That's right folks: After seven fabulous years together, Messy and Picky are throwing in the towel and finally getting hitched!
Here is the problem: we have no idea where. We are hoping to have a very small ceremony and restaurant lunch or dinner for our immediate families (about 25 people) sometime next spring. Later on, we'll have a big old party for all our fine friends. Since we are low-key and unconventional, you'd think this would be easy enough. But, it's not, because:
a) we want the food to be delicious, and
b) we don't have much money.
We're not looking for a reception hall or anything — just a good restaurant with private dining and a nice ambiance that won't bury us under a pile of debt. We are not particularly geographically limited: Philadelphia is our beloved home city but Messy is from Connecticut and Picky is from New York so we're open to those places as well.
We would love it if we could rent a place on a Friday or Saturday (so far all we've found is Sundays). It would be great if the food was local and/or organic and of course, we need something vegetarian friendly. This affair is likely to be blogged to bits so what we don't have in cold, hard cash, we can surely make up for in free p.r.!
Anybody got any suggestions? We appreciate the input!
We were in the same boat and did this:
Ceremony, Cocktail Hour and Dinner at 333 Belrose (http://www.333belrose.com/) in Radnor, PA. Can't say enough about the staff, price and especially the food. We had 60 people (max for the restaurant) and we didn't break the bank.
Got married by the Mayor of Conshohocken, had drinks and dinner — that was it. Email me if you want gory details..
Pictures of the restaurant, ceremony, etc are here:
http://www.briantobin.org/gallery/v/Photography/Wedding/
Great pics! Looks like it was a beautiful wedding. Congratulations to you!
Mazel tov! I can't think of anything that fits all the categories at this second but I'm very happy for you and wish you all the best! If I think of somewhere I'll comment again.
Twenty Manning, Audrey Claire, XIX, Dimitris? All delicious and cute.
I hosted an event at XIX recently and a 3 course plated dinner (with rent-out of the entire restaurant but it was for 70 people) was about $80 per person. Not sure if you consider that to be "breaking the bank"
Thank you so much for the suggestions! We are going to look into all of them. Please keep 'em coming!
We shot a wedding at Fork (it was lunchtime on a Saturday) and a rehearsal dinner at Bar Ferdinand where the couple rented out the whole back room and had a huge tasting menu plus paella. So good.
Congrats! Wish I knew of some suggestions…I've been scoping it out and everything's just too expensive for me. I hope you find what you're looking for!
fork meets all those requirements! they have a private dining room or you can rent out fork, etc. congratulations!
Oooh, we just had a lovely time having drinks and dessert at Fork this weekend. Didn't even realize they had private dining! @amanda did the couple have their ceremony in the restaurant itself?
Only because it was raining like crazy outside. It was a little cramped for the actual cermony. The couple was planning on doing something outside in a park down the street. Since the wedding was a Saturday afternoon they were able to have the whole thing in the main restaurant.
Congrats! You might be able to rent the upstairs at Tiffin? But not everyone loves Indian (or Tiffin's n'hood). Kanella also has big parties.
I'll throw Branzino into the hat, where I held my rehearsal dinner for 30. Food and price (BYO) are what you require. They will give you the second room for your party, so space is there so long as you don't plan on dancing.
The upstairs at Derek's in Manyaunk is really beautiful and they were very accommodating on menus/prices.
My wife and I had our rehearsal dinner at Ava over two years ago it was great, inexpensive, vegetarian friendly, just right our good. The owner and chefs name is Michael Canpagna. Good luck
We had my 40th at Sotto Varali. It wasn't super cheap, but the food was wonderful — Upstares is my fave restaurant.
Yay, congrats!
I own funky lil' kitchen in pottstown we are a 34 seat BYOB restaurant, just recently renovated by Philly designers Bahdeebahdu, featuring a seasonal/sustainable modern american menu.
We have a private courtyard you can use graced with a pergola, flowers and our own organic herb and veggie garden.
We get a lot of our organic food local, we offer vegetarian options and have done a few weddings in the past on friday or saturday with no room rental, there are also two free parking lots across the street.
If you are interested please call Chef/Owner Michael Falcone at 610.326.7400
Wonderful suggestions, thanks! Currently making our way down the list. Branzino certainly is inexpensive! Guess the BYO makes a big difference.
Congratulations!
Depending on what kind of ambiance you're going for, I'd heartily recommend Mr. Martino's Trattoria. I know they rent the entire restaurant for affairs like this, and I can't say enough good things about the staff/owners and the food. (And it's BYO!)
Hi! I am LOVING your blog. Just found it. I am a Philly blogger that just moved here from Rhode Island. Congrats on getting married!
I would say Waterworks although it is quite expensive, and the vegetarian options might be too limited. What about Tequilas? I am not sure if they have private dining but it seems large enough that they might.
Yes, Waterworks is WAY out of our price range, for sure! But we will check out Tequila's — thanks!
I've heard great things about weddings/rehearsal dinners at Davio's…but have never been.
A friend/coworker of mine (Emily Teel, who I'm sure you know from the Farmstand) works extra shifts at Chloe as a server and I know they do events there, it's BYO and the food is solid.
You also might check out indiebride.net, they have pretty extensive message boards full of brides planning less "usual" (whatever that means) weddings…check out the receptions forum, and search Philly, as there used to be a Philly-focused thread (and there's prob a NY or CT, for that matter).
http://kvetch.indiebride.com/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=39&rid=0&S=ebd2b50563ee08b92639df463f67dcff
Good luck!
How about getting married in that awesome apartment of yours, and getting catering (I would offer suggestions, but I don't know pricing in that department) or having a potluck from your awesome friends who also cook really well? That takes care of picking the day, and if you do a potluck, it's a combination of getting great food (the gift that keeps on giving!) and saving money.
As a former event planner…I would check about Pond out on the main line. Beautiful!
Bistro St. Tropez is hidden among furniture showrooms but Patrice's cooking is great and they have a nice back room.
Rose Tattoo Cafe
Congrats.
Can't one of your real-estate connections hook you up with a night in a vacant loft condo in CC? Then blow all your cash on Frog Commissary catering.
Bistrot la Minette has a really pretty private room with a giant farmhouse table hand-made by the owner. Pretty special space.
Congratulations!
I have friends of friends who rented out the second floor of Rembrandt's pretty inexpensively. Nice skyline views, room for a dance floor if you're so inclined and adjacent to a parking lot (yet still in the city). Farmicia also offered another couple friends o' mine a great deal for a rehearsal dinner.
If too pricey, however, I'd stick to the more cozy BYO scene – like La Viola (West). I bet Porcini would also hook you up on a weekend night. Those brothers are the best.
[...] we've been looking at places to get hitched for the last couple of months (it's going to be a small dinner for family and a few close [...]
Congrats!! *muahs!* We're still trying to fo out reception… costly!
good luck finding a venue!
Y don't you skip the whole reception dinner
it's becoming passe with young couples and it's a huge waste of money
use the $$$ on kid's education or to upgrade a room in a home
a couple of ideas;
Cafe Estelle, Marshall does party parties, his food is local and organic, is prices are very reasonable and the place has a great vibe. BYOB
Cozido, devine Portuguese. local and orgaznic food, David and Karla are superb, the food is extremely affordable and they have a great side patio.
We had a rehearsal lunch/dinner at Mercato and it was fabulous. It was reasonable because a) it was a BYO and b) we were in and out before they opened for regular dinner service. If your timing is flexible, try a BYO when it is usually closed.
My husband and I got married in October. We wanted the same type of ceremony and had our "reception"/ dinner at Zahav for 26. It was wonderful. The service was unmatched, and EVERYONE liked the food. Even my husbands aging uncle who is only about Italian.
I couldn't recommend it highly enough. And the private room was reasonably priced. Definitely an unforgettable night.
Congrats! What about Talula's Table or Allison 2?