I recently got engaged, and though we set a date fairly far into the future (April 2009), we have started idly looking at possible locations for the reception. This is partially due to general curiosity, as I have never had to plan a party for this many people before, and partially due to the fact that certain venues book out absurdly early in this city. What I’ve discovered so far: it’s ass-fuckingly expensive to have a large wedding reception in New York City.

If you’re having a reception with fewer than, say, 50 people, it’s not so bad - there are plenty of small, low cost venue options. If you have a larger reception, there are also ways to save, particularly if you are flexible on the day (Fridays and Sundays are cheaper than Saturdays) or the time (afternoons are cheaper than evenings). This is true elsewhere, of course, but in NYC, with limited facilities with enough capacity for larger receptions, it’s doubly true.

A good place to start for wedding planning is NY Magazine’s wedding section, and their current print issue has some awesome information, including itemized lists of four weddings from a “low” budget - $12,500 - to a high budget, topping out at $150k. They include great ideas on how to save, including specific total costs for photographers, caterers, etc. Very helpful. As one of the two brides-to-be here at MetroBlogging NYC, hopefully I’ll be able to pass on some tips for saving, as well as tips for non-traditional weddings. Because I sure as hell won’t be wearing white.