A New York City Wedding; What Does it Really Cost?
Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker, a recent transplant, or a frequent visitor enchanted by its energy, New York City offers an unparalleled backdrop for a wedding. But with its prestige comes a question many couples ask: Is a wedding in NYC truly attainable? At LLG Events, we’re here to provide a clear, expert breakdown of what a luxury wedding in NYC really costs—based on years of experience planning high-end events across the city. From guest count and seasonality to vendor selection and the impact of inflation, we’ll walk you through every key factor influencing your wedding budget.
VENUE
You may have chosen New York City as your wedding destination, but the venue decision is just beginning. NYC is home to a vast collection of iconic wedding venues—each offering its own blend of historic elegance, cinematic fame, and architectural grandeur. From legendary ballrooms to cultural landmarks, many top-tier venues come with a rich backstory and book up quickly, often over a year in advance. In fact, many of our clients planning 2023 weddings had to shift to 2024 due to limited availability—unless, of course, a Wednesday in February suits your vision.
Numbers are based on Saturdays for 200 Guests
Low/Off Season (December-April) - $75,000.00+ 24% admin fee + site fees + taxes
High/Peak Season (May-October) - $100,000.00+ 24% admin fee + site fees + taxes
Photo Credit: Shawn Connell
VENdor tiers
At LLG Events, we put our preferred vendor list into a 6 star rating system that allows us to provide the best referrals based on the client’s overall wedding budget. We rate our vendors based on the following criteria:
Years/experience level within in the industry
Price
Services offered
Capabilities of their team
Size of their team
Quality of service
Consistency
Professionalism
At LLG Events, we empower our clients to strategically prioritize their wedding investments. Our vendor rating system offers a transparent framework—allowing couples to evaluate 3-star, 5-star, and even 6-star options based on quality, prestige, and alignment with their vision. For instance, some may choose to splurge on a top-tier floral designer while selecting a more modest stationery partner, or opt for a premier live band while selecting a leaner videography package.
While your budget is defined by your financial preferences, your spend is driven by the cost of the vendors you wish to hire. Without a clear understanding of vendor pricing tiers, it’s impossible to develop a realistic wedding budget—especially for high-caliber professionals in a market like New York City. That’s where a seasoned wedding planner becomes essential.
Below, we outline estimated costs for key luxury wedding vendors. However, true budget management goes far beyond numbers. With LLG’s full-service planning, we provide complete financial guidance, strategic vendor selection, and hands-on coordination from start to finish.
Contact us today to learn more about crafting a wedding budget that aligns with your vision and values.
Understanding Catering Costs for Your NYC Wedding
When it comes to catering, your venue’s policy plays a major role in both flexibility and cost. Some New York City wedding venues include in-house catering or work exclusively with a preferred caterer, while others allow you to bring in an outside catering company. Each option comes with its own pricing structure and level of menu customization.
Per-person costs vary significantly depending on whether the package includes food only or both food and full-service beverage. For those selecting an external caterer, we always recommend a tasting—typically priced between $150–$250 per person. If you proceed with the caterer, the tasting fee is usually applied to your final invoice.
We advise limiting tastings to no more than three caterers. In most cases, the first tasting offers a strong indicator of whether the flavor, service, and style align with your vision. Additional tastings should only be pursued if the initial experience falls short of expectations.
Based on 200 Guests
Pricing ranges:
Low - mid tier caterer - $175.00 - $225.00 per person
Mid - upper tier caterer - $225.00 - $375.00 per person
Top tier caterer - $375.00+
*Caveat - cake is typically not included in a caterer’s menu. Outside cake vendors range from $3,000.00-$10,000.00++ depending on vendor tier, style, number of guests, and cost per slice.
Photo Credit: Susan Shek
Photo Credit: Greg Finck
FLORAL Design
Bright lights, big city—and even bigger floral budgets. In New York City, weddings are anything but subtle. From extravagant centerpieces to dramatic lighting design, florals and production are often among the most significant line items in a luxury wedding budget.
Most premier indoor venues in NYC—often historic ballrooms or landmark properties—require couples to use their exclusive lighting vendors. These spaces, while iconic, often benefit from design embellishments to create a more contemporary or immersive atmosphere. Think large-scale floral installations, suspended chandeliers, and transformative uplighting.
When budgeting, remember the cost goes well beyond blooms and bulbs. You’ll also need to factor in:
Labor & Delivery
Installation & Breakdown
Insurance Certificates
Overtime Fees
Taxes & Administrative Costs
These fees typically add 20% to 35% on top of the base production and floral cost.
Based on 200 Guests (Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception)
Low Tier - $60,000.00++
Mid Tier - $85,000.00++
Upper Tier - $100,000.00++
Lighting + Production
Based on 200 Guests (Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception)
Low Tier - $10,000.00++
Mid Tier - $20,000.00++
Upper Tier - $35,000.00++
Photo Credit: Ein Photography
What to Know About Wedding Rentals in NYC Venues
In many of New York City’s most prestigious wedding venues, the rental of the space itself is just the beginning. These “raw space” venues often require you to bring in nearly everything—including ceremony seating, cocktail hour furnishings, dinner tables and chairs, kitchen equipment, and even service infrastructure.
Even full-service venues may offer standard chairs or linens that don’t align with your event aesthetic. That’s why most of our clients choose to rent specialty items to elevate the overall look. This includes:
Ceremony & Reception Chairs
Custom Tables & Dining Furnishings
Lounge Vignettes for Cocktail Hour or After Party
Bar & Service Stations
Kitchen Equipment for Offsite Catering
We recommend selecting 1–2 rental companies to streamline logistics, as each vendor charges separate delivery, staffing, and trucking fees—which can add up quickly.
Linens are another essential rental category. While most venues only offer basic restaurant-grade white or black linens, custom napkins and tablecloths help create a cohesive and luxurious design story for your event. These rentals typically cover:
Cocktail hour highboys and buffets
Reception dining tables and napkins
Accent linens for bars, lounges, and cake tables
Below is insight into a typical cost breakdown:
Tabletop
Chargers - anywhere from $10.00 - $20.00 per guest
Flatware - $2.50 - $4.50 per guest depending on style and rental company
Stemware - $2.50 - $4.50 per guest depending on style and rental compan
Total for tabletop - $4,000.00+
Linens - Depending on size and style - $85.00 - $125.00 per table
Lounge Furniture
Sofas - $550.00 - $850.00
Love Seats - $350.00 - $500.00
Ottomans - $150.00 - $250.00
Coffee Tables - $350.00 - $550.00
Chairs - $14.00 - $30.00 per person
Photo Credit: Greg Finck
Photo Credit: Nathan Smith
TRANSPORTATION
You may be wondering why transportation is important for a NYC wedding. Yes, most everything is within walking distance, but if you’re hosting a black-tie wedding it is not only polite to offer transportation but thoughtful for those in heels!
Based on Saturday Pricing
Just Couple & Wedding Party - $2,500.00+ based on 3-4 hour minimums. Includes end of the night transportation.
Wedding Party, Immediate Family and Hotel Guests - $7,000.00+ based on 3-4 hour minimums. Includes end of the night transportation.
Photo Credit: Greg Finck
STARTING WEDDING Budget IN NYC FOR 200 GUESTS
Approximately $275,000.00. That is taking the peak season cost for the venue, top tier floral budget, mid tier lighting budget, some furniture rental upgrades, cake vendor and the higher end for transportation. Keep in mind this is the base price and does not include photography, videography, entertainment, stationery, or rehearsal dinner and/or brunch. Subscribe to our newsletter to see an outline of additional vendor costs!
