The Plaza

Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA

Capacity: Up to 500 seated guests; spaces vary for intimate to large-scale celebrations

Best For: Gilded Age glamour, high-society galas, black-tie receptions, and quintessential Manhattan luxury

PHOTO: theplazahotel

The Plaza is the undisputed crown jewel of New York City hospitality and an iconic choice for couples dreaming of classic Fifth Avenue grandeur. Positioned right across from the southern edge of Central Park, this century-old landmark has hosted legendary high-society weddings, galas, and cultural milestones for generations.

The hotel’s Grand Ballroom boasts soaring ceilings, ornate gold-leaf relief work, and dazzling crystal chandeliers, offering an atmosphere of pure opulence for ceremonies and lavish seated dinners. Paired with the romantic architecture of the Terrace Room and the timeless charm of the Palm Court, celebrations here transition seamlessly from dramatic vow exchanges to late-night revelry. For couples seeking a white-glove Manhattan experience surrounded by vintage grandeur and luxury suites, The Plaza delivers an unmatched legacy of romance.

Cipriani 42nd Street

Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA

Capacity: Up to 850 seated guests; up to 1,200 for cocktail-style receptions

Best For: Monumental architectural scale, high-capacity weddings, dramatic productions, and world-class Italian dining

PHOTO: ciprianievents

Housed within the monumental 1921 Bowery Savings Bank building directly across from Grand Central Terminal, Cipriani 42nd Street offers dramatic Italian Renaissance volume rarely found in modern urban settings. The space transforms wedding receptions into cinematic spectacles defined by grand proportions and soaring vertical scale.

With 65-foot-high ceilings, majestic marble columns, intricately inlaid limestone floors, and grand crystal chandeliers, the venue naturally frames elaborate staging and high-energy celebrations. Guests are treated to Cipriani’s globally celebrated hospitality, including signature Bellinis, classic Venetian cuisine, and seamless service. It is an extraordinary setting for couples planning large, high-impact celebrations where historic banking hall majesty meets high-fashion luxury.

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel

Location: Upper East Side, New York City, USA

Capacity: Up to 350 seated guests; flexible ballrooms for multi-part celebrations

Best For: Upper East Side sophistication, bespoke service, classic ballrooms, and refined Central Park view.

PHOTO: thepierreny  @aneeatelier

Overlooking Central Park from the corner of Fifth Avenue and 61st Street, The Pierre embodies refined Upper East Side elegance and quiet luxury. Since opening in the 1930s, this legendary hotel has offered couples an intimate yet grand setting steeped in New York pedigree and impeccable service.

The Grand Ballroom showcases trompe l’œil ceilings, silvery metallic accents, and grand chandeliers, framing dinner and dancing with effortless poise. Adjacent to it, the Rotunda—famed for its sweeping, romantic hand-painted murals by Edward Melcarth—serves as one of the most photogenic ceremony and cocktail spaces in the city. The Pierre is the premier choice for couples who value personalized service, heritage-rich ballrooms, and an elevated Upper East Side ambiance.

Oheka Castle

Location: Huntington, Long Island, New York, USA

Capacity: Up to 400 seated guests; extensive outdoor lawns for larger tented celebrations

Best For: French château elegance, European-style garden weddings, estate buyouts, and dramatic bridal photography.

PHOTO: ohekacastle. Anna Panutsa

Resting on the highest point of Long Island's historic Gold Coast, Oheka Castle is the second-largest private residence ever built in America. Designed in the 1910s with classic French Renaissance architecture, this majestic estate feels entirely removed from the bustle of the city, offering a transportive European castle ambiance just an hour outside Manhattan.

The estate features formal French parterre gardens complete with reflecting pools, sculpted fountains, and sprawling lawns that set the scene for dramatic outdoor ceremonies. Inside, the Grand Ballroom, marble foyers, and winding wrought-iron staircases provide an opulent setting for dinner and dancing. With luxury guest rooms on-site, Oheka Castle allows couples to host an exclusive weekend estate retreat defined by Gatsby-era luxury.

Canoe Place Inn & Cottages

Location: Hampton Bays, Long Island, New York, USA

Capacity: Up to 350 seated guests in the Grand Ballroom; boutique spaces for intimate gatherings

Best For: Coastal Hamptons chic, historic resort buyouts, weekend retreats, and relaxed luxury

PHOTO: canoeplace  @gracetorresphoto

Situated on the canal waters of Hampton Bays, Canoe Place Inn & Cottages is recognized as America's oldest continuously operating inn, beautifully reimagined as a sophisticated coastal gathering place. It blends heritage architecture with breezy, modern Hamptons design, making it an ideal destination for relaxed, multi-day wedding weekends.

The property’s Grand Ballroom features soaring vaulted ceilings, warm wood finishes, and large windows that flood the room with natural coastal light. Outside, manicured courtyards, terrace gardens, and water-facing lawns host open-air ceremonies and cocktail hours. With private guest cottages, luxury suites, and a focus on fresh, seasonal regional cuisine, Canoe Place captures the effortless, sun-drenched spirit of the East End.

The Sagamore Resort

Location: Bolton Landing, Lake George, New York, USA

Capacity: Up to 300 seated guests; diverse indoor ballrooms and open-air lakeside lawns

Best For: Adirondack lakeside romance, scenic mountain backdrops, full-service resort weddings, and multi-day celebrations

PHOTO: thesagamoreresort @michellelangephoto

Perched on a private 70-acre island in the Adirondack Mountains, The Sagamore Resort has been a premier lakeside retreat along Lake George since 1883. It combines the historic charm of a vintage Great Camp estate with the expansive amenities of a world-class luxury resort.

Ceremonies are often held directly on the shoreline or overlooking the waters from the Shelving Rock Terrace, where the Adirondack peaks frame the background. Receptions seamlessly transition to the historic ballroom or the glass-walled lakefront pavilion. Complete with private boat charters on the Morgan, a championship golf course, and lakeside guest lodges, The Sagamore offers an immersive retreat for couples seeking nature, heritage, and serene mountain waters.

The Central Park Boathouse

Location: Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, USA

Capacity: Up to 220 seated guests; up to 400 for cocktail receptions

Best For: Iconic park romance, waterfront dining in the city, verdant photo backdrops, and timeless NYC charm

PHOTO: nycboathouse

The Central Park Boathouse is one of the most beloved and romantic landmarks in all of Manhattan. Nestled quietly along the edge of the lake inside Central Park, it offers couples an open-air, nature-filled waterside setting right in the geographic heart of the city.

The dining room features wooden beam ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and an expansive waterside deck where guests can sip cocktails as vintage wooden rowboats glide across the water. Couples benefit from immediate access to iconic park portrait spots, including Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge, just a short stroll away. It is a one-of-a-kind venue that captures the literary, romantic essence of New York across every season.

Glenmere Mansion

Location: Chester, Hudson Valley, New York, USA

Capacity: Up to 350 seated guests with custom tenting; boutique indoor salons for intimate groups

Best For: Tuscan-style villa romance, private estate buyouts, bespoke garden ceremonies, and tranquil countryside luxury

PHOTO: glenmeremansion @danielcolvinphotography @alessandraparksphoto

Tucked away in the rolling hills of the lower Hudson Valley, Glenmere Mansion is an extraordinary 150-acre country estate reminiscent of a grand Italian hillside villa. Designed in the Gilded Age, its distinctive pale blue-and-cream facade, terracotta roofs, and manicured Italianate gardens make it one of the most exclusive estate venues in the region.

Ceremonies take place amid formal terraced gardens, stone archways, and sweeping meadows overlooking Glenmere Lake. Larger celebrations are hosted on the manicured estate grounds beneath custom sailcloth tents, while intimate dinners take place within the mansion's frescoed salons. Operating as an ultra-exclusive luxury hotel with world-class dining and a private spa, Glenmere provides an opulent European countryside atmosphere just fifty miles from New York City.

620 Loft & Garden

Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA

Capacity: Up to 120 seated guests; up to 165 for cocktail-style receptions

Best For: Skyline garden ceremonies, intimate rooftop elegance, dramatic architectural photography, and evening cocktail soirees

PHOTO: 620loftgarden @boshimphoto alinatoevents

Elevated seven stories above Fifth Avenue atop Rockefeller Center, 620 Loft & Garden is an extraordinary urban sanctuary that pairs an intimate indoor loft with a lush, manicured rooftop garden. It offers an exclusive vantage point found nowhere else in Manhattan, putting guests directly eye-level with the city's greatest architectural monuments.

The garden features manicured boxwood hedges, a reflective fountain pool, and stone balustrades framing an unobstructed, direct view of the gothic spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the surrounding Midtown towers. The adjacent interior loft is a bright, customizable gallery space with hardwood floors and expansive windows. Perfect for stylish, intimate ceremonies and sunset cocktail receptions, 620 Loft & Garden represents modern Manhattan rooftop romance at its finest.

Sands Point Preserve

Location: Sands Point, Long Island, New York, USA

Capacity: Up to 300 seated guests inside Hempstead House; expansive lawn space

for large-scale tented events

Best For: Gold Coast Gatsby grandeur, historic manor weddings, dramatic waterfront cliff backdrops, and cinematic photography

PHOTO: sandspointpreserve ashephotography

Set on a 216-acre estate along the cliffs of the Long Island Sound, Sands Point Preserve is the quintessential embodiment of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "East Egg." The preserve is home to two monumental Gold Coast mansions—Hempstead House, a 1912 Tudor-style limestone manor, and Castle Gould, an imposing stone fortress inspired by Ireland’s Kilkenny Castle.

Hempstead House features a grand entry foyer, walnut-paneled library, carved stone fireplaces, and an airy sunken Palm Court with leaded glass windows. Beyond the house, expansive lawns and stone balustrade terraces overlook the waters of the Long Island Sound, creating a dramatic coastal backdrop for ceremonies. For couples dreaming of historic architecture, vast private grounds, and authentic Gatsby-era opulence, Sands Point Preserve offers an unforgettable historic stage.