How Much Does a Wedding at the New York Public Library Cost?

As New York City wedding planners who have worked at many different iconic wedding venues and know top tier wedding vendors, we’ve spent years curating unforgettable, elevated celebrations for couples who dream of celebrations their guests will never forget. We’ve had the privilege of working with high-end budgets, transforming iconic spaces into breathtaking experiences where every single detail is intentional, refined, and flawlessly executed.

Few places capture the magic of Manhattan quite like the New York Public Library. It’s classic and grand, and if you know the New York wedding scene, you know the New York Public Library. Steeped in history and architectural grandeur, it’s more than just a venue; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime setting worthy of planning every single tiny detail, down to the script on your wedding menu. From its sweeping marble staircases to the storied halls, every corner invites romance and luxury, but it doesn’t come without a high cost & need for an expert planning team.

Hosting your wedding here is an unmatched, luxurious experience, so you want your wedding design & flow of the celebration to reflect that. With a $75,000 rental fee alone, and total budgets often exceeding $1 million, it’s a setting that demands the expertise of a team that knows exactly how to bring such a magnificent space to life. We’ve navigated the intricacies of this venue, collaborated with the industry’s top creative partners, and designed celebrations that feel as timeless as the library itself.

If you’ve been dreaming of saying “I do” in one of New York’s most extraordinary landmarks (you know, the one Big never showed up to), we would be honored to help you make it happen, beautifully, seamlessly, and beyond your expectations.

Venue & Rentals: $150,000

Venue: The rental fee for the New York Public Library for a 5-hour event during peak season on a Saturday is about $75,000. This just includes access to the space, so all rentals (tables, chairs, linens, dance floor, etc.) must be brought in separately.

Rentals: To fill the entire space for ~250 guests (the Library can accomodate a higher guest count if desired), expect to spend about $300pp ($75,000 total). Lots of rentals need to be brought in, and you’re required to use NYPL’s vendor list which are mostly high-end vendors.

Catering & Alcohol: $113,000

Catering: A luxury caterer in NYC will average between $300-400pp. For 250 guests, this comes out to about $95,000.

Alcohol: The venue will provide the alcohol for your wedding, so expect another $75pp for a premium bar package, coming out to about an additional $18,000.

Florals & Planner: $185,000+

Florist: A full-service florist will provide florals and design for the ceremony, centerpieces, aisle arrangements, cocktail arrangements, bar pieces, personals, escort card table, cake flowers, etc. Expect to spend about $85,000 for lush and beautiful florals for all parts of your wedding day.

Wedding Planner: A luxury planner will charge about 20% of your overall spend for their planning fee. Most weddings at the NYPL end up in the $600k to $1m range, so expect to spend at least $100,000 on your full-service planner.

Photo & Video: $32,000

Photography: For a luxury photographer for 8-10 hours, expect to spend at least $20,000.

Videography: Expect to spend about $12,000 or more for 8-10 hours of videography.

Dessert & Music: $42,500

Dessert: For an elaborate and artful cake for 250 guests, expect to spend about $30pp, so $7,500 total.

Music: The Library has multiple different rooms for different parts of your wedding day, so you’ll need a few different groups for music for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. A 12+ piece band to cover all three parts will cost about $35,000.

Stationery & Beauty: $23,000

Stationery: For a full custom suite, including invitations, save the dates, signage, place cards, and menus, plan to spend about $15,000 for a high-end stationer.

Hair & Makeup: For the bride + 7 others, expect to spend about $8,000 on luxury hair and makeup.

Transportation & Production: $50,000+

Transportation: To provide the easiest and most comfortable experience for your guests, consider providing transportation to and from the venue from your hotel blocks. This will cost about $20,000 for 250 guests.

Lighting & Production: This venue requires lots of additional lighting, sound, and production to be brought in. This cost would start at about $25,000, but could easily be much more.

Now you know what it takes to plan & design a wedding at one of New York City’s most extraordinary venues, and we understand these prices may overwhelm you just a tiny bit! So, the next step is finding the right team to bring your vision to life, which is honestly one of the most crucial steps before you book this venue. Cue BLB Events, that’s us, your new best friends to make this dream a reality for you!

MEET YOUR DREAM NYC PLANNING TEAM—

BLB EVENTS

Our expertise with high-end budgets, iconic spaces, and world-class vendor teams ensures that your celebration at the New York Public Library will be flawlessly executed and truly unforgettable. If you’re ready to begin planning your dream wedding in this breathtaking Manhattan landmark, we’d be honored to guide you every step of the way. We are more than ready to bring your vision to life.

Photos by Raquel Reis, Jessica Bellinger Photography, and Allan Zepeda Photography.