The Reception Site Selection

So we have narrowed it down to the NYC Fire Museum and the Prospect Park Picnic House.


Considerations they have in common:

1) A caterer is needed

2) At least some rentals (tables and chairs) are necessary

3) Both are not typical reception sites

4) Neither has a coat room



NYC Firemuseum:

Pros:

1) Has a small kitchen and prep area
2) Has nice brick walls
3) Museum is kept open during the party
4) Comes with a real NYC fireman to act as security at the entrance


Cons:
1) Near a heavy traffic area
2) You cannot take pictures on the antique firetrucks
3) Everything has to be rented
4) On the smaller side (in terms of square footage)


Prospect Park Picnic House:
Pros:
1) Comes with round tables and chairs
2) More space and high ceilings
3) Patio area overlooking the park
4) Quick drive from church to reception


Cons:
1) Public area around the Picnic House can be used by anyone
2) No kitchen, just large prep area that is curtained off


Because I am not good at visual/depth perception I undertook a craft project to help us decide. I had both venues send me a floor plan. Then I cut out, to scale mind you, circles to represent 60' round tables and placed them where I would want tables. This is what I had in the end:


If 10 people sat at each table, we would need about 15 tables. Clearly the Picnic House has more room. When you add the horrendous traffic we encountered going to the Fire Museum, the Picnic House became the clear winner.

Now we would have to find a caterer...