Wedding Restaurants for Rent in New York City, NY

Your Guide to Renting Wedding Restaurants in New York City, NY

When it comes to finding the ideal NYC restaurant to organize your wedding, you’re in for a treat! The city is famous for its diversity and world-class dining scene, so picking the place that has fantastic ambiance and serves earth-shattering food is just a matter of time! It might happen so that you feel a bit lost and don’t know how to find the right place, or you’ve started doubting whether the venue of the first choice is the right match for you and want to check out other options. But we’re here to resolve any doubts! Take a look at our tips and find the wedding restaurant of your dreams in a jiffy.

Guide to NYC wedding restaurants:

• Set the budget. Having an established budget is the cornerstone of any planning process and it’ll help you during the wedding restaurant hunt without a doubt. First things first, take some time to sit down with your partner and calculate how much you’ll be able to spend on your big day: the restaurant rental, vendors, decorations, etc. Then think of your must-haves and dreams. Write everything down and check whether the options you’ve picked match your financial expectations. A set budget will allow you to organize an unforgettable wedding without having to break the bank.

• Save the date. Have you already marked the perfect date in your calendar? If not, then hurry! Picking the date as early as possible will give you a chance to discover plenty of venues, compare offers and secure a restaurant that will cater to your needs and budget. It’s also incredibly important to secure your day early if you want to get married during peak season (anytime between May and October) or on a Saturday.

• Make a guest list. List every single person that cannot be missed when you tie the knot, but don’t go too crazy with the amount of people you want to invite. Remember that wedding restaurants don’t have the same capacity as other wedding venues, such as banquet halls, so we suggest you keep the number of guests between 30 to 70 people. If the restaurant is really spacious, it will be able to comfortably accommodate even 100 individuals. Once you’ve made the guest list, you will be able to eliminate those venues that won’t fit your desired number of guests. To make the search even easier, use our smart filters!

• Plan out the size and space. Once you have your guest list ready, you can take further steps, for example, and figure out the seating arrangements. Some restaurants are flexible when it comes to layout while others are not, so make sure you know what's what before you book the space. Your wedding should be all about you, but don’t forget about your guests’ comfort as well. Keep in mind that they will enjoy the experience much more if they’re not squeezed, so ask the venue manager which seating layout works best with their venue. And don’t forget about the dance floor! If you want to show off those signature dance moves after dinner is over, you should either make a room for a dance floor or hire one - whatever you decide on, it has to be discussed with the manager to find the best solution.

• Decide on decor. One of the biggest advantages of hosting a wedding in a restaurant? It provides a fantastic decor, so you won’t have to worry about decorating the space from scratch! NYC’s restaurants have unique and distinctive interiors, so you can pick the one that suits your taste and style of the wedding the most. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t add any personal touches to the venue! Ask the venue manager whether you can customize the restaurant a bit by setting up flower arrangements, candles, fairy lights, a guest book, etc.

• Think of the location. Remember: location is incredibly important. After all, you don’t want your guests to commute for hours and arrive at the reception in grumpy moods, do you? That’s why we always recommend picking a venue that has a parking lot nearby, great transportation links and can essentially be reached without any major problems. If you’re planning to host your wedding slightly further from Manhattan, let’s say somewhere in Long Island, make sure to inform everyone early enough so that they can plan their transportation.

• Pick a menu. And finally the most exciting part: food! In New York City you’ll have a blast when looking at various food options for your reception! You can either decide on your favorite cuisine and create a menu based on those dishes, or head off the beaten path and pick a not-so-obvious menu! No matter what you choose in the end, we’re sure your guests’ palates will be spoiled. But in case you’re still unsure what food your menu should include, how about arranging tasting sessions? Take your partner for a round of dates at plenty of restaurants you’re interested in and find the one that steals your stomachs!

FAQs about Wedding Restaurants in New York City, NY

How far in advance should I secure a restaurant for my wedding in NYC?

We suggest you do it at least one year before the wedding. However, start the search as soon as possible. New York is a busy city where people get married every single day, so the venue market can be very competitive. Check what type of wedding restaurants you can find in the Big Apple and consider which offer suits you best.

What is included in the venue booking confirmation?

When renting a venue through an online platform, you will find all of the information and options listed on the venue’s page. If not, here are some of the things that should be provided: the date and time of the event, the full address, contact information to the venue staff, AV requirements and catering arrangement. If you have agreed on specific arrangements with the venue manager, all of the additional information will also be included in the confirmation.

How much does it cost to rent a wedding restaurant in NYC?

In NYC, you’ll find different types of rental options. You can either rent the venue for just a few hours (and pay hourly fee) or opt for special per-person packages. Hourly rates range between $75 and $350+, while per-person packages are on the cheaper side and start on average at $45. (Based on data from Tagvenue.)

What is the best season to organize a wedding?

It all depends on your vision and whether you’d like an indoor or outdoor wedding. If you’re thinking of a celebration under the sky, we suggest spring or summer to ensure the weather doesn’t play tricks on you and nobody freezes during the party. But if you’re only thinking about an indoor wedding, then feel free to get hitched anytime!