New York City is a travel destination for people around the world. It is an incredibly bustling city that never sleeps.
The Big Apple is also an ideal wedding destination, and the city does not disappoint when choosing a venue. New York City has some truly remarkable places to get hitched, but what about the couple seeking a small venue in NYC?
With the average wedding costing around $27,533 in New York, we’ll take a look at a broad range of stunning smaller options for your big occasion.
We’ve got the best small wedding venues in New York City, gardens, and even a bookstore space for good measure!
Housing Works Bookstore in Soho
This unique venue is in the neighborhood of Soho.
This quirky bookstore is designed after an Ivy League library with 20-foot ceilings, mahogany balconies, spiral staircases, and hardwood floors.
And let’s not forget about the quirky charm of having shelves of books as your wedding backdrop. This is a spacious venue that will give your small, intimate wedding a feeling of sophistication.
This historic location has many floor plans for whatever style you choose.
The venue can also handle the bridal shower and the reception.
There is a dance floor, festoon lighting, and delicate draperies. This is an ideal place to get married and celebrate your special day in style.
Typical cost: $30,000 based on 125 guests and $200 per guest for food and beverage
Capacity: Up to 175 guests
Bonus: 100% of the costs go to support homeless persons with HIV/AIDS
Find Housing Works Bookstore at Housing Works Bookstore or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Robert at the Museum of Arts and Design
Robert is a restaurant venue on top of the Museum of Arts and Design.
They designed this classic modern restaurant with entertaining in mind. If you are looking for an intimate setting with outstanding culinary acumen, this is your venue.
The eclectic decor boasts elegant lighting, chandeliers, Lucite chairs, and many other features.
There are incredible views of Central Park and Columbus circle that provide wonderful photography options.
Robert offers a planning team to ensure that your wedding day is uniquely yours.
Typical cost: $190-$225 per guest
Capacity: Up to 75 guests
Bonus: You have the option to rent the 7th-floor museum space or the MAD theatre
Find Robert at the Museum of Arts and Design at Robert NYC or check out Instagram.
City Vineyard at Pier 26
The City Vineyard is located on the Tribeca waterway and is a perfect balance of nautical motifs and the cityscape.
There is a beautiful grape arbor covering their beautiful vineyard and the rooftop features beautiful views of Manhattan and the Hudson Estuary.
The dining room is open year-round and boasts features such as leather seats, oak tables, and a handcrafted ceiling made from oak barrel staves.
They offer indoor and open-air weddings along with a fantastic wine selection. There are sommeliers on staff to help with picking a wine selection that matches your wedding theme.
Typical Cost: Pricing starts at $2,500
Capacity: Up to 50 guests
Bonus: The seasonal meals can be customized for your guests’ needs
Find City Vineyard at Pier 26 at City Winery or check out Facebook or Instagram.
PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager Hotel
PUBLIC is a sophisticated venue that boasts 20,000 feet of indoor space and 8,500 square feet of outdoor wedding space.
This venue is spectacular because it holds a 360-degree view of the magnificent cityscape. Any event is fully customizable for a personalized wedding.
The luxury hotel offers 6 rental spaces, indoor and outdoor, and separate, rentable reception spaces.
While they can host larger events, this is an elegant setting for an intimate wedding setting. Your day will be personalized and private and the stunning views are ideal for the perfect wedding photography.
With your rental, you will receive barware, a chocolate fountain, chairs, tables, and many other amenities. The hotel also rents glassware and china.
Typical cost: Packages start at $8,500
Capacity: Up to 250 guests for a standing reception and 100 guests for a seated dinner
Bonus: PUBLIC offers the best views of NYC
Find PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager Hotel, at PUBLIC or check out Facebook or Instagram.
620 Loft & Garden
This unique rooftop venue overlooks 5th Avenue and the city’s gorgeous skyline views.
They boast a well-manicured historic garden, a reflective pool, and a fountain to add magic to your ceremony.
The loft can be personalized and a portion of the gardens is tented to ensure comfort year-round.
This intimate venue is full of romance and charm and offers different views, depending on the season. A winter wedding ceremony looks out on the Rockefeller Christmas tree, while an autumn wedding offers views of the leaves changing colors.
This beautiful venue provides serenity that will make you feel like you’ve been transported miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Typical cost: Packages start at $4,950
Capacity: Up to 165 guests
Bonus: The Loft and Garden has vendors on site and all-inclusive packages that ensure a stress-free planning stage
Find 620 Loft & Garden at 620 Loft & Garden or check out Facebook or Instagram.
CIVILIAN Hotel
CIVILIAN hotel is a sophisticated venue located in the theatre district of Hell’s Kitchen.
The artistic hotel has meshed the energy of the city into its beautiful space. The 27-story hotel is just a short trek away from Times Square and is an ideal setting for a couple looking for a smaller, classy event space.
The venue offers indoor and outdoor space with rental accommodations.
CIVILIAN will help customize your wedding day to ensure a stress-free day. One of the biggest attractions of the hotel is its proximity to the heart of the city.
For those who want to be surrounded by the unique vibrancy that only NYC can offer, this venue is for you.
Typical cost: The starting site fee is $1,000 during peak season and $500 during the off-season
Capacity: Up to 50 guests
Bonus: CIVILIAN offers full ceremony amenities as part of the rental fee
Find CIVILIAN Hotel at CIVILIAN Hotel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Manhatta
Manhatta is a stunning restaurant wedding venue, perched 60 stories above Lower Manhattan.
The breathtaking views include the bridges, the waterways, and the skyline that make this a true New York City experience.
Manhatta is an open space event with wrap-around windows to allow the pure light to filter in over you and your guests.
The space is customizable, with warm, ambient lighting and hardwood floors to add the right amount of romance to your ceremony.
This space is ideal for intimate and bigger ceremonies. There is ample room for your guests to enjoy the ceremony along with a reception area.
Typical cost: There is a food and beverage minimum of $30,000 for lunch and $75,000 for dinner
Capacity: Up to 150 guests
Bonus: Manhatta has several rental spaces available, each with its own unique view of Manhattan
Find Manhatta at Manhatta Restaurant or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is a unique space on the East River in Manhattan.
The space is a former church with wonderful views of the water and is located near the historic Octagon in Roosevelt Park.
The new owners kept the stained glass windows and quarried stone walls and added modern features like 40-foot ceilings and a 30-foot marble bar. The aesthetic is stunning.
This is an ideal space for a couple looking for an open-air wedding. There are ample photography opportunities as well as walking spaces for your guests.
The Sanctuary opens onto a covered veranda with picturesque views of Roosevelt Island. Then you encounter the Terrace, a 4,000 square foot reception area, a patio, and a beautiful 3-bedroom stone house.
Typical cost: Site fee is $10,000 during peak season
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: This is an ideal site for a one-of-a-kind photoshoot wedding
Find The Sanctuary at The Sanctuary or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Bluebird London NYC
Bluebird London is a chic restaurant setting set in the heart of the city.
This eclectic venue is a perfect space for the couple who wishes to wed surrounded by the glitz of the city.
There are several rentable spaces like the private dining room with views of iconic Central Park. There is also a gallery, bar, and main dining room.
The decor is modern and chic. The interior is warm and inviting with wooden chairs and tables, and well-designed decorations on the walls.
They have a fantastic culinary team that will make your wedding dreams come true. Let the staff know what theme you are planning, and let them handle the rest.
Typical cost: The starting site rental fee is $20,000 during peak season
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Find Bluebird London NYC at Bluebird London NYC or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Freemans
Freemans is a cute restaurant setting in Freeman Alley near the Bowery on the Lower East Side of NYC.
The event is rustic and chic and has hosted thousands of weddings over its 15-year existence. The ambiance and the decor are simply unforgettable.
Freemans has several sites available for the ceremony.
The Wine Room is the restaurant’s working wine cellar that can serve as an intimate wedding venue for 10-12 guests, The Blue Room is an elegant setting for 13-20 guests, and The Red Room is the biggest setting with room for up to 40 people on the second floor.
Typical cost: Generally, a private dining room costs less than $1,900 for a small event. It is best to contact Freemans for the reservation cost
Capacity: Up to 50 guests
Bonus: The entire second floor is available to rent
Find Freemans at Freemans Restaurant or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Glasshouses
The Glasshouses is a special venue that has two locations.
The first location is on 12th avenue, and the second location, Glasshouse Chelsea, is on West 25th Street.
These modern event spaces offer luxury for any event they host.
There is floor to ceiling windows, ambient lighting, terrazzo floors, and ambient lighting. The windows offer striking views of the Hudson River, Midtown Manhattan, and downtown.
This event is ideal for a couple looking for big-city luxury for their ceremony. There are a multitude of chandeliers and the reception setup is in a class of its own.
The dining tables are glass, and the customizable lighting sets the tone for whatever theme you have in mind.
The event space provides a blank canvas that allows you to create your own space.
Typical cost: $16,000
Capacity: Up to 150 guests
Bonus: The two locations are available to rent alone or as a pair
Find The Glasshouses at The Glasshouses or check out Instagram.
Ramscale
The Ramscale Penthouse is a rooftop wedding destination in the historic West Village.
The rooftop has stunning views of Manhattan, the New York Harbor, and the Hudson River. The 3,000-square-foot studio has two elevated stages that face south.
There is a nine-foot window that allows natural light to bathe you and your guests during the ceremony.
There is also a 1,000-square-foot rustic terrace that is ideal for smaller weddings. There is a wardrobe room, a bridal suite, bathrooms, and a catering closet on site.
This is a warm and inviting space that will create perfect wedding pictures with New York’s skyscrapers as a backdrop.
Typical cost: $8,500-$10,500
Capacity: Up to 100 guests
Bonus: The stunning views offer perfect photo opportunities
Find Ramscale at Ramscale or check out Facebook or Instagram.
45 Downing
45 Downing is a historic carriage house in Greenwich Village. The fine art on the walls, stained glass windows, and grand pianos create a magical ambiance.
This intimate space is ideal for the couple seeking a small ceremony full of charm and romance.
There is an indoor and outdoor space for the ceremony, and there is also a garden with a fireplace and a large ballroom for the reception.
The high beam ceilings and antique fixtures add to the ambiance of this historic space.
The starting site fee offers plenty of amenities including a bridal suite, chairs, china, and much more.
Typical cost: The starting site fee is $3,500
Capacity: Up to 100 guests
Bonus: 45 Downing includes food and beverage service and rental amenities
Find 45 Downing at 45 Downing or check out Instagram.
