Four Weddings on a Budget

• Published Fall 2005

Budget: Low
Loft 20
20 Jay St., Dumbo, Brooklyn; 212-226-7454

Location
This white-walled, 2,400-square-foot photo studio in Dumbo feels even larger because of its nice square shape and sweeping view of the Manhattan Bridge. The location fee is $2,500 (loftrent.com), which includes an on-site manager, cleanup crew, and not much else. Specific vendors aren’t required, but the loft’s limited facilities can be tricky—there’s a fridge and a prep area, but no stove; the sink is in the hallway. There’s a parking lot on the first floor of the building.

Catering
Marcey Brownstein (212-807-0568) is recommended, as she’s familiar with “working creatively” in the space. For this budget, she suggests a cocktails-and-dessert wedding with one station for chocolate fondue and another for petits fours. Waiters pass around the rest—tiny crème brûlées, ice cream cones, fruit tarts, and chocolate pot de crème. Keep the bar stocked with sparkling, red, and white wines and vodka. If Dad loves Scotch, have one bottle. But when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Music
Instead of a D.J., make a playlist of your favorite disco hits on your iPod (apple.com/support/itunes/tutorial.com). The loft’s sound system is compatible. Then burn the songs onto CDs to give to your guests as favors. Want a string quartet or jazz trio? The music program at NYU (212-998-5424) and Juilliard’s Office of Career Development (212-799-5000, ext. 313) will assist in finding student virtuosos to satisfy your musical requests.

Flowers & Décor
Keep it simple. Go with candles and the twinkling of the view. Some raw lofts need to be softened with fabric, Brownstein says, but frills aren’t necessary here. Instead, buy 200 votives yourself and place them on tables and windowsills, as well as in the bathrooms. Order no more than 25 chairs. An extra-long, eighteen-inch-wide table that’s bar height, covered by a simple white tablecloth, gives people a place to leave glasses and provides “a good leaning space.”

Alternates: RamScale Daylight Studio gallery space on Bethune Street has floor-to-ceiling windows and a 1,200-square-foot terrace overlooking the Hudson ($4,700 for evening events; 212-206-6580; ramscale.com). • The Loft @ 47 West Street ranges from $4,000 to $5,500, depending on the date. Great American Catering is preferred there, but all are permitted (212.480.2015; 47west.net). • SoHoSoleil Location A is a private brownstone in Park Slope with a lovely backyard garden, a grand piano, and a dramatic staircase (around $3,000; 212-431-8824; sohosoleil.com).