Surprisingly inexpensive NYC wedding venues: TEA HOUSES!

Like most New York brides, I've been wondering how can I have an inexpensive wedding in NYC? I've been combing through the big commercial wedding websites for affordable wedding venue ideas, and I found next to nothing that would fit my budget.

Then I discovered tea houses as an inexpensive NYC wedding venue option! The idea might seem nontraditional, but I went with it because my fiance is English, and he asked me to choose a wedding venue that had some formality to it.

We are a cis couple, but I think anyone can take a tea house and run with the theme… maybe a Halloween tea house wedding or Alice in Wonderland tea house wedding? Or, depending on the tea house, a British Isles or Asian couple who is proud of their heritage?

Here are the inexpensive NYC wedding venues I found:

My top choice is Kings' Carriage House in the upper east side because their prices don't increase with inflation, and you can literally host a wedding there for sixty-five people with a choice of two entrees and (an outisde) wedding cake served for no more than seven thousand dollars (add tax and gratuity)!
We're choosing to get married in the Carl Schurz Public Park, which is a fifteen minute walk from the Kings' Carriage House to achieve the garden ceremony setting.
With more searching, I found the Russian Tea Room, which is more expensive, but the place is opulent! (They condemn the war with Ukraine on their website.)
I also found a franchise called Prince Tea House, which is growing rapidly with several locations in New York City and New Jersey. The Prince Tea House in Chinatown, Manhattan allows a full rent out for one hundred people, serves high tea and permits outside catering (outside catering is your expense) for three hours for $3000, plus tax and gratuity.

Like I said, you can play with the themes, but generally these are great inexpensive NYC wedding venue options if you're pinching pennies like me.

Happy Planning to all my diverse and uniquely special brides and grooms out there!!

…Plus, how cute are the decor options for a tea-themed wedding?

tea party centerpiece alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) — Tea centerpiece available here

tea party decor alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) — Ok fine this is for a mother's day gathering, but imagine the text being your and your sweety's names instead! Available here

Guest Post By: Lillian Bockian

I am a contractor living in New Jersey, taking care of my mother and looking forward to getting married in June of 2023. Best wishes for all brides and grooms out there!