, but fun. We served wine, beer, and brunch. We had friends and relatives do the photography and for the music we burned several CDs' worth of our favorite songs and bands.

I'm not sure what your criteria are, but given your budget you should probably be able to book a reception at moderately priced restaurant. And brunch or lunch tends to be a lot cheaper than dinner.

Best of luck with this.

[Karol]

I'm a total capitalist pig so I'm amused/amazed at the anger directed at you both in the comment section above. I hope Carrie is being truthful that she has never criticized anyone for their buying habits (though we can argue over whether SUVs are the most evilest things in the world another day).

Best wishes to you both and I hope you have the exact wedding, and marriage, that you're hoping for.

A suggestion on venue: there are awesome Israeli restaurants on Kings Highway in Brooklyn (near the east side of McDonald Avenue) like Carmel, or others. I'm sure they'd have something in your price range.

[ken]

Don't know nothing about the prices, but I went to a wedding/reception at Dumbo Arts Center on Washington Street this weekend. Nice space.

[hoolagins]

A suggestion on venue: there are awesome Israeli restaurants on Kings Highway in Brooklyn

above poster, wtf? not being able to afford a $3,000 rental doesn't make him cheap, and because you think he's a cheapskate, you automatically think he's a Jew?