Our Favorite Wedding Venues, Inside and Out

By Great Performances

Engagement season is at it’s peak and it’s almost time to start planning for the big day! After setting your budget, possible dates and starting your guest list, the next step is finding your dream wedding venue in New York. With so many options in the Greater New York area, it can definitely be overwhelming to search for the best wedding venues in New York, but we’ve got you covered with a list of some our team’s favorite venues for your special day.

620 LOFT & GARDEN

A New York Wedding Venue With Amazing Views

If you want to get married in the heart of Manhattan, this secret garden awaits you! Right off of 5th Ave, 620 Loft and Garden overlooks St Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Plaza for some of the best views in New York City. The crisp interior allows for you to bring your vision to life, which is only matched by the elegance of the pristine gardens.

Image: ©Roey Yohai
Image: ©Roey Yohai
Image: ©Roey Yohai

BROOKLYN MUSEUM

An Iconic Wedding Venue In Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Museum in one of NYC’s most unique venue. Couples have the option to be married and have their reception in the modern, glass pavilion with Brooklyn as their backdrop, or in the timeless Beaux Artes Court, surrounded by historic art and under an extraordinary brass chandelier. Guests get VIP access to art, culture and an experience they will never forget.

Image: ©Christian Oth
Image: ©Christian Oth Studio
Image: ©Daniel Silbert

CARAMOOR

One Of The Prettiest Wedding Venues In NY State

Located in northern Westchester County, Caramoor’s flower gardens, picturesque cedar trails and historic home makes this unique space perfect for a wedding. Caramoor can host parties from 50-800 guests allowing guests to experience all 90 archers throughout the course of the evening. Don’t forget to visit throughout the season for one of their amazing summer concerts!

Image: ©Gulnara Studio
Image: ©Gabe Palacio
Image: ©Gulnara Studio
Sunken Garden at Caramoor in Katonah New York on July 18, 2021. (photo by Gabe Palacio)

THE FOUNDRY

A Truly Unique Wedding Venue In Queens

For the rustic chic wedding couple, The Foundry offers great outdoor space, lots of exposed brick, and a fun industrial vibe. With views of the Queensboro Bridge, the ivy covered oasis is a dream for every couple!

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

A Mansion Wedding Overlooking Central Park

Located in the Upper East Side, The Museum of the City of New York’s beautifully renovated landmark building on Fifth Avenue’s iconic Museum Mile is the perfect space for your special day. With floor-to-ceiling french doors, a stunning marble staircase, a private outdoor space and views of Central Park, an MNCY wedding is nothing short of breathtaking.
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Museum of the City of New York Weddings

THE PLAZA HOTEL

A Classic New York Wedding Venue

The legendary Plaza Hotel is the perfect location for a one-of-a-kind celebration that is modern, timeless and elegant. With 4 enchanting rooms to chose from, there’s no doubt that your wedding will feel like a real-life fairytale.
Image: ©Virginie Carolina
Image: ©Fred Marcus

WAVE HILL

A Nature Lover’s Dream New York Wedding Venue

Wave Hill is known for its natural beauty. The florals, greenery, landscape and architecture speak for itself. There are so many places on the property to host the various parts of the evening, you are constantly surprising your guests each step of the night. You can have your first look in the Aquatic Garden by the coy pond, the ceremony on the upper lawn with the stunning pergola behind you and cocktail hour on the lower lawn overlooking the Hudson and the palisades just as the sun begins to set. It truly is a hidden gem, and as a public garden a place you can come back to whenever you like for years to come after your wedding.

Image: ©Judith Rae
Image: ©Judith Rae
Image: ©Weddings By Two
Image: ©LOVE + WOLVES CO

AND BEYOND…

The Hamptons. The Hudson Valley. The Berkshires. Connecticut. Beyond the city limits, Great Performances can bring the sophistication and elegance of a city wedding to any location. Whether it’s escaping “Out East” to the Parrish Museum, your favorite summer camp in the Berkshires, an estate in Connecticut, or a scenic lawn in the Hudson Valley, your options are limitless.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

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LET US CREATE YOUR DREAM WEDDING

Great Performances catering has been around since 1979 when it was founded as a waitress staffing agency to help those women who were working towards a career in the arts. We have now evolved to become New York’s premier events caterer as well as a company that believes in giving back to the community.

Our culinary team works with seasonal, sustainably sourced local ingredients to interpret your dreams into dishes for your wedding celebration.

Throughout the years we have cultivated relationships with some of the best wedding venues in New York. Contact us to learn more about how we work and how we can make your dream wedding come to life.

If you want to learn more about having your wedding at one of these spectacular New York wedding venues, fill out the form below and a planner will reach out to you shortly:

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GOINGS ON AT THE BEST WEDDING VENUES IN NEW YORK

LAMB TAGINE

By Chef Geoff Rudaw

A popular dish in my home around the holidays is Lamb Tagine. The warm scents of the spices simmering slowly permeate the kitchen, and slow cooked lamb evokes memories of family and tradition. It isn’t specifically a Tagine that has been a tradition in my home, but slow and low braised entrees that are. These dishes are usually crafted early in the day, the flavors floating through the air, creating olfactory hues. Everyone anticipates finally sitting together, young and old, to enjoy the now tender and succulent meal. Whether it be lamb stew, pot roast, slow cooked ham, these traditions define the holidays for us, and create the memories we pass down to our children. This recipe is forgiving, feel free to substitute what you have in house for your own version. I like to pair mine with the larger grain of warm cous-cous, cooked with minced vegetables, dry apricot and saffron. For a vegetable, I prefer spiced eggplant simmered with tomatoes, garlic and cilantro.

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

  • 2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed of fat (about 1 1/2 lbs)

  • 1 tsp ground turmeric

  • 1 tsp ground ginger

  • 1 1/4 tsp salt

  • 2 tsp vegetable oil

  • 1 1/2 cups diced onions

  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 cup chicken broth

  • 8 threads Spanish saffron, crushed

  • 16 fresh cilantro sprigs, tied together with a cotton string

  • 2 preserved lemons, cut in 8th.

  • Cut lamb into 1 1/2-inch cubes and place in a medium-sized bowl. Season the lamb with turmeric, ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

  • Heat a tagine or Dutch oven over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and half of the seasoned lamb. Cook the lamb until browned on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the lamb from the pan and set aside. Repeat with remaining oil and lamb. Return the seared lamb to the pan and add the diced onions. Cook, stirring to get the browned bits off the bottom of the pan, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, saffron, preserved lemon and cilantro bundle and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

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More Recipes

By Executive Chef Geoff Rudaw

Just as fall brings the excitement of the first leaves crunching on the ground and the smell of pumpkin spice in the air, spring welcomes the first blooms on the trees, accompanied by heaping helpings of asparagus, berries and sweet iced drinks.

This spring, I am happy to add some of my favorite dishes to the menu: Lemon Parmesan Fettuccini, Marinated French Chicken Breast, Five-Spice Striped Bass and The Mighty Vegetable Flight.

 

Lemon Parmesan Fettuccini

The flavors here are inspired by the very simple (yet delicious) Spaghetti A Limone dish, which I enjoyed during my visit to Rome. My twist on this classic is very spring forward, with asparagus, english peas and mushrooms tossed in a lemony cream sauce.

The Plaza Hotel's Spring Menu

Marinated French Chicken Breast

Our Marinated French Chicken Breast is a pre-settable entrée that takes on a south western flavor profile. When I first had Great Performances’ Pumpkin Seed and Poblano Crema entreé, I loved it, and built this dish around it since poblanos are by far my favorite pepper these days; we also spiked the corn salad with poblanos and cooled off the dish with a heirloom cherry tomato salad, embellished with cilantro and sherry vinaigrette. For the garnish, we start with a roasted tomato vinaigrette, with a touch of smoky chipotle peppers for a gentle heat, and finish with spiced pepitas, which are baked with lime juice for extra flavor.

Five-Spice Striped Bass

Our Five-Spiced Striped Bass is another favorite for this season. We use a fresh five-spiced blend crafted by the Le Sanctuaire team and source wild ocean striped bass for this dish. I love the Okinawa sweet potatoes for their rich profile, delicate mineral flavor and amazing color. We also added sesame snow peas, toasted sesame seeds and finish off with a sweet soy and Shiitake glaze. This dish was the last dish I created for this season, but it has become one of my favorites.

The Mighty Vegetable Flight

This dish is the ultimate vegetable tasting plate, featuring elements from The Plaza’s classic hits such as the “Beet Ravioli,” the honey roasted baby carrots from the “Arctic Char and Spinach Bavarois” and the onion petal cup from the “Beef Entrecôte”.

By Kelsey Butler

Each year, the Plaza’s Grand Ballroom springs to life with thousands of orchids of all colors for the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Dinner. This year’s 17th Annual Orchid Show was themed “Singapore,” and Executive Chef Geoff Rudaw and our culinary team created dishes inspired by the theme. The appetizer was a custom version of the very popular Vegetables and Pearls, complete with carrot-sesame purée, shaved baby beets, radishes, sorrel, dragon fruit and soy beans. The meal continued with an entrée of Chicken Breast Rendang that guests heartily enjoyed, followed by alternating desserts of Alphonso Mango Panna Cotta and Yuzu Cheesecake Bamboo.

Throughout the day, designers flooded in, armed with orchids, custom seat covers, and stunning décor, to transform each table into a different floral wonderland. This is my favorite gala of the season because each table was unique. Each one showcased the designers’ personal flavor and flare through the centerpieces, candlelight and glassware.

As guests arrived in floral, sparkly, gorgeous gowns, they were greeted with custom Singapore Sling cocktails complete with Botanist Gin infused with orchids! After a cocktail hour where guests were able to purchase and bid on rare orchids, they were invited into the Grand Ballroom to be amazed by the beautiful tables. The Orchid Gala is always one for the books; enjoy a sample of some of my personal favorite tables!

GrowNYC's 'Concord Crush' Happy Hour at Project Farmhouse

By Liz Neumark

FRIDAY NIGHT AT PROJECT FARMHOUSE WAS A BACCHANALIAN TRIBUTE TO THE CONCORD GRAPE!

According to GrowNYC: “New York State is the second largest producer of Concord Grapes in the United States. Not only are Concords grown in the ‘Grape Belt’ across Lake Erie significant to New York State’s vibrant agricultural composition, they are crucial to the economic stability of communities there. They are also delicious!

To revitalize this iconic Northeastern fruit, Greenmarket has reached out to some of the best chefs, restaurants, and mixologists in New York City. Throughout the month of October, Greenmarket highlighted Concord grapes, as well as the delicious dishes (from appetizers to desserts) and drinks created in New York City restaurants, and capped off the month with a ‘ConcordCrush’ Happy Hour at Project Farmhouse on October 26th, where New Yorkers sampled Concord-infused cuisine.”

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Representing Great Performances (or shall we say Grape Performances!) were Chefs Monica Ng and Saul Bolton.

Chef Monica, who is the Executive Pastry Chef for the company and oversees the creation of countless desserts, breads and treats daily, created a Concord Grape Marble Cheesecake. Chef Saul, Michelin Starred for his landmark restaurant in Brooklyn and oversees, The Norm at Brooklyn Museum for the company, created a Terrine of layered Hudson Valley Duck Rillets, Smoked Breast and Foie Gras served with Concord Grape Gelee, Concord Grape Raisins and toasted sweet-salty Walnuts.

Photo Credit: ©Amanda Gentile

BEAUTY, BOMBSHELLS AND BRAZILIANS

By Jennifer Machen

BRAZIL, THE LARGEST COUNTRY IN BOTH SOUTH AMERICA AND LATIN AMERICA, CHOSE THE PLAZA TO HOLD THEIR 2018 GALA.

The Plaza is notorious for lavish affairs, and these Brazilian Bombshells seriously raised the bar. One by one, the glamorous guests dressed in brilliantly colored gowns adorned with feathers, beads, and extravagant accessories, immediately became the focal point of the event. They entered the Grand Ballroom Foyer through a rainbow of umbrellas, unveiling a festive flow of celebratory cocktails, delicious Hors d’oeuvres, including the famous Brazilian Cheese Bread, Pão de Queijo. Guests bid on rainforest and Amazonian pieces as well as inspirational art to raise money for the fearless Brazil Foundation.

The room was filled with beautiful woman and yet three very special and very tall ladies stood out especially. Gracing the guests (as well as the ceiling), these stunning “tall women” (on stilts) perfectly captured the fun essence of the evening. Dressed as flowers, they danced and breezed through cocktail hour and made Instagram moments for all, including the many Victoria’s Secret Models that were in attendance. Pictures were captured, glasses were passed, and the sociable crowd at the cocktail hour began to trickle into the Grand Ballroom.

A Brigadero Sweets table, 18 feet long and dressed to the nines, graced the Grand Ballroom upon entrance, as it does in Brazilian homes when they have guests over. Bentley Meeker designed a lighting scheme that filled the room with ambiance, inhabited the feel of the event, and enhanced the beauty of the guests. The green floral arrangements were fitting and transported the space to the rainforest. The incomparable Chef Geoff Rudaw specially designed classic upscale Brazilian fair and served a decadent Cashew Crusted Branzino with Coconut Rice, Mango Salsa, and Sweet Plantains. Devoured by the 450 guests, the plates were cleared and everyone danced the night away.

Would be remiss to not mention the beyond handsome, very famous Actor Cauã Reymond (the Brad Pitt of Brazil, if you will) who caused a photo frenzy on the red carpet and stole the hearts of every woman in the room…as well as some men (AKA our very own Mr. Manners).

What a Plaza Party.

VENUES TO EXPERIENCE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES THIS SUMMER!

By Sarah Prawl

FROM INTIMATE TO LARGE SCALE, NEW YORK CITY IS HOME TO A MULTITUDE OF MUSIC VENUES THAT SHOWCASE EXCEPTIONAL LOCAL AND WIDESPREAD TALENT.

Great Performances is proud to partner with several musical institutions and venues which not only offer a wide range of musical entertainment all summer long but also serve as the perfect location for your next event!

APOLLO THEATER

Located in the heart of Harlem, off of 125th Street, the legendary Apollo Theater has housed some of the most talented musicians from around the world since 1934. From Aretha Franklin, to James Brown, to The Jackson 5, the Apollo is the true definition of a musical institution and paved the way for emerging and established African-American and Latino performers.

This summer, discover new artists every Wednesday during “Amateur Night”. For more information take a look at their calendar.

FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER

 

Located in the heart of Columbus Circle, Frederick P. Rose Hall is the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center and the world’s first performing arts facility designed specifically for jazz. It contains three venues which offer an array of musical entertainment throughout the week as well as fantastic views of Central Park.

Enjoy sultry melodies all summer long at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola while indulging in a delicious meal from their new Summer Menu. To see Jazz at Lincoln Center’s calendar of events, click here.

GOVERNORS ISLAND

Located in the Upper New York Bay, Governors Island is a mini oasis from the busy Manhattan scene. Governors Island hosts an array of large scale events throughout the year, until the end of their program season, which falls on October 31st this year. The 13th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party and Rite of Summer are two of their biggest musical programs this summer and tickets are still available! To learn more about their upcoming events, click here.

Photo Credits: ©POLARIS, ©Amanda Gentile

THE PLAZA’S ROYAL WEDDING WEEKEND

By Emily Reifel

The Royal Wedding Of Ms. Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Was Worldwide News That Really Was So Exciting To Watch, Especially Being In The Wedding Industry Myself!

When the news first broke of the engagement I started thinking about how we at The Plaza Hotel were going to celebrate! What unfolded was pretty incredible. Rachel Jo Silver first contacted me in December of last year with an idea to host a Royal Wedding viewing party! We then looped in the talented Ariana Swerdlin and Maureen Farley from The Plaza’s PR and Hospitality events team! After months of planning and brainstorming, the Royal Wedding Weekend arrived! 

On Friday, May 17th, The Plaza hosted over 90 bloggers, influencers and press to come to The Royal Wedding Rehearsal Dinner. Guests started the evening in of course The Royal Suite in the hotel and were treated to Krug champagne and afternoon tea inspired canapés alongside some really cute activities! Kleinfeld’s had setup a Tiara Bar so guests could really get into their inner Duchess spirt! There were even Corgies to play with that are the same dogs that the Queen calls her own! Andre Maier who is a photographer set up a royal portrait station and took photos of all the guests in the same style of Cecil Beaton who shot many of the English Royal portraits! The guests loved every minute of it! 

Soon the guests made their way down to The Terrace Room where the super chic and talented Jung Lee of Fete had designed a gorgeous dinner perfectly fit for royalty! Large candelabras were overflowing with stunning roses and peonies! It’s was dreamy and romantic! Alpine Creative who designed the invitations for the whole event has also printed the menu cards with these same beautiful flowers incorporated into the design. Our own Chef Geoff Rudaw has created a perfectly British menu that included Dover Sole as the entree! 
    
As Guests sat down for dinner they were in awe of the Room and the beautiful classical music prepared by Michael Hart of Hank Lane! Soon Rachel Jo Silver of Love Stories TV introduced herself as the Toast Master of the evening. We had invited 10 “celebrities” in the wedding industry to give toasts on their thoughts about different aspects of The Royal Wedding. There were lots of laughs as Marcy Blum wedding planner extraordinaire, Ron Ben Israel wedding cake designer to the starts, The Plaza’s own etiquette expert Myka Meier, and of course the creative Jung Lee wedding and event designer!  Each one spoke on what to expect and Meghan and Harry’s royal nuptials the next morning! After each toast we all raised a glass in the royal couples honor and sipped our delicious Krug champagne.  
    
As the last and final toast of the evening by our very own Director of Catering, Mike Warren was wrapping up, Mike introduced a super star performance! Lights dimmed and Sir Elton John (or so we thought) started singing from a Grand Piano!  As he belted “Tiny Dancer” the guests started to realize that Sir Elton wasn’t really here but his impersonator couldn’t have been better! 

As the night came to a close guests picked up their Royal Portraits and headed to bed because we all had a very very early morning the next day. 
    
The next day the alarm went off at 5 AM! I arrived to the Palm Court at 6 AM for The Royal Wedding Viewing party! There were dozen’s of mainly women and lots of little girls who were all dressed up with fascinators in tow! Our Plaza Team was lucky enough to be wearing couture fascinators by Monvieve in an assortment of colors!  Good Morning America covered the party and Brides Magazine gave an honor to the best dressed at the event. The crowd went wild went the first vision of Meghan in her Givenchy gown emerging from her car appeared on the extra large screen that had been installed in The Palm Court for the special occasion. The crowd loved it and we were so pleased to have The Plaza feel like the best place in New York City for everyone to feel like Royalty even if just for a day! 

Independence Day with A View at New York's Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and Ellis Island.

By Sarah Prawl

Independence Day With A View

HISTORICAL PARKS WITH THE BEST VIEWS OF MANHATTAN.

There’s no better way to celebrate Independence Day in NYC than at a historical park with beautiful views of Manhattan! 

Great Performances is proud to partner with The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and Ellis Island, which are both rich in history and patriotism and a must-add to your list of outdoor places to visit this Summer!

 

FDR Four Freedoms Park

Four Freedoms Park is a sprawling four-acre memorial with impeccable design on the tip of Roosevelt Island that celebrates the Four Freedoms addressed in FDR’s 1941 State of the Union Address.

Approaching the island is an experience itself, with aerial views of Manhattan’s East Side and East River upon arrival on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Located on the East River, nestled between Manhattan and Queens, and parallel to FDR drive, it is described as an “urban oasis” with some of the best views of NYC.

Four Freedoms is the perfect location for any outdoor event and a fantastic location to watch the July 4th fireworks on the East River! Learn more here.

Ellis Island

Anchored in the Upper New York Bay, with breath-taking views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline, Ellis Island is truly a monumental masterpiece.

From 1892 until 1954, millions of immigrants passed through the island’s immigration offices as they entered the United States. The Ellis Island Museum tells the tales of the immigrant experience through interactive tours, audio segments, photographs and displays.

Ellis Island houses some of the most stunning views of downtown Manhattan and serves as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your next private event.

Learn more about Ellis Island’s history and book your trip here.

Photo Credits: ©Rana Fanure, ©Ellis Island

THE COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA CAME TO THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM LOOKING FOR A NEW TAKE ON WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A MANHATTAN-BASED EVENT.

And, With It, They Brought A Defined Sense Of Style That Translated To Everything From The Step And Repeat To The Plated Meal That We Served.

 

Working with the creative minds behind the Gala, we were influenced by the surrounding Matisse aesthetic at the Brooklyn Museum, the flavors and colors of spring and a desire to have a bento box, compartmentalized plating. 

The finished result was a pale pink plate of three goat cheese and thinly sliced beet raviolis over a carrot coulis, an English pea mousse with purple carrot ribbons, and a braised short rib over pomme puree in a bean-shaped plate placed upon the pink plate. It was structurally unique and decidedly delicious!