The Wedding Hall or City Hall?
Sheffield Admin Friday, January 9, 2009 at 9:56AM I'm not suggesting you cut back on your wedding costs to the extent that you just go down to City Hall and skip the whole catered dinner, floral arrangements, bridal party in matching gowns. But everyone wishing to be legally married has to stop in at city hall and sign the papers, and now New York City has made this experience much more pleasurable---or, we could even say from reports we've heard, has taken it from being a dreadful exercise in bureaucratic paperwork to being a beautifully designed preamble to the big event.
"New Yorkers and visitors visit the Clerk's Office on one of the happiest days of their lives," said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn in a press release. "So it is fitting that the Clerk's Office and Marriage Bureau are housed in a beautiful new facility that will give New Yorkers an elegant place to get married, and give tourists another reason to visit New York."
The project was overseen by designer Jamie Drake, and includes art on loan from the Brooklyn Museum of Art. You can buy fresh flowers, fake-diamond rings, disposable camers and various New York City paraphernalia to help you remember the big day.
And if you're browsing around the internet looking for wedding information, no doubt you're already familiar with TheKnot.com, which is creating packages with the city for couples who want to make the big commitment in the Big Apple.
Reader Comments (9)
Wow, sounds like a smart move -- from a design point of view, as well as a revenue point of view for the city. Any pictures or links to the designer or the hall? Would love to see it.
Here's the link to the times article. The photos don't show you much, but the video clip will give you a good idea of what it looks like. Pretty nice!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/nyregion/08marriage.html
Jamie Drake is a "designer to the stars" type who's known for being very dapper. Here's a link to an article that features some of his home designs.
http://www.interiordesign.net/HoFDesigners/142.html
That's great, New York is slowly becoming like Las Vegas. Will they have drive through windows as well : ) My wife and I got married in Las Vegas at the Justice of Peace after only one another for 2 months. We celebrate our 10 year anniversary on April 1st, 2009.
By the way I found this great site for anyone looking for http://www.1weddingsource.com/store" rel="nofollow">Wedding Favors even if they are planning a small wedding.
I think that there's something a little more romantic in a smaller ceremony. A City Hall-type wedding reminds me that the couple is in it for love, and not just to through a big party.
Small weddings are the way to go in my opinion, so personal and intimate. Truely representing what is MOST important in the couples life, those who are most closely connected to them.
I got married on a beach with immediate family and close friends only. The whole thing was beautiful and fun and only cost us $5,000. We spent even less on the honeymoon but had a great time!
I think people forget that you don't have to spend loads on a wedding to make it special. I agree with party favors - the small ones are better.