As New York wedding planners, we have a deep love for iconic wedding venues and find joy in helping brides plan their perfect day across these locations. You may be thinking, how much were the weddings that Liv & Emma were fighting over in Bride Wars, really? Or the wedding that Carrie planned before Big left her at the altar? In this guide, we’re outlining some of New York’s most famous wedding venues, their capacities, and minimum overall budgets you should have to get married there.
The New York Public Library
Location: Midtown Manhattan
Capacity: Up to 750 cocktail-style, or 425 seated, depending on the space rental
Cost: Recommended overall budget of at least $600k. Most weddings at the New York Public Library exceed the $800k-1m mark
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Capacity: Up to 800 cocktail-style, or 250 for a seated dinner
Requirements: $60k+ yearly donation to be a high-level donor with event access
Cost: Recommended overall budget of at least $800k, with most weddings at the Met exceeding $1m.
The Rainbow Room
Location: Midtown Manhattan
Capacity: Up to 600 cocktail-style, 300 for a seated dinner
Cost: Recommended budget of at least $300k for weddings at the Rainbow Room.
The Museum of Natural History
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
Capacity: Up to 1,500 cocktail-style or 800 for a seated dinner
Cost: Recommended budget of at least $800k, with most Natural History Museum wedding costs exceeding the $1m-2m mark, especially those with higher guest counts.
The Plaza Hotel
Location: Midtown Manhattan
Capacity: 500 for a seated dinner
Cost: Recommended overall budget for Plaza weddings is at least $500,000 for 350 guests.
New York Wedding Planner | Brittney Bartling | BLB Events
Planning a wedding in an iconic New York wedding venue requires more than just vision—it demands expertise and flawless execution. That’s where we come in. As a full-service wedding planning team, we specialize in curating elevated, multi-day wedding experiences that reflect your style while keeping everything on track and within reach. We'll help you define your vision, determine a realistic budget, and assess if your dream weekend aligns with the logistics and costs of a high-end celebration in this region. If you're serious about hosting a wedding here - let’s connect!
Photos by Studio León, Allan Zepada Photography, Madamoiselle Fiona.
