Planning small? Here are the 6 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 six 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.
Naturally Delicious: perfect for a tiny backyard wedding
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. It is located at 487 Court Street, Brooklyn NY 11231, off the Carroll Street stop on the F/G lines.
It is also located in prime Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, so you can easily stroll around the neighborhood for some authentic Brooklyn shots in tree lined streets after your ceremony.
Frankies 457 Spuntino, for an outdoor experience in prime Brooklyn
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. It is located at 457 Court Street, Brooklyn NY 11231, off the Carroll Street stop on the F/G lines. Now, check out this lovely summer wedding I shot at Frankie’s Spuntino 457 last year and tell me this isn’t the perfect spot for an intimate love celebration!
Maison-May: for an authentic French touch in a 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. It is located at 246 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11205, off the Fulton or Classon Avenue G line. Maison-May works for all seasons, so check out this Fall love party and this Winter one.
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.
Bacchus Bistro: for Italian food lovers
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. It is located at 409 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217, off the Atlantic-Barclay Center 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R, W lines (yes, all those). You can see the sweet sneak peek of a Summer wedding on Bastille Day over here.
Bacchus is perfectly located next to Gowanus, which offers some really offbeat and colorful backgrounds for your wedding pictures.
Japoly Theater and School of Music: for a funky and dramatic wedding celebration
Its name says it all, the Jalopy is a theater and music space. It has a vintage stage with red velvet curtains and a big skylight for some dramatic, natural light. Couples can have their ceremony on stage, so if you like the idea of being in a play for a few minutes, this is the perfect place to do it (I can totally see myself exchange my vows on that stage, and say them Hamlet-style). The venue has seen many great musicians and artists alike perform and show their work, so it truly transpires with creativity. It is located in Red Hook, an up and coming neighborhood of Brooklyn with lots of awesome industrial architecture around. And if you have time before or after your ceremony, you can take a quick cab ride to the water for some photos with the city and the Statue of Liberty. It is located at 315 Columbia Street, Brooklyn NY 11231 off the Smith-9th Street or Carroll Street F/G lines (but it is a bit of a walk).
Celestine: 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.
