The perfect wedding venue can be hard to find with so many options, especially in a city as large and fabulous as New York—it’s like finding a needle in a haystack! But if you’re looking for something a little different from your standard cocktail hour in a grand ballroom to dazzle your wedding guests, you’ve come to the right place. Our selection of Midtown Manhattan venues will do just that.
Every couple’s idea of a romantic wedding looks a little different. From a garden oasis with contemporary decor to a rooftop space on the New York City skyline, we can certainly help you say “I do” in style, no matter what your personal style is.
They say your venue will account for one of the largest parts of your wedding budget, but it doesn’t have to! Giggster is dedicated to connecting you with NYC’s fairytale wedding venues at the lowest cost possible. Even if you decide to raise the bar and splurge a little, you want to know you’re getting the best value for your dollar, and that’s where we come in.
With lesser-known spaces harbouring an exclusive, intimate atmosphere alongside an iconic venue beloved for its modern luxury on the Giggster app, your choices are practically unlimited. So let’s get planning, shall we?
If a unique wedding venue is on your priority list, you’ve come to the right place. With sophisticated event spaces like these, you’re sure to fall in love in a New York minute:
Celebrate the golden age of New York with an art deco reception at an underground speakeasy. Full of Great Gatsby grandeur, expert mixologists, velvet chaises and smooth jazz, this unexpected venue is the perfect match for couples with a sophisticated sense of style and appreciation for the finer things.
Infuse some countryside into your city celebration! Our garden venues are picture-perfect with lush green foliage and blooms of all shapes and sizes. This selection of courtyards, private backyards, and glass-walled greenhouses is a stunning way to make florals the focal point of your big day.
Don’t settle for a boring dinner on the most important day of your life. Instead, do something totally New York and head to a local pizzeria. This foodie-approved venue is guaranteed to help your wedding stand out from the rest this nuptial season.
For an effortlessly show-stopping affair, turn to downtown Manhattan’s brownstones and historic estates. Boasting small formal ballrooms, intimate dining areas full of fine crystal and ornate curving staircases worthy of your dramatic entrance, every moment here is sure to make an impact.
Want a setting that feels expensive without being over the top? A private loft gallery, a staple of the Big Apple’s arts scene, will take you from ceremony to cocktail soiree with ease.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: When it comes to the most stunning venues that New York City offers, you’ve come to the right place. We have 1780 Manhattan wedding venues to choose from that are sure to provide an unforgettable backdrop for your big day.
Hassle-Free Booking: The last thing your wedding planning process needs is an unnecessary holdup booking your venue. The Giggster app is optimized so you can secure your rental in just a few clicks, and at a great price too! Our favorite Manhattan wedding venues start at just $17/hour!
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Run into a snag securing your other vendors for your top choice date? We’ll give you 24 hours from the time your reservation is confirmed to cancel without penalty, as long as your wedding is more than 48 hours away!
Platform Protections: Did you know that we offer protection plans that you can add onto any rental, so our team handles any damage, disruption, and liability concerns while you jetset off to your honeymoon? That’s right, the most incredible wedding venues in Manhattan, like the alluring Expansive Skyline Loft - Connected Studio Space, are now at your fingertips, risk- and stress-free.
Every city has its own personality (for better and for worse), and in New York, New York, the same is true for every ‘burb and ‘borough. Understanding these quirks is the key to running smooth events, so we’ve created a quick breakdown of everything you need to know before making the big commitment to Manhattan.
Advantages
Between the rehearsal dinner the night before and the morning after brunch, not to mention that oh-so-special first night as a married couple, a stay in a historic hotel with exceptional service is a must. Thankfully, there are tons of them around including the infamous Beverly Hotel, Soho Grand Hotel, Highline Hotel, and Plaza Hotel.
Want to turn your wedding weekend into a wedding week? Add these iconic landmarks and attractions to your pre-honeymoon itinerary: World Trade Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York Public Library, Theatre District, and more!
There’s no shortage of natural landmarks to enjoy either! Take your first walk hand-in-hand as a married couple through Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, or along the banks of the Hudson River.
Disadvantages
Traffic congestion in Manhattan is an understatement. You can take a taxi, but be sure to add a lot of wiggle room into your schedule if you don’t want to end up late to the most important date of your life.
This is one of New York's more expensive areas, so be sure your budget can accommodate mark-ups on vendors and all the little extras we tend to forget about when building our initial spreadsheet.
Manhattan is surprisingly noisy, although this isn’t a unique feature of the borough. Venues across almost all of NYC will experience similar issues, but just be mindful if you’re planning an intimate ceremony outdoors that you might want to be mic'd up for your vows.
Whether you’re after a hidden gem with an intimate vibe or exclusive access for a large group to a historic landmark, allow us to introduce you to some industry highlights. With oodles of standout venue features, these striking spaces are sure to impress at your wedding ceremony and reception both.
Places of Worship – A Divine Atmosphere. Churches, chapels, temples and synagogues…the historic places of worship across the city deserve some serious consideration—even if you don’t consider yourself to be an overly religious person. With Gothic revival architecture, striking arched windows, and more-is-more interiors, these venues are guaranteed to make a major impact.
Rooftops – Big Sky and Bright Lights. There's something so undeniably chic about a rooftop ceremony and reception. Nestled between architectural staples of the Manhattan skyline—highrises and historic masterpieces—you’ll dance the night away to the symphony of taxicabs and New York Streets below. Don’t overdo it! Just choose a modern arch, a classic bouquet and the rest will speak for itself.
Library Rooms – Old-World Venues for New School Microweddings. Perfect for the bookish bride, young philosophers, and the hopeless romantic with their nose always in an Austen, these literary venues exude “academia”. We’ve never seen such an intimate setting for a wedding dinner, with a single private dining table set against walls lined with collector's editions and clothbound prints.
Yachts – Nautical Nuptials. Say “I do” on the most exclusive scenic tour in the big city. Set sail on a luxurious, multi-level river cruise and marvel at the romance of the Manhattan skyline all lit up. You can kick things off with a deckside ceremony, your dress and hair blowing in the breeze, before retiring to dining rooms and dance floors with panoramic windows so you don’t have to miss a thing.
Night Clubs – Pop Some Bottles. It might sound crazy, but if your guest list is full of party animals, why not bring your reception straight to the Manhattan clubbing scene? Change into something short and sparkly, hire the best DJ in the city and throw down under the flashing lights. You can always pair this with a tamer cocktail reception for family and have a raging afterparty with friends when the clock strikes midnight.
You don’t need a fancy degree in event planning to craft an unforgettable wedding experience so leave your inhibitions at the door! Just start with the perfect venue from the Giggster app and then put these planning process optimization tips to good use!
Bring the Manhattan Feeling to Your Other Wedding Events – Whether you choose an event space in a historic building downtown for your engagement parties and rehearsal dinners, or you simply include little watercolour NYC motifs on all your stationery, setting the tone for the grand finale of your wedding day early will help get everyone in the right mood.
Nail Down Your Photography and Videography Timelines – For many, capturing these precious moments is of the utmost priority, especially when the final results are modern art you can proudly display in your home forever. The thing a lot of couples don’t realize until they start building their wedding day timelines, however, is that creativity takes time. If you want jaw-dropping, magazine-worthy imagery of your event, you’ll need to dedicate some serious time to it and this might require sacrificing time elsewhere (like getting ready at ungodly hour of the morning, or sneaking away during dinner to catch the glowy goodness of golden hour).
Skip the Signature Cocktail and Serve a Signature Snack Instead – Why not do something unexpected at cocktail hour? Rather than distributing a his and hers beverage and boring passed hors d'oeuvres, pass around trays of your favorite foods. Not only is this a totally fun way to personalize your big day, but you can have little boxes prepared for you ahead of time so you can nibble away between family photos or break into later as a midnight snack when you retire to your hotel room.
Make the Most of Your Spacious Dance Floor – If you want to get your guests moving and grooving, you’ll want a good band or DJ in your entertainment plan. But what can you do beyond that to ensure your wedding reception is an all-night long party? Wild and crazy couples may bring in bottle girls or live Cirque-de-Soleil inspired performers, while tamer couples might bring in a life-size Jenga and chess set to keep the non-dancers in on the action.
Manhattan isn’t exactly known for being New York’s most affordable area, and neither is New York City known for being the country’s most affordable city. Pair this with standard wedding industry markups and you’ve got the perfect recipe for blowing your budget out of the water. Don’t let financial stress get in the way of your grand wedding celebrations, however. These money saving tips will help get spending back under control.
Choose a single venue with multiple event spaces.
You’d be surprised how much you’ll save if you can transition between ceremony, cocktail hour and reception without switching spaces. Not only will you likely save additional rental/booking/cleaning fees, but you may even save on additional hours (which you’ll need for setup) and transportation between the two (both for the couple of honor and guests). When it comes to saving money, a versatile venue can go a long way.
Go small.
Intimate weddings are all the rage right now, and for a lot of young couples, it’s only a sense of obligation that keeps them from saying “screw it” and eloping. Why not meet yourself somewhere in the middle with a micro wedding? Tying the knot modern-style, with just you and 10-30 of your closest loved ones will save you some serious cash, and some serious planning stress.
Choose a space that’s naturally pretty.
Whether this means floor-to-ceiling windows and premium views or an elegant space dripping in crystal chandeliers, a venue that comes fully decorated can carve an entire section out of your budget.
Ready to lock down a downtown Manhattan rental that will add some drama to your coveted wedding photos? Whether you’re looking for a historic venue with a terrace room for your reception dinner or an elegant backdrop for your ceremony with contemporary decor, the Giggster app has only Manhattan’s finest to choose from.
