Weddings Summer 2009 > Planner

PRIVATE CLUBS

Asia Society and Museum

Couples can rent a space in this red-granite building which houses paintings, ceramics, and bronzes dating back to 2000 B.C. The eighth floor has sky-blue silk-covered walls and a 42-foot arched window (it allows 150 for dinner), while the glass-enclosed Garden Court holds up to 300 for cocktails (both spaces can be rented for $7,000, which covers the membership fee).

The Explorers Club

This Gothic-style townhouse has an elegant lobby and a grand staircase to the second floor. The wood-paneled Clark Room and Library are both available for private events and can hold up to 250 guests for cocktails, or 120 guests for a seated dinner. For nonmembers, prices start at $4,500 on weekends, $3,500 on weekdays. Catering by New York Catering.

Harvard Club

This landmark, members-only haven for Harvard graduates boasts great spaces for those with booking privileges. The building’s third floor has ten banquet spaces that can hold up to 230 people, all decorated in Ivy League fashion (oil paintings, mahogany, and brass bars). Prices upon request.

The Midtown Executive Club

This clubhouse hosts weddings for members and nonmembers alike in its century-old quarters, recently restored to the way they looked in 1903. Following cocktails in the Rumford Hall, up to 100 guests can sit down to a four-course meal in the dining room. No outside catering. $130 per guest.

The Penn Club

This midtown club for University of Pennsylvania alumni holds weddings in its classic spaces, like the Benjamin Franklin living room or the two-story dining room. With 39 overnight rooms, a library, and a fitness center, the club offers everything needed to keep guests occupied. Available to members or member-sponsored couples only. Prices upon request.

The Princeton Club of New York

The three party rooms (each can hold 220 guests) and outdoor garden in this 131-year-old club are available to members and to individuals sponsored by a member. As expected, all have cozy atmospheres. From $165 per person. No outside catering except kosher.

The Society of Illustrators

Works by N. C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, and Norman Rockwell grace the dining-room walls of this 1871 carriage house, complete with leather chairs and wood-burning fireplaces. For $2,500, nonmembers can celebrate with 25 to 60 guests. In-house catering is preferred but not required. Not available in August.

The University Club

This club’s landmark building dates from 1899. Receptions are held in the three-story dining room, with oak-paneled walls, a gilded ceiling, and marble floors. Cocktail receptions can be held beneath the frescoed ceiling of the Council Room; ceremonies are generally held in the light-filled first-floor ballroom. No outside catering except for kosher. Prices upon request.

3 West Club

Also known as the Women’s National Republican Club, 3 West opens its doors to everyone. Built in 1933, the building has several party spaces: the Grand Salon, outfitted with fireplaces and brass chandeliers; the cocktail-ready Pratt Lounge; and the Grand Ballroom, accessed by a dramatic marble staircase. From $115 per person.

The Yale Club

Just a stone’s throw from Grand Central Terminal, the Yale Club allows couples to choose from the classic Grand Ballroom (150 to 250 guests) or opt for a reception alfresco in the Roof Dining Room, complete with a terrace and great views (90 to 250 guests). For a relaxed fête, the club offers a few lounges and the low-key Tap Room. Prices upon request.

From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide