Park It

    The Q: “We are getting married at a Venue in Long Island City, and there isn’t any official parking lot for the reception site. What are our options,other than just telling people design prom dresses  that there is street parking?” The A:Parking in the city is always a bit of a production. I think the first thing you should assess is how much you want to and can allocate towards this area. In order from most to least expensive, here are some suggestions. Just remember, you need to let your guests know well in advance (READ: when you send out your invitations) AND you should post this information on your website. For a parking plan to be effective, the message can’t be lost to your guests.
      Valet Parking: APC parking or Parking Productions will do a great job of having well groomed, uniformed valets lined up outside of your venue like a find restaurant. They will ID the nearest garage or parking area and bundle both of these services into one bill. This is orderly, convenient and apparently luxurious. It’s also $$. You are paying for those bodies as well as the parking garage, but it is the HEIGHT of hospitality if you can afford it. In your invitation on your direction card you should include the statement: Valet Parking provided. Hosting a Garage: Make arrangements with a local garage or lot and pre-pay for your guests. Estimate the number of spots you will need (usually do-able when you gauge your block and your out of state guests) and pre-pay for that number, with final bill to be settled post-wedding. In your invitation though, it’s CRITICAL that you let everyone know that this is the designer prom dresses  arrangement by saying “For your convenience parking has been arranged at blah blah blah garage.”
     An added touch is having a sign with your wedding name at the garage that says parking for blank blank wedding, courtesy of host. Suggesting a Garage/Shuttling from a garage: This is the simplest, cheapest way. Locate a garage that seems reasonable and convenient and depending on how close to the venue, consider chartering a 30 passenger shuttle to make loops between the garage and the discount prom dresses  venue for the first hour of the night and the last hour of the night. Again, pre-planning is critical- you have to let your guests know what’s what when you put your invitation together. Finally, you can let guests know of several garages, but also that there is ample street parking near the venue.