BEST BROOKLYN VENUES FOR AN INTIMATE WEDDING
VENUE GUIDE
Planning small? Here are the 8 best venues for an intimate wedding in Brooklyn
It is no secret at this point that intimate weddings are my jam. I love them so much that I even got married that way myself ten years ago, and had the best time. And in a city like NYC where the average wedding costs 78K , intimate weddings are a great way to celebrate without cutting the budget on the food, the open bar, or the decoration.
Don’t get me wrong, I love big weddings too, and I might even write a blog post about some of my favorite venues in New York to have a big raging dance party. But for now, let’s take a look at some of the best Brooklyn venues to have an intimate wedding with your loved ones.
For both indoor and outdoor options in the heart of Dumbo
Celestine is a great option for people who want a prime location (Dumbo), with gorgeous views (the Manhattan Bridge and the city) with the possibility to be inside or outside for all or parts of their wedding day. Celestine has a very classy and modern vibe with its concrete outdoor and sleek interiors, with huge bay windows for guests to enjoy the views. Being in Dumbo, it is very easily accessible for everyone and allows you to take your wedding portraits in the area, which has loads of great backgrounds such as the graffitis near York street, the waterfront, the beach, the carousel, the Atrium, or the old train tracks still visible on Water street. You and your guests can also take the ferry to your wedding! And that’s just cool. It is located at 1 John Street, minutes away from the York and High street subway stations as well as the East River ferry.
Check out this Jewish Summer wedding at Celestine and this Fall evening wedding at Celestine!
QUALITY COCKTAILS AND FOOD IN THE HEART OF GREENPOINT
For 25 guests or less, Gator is a great option in the middle of Greenpoint. It has a fixed menu for events and pro mixologists for good drinks. It also has a cool-looking bar area with tiled floors and colorful wallpaper for some photo ops. Plus, it’s only a 15 minute walk from Brooklyn Inlet Park if you wanna take some photos with the skyline beforehand, as well as a couple of blocks away from McCarren Park.
AN ADORABLE BISTRO WITH A HOMEY FEEL
For slightly bigger weddings (60 max), Milk and Roses truly is the cutest spot. It is located in prime Greenpoint, which means you can get your photos done really close to your venue. The Box Hotel is also right there, giving you a stylish option to get ready nearby. It has a very quaint interior with books all along the walls, and a very cute outdoor area with lots of greenery. The restaurant also has a patio, which they call the Conservatory, with black and white tiles and classic cast iron details. With all these different spaces right next to each other, you can have a very organic kind of day with your ceremony in the Conservatory, your cocktails in the garden, and your dinner inside.
Check out some more photos of this Spring wedding at Milk and Roses!
FOR AN AUTHENTIC FRENCH TOUCH IN A GORGEOUS BROWNSTONE
I have a soft spot for Maison-May because it’s a French restaurant with a true French vibe and delicious French food (think quiches and typical pies). As a French person myself, I feel drawn to it, and it almost feels like home over there. Maison-May has a very cute backyard as well, but its strongest asset is the gorgeous interiors. Couples can have their sit-down dinner downstairs in the cosy room with warm lights, and their dance parties upstairs on the gorgeous parlor floor. All original details from the brownstone have been preserved, so for anyone looking for authentic architecture, Maison-May is absolutely perfect.
Maison-May is located right next to Fort Greene Park, which is great since you can incorporate a short stroll into your wedding timeline, get some pretty pictures taken, and not use up too much of your precious time with your loved ones with a complicated commute.
AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR SPACE WITH WINE ON TAP!
Yep, wine on tap is their thing and people love discovering the feature when they hit the bar. Aurora also has a very cute backyard for ceremony and dining, and an authentic Italian indoor area for cocktail hour with dark wood from floor to ceiling to give it a cosy vibe. It’s in the heart of Williamsburg, two blocks from Dominos Park for some great views on the Williamsburg Bridge and the city.
PERFECT FOR A TINY BACKYARD CELEBRATION
I discovered Naturally Delicious in 2018 and I was immediately charmed by its vibe. The restaurant is very cosy and their garden, where you can hold your ceremony and cocktail hour, is absolutely adorable. You can exchange your vows among some of the herbs used in the kitchen and beautiful wild flowers for a colorful touch. Naturally Delicious is also a caterer, so you can hire them to make delicious farm-to-table food for your wedding elsewhere.
FOR AN ITALIAN FEAST IN PRIME CARROLL GARDENS
Frankie’s is a famous spot among the Brooklyn wedding world. A few blocks from Naturally Delicious, it manages to have a rustic vibe in the middle of bustling Brooklyn. Frankie’s offers two separate spaces in their backyard, so you can have your ceremony in one and your sit down dinner in the other. It has red bricks, vines, and both spaces are covered so you don’t have to worry about the rain. And since the reception area is semi-closed, you can get married in Winter as well. Which is perfect, since Frankie’s has delicious Italian comfort food. Just like Naturally Delicious, Frankie’s is tucked between a few adorable tree-lined streets. And if you don’t want to night to end, there are dozens of great bars to have one (or ten) last drinks nearby.
AL FRESCO VIBES IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
Located on the fun part of Atlantic Avenue between cool bars, restaurants and shops (hi Sahadi’s!), Bacchus has all the charms of a French café. There is a very cute terrace out front and a gorgeous wood interior, but the strength of Bacchus lays in the back of the building. Their backyard can hold 80 people, which means couples can marry under the trees with all their loved ones. It is also located in prime Cobble Hill, so taking pictures in the beautiful tree-tines streets right South of the restaurant is a treat. Their food is also delicious, so if you’re a fan of homemade pasta and tiramisu, this place is for you.
