Average Base Cost: $20,000
Average base cost for a wedding at the Bayside Historical Society is calculated by figuring a 125–person guest list on a Saturday night for a 5-hour wedding and an average food/beverage catering cost of $100/pp. Transportation to venue, entertainment, decorations, additional rentals, valet, DJ, and photography are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.
*Prices subject to change
How it breaks down:
Facility Rental Fee: $3800 for the castle building and grounds
What’s Included:
- 4 hours of setup time
- Five hours for your event
- Tables and chairs for up to 150 guests
- Use of kitchen by your caterer as a staging area for your event. All cooking to take place off-site.
- Use of first-floor coatroom
- One hour of cleanup time, following your event.
Food/Beverage: You may bring in your own vendors, or talk to the venue for ones they’ve worked with in the past.
More Stats:
Space Type: Inside/Outside
Size: Up to 150 guests
Bridal Suite: Yes
Parking: Yes (must arrange prior to event)
Food Service Type: Your choice
How Will Grandma Get There? The Bayside Historical Society is a 35-minute drive from Grand Central or 1 hour using public transport. There are not a ton of hotels in the area so out-of-town guests might be better off staying in a more central part of Queens or Manhattan.
Party On! Events can run until midnight.
The Report:
Situated on the bay in Fort Totten Park, the Bayside Historical Society was built in 1887 as the officers’ club for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Woman Getting Married Says:
This “castle” is on the national register of historic places, and has that sought-after estate vibe of the country without venturing too far from the city. While at first glance it might not look like much on the inside, with the right touches (uplighting, curtains, upgraded chairs, etc.) it can easily be transformed into a pretty gorgeous wedding venue on a budget. This is one of those venues (like the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture) that is best to see in person to get the full effect before ruling it out, since their websites don’t really do them justice.
Click here to learn more about my wedding venue review process
