If the walls in The SPACE at Au Ciel could talk, they would have a primetime slot on History. From the short-lived home of Cosmopolitan at the dawn of the 20th century, to a World War I naval munitions factory, to a silent picture studio in the Roaring ’20s, the special-event venue certainly has changed with the times. Located on the ground floor of the hilltop Trent Building in Irvington, the SPACE overlooks the Hudson River, Ramapo Mountains, and Tappan Zee Bridge.
Minoo Hersini, who also owns the separate planning and floral design company Au Ciel, describes the venue as a Manhattan meatpacking district loft in Westchester. This is the exact feel that convinced Kamila and Gwendal Goulet to celebrate their wedding at The SPACE in August 2011.
She, a yoga instructor, and he, manager of the family’s Buffet de la Gare in Hastings, wanted something that transitioned easily from dinner party to nightclub. “Au Ciel was just so different,” says Kamila, who felt the more traditional venues, while beautiful, lacked The SPACE’s “raw” nature. “It had a loft/art gallery feel, and it allowed for a more intimate setting for less than 100 people.”
Because of the size, the Goulets hosted a larger cocktail reception first at Harvest on Hudson, and then invited a smaller group over to The SPACE for a four-course dinner and dancing. They asked Events by Xaviar’s to provide the food, and hired Hersini to decorate and find a way to fit everyone at one long table. “It was not the easiest to pull off for just under 80 people, but Minoo made it happen,” says Kamila, who recommends that all brides take advantage of her “artistry” if they choose to host their big day at The SPACE.
With a dance floor, the venue can accommodate 75 people. The $4,000 site fee includes standard tables, chairs, and linens. The wedding party may choose to hire Au Ciel for event design and floristry, or to bring in another vendor.
Top photos by Minoo Hersini; Bottom photo by Arbor and Ivy Photography
