Alternative NYC Wedding Venues Perfect for Saying “I do”

Courtney and Quinton Wedding - Bride and Groom - The Bowery Hotel NYC - Photography by Chad Cruz

Once the ring went on your finger, you knew your wedding would take place in New York City. The city is peppered with numerous venues ranging in size, style, and atmosphere. While the selection is great, the plethora of choices makes finding the perfect spot to exchange vows a stressful endeavor. And as the vision for your big day takes shape, you may start to realize that a huge hotel affair just isn’t for you. Perhaps, a cool loft space or quaint garden setting is more your style. Well your in luck! More and more couples are choosing to get married at alternative NYC wedding venues. We’ve had the pleasure of doing weddings at all the venues discussed below and can say with confidence, they exude unforgettable character, beauty, and ambiance. Added bonus: they cost less (for the most part) and are more flexible when it comes to availability, creative styling, and presentation.
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Planning & Inspiration

Just said “yes?” How to Get Started Planning for Your Wedding

by Kate Murphy

Congratulations on your engagement! Take some time to enjoy the moment. But once the sparkling (that ring!) engagement clouds start to lift, you’ll have to take the first steps toward planning your wedding. Just thinking about choosing a venue, finding a dress, and deciding on types of flowers and decor can be overwhelming for any bride-to-be. But with strategy and organization, you’ll stay on course to making your wedding dreams a reality. Here’s how to get started.

I Said Yes – via brit.co

Make A Checklist

The average engagement lasts 16 months. You won’t have an exact date set in stone until you confirm a venue, but it’s smart to have an idea of which month/season in which you want to get married. From there, you can work out a checklist with a timetable to make sure important things like making a guest list, choosing your bridal party, and securing vendors are taken care of. A quick Google search will uncover a bevy of wedding checklists – we like this detailed one from Perfect Wedding Guide.
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Andrea & John wedding - Bridal Bouquet - Blue Wedding Shoes - The Liberty Warehouse Brooklyn - Photo by Popography

Planning & Inspiration

Something Blue: A Creative Take on Wedding Tradition

by Kate Murphy

Dear Brides-to-Be, you are about to be handed a long list of wedding traditions, which you’ll be expected to take care of. And at the top is “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” The first three clauses of the bridal good luck rhyme are easy to nail – family and friends will be showering you with heirlooms and tokens once the engagement news breaks. But that last one, something blue, can be a little tricky. And what does it even mean exactly?

We did some digging and something blue stands for “purity, love, and fidelity,” principles you definitely want going in to your wedding day. For the bride in need of inspiration for her something blue, here are some of our favorite creative takes on the wedding tradition.
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Mary & Galen Wedding - Ceremony Arch Greenery and White Flowers - The Hudson Hotel NYC - Photography by Jac and Thom

Planning & Inspiration

Your Complete Guide To Bridal Veils

by Kate Murphy

From the earrings to the shoes, bridal accessories are key to pulling together your look for the big day. And for many brides, the veil is of particular importance. But with so many styles to choose from, how do know which is the right one for you?

Mary & Galen Wedding – Ceremony Arch Greenery and White Flowers – The Hudson Hotel NYC – Photography by Jac and Thom

After seeing countless stunning veils featured in our Real BB Weddings, we suggest to first think about the most piece in a bride’s closet – the gown. Consider the veil as something that complements your gown – it should accentuate, not distract, from the gown’s overall beauty and style. To help the bride-to-be in search of the perfect headpiece, we put together a complete guide to bridal veils so you look and feel your best walking down the aisle!
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Planning & Inspiration

Interview with Laura Hooper of Laura Hooper Calligraphy

by Kate Murphy

In the age of social media and digital everything, more and more couples want something beautiful, handmade and unique to commemorate their special day. There has been a renaissance of the art of handwriting in recent years thanks to master calligrapher Laura Hooper. We sat down to discuss her beautiful art and business!

Laura Hooper – via lhcalligraphy.com

Calligraphy literally means “beautiful handwriting” in Greek. First appearing around 600 BC in Rome, calligraphy was a highly regarded form of artistic expression, later used to adorn the pages of sacred religious texts. In China, calligraphy was the most revered visual art form, valued above painting and sculpture. With its focus on speed, streamlined methods, and sleek minimalist design, the modern age sought a new way communicate words on the page. Print and typefaces were introduced and soon handwritten letters were replaced with ones generated on a typewriter. Today, notes, no matter how important, are often reduced to a quick text or email. Despite this digital age, we’ve definitely noticed this trend in the wedding industry and were actually introduced to Laura’s stunning hand calligraphy work through a Real BB Wedding.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Engagement Photo - via usmagazine.com

Planning & Inspiration

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: It’s Going To Be A Royal Wedding Like Never Before

by Kate Murphy

After much speculation, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement. Prince Harry kept the proposal traditional and intimate, getting down on one knee over a chicken dinner at their cottage. Taken by surprise, Meghan said “yes” before he even had a chance to present the the ring, which was custom-made using his mother Princess Diana’s diamonds, and a central stone from Botswana, a place of special meaning to the humanitarian couple.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – Engagement Photo – via usmagazine.com

We couldn’t be more excited! And we’re certainly not alone on this, but Prince Harry and Meghan come across as different in comparison to other famous royal pairings. Perhaps it’s because he is the younger, more rebellious prince who got caught doing the same stupid things we did in college. Maybe it’s because she’s an American actress we already know from a popular television show. They seem relatable and down to earth, more like a couple you’d see nestled in a booth at a pub than seated side-by-side on thrones.
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Planning & Inspiration