The Glasshouses

How to Stay Organized When Planning an Event

There are many small details involved in planning a big event. Before you are too deep into the process to find any solace, make a plan that will help you stay organized until you are ready to finalize every decision and welcome your guests to the event space. Use this guide to learn how to stay organized in the midst of party planning:

Create a Planning Book

Whether you use a binder or a journal, it is extremely important to keep all of the information pertaining to your party in one place. Make separate tabs into which you can place information about the party space, the food, the guest list, the decorations, and the miscellaneous items. You should also put important contact information, contracts, and entertainment lists in this book.

Make Visible Reminders

Use your smartphone or wall calendar to keep track of upcoming dates that require your attention. You do not want to lose out on a great band because you forgot to pay the deposit in time! Visible reminders of all of the tasks that you still need to do put you in control of party planning.

Delegate Certain Tasks

Although you should have a handle on everything happening at the party, delegating tasks will keep you sane throughout the process. Ask one of your friends to look up information about decorations, for example, or talk to someone about creating a music playlist. As long as you know who you asked to do what, you can get everything done in a timely and organized manner.

The Glasshouses offers the most elegant and stunning event space in Manhattan. With floor-to-ceiling windows, full catering services, and a staff that is ready to help you with anything you need, you can be sure your event will be a success. Call (646) 402-6557 to reserve one of our spaces for your next big event today!

A Basic Timeline for Planning Your Wedding

When planning a wedding, time truly is of the essence. Acting early and making important decisions within an appropriate timeframe are two of the best ways to ensure that you land your top choices for catering, floral arrangements, photography, and wedding venue. Here is a basic timeline for planning your wedding:

After Your Engagement

After saying “yes” to your partner's proposal, it's time to make a budget with any family members who are offering to help financially. The budget will set the stage for a number of big decisions like how many guests can attend, which event space will host the reception, and what type of dinner you will serve.

One Year to Go

One year before the big day, set a date, choose your wedding venue, and begin looking for vendors such as caterers, florists, and stylists. This is also the time to start hunting for the perfect dress. Once you've found it, turn your sights to those of your bridal party, and encourage your better half to start his hunt for a suit, tie, and shoes.

Six Months to Go

With six months to go before saying “I do,” you and your partner should choose an officiant to legally marry you. Next, it's time to begin designing, printing, and sending out your save-the-date cards to each of your guests. This is also the time to meet with your caterer and baker to choose food for the big day.

The Final Week

In the final few weeks before the wedding, be sure to take care of personal needs such as haircuts and any other beautifying treatments that will help the two of you feel like a million bucks on the big day.

To learn about how to book your wedding here at The Glasshouses, come see us in New York City. You can also visit us online or call us at (646) 402-6557 to schedule a private tour and consultation.

Finding Your Perfect Wedding Dress

Now that your partner has popped the big question, it’s time to start looking for your dream dress! After finding the right event space to host your reception, choosing a caterer, and setting the date, picking a dress that you love should be placed high on your to-do list. Here is a guide to finding your ideal wedding dress:

Choose a Weather-Appropriate Gown

• Before heading to the hottest dress shops to track down your perfect gown, be sure to decide when and where the ceremony and reception will be taking place. The season in which you get married as well as the venue could affect your decision when searching for the dress!

Shop Around

• Before saying yes to any dress, find out whether or not you can purchase it for a better price at another store in the city. You should also consider visiting a few bridal stores to browse through the large selection of dresses they have to offer before you make up your mind. You can also shop around online or browse through magazines to find inspiration.  

Limit the Size of Your Shopping Entourage

• It's perfectly normal to call on the help of friends when picking a wedding venue, choosing the perfect cake, or settling on the right dress. One piece of advice that every bride should take into consideration is that one too many opinions can make the decision process nearly impossible. Instead of inviting your whole bridal party, choose two or three close confidantes to bring with you.

When it comes to finding the perfect wedding venue, The Glasshouses has everything you're looking for and more. From spectacular views to gorgeous interiors, our event spaces are amongst the most luxurious in New York City. To learn more about celebrating in our venue, call (646) 402-6557.

3 Tips for Making Your Party Eco-Friendly

The next time you plan a party, you should consider incorporating some eco-friendly elements that reduce your impact on the environment without decreasing the fun. These simple tips will help you do your part while still enjoying a fabulous party with all of your guests:

Only Order What You Need

• Each day, thousands of tons of food are thrown away without being eaten. If you do not want to waste food at your next event, it is very important to get an accurate guest list before you finalize your plans. When you send out invitations, ask your guests to RSVP. Once you have a head count, talk to the catering professionals at the event space about how much food you need to have for each person. This decreases the chances that you will order too much and have to throw a majority of it away.

Use Green Decorations

• Instead of buying paper decorations that you will just toss in the garbage once the event is over, decorate your party space with eco-friendly materials. Flowers make beautiful centerpieces that will not go to waste in a landfill after the party. Send your invitations electronically to lower your paper usage. These small party additions add flavor to your event and help you avoid a large carbon footprint.

Consider an Afternoon Event

• Decrease the amount of electricity you use at your next event by throwing your party in the afternoon. With the wide open windows at your event space, you can utilize natural light to keep both your party and your guests illuminated.

One of the most spectacular features of The Glasshouses elite event space in Chelsea is the walls of windows offering amazing views. We can host your eco-friendly social or corporate event in style. For more information on our services or party spaces, visit us online or call (646) 402-6557.

3 Tips for Catering a Summer Wedding

One question that is often on the minds of guests at a wedding reception is: “What is on the menu?” From accommodating diet restrictions to designing a meal that fits the budget, there are a number of important tasks that couples need to tackle when planning the food and drinks for their upcoming fete. Here are some tips for catering a summer wedding:

Keep Hors D'Oeuvres Light

• Cocktail hours are quite common at modern weddings. If you're going to be including a period of socializing, drinking, and relaxing before the main course is served, it's important to keep your guests tied over with some tasty appetizers. You can keep them cool without weighing them down by choosing small bites that are summer-appropriate, like mini Caesar salads or shrimp cocktail.

Make the Most of Seasonal Flavors

• There's no better season than summer to play with flavors for both food and beverages. While it's okay to choose any type of meat for your main course, dress up heavier meats with light seasonal garnishes like mango chutney or citrus glaze. When it comes to creating signature cocktails, take advantage of what's ripe during the summer and create fruity drinks like pomegranate margaritas or champagne punch.

Get Creative with Dessert

• To finish off the meal, treat guests to seasonal delights by incorporating fresh fruit and the natural colors of summer into your dessert menu. Why not pair a light sorbet with an array of berries? Another decadent option is to create a parlor-inspired ice cream station that will not only cool guests down, but also allow them to play a part in the making of their last bites of the evening. 

Here at The Glasshouses, we offer a fully equipped catering kitchen for couples to make use of on their big day. Our luxurious New York City party spaces accommodate 150 guests for a formal dinner. To learn more about the amenities that make us the top wedding venue in Manhattan, call us at (646) 402-6557.