Charming and Historic Non-Profit Wedding Venue
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Tie the knot on Valentine’s Day in Brooklyn’s Backyard! At the Day of Love in Prospect Park, 50 couples will say “I Do” at the Prospect Park Picnic House - prospectpark.org/love
The Picnic House in Prospect Park is a charming and historic building in the heart of Brooklyn's premier park. With scenic views of the 90-acre Long Meadow, outdoor spaces for ceremonies and cocktails, floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors and a working wood fireplace, it provides a bucolic setting for your perfect day. The Picnic House can be tailored for every taste and budget, and is a blank canvas to create the ideal wedding no matter what the season.
Our working wood fireplace, along with full heat and strong air conditioning, means your wedding will be beautiful - cozy or cool - any time of year in Prospect Park!
The Prospect Park Picnic House is maintained by Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Brooklyn's Backyard, in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep Prospect Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home.
Your entire venue rental fee goes directly to the Alliance - and back into Prospect Park!
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$3,500
Ceremony:
Contact for price
Bar services:
Contact for price
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Apr-Oct.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Estate
Historic Venue
Park
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.084 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Picnic House in Prospect Park is highly praised by reviewers for its beautiful setting and helpful staff, particularly Caity. The venue offers customizable and affordable options for weddings, accommodating various setups, and providing great natural light. Guests appreciate the spaciousness of the venue, the connection to nature, and the ability to have both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Caity is commended for her professionalism, responsiveness, and assistance throughout the planning process. The venue fee supporting the Prospect Park Alliance is also a highlight for those looking to give back to the community.Review photos
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Emily B
5.0
11/18/2024
Excellent venue in a perfect location for a fall wedding. Perfect amount of space for the 115 guests I had. I loved the windows throughout the space and the fireplace was beautiful. My only gripe was that I wish there were more bathrooms available, I know the boys room had a line the entire night (shocking it wasn't the girl's room).
Adam G
5.0
7/30/2024
We loved getting married in the Picnic House! Prospect Park is our favorite place in the city, it's meaningful doing it there where we get to visit so often and being among all our neighbors enjoying the park! The space on the inside is elegant and spacious, we fit 150 people there no problem. The staff is friendly and communicative and let us tour it multiple times.
Three notes - you have good catering options there (we went with Bon Soir, they were superb), but there's only one rental company, so make sure to get a rental quote through your caterer before booking, it can add up. There's also not as much bathroom space, our lines for the men's room would maybe be fixed by turning the bathrooms unisex. Lastly, if you do your ceremony outside, you should embrace that the Long Meadow is not a private space, and there will likely be other people around watching or walking by your ceremony.
Any questions?
Ben H
5.0
7/16/2023
We had our wedding at the Picnic House in June 2023. Leading up to the wedding, Caity and the team were exceptionally communicative and helpful. We had a few modifications over the the course of planning (including changing the end time) and they were very accommodating.
The space was fantastic, very customizable, and very good value for the money. We did the ceremony in the park next to the venue, which was great and exactly the "backyard" wedding we had wanted. Because we could also move the ceremony easily inside we also were not stressed about the weather, which was iffy until the last minute.
Nat B
5.0
6/20/2023
We had our wedding at The Picnic House and honestly it was our dream venue. The building itself is beautiful, not to mention the park and surrounding greenery. Caity and the rest of the team were terrifically helpful from the first meeting. Great venue in NYC at an amazing price.
Vendor response 06/28/2023
Thank you SO much for your kind words! We loved working with you both, and wish you a life...
time of happiness together! I hope to see you around the park! :)
Mia T
5.0
5/31/2023
We have only positive things to share about the planning process, the venue, and the staff at the Picnic House. Caity was fantastic at helping us plan everything in a very short time, she was professional, flexible, creative, and made us feel at ease and taken care off throughout the process of planning our petit wedding.
Even including all extras, and booking the venue for a couple of extra hours, and including dinner with one of their partnering catering vendors, the event was surprisingly affordable for a wedding in Prospect Park. The staff were accommodating, friendly, and efficient, while leaving complete control of the event up to us, which was wonderful.
Our guests were incredibly impressed by the venue and surroundings and the atmosphere was dreamy (and our photos even dreamier!)
We feel incredibly lucky and would highly recommend the Picnic House to anyone looking for a beautiful, functional, accessible, and highly unique venue for their wedding or other event, small or large. A huge thanks to the Picnic House, we will forever cherish the memory of this beautiful wedding!
Vendor response 07/24/2023
Thank you so very much for your kind words. We're very excited you choose to spend your jo...
yous occasion with us at the Prospect Park Picnic House. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and hope to see you around the park!
Jeremy Z
5.0
11/20/2022
We are so happy we had our wedding at the Picnic House. Before we booked, we knew it was a special place for us because we met there on our first date. We toured a few other venues, but when we saw the Picnic House, we knew immediately it was the place for us. The location situated in the middle of Prospect Park is beautiful for any season, and our fall wedding was made perfect by the changing leaves around the Picnic House. Caity and Willy were a delight to work with. They were super responsive and everything ran smoothly and as planned. We are also happy that the fee for the venue goes to the Prospect Park Alliance, an organization we’re proud to support.
Rebecca D
5.0
10/09/2022
In one word: Perfect!
We initially were looking at very different venues in Brooklyn, but then the pandemic happened and Prospect Park became our refuge. So when we restarted our wedding planning, we shifted our focus. We loved that booking the venue would be giving back to the park that meant so much to us.
But the Picnic House is more than just a do-good venue: It's an absolutely beautiful location. For a "blank space" venue, it's quite affordable. Caity was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout the entire planning process. And the updates made to the venue (air conditioning, redone bathrooms, new getting-ready space) were all really well done.
We would absolutely recommend the Picnic House to anyone who is looking for a look-good, feel-good venue in NYC.
Michael S
5.0
10/07/2022
Absolutely perfect venue. The staff was amazing and accommodating throughout the entire lead-up and on-site. You can't beat having the natural beauty and great energy of Prospect Park all around for your ceremony and the space is so gorgeous. We barely decorated and our guests were raving about how beautiful it looked.
Danielle V
5.0
8/19/2022
Choosing the Picnic House as our venue was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the start, working with Caity was great. We found her and the team to be super organized, communicative and open to answering all of our questions. And boy did we have a ton of questions!
And outside of how wonderful the Picnic House team is - the venue itself is absolutely gorgeous. The space is large and accommodating to various different setups and the natural light is second to none. Almost all of our guests commented on how perfect the venue was for our daytime wedding. We also found that the Picnic House was a great option for a venue during the pandemic (we got married in July 2022, and wanted to make sure we had covid protocols in place). The venue helped us brainstorm policies, and we were really happy with having a venue that allowed lots of ventilation while providing rain/weather cover options. FYI, the venue fee goes right back into the Prospect Park Alliance so if you like the park, it’s worth supporting them.
Lucy V
5.0
7/16/2022
My husband Kenny and I got married in May, and the Picnic House was the perfect venue for us! Beautiful, affordable, and well-managed. Elegant yet not too formal. Though our ceremony and reception were technically inside, opening the many doors and windows really brought a sense of nature into the space. Caity was a great point person throughout our planning process too: communicative, organized, and helpful. We had such a magical wedding and the Picnic House will always be dear to our hearts!
Cynthia S
5.0
6/02/2022
We booked the picnic house for our 30th wedding anniversary.
What a wonderful experience we had there! The space is so beautiful with big windows on two sides leading out to the park! The staff, from the booking agent, Caity, to the Parks' crew who were there the evening of our event could not have been more warm, welcoming and helpful. They created an atmosphere of creativity and celebration. And of the caterers recommended by the Picnic House, we chose Miriam's, and could not have been happier! The food was delicious. And it was such a pleasure to know that the Picnic House and the caterer had worked together and so everything was organized and beautiful. We also had a four piece live band and they had a wonderful stage on which to perform, and a good upright piano to play. The whole evening was exceptional. I would recommend the Picnic House to anyone who wants a truly beautiful setting for their wedding or party. Can't wait to go back.
myrta e
5.0
4/15/2022
I did not had a wedding, but my company party at the gorgeous Picnic House. Caity Day Goldstein, was great, communicating and she is a gem of a human.
Everything was perfect and we had zero issues!
Giulia L
4.0
11/03/2021
Things we liked about our wedding at the picnic house:
- Getting married in Prospect Park, outside in the field on a nice sunny day
- The venue space was nice and big and didn't need much decorating
- The price of the venue is reasonable when compared to other venues in Brooklyn
- Caity our coordinator for the event was helpful throughout the planning process
Things we did not like about the picnic house:
- They are strict with entry times for the event, we could not get access to the space until 2 hours before the event, not even for dropping your stuff off way beforehand, which made us feel a bit of pressure to set up in a limited 2-hour window before the wedding. We should have had more time, 4 hours beforehand would have been enough in our humble opinion.
- You can solve the issue above by buying extra hours, which are expensive ($400/hour) though.
- We had an issue with the projector not working properly. They have a laptop set up in a small room to the side of the stage. The laptop has a long HDMI cable connected to the output that feeds the projector. They kept having issues with the laptop not coming up on the projector, they kept re-seating the cable at the laptop end so the projector would refresh/re-sync with the laptop and display the slides/videos we had. The audio was connected last minute to a speaker on the floor, where we were hoping the audio would already be integrated into the system house speakers or something like that. It just felt like a bit of a scramble to get the slideshow/audio portion up. There is a bonus charge of $250 to use the projector, so we were a bit frustrated when this portion was not working as we had hoped. We had several slides and videos to show our guests during the wedding and this was an integral part of the night. In the end, we did end up playing all the videos and slides we had, but we had hoped it would have been more streamlined. P.S. my husband is a video sytems engineer, so one can see his frustration with this portion of the night.
Overall we had a great wedding at the picnic house and we were super happy to celebrate in our favourite park we go almost every day (we live in Park Slope). This is what makes this venue special and unique! For these reasons, I would highly recommend this venue for your event. Thanks!
Nathaniel B
5.0
10/17/2021
We were so happy to book this as our wedding venue. The Picnic House crew did a fantastic job and when we needed to postpone our event due to the pandemic they were more than accommodating. The location in Prospect Park can't be beat, and the venue's list of preferred vendors all did a great job as well. Our wedding at the Picnic House was just perfect!
Noa A
5.0
9/01/2021
The Picnic House is a beautiful venue located in an incredible park. It has a balcony and patio, so guests could flow between outdoor and indoor space, which was wonderful. The staff was a pleasure to work with. We had an excellent experience with this venue and would highly recommend this spot to others!
Jaye Maynard M
4.0
2/10/2020
We found this venue, easy to view and book. From Kymberle to William customer service was top notch and communication between other vendors was excellent. Disappointed in one item that got lost in the shuffle of clean up but otherwise this was an excellent value for our New Year's Eve wedding. Unforgettable for our once in a lifetime event, and fireworks a bonus.
Vendor response 02/11/2020
Thank you so very much for spending your special day with us here at the Prospect Park Pic...
nic House. We're so sorry you lost an item, however excited we were able to host you.
Wishing you many abundance and joy!
Sincerely,
The Prospect Park Alliance
Chloe F
5.0
6/23/2019
We had a wonderful wedding reception for about 100 guests at the Picnic House this month. Everyone we worked with was so wonderful from start to finish. The venue is airy, bright, and beautiful with minimal added decorating. Plus, there is the added bonus of natural beauty all around. No one else gets booked for the same day, so that also removes a lot of stress. We definitely would highly recommend the Picnic House to anyone who wants to get married in Brooklyn.
G. R
5.0
10/24/2018
The Picnic House is a beautiful place to have an intimate wedding. The building is beautiful, and it is nestled in the park. The staff is wonderful to work with. They are prompt in their responses, and know the vendors well. Ms. Kuhn was patient and prompt with every question we had. We received a lot of good feedback about our wedding and received a lot of comments of how nice the setting was. You choose from their recommended vendors who are very experienced and work well with the Picnic House.
Julie R
5.0
10/23/2018
Ben and I knew from the start that the Picnic House was where we wanted to get married. We live not too far from the park and spend almost every weekend during the summers there (if not at the beach).
What sealed the deal is how easy it all was...and also how affordable. The rental fee is incredibly reasonable and the tables (60" rounds) and chairs (as long as they're kept inside) are included in the fee. The staff is super kind, flexible and super responsive.
Everything was a cinch. And of course the space itself and the PARK...just gorgeous. I couldn't recommend the Picnic House more highly!!
Amber T
5.0
10/22/2018
The Picnic House is a beautiful venue and the staff was very nice and always responsive.
A. S
5.0
10/22/2018
The Picnic House was the perfect place for our marriage celebration: surrounded by greenery and the majesty of Prospect Park, but with all that Brooklyn has to offer just a few short steps away. It's a magical space: brick walls, huge windows, the ability for guests to be indoors and outdoors. We wanted a huge dance party for the bulk of our cocktail style event - and the space was more than big enough to accommodate our 185 guests on the dance floor. The staff and vendors were super accommodating and easy to work with. Simply put - having our celebration at The Picnic House was one of the best decisions we've ever made.
Elizabeth C
5.0
10/22/2018
We had the most wonderful mid-September wedding at the Picnic House, and we are so grateful we chose to get married there! Kymberle became the point person midway through our planning process, and she was wonderful to work with; she was incredibly responsive to e-mails, very helpful, and super friendly when we eventually met in person. William, the house manager who was on-site the day of the wedding itself, was also completely lovely and ensured that everything ran smoothly, including gradually adjusting the overhead lights over the course of the reception to fit the mood. The Picnic House is a beautiful space before you bring anything into it — the only decor we added was flowers and some candles on the tables (no extra lights), and it looked even more gorgeous the day of the wedding than we had imagined it would. The private room downstairs is no frills, but it's a secure place to leave valuables and sit with your partner / officiant before and after the ceremony and sneak a bite to eat before joining the cocktail hour; the bathrooms were also no frills but were perfectly serviceable. We definitely got married IN Prospect Park, and we were surrounded by the people of the park — there were kids playing and laughing nearby, people picnicking, and lots of bystanders observing the ceremony. We loved that environment and thought it was really special to be in the midst of Prospect Park. All in all, the Picnic House was the perfect venue for us.
If you are considering getting married at the Picnic House, a few things to think about: Unlike other venues, Picnic House is pretty bare bones in what it provides; other than the tables and chairs, you have to bring everything else in yourself. This might be more cost effective in the end, but it does require more work and coordination than a venue that does everything for you. (Fortunately, your caterer should be responsible for reserving the rentals, and we were able to delegate a lot of that decisionmaking to the catering captain.) You should read the contract closely before signing it and probably at some point again as you start to lock down vendors. We didn't realize that the chairs the Picnic House provides could not be brought outside and that we couldn't amplify sound outside until we were well into the wedding planning process; neither wound up being a huge issue, but we hadn't accounted for them or budgeted for the extra set of chairs. The Picnic House is strict about clearing out the space at the end of the contract time, so you should have at least a day-of coordinator or a VERY supportive friend or family member who is responsible for making sure everything is out on time. Before booking you should also take a look at the list of exclusive caterers and rental company to make sure they work for your wedding vision, budget, etc. (For what it's worth, we thought it was great to work with a caterer who was familiar and comfortable with the venue and knew how to work with the space and the staff.) And, if you are hoping for an outdoor wedding, you should decide if you are comfortable having your wedding in a public space, surrounded by people; we thought it was a blast, but that might not be everyone's vibe.
Margaret W
5.0
9/06/2018
We had our wedding here over Labor Day weekend and it was a perfect, magical event. From the beginning of our planning process, the staff was extremely responsive and helpful. Even though Kymberle came on-staff a couple months before the wedding, she seamlessly picked up where the previous events manager left off and responded to all of our emails immediately. Picnic House staff were amazingly helpful on the day of and kept our wedding running smoothly. The space was beautiful and it looked amazing with just flowers on the tables, no extra lights, and comfortable AC. The ceiling is higher than it looks in pictures and overall, the space is very elegant with minimal decoration. We had the ceremony and reception inside because park rules say no amplified sound and you have to rent separate chairs for outside use. During the cocktail hour, post-ceremony, the Picnic House staff and Catering staff made a quick transition with chairs and tables from ceremony to dinner and dancing. We live down the street from the venue and visit the park almost every day so it felt almost like we were getting married in our backyard. Initially, having a set list of caterers felt frustrating but we actually ended up appreciating it because it seemed like all those included in the list have tons of experience working specifically with the Picnic House space and staff. The day was everything we could have hoped for and more.
Emily D
4.0
6/25/2018
It was the PERFECT day! The only reason for 4 stars is because there's a lot to consider - brining in everything yourself (or having vendors for every aspect of the party) and not being able to drive right up front. These things were a non-issue because the "preferred vendors" know the site really well and were great to work with. The travel arrangements were tricky for some out of town guests, but everyone arrived intact! It was very cool to be married in a public place and have children around calling me a princess and happy spectators wishing us congrats. It was unique. It was an elegant party in a laid back atmosphere which was so "US" and I can't believe how well it suited us and how smooth everything went. We had a 9-piece band which fit well and sounded great on the stage.
Tina A
5.0
6/12/2018
We got married at the Picnic House in Prospect Park, and it was amazing. We loved the venue and appreciated how helpful Christina and Stephanie were. Since the park is open to the public, it felt like we had the Prospect Park community at our wedding- such a unique and loving experience. The venue was beautiful and didn’t need that much to decorate. The vendors they suggested were also great. I highly recommend using the Picnic House!
Aliya B
5.0
5/23/2018
We just had our wedding at the Picnic House in Prospect Park in the second week of May. Our wedding was a total dream and we had the best experience with the staff at the Picnic House. The venue is gorgeous, can accommodate a ton of guests - we had 130 people and there was a ton of room for more. It’s beautiful to look out onto the greens from every window and they have air conditioning for a hot day. Some couples choose to decorate, but you really, really don’t need to other than table decor as the venue is just gorgeous with its old school charm. My only criticism is the bathrooms aren’t the nicest, but really, who spends time in the bathroom at a wedding anyway!
Now for the staff! From the very first open house in April 2017 when we met Stephanie, to the very last few emails between us and Stephanie and Christina, the staff at the Picnic House are just a joy to work with. Over the course of the year they received several emails with tons of questions, several requests etc. Every interaction and conversation with them was always one filled with empathy and willingness to help. They always helped ease stress by providing solutions, making recommendations and being super accommodating. They were really a total joy to work with, you won’t regret it.
Laura D
5.0
3/10/2018
The Picnic House was the perfect choice for our October 2017 wedding. The staff was extremely helpful and the setting was idyllic. We could not have be happier with the venue, and are grateful for the wonderful memories we have of marrying there.
Stephanie C
5.0
2/02/2018
The Picnic House was a gorgeous venue, perfect for our winter wedding. The venue provided all tables and chairs, and a great list of vendors offering a wide range of prices. There is parking available, which was a big plus for our guests coming from other boroughs. The venue itself is so beautiful that we went very minimal on decor. This was also a smart move as you only have 2 hours to set up and 1 hour for breakdown. Some of our vendors had issues getting into and out of the park. Other than that, I think this is one of the more affordable and unique venues in Brooklyn.
Sarah K
5.0
12/16/2017
We got married at the Picnic House in November. We had hoped to have an outside ceremony—ha! While the weather that week had been perfect, a few days before, the forecast showed the high to be 20 degrees!
Christina made sure we had a nice fire going for the ceremony. It was a nice touch to bringing the ceremony inside. We felt cozy and our guests were well taken care of.
Of course the venue itself is mostly windows — so lovely! We got the feeling of being outside nonetheless.
I couldn't be happier with the location, staff and solutions that were presented to us so last minute.
A beautiful venue and a great value.
D H
5.0
11/28/2017
The Picnic House was the first venue we looked at and as we looked around at other venues, we realized we loved it. The staff is easy to work with and their caterers are experienced in maximizing the space to fit your wedding. We did our wedding at night, and even in the dark, without the view of the park, the venue was beautiful and needs minimal decorations. We still are getting complements from our guests on the space.
Lauren G
5.0
10/01/2017
We had our wedding at the Picnic House last April and couldn't have chosen a better venue. The staff that the picnic house were a pleasure to work with, from the first months of panning through to the actual evening. We received so many compliments on our choice of venue from our guests. It turned out to be just perfect for what we wanted -low-key yet warm and elegant. Highly recommend!
Hannah L
5.0
5/31/2017
We loved our Picnic House venue! I was set on getting married outside, while my husband really wanted to do something in the city. This fit both our needs, as well as our budget.
The Picnic House itself is a huge empty space with enormous windows and exposed brick. It truly is a "blank canvas" and can fit any theme/vibe. The outdoor space is beautiful for a fall or spring wedding. It is a part of the public park so there is the possibility of strangers being close to your space, but we found that everyone was extremely respectful. Their curiosity only added to our day in a positive way.
It was easy to work with Christina, who manages the venue. She was easy to reach by email. The day of, there was a different liaison, who I unfortunately, did not speak with or catch the name of, got rave reviews from my mother, MIL, and everyone who interacted with him.
We absolutely recommend this venue!
Emma J
5.0
5/09/2017
Our wedding in the Picnic House was absolute magic. We loved this venue so much! It's completely DIY - you bring in food, decor, music, etc. - so who you choose as your vendors is key. Going with Bon Soir caterers (one of their recommended caterers) is a no brainer - they know this venue inside and out and the wedding day goes seamlessly. The park setting was so beautiful on our May 6 wedding! The staff at the Picnic House are helpful and super awesome. I can't recommend this venue enough if you are having a Brooklyn wedding!!!
Catherine G
5.0
1/15/2017
We absolutely loved this space! We used it for both ceremony and reception in Nov 2016 with 160 guests. It was a clean slate and could be decorated to our liking, all at a very affordable price. The venue hosts open houses and their preferred vendors also host mini meet-and-greet sessions there. We were able to visit the venue for an open house and again to meet with vendors so we can make the best choices about catering and lighting. Christina was easily accessible by phone and email to answer any questions for us. The one thing is that this venue can be a bit tricky to find, so many of our guests got lost on the day of the ceremony. Thankfully we put half hour earlier on the invitations so the majority were on time for the ceremony.
Rachel W
4.0
12/12/2016
We got married at the Picnic House in November and it was absolutely beautiful. We did the ceremony on the stage and it was perfect. We put up twinkly lights, lots of candles and simple flower arrangements and I didn't feel like the room was missing anything. Everyone had an amazing time and it was really special being in the park-it felt like we had escaped the city for a night!
My one complaint, which is pretty major, is that we learned three weeks before the wedding that we needed to extend the contract time and pay an extra 800 dollars to accommodate our caterer. Though I do wish our caterer had told us sooner, I feel it was the Picnic House that mislead us. They say repeatedly on their website and in their contract, that 8 hours allows for a five hour party, two hours of set up, and one hour of break down. Literal days before our wedding we suddenly learned that 8 hours is never enough time for a five hour reception. That 12 hours is the industry standard. Our caterer laughed at the idea of a 2 hour set-up and our coordinator had never heard of such a short contract time. We chose the Picnic House because we loved the venue and especially loved how affordable it is. Adding 800 dollars to the rental fee at the absolute last minute felt pretty deceptive and incredibly disappointing. If 8 hours is not enough time for a normal reception, they should not advertise it as such.
Overall we had a beautiful wedding, but that was a major bummer!
Ishah J
4.0
11/15/2016
The venue and setting are wonderful in every way we imagined for our wedding in Sept 2016. Perfect space for a big wedding and feels so airy and nice. A few words to the wise: Read the contract in full many times. There are things in there that are out of the ordinary and will catch you off guard. That said, don't take everything in the contract as the end all be all - check with your caterer before planning anything in terms of timeline and their needs. Overall the staff is responsive and willing to work out issues as they arise. Just be prepared and read that contract and ask questions! Also no AC in the summer and it gets hot in there. Best of luck!
Vendor response 10/24/2018
Thank you so much for your review. It was our pleasure to have you at the Picnic House....
I just want to mention to anyone reading our reviews that the Picnic House is now air conditioned. Our a/c was installed about a year after this wedding.
Christina Kuhn
Chloe P
5.0
10/27/2016
We got married at the Picnic House in July of 2016. We had 175 guests, were married on the lawn outside the Picnic House, and had our reception inside. It was amazing! The staff was responsive and helpful, the venue gorgeous and affordable, and the location accessible for all of our guests. We had very minimal decorations and it still looked beautiful; we couldn't have found an easier, more beautiful, affordable place to get married.
The Picnic House gives you a list of caterers they work with, and we easily found one we liked; other vendors (DJ, flowers, photog) are up to you. This meant that we were able to really find places that fit our budget (instead of having to use pre-set ones). The Picnic House has round, 8 top tables and chairs for 175 (you can't use their chairs outside though, so you have to rent for your outdoor ceremony; keep that in mind when budgeting).
One note: it was close to 100 degrees the day of our wedding (right in the middle of the heat dome) and there is no a/c in the venue. It was very, very hot! Our caterer brought extra water, and everyone was fine, but be aware if you're planning a summer wedding. Certainly not something that should discourage you (we barely noticed!), but something to keep in mind.
David S
5.0
9/19/2016
If you have a personal connection to Prospect Park or to the outdoors in general, you should really consider the Picnic House as an option!
We had a fantastic outdoor ceremony for 170 guests, followed by a terrific reception of dinner and dancing. The space met all of our needs. We liked that we were able to attend an open house of catering vendors.
The staff at the park was really great! Will, the manager on site for our event, really did everything in his power to make the evening a success and make us feel comfortable. I fondly remember more than one of his employees congratulating me when I came across them throughout the night.
This space allows for guests to congregate indoors and out. They host events regularly and seem to have it down to a fine science. Stephanie and Christina were very attentive in responding to questions by email, pretty much immediately. Parking passes were provided for up to 10 guests or vendors who need vehicle access to the front door of the Picnic House.
My bride and I couldn't be happier that we selected this scenic and accessible location. We had a wonderful wedding and will have great memories for life, thanks to a beautiful backdrop and a team that was a pleasure to work with.
Andrea B
5.0
8/07/2016
We could not have been happier with the Picnic House for our April 2016 wedding. Stephanie Trudeau was our primary contact leading up to the wedding, and she was incredibly helpful and responsive. The entire Picnic House team was so knowledgeable, kind, and the opposite of the high-pressure and "upselling" of some of the other wedding venues that we looked at. Plus, I loved that our fee could help support the Prospect Park Alliance for a park that means so much to us. The guests keep telling us how beautiful the venue was-- the lighting and huge windows was a big plus for us, and we didn't even need to bring in any additional decor or lighting other than what we used for the tables. Every time we run by it on our Prospect Park Loop we get happy just seeing it, and I know we'll feel that way for years to come. You do need to book from a list of specific caterers (we used Bon Soir), so this may not be the space for people looking for a raw space where they can bring in their own food or select a restaurant caterer. But it really is to make it easiest because there's no kitchen on-site, so the caterers on the list know the venue so well that it makes the planning and set up seamless. Book the Picnic House and you won't regret it!
Maria K
5.0
7/26/2016
The Picnic House was the perfect venue for us. The staff was sop helpful during the whole planning journey, and the house managers were AMAZING. If you are looking for an affordable venue in NYC, definitely check this place out. I was stressed out about having a July 2 wedding with no AC, but the cross breeze and fans really and truly do the trick. Go for an evening wedding if you are using this venue during summer months. And use Bon Soir - that's a no brainier.
Knottie1460985968
5.0
4/18/2016
The Picnic House at Prospect Park was the perfect location for what we were looking for in a reception venue. Its a raw space and you have to work with their recommended vendors. Which are top of the line and all know how to do great weddings! Christina & Stephanie were both very helpful as I made several visits to plan and lay out the reception space. When you work with their vendors they are also aware of the time limit you have for set up and breakdown. Everything went smoothly and Will, the house manager is an excellent resource. Be sure to ask him lots of questions as he has plenty of experience working on wedding day of. One of the main concerns for the Picnic House for me was the directions on how to get there for guests and the 8 hour time slot we had to work with to get everything set up. It was very helpful to have a day of coordinator to help with set up. But also, to ensure that there's proper direction for guests to come through the park path. My tip: plan, plan and plan some more. I worked with Jeff at Bon Soir Caterers, Rebecca from unruffled bride as my coordinator and everything just fell in to place. However, that was ALL because I did a lot of planning on my part.
With all that said, it is a beautiful location worth every penny!
Knottie66365126
5.0
1/31/2016
great venue. the wedding was magical walking into the park and having a beautiful building appear.
Grace B
5.0
1/31/2016
Worked with the Prospect Park Picnic House for our wedding because we needed an affordable space. And the Picnic House did not disappoint! It was convenient to get to and the customer service was fabulous start to finish! Loved working with the approved vendors as well. Highly recommend having your wedding there!
Nicole M
4.0
11/12/2015
We had our wedding at The Picnic House this past weekend and it was the perfect location to celebrate our nuptials. We were going for a rustic romantic theme, and The Picnic House fit the bill. We had our ceremony and reception there. For us, everything took place inside, but they also accommodate outdoor ceremonies (as long as it's light out). I knew I wanted to get married at The Picnic House when I moved to Park Slope 2 years ago. And it turned out that it was actually the most reasonably priced for our budget. Although you are required to choose from their caterers, their list provides an array of styles, prices, and cuisines. The Picnic House provides a more country feel since it's located in the park, but at the same time it's in the middle of a great neighborhood in Brooklyn. Which made planning the whole weekend easy and convenient for us and our guests. We got so many compliments on our choice of venue; honestly the place speaks for itself. It has big windows surrounding it, exposed brick, and a beautiful mantle. We are so happy with our choice. I communicated mainly with Christina, who emailed me back promptly every time. The night of our wedding, William and Victor were attentive and helped coordinate the whole event. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because you're responsible to take everything out of The Picnic House that night. I obviously knew this going into it, but it would've made our night much easier if we could've come back the next morning. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a venue for your wedding, definitely check out The Picnic House.
Knottie76864187
5.0
10/23/2015
we had a fabulous experience at the Picnic House. The staff could not have been more cooperative and helpful. The setting was glorious. We held the ceremony behind the Picnic House between the two big trees overlooking the great lawn. At sunset, it was picture perfect. The room held our 180 guests for a sit down meal, with room for dancing and we set up a seating area in front of the fireplace with benches and side tables and many different groups throughout the evening made use of the area. We also had room for a Photo Booth. A terrific place to hold a wedding!
samantha b
5.0
10/20/2015
Everything about the PPPH was fantastic from start to finish. The space was affordable and the staff was incredible. I couldn't imagine a more perfect setting for a fall wedding in Brooklyn. Thank you!
Sarah P
5.0
10/19/2015
We were recently married at The Picnic House this past August. We started our venue search all over the tri-state area but ultimately we decided we wanted to get married close to where we lived in Brooklyn. When my husband and I went to one of the open houses at The Picnic House as we began our search, we knew that was where we wanted to get married. The park is such a special place and the Picnic House allows you to really personalize the way you want your wedding day to be because it’s almost like a blank canvas. We were married outside under a tree in the park (so romantic), the cocktail hour was also outside around the venue and the reception held inside with plenty of space for dinner and dancing to accommodate 150 of our guests. After looking at so many other places my husband and I agree that we couldn’t have found a more perfect location and venue for our wedding. Both Christina and Stephanie, the building managers, were very responsive to our multiple calls and emails, they made us feel at ease during the planning process which can feel very overwhelming at times. They also were able to provide a list of vendors who have previously worked at the Picnic House, all of whom are reasonably priced and excellent at what they do, we found this to be very helpful as well. All of our guests kept raving about what a special location this was and what a unique place to get married. You get the perk of being in the city all the while being in one of the most beautiful parks in the world. I’d recommend the Picnic House to anyone looking to plan an event, what a special place. We are so happy that this is where we got married!!
Derrica L
5.0
10/13/2015
My husband and I originally selected the Picnic House because we really had our hearts set on having an outdoor ceremony and the park provided the perfect backdrop for our October wedding.
Unfortunately, the day ended up being rainy and cold but in a wonderful turn of events, we ended up having an even more beautiful wedding than we planned.
Having the ceremony indoors with the fireplace lit created the most wonderful, cozy setting for our family and friends and the Picnic House staff was on-hand every step of the way to make sure our "Plan B" was a success. They were able to effortlessly "flip" the room without breaking up the flow of our cocktail hour and made sure all of our guests were comfortable.
During and after the wedding, our guests raved about how perfect the venue was and how the setting alone made everyone feel all the more comfortable.
Even with uncooperative weather, we still had the most perfect venue and the wedding we'd hoped for.
Anna M
5.0
7/26/2015
We are so glad that we had our May wedding at the Picnic House! We held our ceremony outdoors just outside the Picnic House, and our guests loved the natural feel of the event -- how the "park life" was going on around us, and how random strangers were stopping by to hear our vows. We planned this wedding ourselves, and everything went smoothly, both in the planning stages and at the event itself. I definitely recommend this venue for a unique event.
Knottie62819355
5.0
7/14/2015
The moment we stepped foot in the Picnic House, we knew it was the perfect venue for our wedding. The space is gorgeous inside, which means you can have a lovely reception without much decoration. (We achieved a stunning effect with nothing more than flowers and table cloths).
Torrential rain on our wedding day forced us to move the ceremony indoors at the last minute. Thank goodness we had chosen the Picnic House; the staff was able to accommodate the indoor ceremony without a hitch.
If you're a bride on a budget, looking to have the most beautiful wedding you can possibly afford - I definitely recommend the Picnic House.
Knottie30323242
5.0
7/13/2015
The Picnic House is a gorgeous place. The location is stunning, the house itself, with its large French windows is bright, open, elegant. And the best part of it is that it is relatively affordable compared to other places in the city. You will get a mix of a rustic urban chic wedding feel at a reasonable price. The house made our wedding. It was beautiful. We worked with Bonsoir Caterers who knows the place very well. The food was delicious and the service perfect. We brought in a light designer friend who hung string lights all over the large bars and the result was stunning. We had the cocktail by the balustrade outside and people were walking in and out of the place, which is exactly what we wanted. I would recommend the Picnic House a million times.
Margaret O
4.0
7/13/2015
I have nothing but good things to say about the Picnic House. We knew we wanted to get married outside and somewhere in New York City. We live in Park Slope and couldn't have found a more convenient location. The Picnic House is also one of the most reasonably priced venues in the entire five boroughs. The staff, both leading up to the event and day-of, were wonderfully helpful. We even got an update the morning of our wedding that there would be fireworks in the park and we would have a great view off the back balcony! The only warnings I have for couples thinking of using the Picnic House are 1) it doesn't have air conditioning, making summer dancing hot and sticky, and 2) they don't allow their chairs outside so if you're planning on doing an outdoor ceremony, you'll have to pay extra (for us it was $3.50 a chair) for the outdoor seating.
Knottie34657409
4.0
6/05/2015
The Picnic House is a great location to have a wedding. While it's reflective of inflated NYC venue prices, the staff and service are outstanding. Our guests raved about a wedding at the park, and the Picnic House more than accommodated 150 guests and a night of dancing.
Knottie1433350405
5.0
6/05/2015
The Picnic House was an amazing venue. It was the first one my mom and I agreed on and was surprisingly affordable comapred to other locations in Brooklyn. Christina was so great throughout the process, answering all my questions promptly and allowing us to visit on numerous occasions to make sure we had everything just right. You can't beat getting married in the park - especially when the whole park cheers for you at the end of the ceremony. The space is beautiful, the people are nice and the price is right!
Ashley S
5.0
4/23/2015
My fiancé (now husband) and I knew we wanted a laid-back venue surrounded by nature in a meaningful place that was a far cry from a traditional banquet hall, and we are so glad we found The Picnic House! It was the perfect location for our mid-August wedding. We held our ceremony outside under the two tall trees overlooking the lawn, which provided a perfect backdrop that blended nature with a touch of the city feel. A few people still in the park even erupted in applause and cheers when we had our first kiss as husband and wife, which many guests said stood out as such a unique and meaningful moment. The venue was also perfect for our reception – open and airy with views of the park and access for people to wander out and enjoy the nature as they wished while taking a break from dancing. Christina was absolutely amazing at answering all of our questions and helping us to feel at ease with our event, and she was so professional. We had a beautiful day weather wise and the setting was just perfect – we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The park is one of our favorite spots in the city, and now we have some amazing memories to go with it. We highly recommend the Picnic House!
Susan G
5.0
1/16/2015
I had my wedding here in November 2014 and set it up with Christina Kuhn, who is wonderful. It was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone. Christina is so friendly, easygoing and encouraging. We had a very serious family crisis about two months out from the wedding and Christina could not have been kinder or more accommodating at a time when my husband and I were reeling. The venue is gorgeous and you have a great deal of flexibility in customization. Being in the park is great for pictures, and the overall experience is elegant but not fussy, which I think made it a fun and comfortable experience for our guests. The Picnic House will limit you to a list of caterers, but this is for the best because you will end up with someone who is comfortable working in that space and with the other vendors who service it. I used Jeff Riley at Bon Soir, who was excellent. My DJ was Sean Marquand with 74 Events, who is a genius, and I used Universal Light & Sound for lanterns because they are well versed in decorating the Picnic House. It takes a bit of leg work to put together your team for a Picnic House event, but if you listen to Christina and use the right people, you work up a level of synergy and positivity that makes it feel like an effortless dance party with the people you love, and not one of those buttoned up weddings you dread. It could not have been more lovely, even on such a cold day. If you are considering it, you should definitely reach out to Christina, meet with her, and check it out. Some of my guests who are active in fundraising are considering the space for their events. It is as versatile as it is beautiful. You'll love it.
JJ J
5.0
11/01/2014
I am so happy I picked the Prospect Park Picnic House for my Wedding!
Christina the coordinator was completely on top of EVERYTHING. Responsive, flexible, amazing.
The staff was fantastic, and the venue was gorgeous!
This venue is very DIY, so it is more work than having a wedding at a place that will provide you with everything but it allows you to really create the day you imagined in your head.
I did not want a cookie cutter wedding in anyway, and the Picnic House allowed me to really make my day feel like it fit my husband and I perfectly.
You have to pick between a hand full of food vendors and I think that is a great idea because the vendors know all the challenges of the venue and work to make it perfect. I used Bon Soir and it was unbelievable how amazing they were. I will write a separate review on them, because i could write for hours about how they rocked it out of the park.
The Picnic House was perfect
Everything went exactly as I had wished and I could not recommend this venue more.
Knottie84683141
5.0
8/31/2014
I just had our wedding last May in the Picnic House in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. It was wonderful! As a Brooklyn Boy myself, the location was very special to me. The surprising thing is that all my guests, many from several different states, ALL thought the location was unique, captivating and very special.
Even though the park is beautiful, what really makes the space special is not just the location, but the staff. They were cordial, polite and really seemed to be interested in making my special day important to them as well.
The very best part of this location is the Rentals Manager, Christina Kuhn. She made what I thought was going to be a scary, laborious process, very easy. She was always responsive to our requests and answered all our questions with a confidence that made me and my wife feel great. She really takes the time to address all your concerns.
If you're thinking of Brooklyn, you've got to book the Picnic House!!
Vendor response 09/02/2014
Thank you for the glowing review. The Picnic House staff and I want to express our pleasu...
re in making your wedding the special day you wanted it to be. We are so happy that you and your guests had a wonderful time.
Knottie43123622
4.0
8/19/2014
My son and daughter-in-law were married in the Picnic House this August. We made another wedding there a year earlied and were very happy with the venue and service. Only drawback: there's no A/C, only ceiling fans. If the weather is fine, the venue is beautiful. The Picnic House staff were wonderful. They taped off the area we needed for the outdoor part of the ceremony, so Propect Park visitors would not be 'joining' our party. The caterer, B. Kohen, was superb. We would definately use the Picnic House again.
Knottie12242231
5.0
7/08/2014
The Picnic house in Prospect park is absolutely a dream boat and perfect venue. The beautiful brick and natural light in the venue make it easy for simple decorations. The service and team there were so helpful. The venue rental includes tables and chairs which are in great shape.
The only challenge was they require you to use their preferred caters which initially was daunting. We used Bon Soir caters and it was the best decision I could have made. My family and friends are still raving about our food! Hands down my favorite venue and I wish I could do it all again!
Knottie90726976
5.0
7/03/2014
We had a wonderful experience with the picnic house. the venue is beautiful, the staff are nice and polite and flexible to work with. We had a wonderful wedding and wonderful experience there. It was a dream that they helped come true.
Knottie82146594
5.0
6/27/2014
We rented the Picnic House for a February wedding, and we could not have picked a more perfect place! Everything about our experience was wonderful--the staff (we worked with Sarah, Christina, and Will) were tremendously kind and helpful and accommodating, the place was gorgeous (we had a daytime wedding, and it was sunlit with its beautiful, huge windows). We found a great caterer (Bon Soir) from the approved list, on which there were a number of good choices, who helped us with so much more than just food (also with how to arrange the layout). We loved the piano, the working fireplace, the fact that the venue came with chairs and tables and a small stage. Every question we had was answered quickly and with precision. We were so happy to find a place that was filled with the feeling of nature inside Prospect Park, and which was also very easy to reach from the street. Also, that it is part of the Parks Department, and therefore the rental fee went to Prospect Park. We had snow on the ground and a lovely day, which worked out so well, as guests could even mill about outside. We're so glad that we found the Picnic House, a perfect place for those seeking elegance, nature, light, friendliness and down-to-earthiness in its staff, and a place that you can decorate and arrange in all kinds of ways. To use an art metaphor, the Picnic House's canvas is nature and brick and light, and you can be creative in your vision of what you would like. As you can see, we were thrilled with our choice. Thank you so much, Picnic House!!!
DiCo D
5.0
5/22/2014
Many thanks to the staff of The Picnic House for helping us pull of a beautiful, fun, love-filled wedding reception two Sundays ago. Sarah, Christina, Will and Will were tremendously friendly, professional and helpful. Events ran smoothly, and we had the help we needed coordinating with the caterer and other vendors on the day of. The space itself is perfect--beautiful and outdoorsy, simple and just the right amount of rustic, lovely and unpretentious. Thanks to everyone who helped with our special day!
dtn1555
5.0
2/23/2014
The Picnic House proved to be a perfect venue for my daughter's winter Bat Mitzvah. The facility itself is very festive and lends itself to all sorts of decor. I had fun wit