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!