Wedding at Manhatta NYC
planning: taylored events & co
venue: manhatta
entertainment; wha etertainment & yuletide singers
beauty: willowhouse
flowers: grace hildreth
second & assist: the lux artisan collective
From Taylor of Taylored Events:
Now that you've worked in this space, is there anything you'd like to do differently for future weddings?
-Honestly, not much aside from having more staff on my end. There is a lot of moving from room to room, and with a larger guest count, having more staff dedicated to certain rooms would be the game plan.
What guest count do you feel would be "the sweet spot" for a wedding at Manhatta, and why?
If you open the air wall to the Hudson Room, I believe the max guest count is 175. Personally, I think the sweet spot is closer to 150. It allows for a large dance floor and a band with a stage, and opening up to the Hudson Room provides extra space for a cake display, lounge area, satellite bar, etc.
Was there anything challenging about this space? If so, how did you work around it?
The only "challenge," I would say, is the ceremony room and maximizing space to accommodate a larger guest count. For 165 guests, we had to really think about the chair size, and I went in and did a lot of measuring to fit them and to account for the live musicians performing in the back.
What other venues did Meg & Charlie consider besides Manhatta?
They looked at Chelsea Square and were considering that. They really wanted a "wow" space for guests and loved the idea of a true New York City wedding.
How much does a wedding like this one cost at Manhatta?
For the venue & catering, there was a $65,000 minimum. For a guest count of 165, it landed closer to $90,000. I would say a comfortable all-in range for this space is $190,000-$250,000.
From Chellise:
It takes a lot to wow a jaded New Yorker with a view of the city, but Manhatta got me. She wins. The views... the floor-to-ceiling windows... my goodness. I'm not usually chasing silhouettes with my camera, but her skyline and massive windows sucked me in, and I could. not. stop. The silhouettes are among my favorite photos from this day and of NYC in general.
On a photo logistics tip, I really liked having their “unofficial wedding party” photos in the swanky bar (we did this pre-guest arrival) because it was spacious, provided tons of natural light, has a beautiful design, and step-up lounge seating, which lent the opportunity for some layering - something I always hunt for but ultimately is at the whim of the space. I feel this space could easily be used for first look, couple portraits, and group photos because it's so versatile.
My only wish for this wedding was that we had family photos in the same lounge room before guest arrival. This would have allowed Meg & Charlie to fully enjoy cocktail hour. Instead, we scheduled family photos after the ceremony to accommodate the extended family in one of the private spaces adjacent to cocktail hour. It was a big crowd in a small room, so it was pretty chaotic, which is usually the case anytime family photos are scheduled after the ceremony. (I blame this on the lethal combo of post-ceremony emotions mixed with an impatience to hurry up and get a cocktail).
Another big pro for me at Manhatta are the city streets where we did some couples portraits. Even on a bright August day with full sun, we were surrounded by skyscrapers that protected us with their shady shadows when we needed them, but also gifted crevices of light for a dark and moody NYC vibe. It really is the perfect setup, the best of both worlds.
Lastly, I do agree with Taylor on the guest count. 165 was manageable, but a little tight all around - anything over 165 would be uncomfortable in my opinion. I think it’s really important to maintain that balance of people in the room, as it affects the guests’ experience.
Chellise
