How to Choose the Perfect Venue for Your Wedding Reception

Last updated 1 year ago

The venue you choose for your reception should be as perfect as your wedding day itself. When shopping for a wedding venue, consider how much space you require, the visual quality of the venue surroundings, and the amount of creative control you expect.

Look for Ample Space

The average number of wedding guests in 2011 was 138, according to TheWeddingReport.com. Choose a venue that gives your guests enough space to mingle and enjoy themselves. Aim for a venue with high ceilings and a maximum capacity above the number of guests you expect. A 3,400 to 3,600 sq. ft. space can accommodate 150 for a seated dinner and 200 for a standing cocktail reception.

Consider the View

Because it will be the backdrop for thousands of wedding photos, pick a venue with visually pleasing backgrounds. Ask yourself if there’s enough natural light and interesting views, like the sunset or city skyline. A venue with glass walls is great for providing these backdrops while protecting you from the uncertainties of weather.

Choose a Venue that Gives You Creative Control

Some wedding venues pull out the same old tables, chairs, and linens that they’ve used a thousand times in previous weddings. While well-maintained facility equipment works fine for some brides and grooms, others prefer a little more say in what decorative and functional items to include in a wedding reception. Pick a wedding venue that allows you to exercise creative control while providing the technical infrastructure like adjustable lighting, high-quality sound systems for music and microphones, and a fully-equipped kitchen for the caterer.

The Glasshouses offers two possible wedding reception locations, both with floor-to-ceiling glass window walls and stunning waterfront views of lower Manhattan, the Upper West Side, and the Hudson River. Explore our event spaces in the up-and-coming NYC neighborhood of Chelsea to see if it’s the right location for your reception. Give us a call at (888) 803-8573 for more information.