This story is part of “I Do” Downtown, a series on all things weddings in Lower Manhattan. Find the series here.
Weddings are a series of choices, and the most important choice you’ll make is…well, it’s probably the person you choose to marry. But the second-most important? It’s the venue, baby. Do you want to tie the knot in a gorgeous hotel ballroom? Curate the wedding of your dreams in a raw event space? Treat your guests to a feast at one of your favorite restaurants? In Lower Manhattan, we have a slew of venues ready to host the wedding of your dreams, offering everything from gorgeous views to stellar photo ops to top-of-the-line catering and decor sure to wow your guests.
Hotels
The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (123 Nassau St.)
Why choose it: The Beekman’s iconic architecture, complete with Gothic touches, a stunning nine-story atrium and private turret suites with rooftop gardens, makes it a prime setting for your special day.
Available spaces: The Beekman has both indoor and outdoor options for receptions. In the Cellar on the lower level, the Emerson Lounge makes up 3,100-square-feet when connected to the hotel’s Farnsworth and Kelly private rooms. The space is an elegant spot for a full reception, and adorned with exposed brick and terracotta walls, black-and-white tiled floors and stunning antique chandeliers.
For an outdoor wedding, the Beekman offers a full buyout of its West and East Penthouses, which give you access to the rooftop terraces that show off the building’s stunning red brick and terracotta exterior and romantic turrets.
Capacity and pricing: The whole Cellar can accommodate a maximum of 90 guests for a ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, with food-and-beverage minimums running at least $10k to $12k for a daytime reception and evening minimums running at least $21k to $24k. The rooftop buyout can accommodate a maximum of 70 guests for a ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. Rooftop pricing includes a minimum rental fee of $7,268 and a minimum food and beverage spend of at least $24k to $27k.
Vendors: Catering is handled by Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality, which also operates the Bar Room at the Beekman and the hotel’s Temple Court. The Beekman does have a preferred vendor list for rentals, florals, entertainers and other accoutrements, although outside vendors are welcome as long as they provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI).
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: The Beekman offers both bridal/getting-ready suites and room blocks for guests, the latter of which should be booked at least eight-to-12 months in advance. Getting-ready room options include standard and specialty suites, which comprise deluxe corner suites, the lavish Thompson suite and the West/East Penthouses.
Special perk: If you book a wedding at the Beekman, you can coordinate with the hotel’s marketing team to photograph in any public area, including the spectacular nine-story atrium.
The Wall Street Hotel (88 Wall St.)
Why choose it: This chic newcomer offers a curated all-in-one experience, with customizable options for bachelorette/bachelor parties, receptions and unforgettable after parties.
Available spaces: The 2,000-sq.-ft. Gerdau Ballroom on the hotel’s top floor can be fully customized for ceremonies and receptions. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views 15 floors up from street-level, and you can opt to include the hotel’s rooftop lounge with open-air terrace for an added indoor/outdoor experience.
Capacity and pricing: The Gerdau Ballroom can accommodate up to 125 guests for seated dinner and dancing. Contact the venue for pricing information.
Vendors: Bar and catering services are provided through Michelin-starred chef John Fraser’s company, JF Restaurants (Fraser helms La Marchande, the hotel’s on-site restaurant). The hotel also partners with a number of preferred vendors, including photographers, floral designers, linen rentals and even stationers, although you can also work with your own permitted vendors.
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: The hotel’s Exchange Room, a private amenity space on the 12th floor,has plenty of space for hair and makeup appointments, although there are also a number of elevated suites available to use for an additional cost. Discounted room rates are available in blocks of 10.
Special perk: The happy couple gets a complimentary Nesbitt suite on their wedding night.
Conrad New York Downtown (102 N. End Ave.)
Why choose it: This sleek Battery Park City hotel offers a range of flexible ballroom spaces that can accommodate large weddings.
Available spaces: Conrad New York Downtown has several individual event spaces that can be adapted to fit a large wedding. These include the North East Gallery, whose floor-to-ceiling windows lend themselves beautifully to a ceremony, and the 6,200-square-foot Gallery Ballroom, which features 19-foot ceilings, silk draping and plush carpeting.
Capacity and pricing: The hotel can accommodate weddings of up to 700 guests, although each event space has smaller capacities (North East Gallery: 200, Gallery Ballroom: 550, 480 seated). Site fees start at $5,500 with a minimum of 125 guests inclusive of a one-hour ceremony, a one-hour cocktail reception and four hours of dinner and dancing.
Vendors: All weddings at the Conrad New York Downtown are catered by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events group. The hotel also holds exclusive contracts with Encore Labour.
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: Though the hotel doesn’t offer complimentary bridal suites, if you book a hotel block for guests, you can score discounted rates on luxury suites, which have space for getting ready with the wedding party. The hotel offers discounted rates on blocks of up to 25 rooms per night, sometimes with larger blocks available. Pricing is subject to seasonality.
Special perk: Conrad New York Downtown has features that can serve as stunning backdrops for photos, including two marble staircases, an open-air atrium style lobby, rooftop bar Leonessa and the waterfront at Rockefeller Park.
Event Spaces
Halo (28 Liberty St.)
Why choose it: This new event venue offers up to 25,000-square feet of raw space centering sculptor Isamu Noguchi’s “Sunken Garden.” You can customize your celebration using Halo’s striking industrial aesthetic as inspiration or transforming it into the magical space of your dreams.
Available spaces: The main event space boasts 16-foot ceilings and can be divided up as needed, with ample production capability . There are a number of additional spaces available for larger parties, including the Concourse outside Halo’s main space and the plaza, which adds up to 75,000 square feet of outdoor space.
Capacity and pricing: The main event space can fit up to 750 guests, with the rental price starting at $25k for the day.
Vendors: Halo has a number of exclusive vendors, in addition to a preferred vendor list, which includes catering and design, although outside vendors are welcome.
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: The venue has a private VIP suite with room for 15 people, which would be suitable for hair and makeup appointments. A number of nearby hotels in the neighborhood offer blocks.
Special perk: The space is incredibly versatile, making it ripe for personal design, special touches and big productions.
Hall des Lumières (49 Chambers St.)
Why choose it: Located in a 28,000 square-foot Beaux-Arts masterpiece (once the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank), Hall des Lumières’s soaring ceilings and historic detailing will serve as an unforgettable setting for your celebration.
Available spaces: Hall des Lumières offers three distinct spaces across two floors that can be booked separately or combined for more space. The Historical Floor on the ground level comprises the main grand hall, with 40-foot ceilings, original architectural details and luminous Tiffany glass lights. The Modern Level on the lower level is a raw contemporary space that works well as a dance floor or afterparty area. And the smaller Vault (former bank vault) is fit for cocktail hours or photo shoots.
Capacity and pricing: The entire space can fit up to 1,000 guests for a standing reception; for a seated dinner, each floor comfortably fits about 250 to 275 guests. For a more intimate event, the Vault accommodates around 20 to 30 people. Contact the venue for pricing.
Vendors: Hall des Lumières works with a curated group of caterers you can choose based on your preferences. For other vendors, the venue recommends sticking to its preferred vendor list, although outside vendors are accepted.
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: No suites or hotel blocks here; consider booking a spacious hotel apartment at nearby Mint House (70 Pine St.) for a getting-ready space, and choosing a block of rooms from one of the neighborhood’s many hotels.
Special perk: A former digital art exhibition space, Hall des Lumières’ gorgeous architecture is highlighted by a state-of-the-art projection system. You can work with a visual effects and lighting team for dramatic photos, making your celebration a one-of-kind work of art.
Restaurants
Delmonico’s (56 Beaver St.)
Why choose it: As one of the oldest restaurants in the country, Delmonico’s will infuse your special day with a hefty dose of old world charm and glamour (plus, excellent steaks).
Available spaces: Delmonico’s has a number of private event spaces. The exquisite, dark-wood trimmed Wonder Room is fit for an elegant reception dinner, and the neighboring “Tesla’s quarters” (named after inventor Nikola Tesla, a Delmonico’s regular), provides a more intimate space for cocktail hour. The restaurant also offers buyouts of its main floor and bar and full restaurant buyouts for couples in need of a roomier celebration.
Capacity and pricing: The Wonder Room accommodates a maximum of 105 seated guests. Tesla’s quarters has a capacity of 85, with room for 40 seated guests. A main dining room/bar buyout has room for 155 seated guests, or 250 standing; a full buyout has a maximum capacity of 375 seated guests, 550 standing. Food and beverage minimums apply; contact the restaurant for details.
Vendors: Delmonico’s will handle your event’s food and beverage needs, with a number of per-person menus and beverage packages available to choose from. The restaurant has a few preferred vendors for florals and A/V equipment, but you can also bring in outside help.
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: No, but you can opt for Mint House (70 Pine St.) or one of the neighborhood’s many hotels for suites and room blocks.
Special perk: Did we mention the food? A reception at Delmonico’s can include prime filet mignon, signature rib-eye steaks, lamb chops and a sumptuous seafood tower. Don’t skimp on dessert — you can opt for the Baked Alaska, which was invented in the Delmonico’s kitchen in 1867.
Manhatta (28 Liberty St.)
Why choose it: Perched 60 floors above street level, this stunning restaurant and cocktail bar offers an unparalleled luxury wedding experience.
Available spaces: Manhatta has a number of private rooms that can be used either in part or in full for a wedding celebration, depending on guest count. The restaurant can accommodate smaller weddings in its Roebling and Harbor Rooms, whose floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular views. Manhatta suggests hosting ceremonies in the Harbor Room before moving to the Roebling Room for cocktail hour, dinner and reception.
For a larger wedding, the restaurant recommends buying out all its event spaces for a ceremony in the Roebling Room, cocktail hour in the upscale Bay Room Lounge and dinner and dancing in the Hudson Room and the Whitman Ballroom. It is also possible to buy out the entire restaurant, though its event spaces are more suited to a wedding party.
Capacity and pricing: A wedding in the Roebling and Harbor Rooms can accommodate up to 50, and has a $12,500 food and beverage minimum and a $4,000 rental fee. A full event space buyout can accommodate 50 to 175 attendees with a $75,000 food and beverage minimum (plus NYC Sales Tax and an added 24% administrative fee). A full restaurant buyout accommodates up to 100 seated guests or 175 standing guests; a lunchtime buyout comes with a $30,000 food and beverage minimum, and a dinner minimum runs $80,000.
Vendors: The restaurant’s bar and catering offers a number of wedding packages. For personal touches, Manhatta does have a preferred vendor list, although you are can bring in outside vendors for anything other than your audiovisual needs with written permission (Manhatta requires you to work with their preferred A/V vendor).
Bridal suites and hotel blocks: No bridal suites or hotel blocks here; Mint House (70 Pine St.) or one of the neighborhood’s many hotels remain excellent options in the area.
Special perk: Manhatta is known for its delicious food and drinks and sky-high views, which means your photographer is sure to get some great shots, and your guests will leave stuffed and satisfied.
main photo: Michael Errichiello and Elizabeth Silva’s wedding (photo by Chellise Michael Photography)
