Maison-May: a gorgeous brownstone, in the heart of Fort Greene
When you get married in New-York, there are many routes you can take as far as the atmosphere and general style of your celebration go. If you want to embrace NYC’s history, you can opt for one of the many industrials buildings around the city, such as 26 Bridge (a former metal factory). You can also pick the bucolic route for a breath of fresh air with a farm-to-table venue minutes from Manhattan, such as Blue Hill at Stone Barns. You can even go a little crazy and book a movie theater or a music venue to say “I do”; the Music Hall of Williamsburg would be perfect for that.
All these options are great options. Whichever one you pick will give your guests a unique glimpse at what makes New-York so special. But today, I want to highlight another great option available for people who want to fully embrace New-York’s vibrant restaurant scene as well as its charming architecture: Maison-May.
Before I keep going, I want to say that although I have shot at Maison-May a lot and got to meet and love all the people that work there, this is not a sponsored post in any way. Now that this is out of the way, let’s dig in!
Maison-May: general information
Maison-May (or Maison-May Dekalb) is a French restaurant in the heart of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It was created by Catherine May, a French transplant who has been in New-York for decades now.
Address: 246 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Closest subways: the G at Clinton-Washington, or the A/C at Lafayette Avenue.
Why choose Maison-May?
1: It’s a one-stop shop option
Maison-May is a gorgeous brownstone wedding venue with lots of original details: hardwood floors, a fire place, and crown molding in every room. Not only does this appeal to architecture lovers, it is also a great advantage if you are having a budget wedding or don’t know how to decorate the place. Maison-May doesn’t need much work to make it look great, since it is already charming as it is. Most of the couples whose wedding I shot there decided to go for small centerpieces and very few extra floral arrangements. This can really help you keep your budget in check all the while letting the place stand out on its own.
2: The cute backyard
Tucked away in the back of the main room, you will find an adorable backyard, with its string lights and wooden fence. You can’t get more Brooklyn than that. The backyard is on the small side, so 60-80 guests would be your max unless you want your friends to fight for a glimpse of your ceremony. But it is one of the main assets of the venue, as it gives you the chance to tie the knot in a peaceful outdoor spot in the heart of Brooklyn before heading back inside for your reception. You can also install a tent out there in the winter, so you can have your dream Brooklyn backyard wedding at any time of the year.
3: The food!
Maison-May has solid food ethics. All the food is locally sourced and prepared with love in the kitchen. There are many gluten-free and vegetarian options, as well as pastries and other French traditional dishes. And who doesn’t love pastries?! As of a few years ago, Maison-May started offering wedding cakes as well and since it is a restaurant open all week long, you can go and try the food for yourself before making your decision on the venue.
4: Its prime location
Located in the heart of Fort Greene, the restaurant is easily accessible and not far from Manhattan or most neighborhoods in Brooklyn. It is also steps away from Fort Greene Park, which is super practical for your family photos. The tree-lined brownstone streets adjacent to Maison-May are also great backdrops for some typical Brooklyn wedding photos so you don’t have to stress yourself by hurrying to Dumbo or Prospect Park for your pictures; you can spend the whole day within blocks from your venue, and do everything by foot.
5. Its cosy but spacious layout
Maison-May has a ground floor, a backyard, and a parlor floor upstairs which means you can have your ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing in different areas of the venue without having to flip a room or move chairs around. It also gives your guests options for the late night hours: if they don’t want to dance in the parlor room, they can always go back downstairs and hang out in a quieter room, or even take a breather in the yard.
All in all, Maison-May is the ultimate venue for couples who love good food and want to celebrate New-York’s classic architecture while focusing on quality time with their guests. I personally love shooting there and have been lucky enough to do it quite often.
Anyway, I hope this info was helpful to you guys! Maison May is my absolute venue in Brooklyn and I’m sure you’ll fall for it as soon as you pass through the doors. 🙂
