Should couples consider additional lighting for their wedding at The Prospect Park Picnic House?
The Prospect Park Picnic House
The Picnic House in Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY): The Picnic House can be tailored to every taste and budget and is a blank canvas to create the ideal wedding. In addition, You can enhance The Picnic House in Prospect Park with additional lighting for a wedding.
Is The Prospect Park Picnic House the Right Venue For You?
Finding a wedding venue in New York City often feels like a compromise. You usually have to choose between the convenience of the city and the tranquility of nature. Rarely do you find a spot that offers both without requiring a massive travel budget.
Enter the Prospect Park Picnic House. Located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Long Meadow, this historic building bridges the gap between urban accessibility and pastoral charm. With its red brick facade and floor-to-ceiling windows, it has become a favorite for couples seeking a relaxed, scenic, and distinctly “Brooklyn” celebration.
But is it the right fit for your specific vision? We analyzed feedback from couples who have tied the knot here to help you decide if this park-centric venue aligns with your wedding day needs.
A Vibe That Blends History and Nature
The most consistent praise for the Picnic House centers on its atmosphere. It offers a rustic yet elegant feel that is hard to replicate in a standard banquet hall.
Scenic Surroundings
The venue is surrounded by the lush greenery of Prospect Park. The floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that even if you are indoors, the park feels like part of your decor. Thus, creating a stunning natural backdrop for photos, minimizing the need for excessive floral arrangements or decorations.
Cozy Interiors
Inside, the space features a wood-burning fireplace, which is a massive draw for fall and winter weddings. It provides a warm, cozy focal point that anchors the room. The hardwood floors and brick walls offer a blank canvas that feels historic and grounded rather than cold or industrial.
Versatility and Customization
One of the Picnic House’s strongest selling points is its adaptability. It serves as a chameleon space that shifts to match the season and your style.
Couples appreciate the flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Weather permitting, you can host your ceremony or cocktail hour on the lawn just outside the building, then move inside for the reception. This flexibility allows for a relaxed transition that guests enjoy.
The lighting is another highlight. The abundance of natural light during the day is a photographer’s dream. However, some couples suggest using warm gels for indoor lighting once the sun goes down to maintain that cozy ambiance in photos.
The Logistics: Staff, Sound, and Value
Beyond the aesthetics, a venue needs to function well. Reviewers frequently mention that the Picnic House offers excellent value for the money, a rarity in the competitive NYC wedding market.
The staff receives high marks for being helpful and accommodating, guiding couples through the planning process without adding unnecessary stress. Additionally, the acoustics are noted as being surprisingly good for a historic building, ensuring your DJ or band sounds great on the dance floor.
Important Considerations Before You Book
While the Picnic House is beloved for its charm, there are practical realities you should be aware of to ensure your day runs smoothly.
The Bathroom Situation
This is the most cited logistical “con.” There are limited bathrooms available. While most couples find it manageable for an average-sized guest list, it is something to keep in mind. A pro tip from past couples: bring your own high-quality paper towels, as the air dryers provided aren’t the most efficient.
Payment and Fees
Weddings are expensive, and fees add up. Some couples recommend asking about wire transfer details to avoid credit card processing fees, which can save you a significant amount on the final bill.
Food and Drink Tips
Since the atmosphere is relaxed, the party often is too. Reviewers note that bartenders here tend to pour heavily, which your guests will likely appreciate. To soak up those generous drinks, consider adding late-night snacks to your catering menu.
Navigating the Park
Getting those stunning park photos might require some off-road walking. Brides often recommend having a second, less precious dress or a change of shoes for taking portraits in the grass or dirt paths before the ceremony.
The Final Verdict
The Prospect Park Picnic House is ideal for couples looking for a romantic, intimate, and nature-focused wedding without leaving Brooklyn. As a result, it strikes a balance between historic architecture and natural scenery that feels magical in any season.
If you are looking for a white-glove, all-inclusive ballroom experience, this might not be the venue for you. But if you want a customizable space with character, helpful staff, and a view of the Long Meadow, the Picnic House is a strong contender for your big day.
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The Main Room: Lighting options for a Wedding at The Prospect Park Picnic House
STRING LIGHTS IN ZIGZAGGING PATTERN
- Zigzagging String Lights is a timeless lighting pattern most often provided at The Picnic House. Therefore, you should consider hanging a simple arrangement of String Lights in a zigzagging pattern. Furthermore, string lights will enhance the look of a wedding reception at The Prospect Park Picnic House. In addition, an arrangement of hanging string lights is visually appealing and supplies “more bang for fewer bucks.”
STRING LIGHTS WITH PAPER LANTERNS
- Consider hanging a combination of paper lanterns and zigzagging String Lights for a wedding reception in the main room at The Prospect Park Picnic House. Furthermore, our paper lanterns are evenly spaced along our Zigzagging String Lights. Therefore, the paper lanterns make a beautiful enhancement to hanging string lights. As a result, it is an excellent upgrade to an arrangement of string lights for a wedding at The Prospect Park Picnic House
UP-LIGHTING AGAINST WALLS
- Our company is a huge fan of up-lighting placed against walls, and this venue is no exception. Therefore, we strongly support using Warm White Up-Lights at The Prospect Park Picnic House. As a result, Up-lights greatly enhance the space by providing an accent light against the walls. Therefore, consider placing Warm White Up-Lights around the perimeter walls of the main room.
LARGE HANGING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
- Highlight a sizeable hanging floral arrangement with a spotlight. Hanging floral arrangements are certainly almost always a conversation piece. Therefore, any sizeable floral arrangement should be highlighted with additional lighting to remain visible after dark. Fortunately, there are better options than the in-house track lights included with the venue for illuminating hanging florals. As an alternative, consider including spotlights provided by our company to highlight any large-scale hanging floral arrangements. Also, at a minimum, consider hanging string lights with your sizeable floral arrangement to ensure they remain visible after dark.
LARGE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS (set on the bar)
- Sizeable floral arrangements are always a conversation piece. Therefore, consider providing a spotlight for them to ensure they remain visible after the sun has gone down. Thus, highlight any sizeable standing floral arrangements or sizeable florals on display on the main bar in the rear section of the venue. Similarly, highlight any sizeable florals that are on display on tables.
BAND MEMBERS
- Seeing the members of a band is a crucial part of their performance. Therefore, consider providing a spotlight to highlight their performance area. Therefore, members of your band will remain seen after sunset. Additionally, their movements and facial expressions are visible. As a result, your wedding at The Prospect Park Picnic House will benefit significantly from additional lighting for your band.
- Furthermore, you can also consider using a set of color-changing lights to highlight your band members. In general, dimmable warm-white lights are appropriate. Also, you can consider color-changing lights for your band as an upgrade from warm-white lights. However, a person must operate a controller to change the colors during the band’s performance.
THE BAR
- The main bar at The Prospect Park Picnic House is a celebrity in popularity. As a result, the main bar usually becomes a gathering place where guests exchange conversations and laughs while waiting to receive their drinks. For this reason, you can consider highlighting the main bar with a set of spotlights. Nevertheless, consider using the in-house track lights to illuminate your bar. Consequently, it requires you to focus the track lights at your bar. Nevertheless, the track lights will typically provide sufficient light for your bar without installing additional lights.
WEDDING CEREMONY LIGHTING AT THE PROSPECT PARK PICNIC HOUSE
- During the fall and winter months, sunset will arrive early in the day. Therefore, your ceremony area may appear dark. As a result, viewing your ceremony and the quality of your wedding photos may be affected. For this reason, highlighting your indoor wedding ceremony at The Prospect Park Picnic House with additional lighting is usually essential during these months. Hence, adding additional lighting will ensure your indoor wedding ceremony at The Prospect Park Picnic House remains visible at sunset.
WEDDING CAKE LIGHTING AT THE PROSPECT PARK PICNIC HOUSE
- After dark, your wedding cake may require additional lighting at The Prospect Park Picnic House. Therefore, pin-spot lighting is essential to highlight your wedding cake after dark.
CURTAIN OF VERTICAL STRING LIGHTS
- Vertical Strings (or String Lights hanging horizontally with multiple swoops) is an excellent addition to the wall behind your ceremony area. Therefore, consider suspending a curtain of string lights vertically against the wall behind the ceremony area.
UP-Lighting Floor Plan
Popular (Dance Floor) Lighting Options
Mirror Ball w/ Motor & Spotlight
Sound Activated / Color-Changing Wash
Quote Generator Form
Approximate Total w/ NYC Tax, Setup, and Delivery
Delivery $75 / NYC Tax (8.875%)