Two Chowhounds Seek Wedding Venue (Caterers too)

The great news is that we're engaged. The even better news is that we'd like to get married in Brooklyn (the other boroughs are second choices).

We would be delighted and honored for your suggestions on venue and/or catering (we're much more worried about the former than the latter). We probably need a space that can accomodate around 250 people, and we'd like a setting that feels somewhat special (as in: we're not considering any hotel ballrooms; we are considering the Botanical Gardens). Natural light is a huge plus, as is a location rental fee that won't sabotage our budget (a couple thousand bucks is fine, but we don't want to pay 20k just to walk in the door).

We're hoping to get married in October 2002, and to secure the venue pretty soon (recent discovery: here in NYC, many people reserve their wedding venues before they're even engaged).

Huge thanks,

Jodi and Ron