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Menus and venues

BY LANA BORTOLOT | SPECIAL TO amNEWYORK

March 22, 2006

The time between saying "yes" and "I do" can be magical or stressful. But one thing all brides will agree upon: It's full of details, chief among them menus and venues.

And here, say the experts, is where couples need the most assistance. Fortunately, New Yorkers are blessed with locations and specialists that can turn your wedding to-do list into the memorable event you dream of.

Manhattan caterer Marcey Brownstein advises couples to approach venues and caterers at the same time, and recommends having your potential caterer deal directly with the venue.

"A good caterer will help you plan your event and sometimes can get you a better price," Brownstein says. They not only know all about the food: Most caterers are also experts in rentals, setup and staffing, and can help assess a venue's ability to carry out your dream wedding.

For brides like Chasey Allen, 29, using a caterer was the only way to get what she wanted. She and her mother planned her wedding for 230 people, which was on a natural beach in her hometown of Fairfield, Conn.

"It would have been easier to go to an all-inclusive, but the location was important to me, and I wouldn't have traded that for anything," she said.

For time- or project-challenged brides, all-inclusive venues can be a beautiful thing. In addition to their spaces, they recommend and coordinate all vendors -- from caterers and florists to musicians and photographers.

Hilda Gorgissian, 33, knew from the beginning she wanted her December wedding at Westbury Manor, an all-inclusive English-style mansion. She selected her menu, silver service and linens along with her musician, photographer and florist from Westbury's vendor list.

"I had six months to plan and didn't want to stress myself," Gorgissian said. "I had a big bridal party, relatives arriving from overseas. I had other things to worry about."

So, what about the bride who wants something in between the do-it-yourself and the do-nothing wedding? This is the where wedding planners such as Lyndsey Hamilton can assist, providing full or partial planning. In addition to handling vendors and event execution, Hamilton advises couples when to book a la carte and when to combine services such as venue and catering.

"There's so much competition out there, people can't know who's good, who's reliable," Hamilton said. "We form relationships with vendors and our brides so we can honestly manage their expectations."