NY state of mind: Not just for locals, couples are flocking to NYC to tie the knot

It’s home sweet home to us, but for the rest of the country, NYC is a “destination.” For a growing number, it’s also a dream wedding location.

“I’m seeing a rise of the New York City destination wedding,” said wedding planner Alyssa Pettinato, owner of NYC-based Alinato Events. Currently, none of her clients are from New York, nor do they live here.

While Hawaii, Mexico and Florida remain some the most popular spots for American couples to tie the knot, New York is attracting both well-heeled couples hungry for the ultimate high-status “I do,” and cool, creative couples of all ages looking to design a highly customized event beyond what is possible back home.

What makes the trend so surprising, Pettinato said, is that no matter how you slice it, NYC is a “wildly expensive” spot to plan a party in.

“Usually, people would say, ‘My family’s nearby,’ or, ‘We went to school there.’ There was always some tie. But I have clients that have no ties. They just want to get married in New York.”

It’s not hard to imagine why. New York City has been the backdrop for innumerable silver screen romances rife with wedding wonderment (and, of course, there was “Bride Wars.”) At the same time, real-life society wedding photos show off the city’s top venues and serve as Instagram inspo.

But planners also say that many of the city’s classic venues (the Plaza, the Pierre, Cipriani Wall Street, the Rainbow Room, the New York Public Library and the Central Park Boathouse) are not necessarily where wealthy couples are booking their big day. In fact, many no-budget weddings are heading to Brooklyn.

“I love the venues in New York, but some of them (and I’m not gonna name names) are in desperate need of a very big renovation, and they’re charging insane fees,” said Pettinato, noting they will set you back hundreds of thousands.

One of the hottest — and most expensive — elite venues in the city right now is actually the recently reimagined Domino Sugar Factory on the Williamsburg waterfront. The venue within the redeveloped factory complex is dubbed Skylight at the Refinery, a 7,500-square-foot, glass-domed penthouse looking out at the glittery Manhattan skyline. Tell your Indian friends, because it can handle a whopping 600 guests.

It will cost you, though, with the venue starting at $100,000, plus a sizable administration fee and another $10,000 for lighting and sound. You’ll also need to rent it for at least two days and use their bar service.

“You have this insane view,” she said. “Couples get married in Brooklyn for the views.”

But it’s not just for twinkling lights. With three major airports and an ability to accommodate every faith or ethnicity, NYC also draws couples on a budget.

It also makes sense to do “something a little off the beaten, a little badass, a little sexy,” said Billy Folchetti, the “anti-wedding planner” behind Luxe x (by) Billy Folchetti. “That’s what New York is.”

He recommends the Angel Orensanz Center in the Lower East Side, the oldest synagogue in NYC, which now functions as a slightly underground event space.

“They have this incredible lighting and sound system, but it’s not very well known,” he said, noting that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick got married there, and Alexander McQueen did his first runway show in the space. “It’s a very, very, very cool space.”

Venues like that allow couples to make a permanent connection with the city, adds Amy Shack Egan, a wedding planner with over 500 of them under her belt who recently launched Cheersy, a digital platform that connects couples with wedding coordinators.

She recommends hiring a local coordinator even if you are self-planning. For instance, unlike most of America, you don’t need to arrange transportation for your guests. They can take the subway, or you could send Uber codes. However, tents are expensive ($10,000 or more) and almost never included in the venue cost in NYC. Rooftop sites typically prohibit them. So you’ll need a rain plan.

“New York is also unique in that a lot of major events happen here, so check the calendar,” Egan said. “Don’t get married on New York City Marathon day.”

Your major hurdle is locking down a venue. Egan said you should be comfortable thinking outside the box. “Restaurants are a go-to if you’re thinking about affordability,” she said, but there are also unique places like Farm to People, a farmers market location in Bushwick.

Brooklyn-based breweries, Strong Rope and Threes Brewing in Gowanus, and Talea Beer Co. in Williamsburg, are “all really strong options,” she said.

For a master list of tips and tricks, she recommends the sub-Reddit r/WedditNYC. “It’s a treasure chest of information.”