Why Families are Choosing Queens over Long Island for Their Special Events
Sometimes when deciding a venue for a wedding or sweet 16, someone’s cousin would insist that the real venues are all out in Long Island. But that story has been changing. More families are keeping their celebrations ‘in house’ as beautiful venues are building up their reputations and delivering high quality events, food, and services. After 70 years in the borough, Villa Russo has been one of the cornerstone choices that has anchored Queens as a premier choice.
Your Guests Can Actually Get There
The biggest practical reason people are choosing Queens over a Long Island location is simply the drive. If the majority of guests are local to Queens, that’s a lot of unnecessary driving or other transportation plans. Depending on how late it goes, many guests may have to book a hotel when they otherwise wouldn’t have if the special event had been in Queens.
Then, for anyone in the boroughs, they have the option to take the subway or a short cab ride. Overall, being in Queens solves a lot of logistical problems that come up when you’re planning any event outside the city.
Out-of-Town Family Lands Next Door
Actually, even for out-of-town guests, Queens is a much more convenient location. Both JFK and LaGuardia are in Queens, with more than 95 million passengers moved through the two airports in 2025.
For families flying in relatives from the other countries, that means a much simpler 20 to 30 minute ride from gate to reception, rather than a 90 minute journey down Long Island.
You're Paying for the Party, Not the Zip Code
In Queens, you’re also paying more exclusively for the event and venue itself, where Long Island venues have a ‘prestige’ price tag attached, related to their reputation. That means a budget stretches further in Queens, allowing for better decor, food, or other services. Our own ballrooms have a range of potential options for different budgets and party sizes, giving you more control over the scale of the event.
Every Tradition Is a Home Game Here
Queens is also one of the most diverse counties in America, and the types of celebrations that are catered to here show it. Many venues are well-versed in all kinds of events and food options, from a Quinceañera vals or a West Indian menu. Our kitchen is able to cater to a wide variety of options, including Spanish, Polish, and Indo-Caribbean, beyond our speciality Mediterranean and Italian fare.
The Borough Has the Receipts
Long Island venues are beautiful. Nobody's arguing otherwise. But it’s all the other benefits of holding an event in Queens that has shifted many people back toward the city.
Between travel savings, more costly venues, more food options, and convenience, the reasons to stay closer to home have begun to outweigh the value of travelling further out.
Come tour our ballrooms at Villa Russo and see whether the drive east still feels worth it.
