Weddings in Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn is often referred to as New York City's coolest borough. And no, it's not because SoulCycle opened its first branch in Williamsburg. Though that definitely helps.
Average Wedding Cost:
$37,000 per 100 guests
Average Number of Weddings:
13,000 per year
Average Sunny Days:
226
Peak Wedding Seasons:
Summer and Fall
Popular Wedding Styles:
Industrial Chic, Modern, Artsy
As Manhattan's more affordable neighbor to the Southeast, Brooklyn has attracted a slew of young, forward-thinking professionals thanks to its lower rent and close proximity to "the city". With this explosion of culturally diverse creatives, Brooklyn became a bustling mecca for live music, killer restaurants and bars, and avant-garde galleries.
There's no shortage of style or stimulating things to do in Brooklyn—which makes it a fantastic destination for weddings.
Did You Know?
Brooklyn is a borough of over 30 neighborhoods! Some of the most popular ones include Bay Ridge, Bushwick, Clinton Hill, DUMBO, Greenpoint, Park Slope, and Williamsburg.
Tying the knot in Brooklyn? Check out some of Brooklyn's Finest Wedding Venues!
Top 5 Reasons To Wed In Brooklyn:
1 } In a word, Brooklyn is just plain cool. With some of the most unique venue choices around, Brooklyn is positively buzzing with artsiness and innovation. If you're looking for a hip venue with a modern twist, you'll surely find it here.
2 } Who doesn't want to after-party in NYC? Your guests will be able to explore Manhattan and all of the 5 Burroughs via a short cab or subway ride. They'll have an endless amount of hotel options, as well as the NYC food scene at their fingertips.
3 } You get a bit more bang for your buck. You'll find a larger range of budget-friendlier options in this beautiful borough than in Manhattan—without sacrificing on style.
4 } Brooklyn provides some amazing photo ops. With backdrops like historic neighborhoods, a thriving waterfront with iconic views (including the Brooklyn Bridge and Lady Liberty), the magnificent oasis of Prospect Park—and even Bushwick's graffiti street—your wedding photos will be as dynamic as Brooklyn itself.
5 } This borough's got the Industrial-Chic trend down pat. From remodeled warehouses and factories to creative galleries and museums, there's no shortage of raw spaces that can be transformed into the utterly urban wedding you desire.
Insider Tips for your Brooklyn Wedding
Marriage License Requirements
The fee for a marriage license in New York City is $35. Both you and your fiancé must appear together at one of the borough offices of the City Clerk of New York to obtain one; however, you can start the application process online beforehand.
Good news is, New York marriage license requirements are pretty straightforward (no blood test needed, whew!). You'll have to provide your photo IDs, documentation of any previous marriages, and payment. You'll also need to have made the all-important "last name" decision!
New York requires a 24-hour waiting period after issuing your marriage license before your wedding ceremony can be performed, and it's valid for up to 60 days.
Just return the signed marriage license to the city clerk's office with 15 days of getting hitched and BOOM—your marriage is legal.
Annual Events
Besides the holidays, you'll want to be aware of these popular annual events if you're hosting your wedding in Brooklyn:
- Sakura Matsuri → late April–early May: This two-day Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese culture, arts, and performances, and pays tribute to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's flowering cherry trees.
- Five Boro Bike Tour → first Sunday in May: This is America's largest cycling event—a 40-mile, traffic-free ride through New York City for around 32,000 cyclists.
- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival → Summer: One of NYC's longest-running (free!) outdoor performing arts festivals. It celebrates Brooklyn's creativity and diversity—and attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees each year.
- Coney Island Mermaid Parade → June: Invented by artists and creatives, the Mermaid Parade celebrates the kick-off of summer and everyone dresses up as—you guessed it!—mermaids and sea creatures.
- Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest → 4th of July: The world's top competitive eaters consume as many Nathan's Famous hot dogs as humanly possible in just 10 minutes.
- The Annual Atlantic Antic → September: The oldest and largest street festival in Brooklyn spans four neighborhoods and brings together hundreds of thousands of people to celebrate a culturally diverse array of food, music, and art.
- New York City Marathon → November: The largest marathon in the world courses through all five boroughs of NYC.
Parking in Brooklyn
Parking in New York City's most populous borough is no easy feat. Free street parking is hard to come by, so check with your wedding venue to see if they have a lot reserved for your guests, or a valet service. The good news? Public transportation is plentiful! You may want to encourage your guests to take the subway for a true New Yorker experience.
In an Empire State of Mind? See more venues in New York.
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Some clients may have paid to be placed in our editorial and some of these links may be affiliate; however, we never include a venue, vendor, or product unless they have a proper place here. This is part of our Core Values. We create our website first and foremost to be good for the couples using it to plan their Big Day. We won't stray from that for a few advertising dollars. #scoutshonor