The New York State Assembly passed an historic same-sex marriage amendment last month (right before Pride weekend, no less!), paving the way for gays and lesbians to legally wed as early as this Sunday, July 24. Whether youâre going to race down to City Hall or sashay through Saint Patrickâs Cathedral (kidding!), weâve got you covered with a multi-part guide to LGBT weddings in the Big Apple. Now you just have to pop the question!
See Also:
- New York Wedding Guide, Part I: Accommodations
- New York Wedding Guide, Part II: Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
The Rehearsal Dinner and Reception
Though often treated as an afterthought, the rehearsal dinner can be the most stressful part of a wedding, since itâs often the first time some members of the family are meeting your fiance. And the wedding reception is not picnic eitherâin both cases thereâs the drama of who was and wasnât invited and, if your family is anything like ours, someone is gonna throw a shitfit about not having their vegan, gluten-free lasagna served just right. Plus, If you life in a city like New York, thereâs also always the chance that your intended had sex with the cute server taking your drink order.
We canât promise to make your meal completely anxiety-free, but weâve selected some great restaurant options for rehearsal dinners or post-ceremony receptions that will distract the wedding party long enough for you to make a toast, enjoy your meal and stare lovingly into your partnerâs eyes. And, hey, you donât have to be getting married to enjoy a good meal!
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Annisa
You worked hard to earn the right to get hitchedâwhy should some breeder get your cash? Anita Lo is one of the cityâs most highly regarded chefs, a veteran of Iron Chef (where she beat Mario Batali) and a big olâ dyke. (âAnnisaâ means âwomenâ in Arabic.) Loâs West Village cafĂŠ combines flavors inspired by her Asian roots, classic French training and world travels.  You can book a table or be a bigshot and take over the entire restaurant. (They can accommodate 40-50 for formal dinners or up to 75 for cocktails and appetizers.)
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Beauty & Essex
This Lower East Side hotspot from the owners of Stanton Social feels like a old-school speakeasy but with a glamorous art-nouveau sheen and room on two floors to accommodate up to 400 folks. Smaller parties can dine privately in the Vault, which has its own bar (not a bad thing when in-laws mix), while other jewel-themed lounges can house groups of various size. Want something hip and casual? Book the DJ boothâitâs accessed through a private entrance and can accommodate up to 175 people with cocktails and passed plates.
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On those rare occasions Chelsea boys deign to put carbs in their mouth, they do it at this Seventh Avenue mainstay, gay-owned-and-operated by the proprietors of Industry and Barracuda and staffed by some of the hottest boys this side of Rio. (Weâre just sayinâ!) Beneath the cacphanous dining room, the elmo lounge offers full bar, catering services and DJ boothâbut if the guests want to get really rowdy, take âem down the block to G Lounge.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Lips
Mother gave you such a hard time when you came outânowâs the time to rub her face in it, right? Okay, maybe not, but you canât get much gayer than having your rehearsal dinner at a drag theme restaurant, with crazy strong drinks and nightly floor shows. Unless maybe you had the ceremony at Lips, with both of you dressed as Liza impersonators.
Just make sure your guests donât get lostâthe infamous East Side Club is in the same building. Awkward!
Nathanâs Famous
Why waste your budget on burnt steak or dried-out chicken when you can serve your guests gut-busting chili-cheese dogs, fries and a Coke for under $5 a pop? (Weâre actually partial to the Corn Dog on a Stick, but thatâs something weâre gonna bring up with our therapist.) If you havenât slipped into a food coma by the end, toast your nuptials with a quick dunk in the Atlantic. Trust us, itâs easier than breaking a wine glass!
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Hyhybt
Sometimes a wedding reception *is* in fact a picnic đ My brother and SIL’s, for instance, was held in her parents’ yard.
jjkeyes
I love Beauty & Essex! Just had cocktails there on Monday.