Astor Center: A Fantastic Wedding Venue & More.....

I recently married a progressive, fun, smart, and creative couple who introduced me to Astor Center in NoHo.  The venue is not only an interesting wedding venue, but serves as a home to a variety of establishments and programs.  Many New Yorkers may be familiar with Astor Wine & Spirits, a gargantuan store serving the discerning tastes of downtowners.  The upper floors offer a range of meeting spaces, including open areas suitable for weddings and receptions. Astor Center has four specific spaces available for use:  the Study, the Kitchen, the Gallery, and the Lounge.  Detailed floorplans and other information about these rooms are found on the Astor Center website.

As with many other loft locations, Astor Center functions as a blank canvass on which a creative couple can overlay their unique sense of style and originality.  For my couple's wedding, the Gallery was organized with theatre style seating.  The couple and their attendants were on the elevated staging area, with sky high windows, featuring views to the south and west.  The entire area was blanketed with candles and simple, elegant flowers.  The decoration options for this area are simply limitless.  The cocktail hour was held in the Lounge (adjacent to the Gallery) with guests returning to the ceremony space for a seated dinner. 

As part of the unique character of the Astor Center, the facility hosts classes and lectures for those interested in wine, cooking and culture.  Astor Center doesn't just hold "events" in the culinary arts, but offers a forum for all manner of debate and dialogue in the culinary arts and wine industry.  This progressive operation embraces a sustainable and energy efficient building, unrivaled shopping and learning experiences, and top-notch services for those planning events in the City, all while serving as a fantastic neighbor and member of the NoHo community.

I highly recommend contacting Director of Private Events, Kathleen Laux at klaux@astorcenternyc.com to discuss your engagement parties, wedding ceremony, and/or a reception.  They are located at 399 Lafayette Street, at East 4th Street.  Their phone number is 212.674.7501.

P.S. You might consider purchasing a gift certificate for one or more classes at Astor Center as a fantastic engagement or wedding gift, too! 

3 West Club: In the Heart of Manhattan

One of the amazing things about New York is that no matter how long you live here, you can suddenly see treasures that have been right in front of you all along. I work squarely in midtown across the street from the famed Rockefeller Plaza. For years, I have walked the streets of that neighborhood—running errands, grabbing lunch, hailing cabs—but I somehow managed to miss 3 West Club, which is about two blocks away. It was only when I was asked to marry the wonderful couple Gina and David that I was made aware of this fabulous venue. The 3 West Club is on 51st street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It is a stone’s throw from many historic landmarks including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Plaza, and Radio City Music Hall, among others. As their website illuminates, the Club has the classic feel of “Old New York” complete with crystal chandeliers, high ceilings, and art deco touches.

When I arrived at the Club, I was immediately struck by the ambiance—it was a cold, rainy day when I was to officiate the wedding, but the deep wood paneling and soft lighting somehow warmed me. Under the careful direction Kristina Garritano, Social Catering Sales Manager, the Club can host intimate gatherings, such as Gina and David’s wedding, or large events. Our ceremony (about 14 guests, in all) was set up in a small, sweet room—soft lighting, candles, subtle decorations, rose petals sprinkled on the bridal runner, theatre-style seating for the guests, and a lovely mantel in the front of the space...perfect for the distinguished British groom and his American bride. The adjacent library, where we signed the marriage license, took me back to my graduate school days at Yale. Information from their website details the various areas of the Club, from the cozy library, which accommodates two dozen people, to the Grand Ballroom, comfortably managing 200 guests. With so many “over the top” wedding venues in the metropolitan area, it was refreshing to be in a thoroughly traditional and elegant setting.

“Stumbling” upon the 3 West Club was a great find! I hope to work with Kristina and her staff again soon. 

Photos provided by Kristina Garritano, 3 West Club.

Gapstow Bridge, Central Park

Photograph by John Mazlish

For those who study celebrations and rituals, bridges have a special symbolism. Bridges provide a stunning visual of the transition from two single people into a newly married couple. Among the iconic bridges of Central Park is the Gapstow Bridge in the southern part of our Park, over the pond at about 59th Street. A ceremony can be held on the bridge or on one side or the other, but passersby will certainly be part of the wedding! Also, there are beautifully manicured areas below the bridge, with stunning flowers, rocks and of course the pond, that can set the stage for the ceremony, with the Bridge regally situated in the background. And, any direction you turn, a breathtaking backdrop awaits, with the cityscape of mid-town Manhattan appearing in photograph after photograph.

According to the official Central Park website, the bridge resembles the Ponte di San Francesco bridge in San Remo, Italy. South you will find the famous Plaza hotel as well as the Wollman Rink, filled with skaters during the winter months. Now almost 150 years old, the Gapstow bridge is 12 feet high and stretches 76 feet, spanning over 40 feet of water. Stunning!

Photos from John Mazlish Weddings.
See more photos by clicking through the slideshow below!

A Favorite Spot: Ladies Pavilion

One of the most popular wedding spots with my brides and grooms is the Ladies’ Pavilion in Central Park. The little structure is at 76th and Central Park West, easily accessible by the street. The ornate gazebo-type structure comfortably houses 20 or so guests and provides some covering for a rainy day. The Pavilion reminds me a bit of a gingerbread house, with ornate cast iron details. 
According to the Central Park Website, it is an excellent example of 19th Century decorative arts. Built in 1871 by architect Jacob Wrey Mould, it was erected to provide shelter for trolley passengers. It received a much-needed facelift some 30 years ago. Like the Cop Cot Gazebo, it lends itself to the analogy of the home being created by the newly married couple. The Pavilion provides for nice photo opportunities as it is immediately adjacent to the pond, with the cityscape (Central Park South area) in the background. The Pavilion has a sweet pathway leading to it, providing for a great processional walk for the bride and any attendants. An added bonus is its placement next to Hearnshead, the rocky point overlooking the water, another nice venue for photographs.

Hernshead, another popular open air area, juts out into the lake, with a flat “platform” at ground level and elevated rocks, about 12 feet above the ground (a perfect perch for exchanging vows!). To the great Mr. Olmstead who is responsible for our crown jewel, Central park, he thought the shape of the peninsula resembled a heron (hern in British translation). He brought horticultural attention to the site with herbaceous plants and shrubs and seasonal flowers including the blooming azaleas, a Mother’s day burst of color. In June enjoy the flowering Mount Laurel. The Hernshead was restored about a decade after the Pavilion.

See more photos by clicking through the slideshow below!

Belvedere Castle: Fit for a Royal Wedding

Photo by Laura Pennace

We stand in the Belvedere Castle, one of the grandest and oldest locations in the Park, built in 1865.  The Castle is located in the middle of the Park at 79^th Street.  Perched atop Vista Rock, this venue gives us sweeping views of the Park, including the Delacorte Theatre, Turtle Pond and the Ramble.  The translation of the Italian word Belvedere means “beautiful.” Created as a place of romantic fantasy, the Castle sets the stage for one of life’s magical moments--two individuals making lifelong commitments.

The Belvedere Castle was designed at the end of the Civil War by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, as a “fantasy structure.”   With its strong stone façade, grand turret and flag, the castle was a stunning attraction in Central Park.   Like many landmarks in the Park, the Castle deteriorated for some time, but it was renovated by the Central Park Conservancy in 1983.  With its grand views, stunning overlook, and beautiful staircase it makes a fabulous setting for a ceremony and beautiful photographs, too!

See more photos by clicking through the slideshow below!