Rainbow Room Wedding Venue - Wedding Planner's Ultimate Guide
Rainbow Room weddings are iconic in New York City— the venue has the glamour, elegance, and incredible city views that couples and guests love in a wedding venue. As New York City wedding planners, the Jove Meyer team has planned and designed weddings at the Rainbow Room on multiple occasions. If you’re considering a Rainbow Room wedding, here is Owner + Creative Director Jove Meyer’s advice for you.
Photography by Redfield Photography
About the Rainbow Room
The Rainbow Room is an iconic New York City event space and wedding venue, on the 65th floor of Rock Center with sweeping views of the city, amazing art deco design, and floor-to-ceiling Swarovski crystals that dance with the sunlight creating rainbow patterns throughout. The Rainbow Room has old-world charm, contemporary cuisine, and fabulous service. It opened in 1934 and in 2012 it was declared a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Photography by Studio León - Design by Jove Meyer
Why do you love working at this venue?
I love working at the Rainbow Room for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is because the team is wonderful– they run a tight ship and the service and food are amazing! The Rainbow Room is also built for events as it has three spaces that work perfectly for the flow of a wedding. You enter on the ground floor to a red carpet entrance leading to private escalators, which then take you to private elevators up to the 65th floor. Once you arrive, you turn right into the ceremony space in Bar SixtyFive. After the ceremony, guests walk less than 20 feet to the Gallery to enjoy the cocktail hour and admiring breathtaking New York City sunset views. Afterwards, guests are led to the Rainbow Room for dinner and dancing. Each space has iconic views of New York City and there is a bonus outdoor space for guests to enjoy as well!
Photography by Studio León
What is special about Rainbow Room weddings?
There are many special things about the Rainbow Room. From the circular wooden dance floor that rotates to the thousands of crystals that hang from each window in the space to the iconic views in every window, this venue is truly one of a kind. They also have a fabulous food and beverage program. The Rainbow Room feels like old-world New York as it is high-end but not stuffy, which makes it very special but also approachable wedding venue.
Photography by Redfield Photography
How have you transformed this venue in different ways to make it unique to each client?
We have enjoyed working at the Rainbow Room over the years and have loved transforming it to fit our couple's styles, personalities, and love stories. From using the in-house round tables and retro chairs to bringing in rectangle tables and wooden chairs. One couple wanted to go more classic with a light green and white palette, while another wanted to go more moody and dark with pops of color. One of the best things about the space is that it is pretty neutral, so we can design in many ways in the space. We love to hang installations from the ceiling and enjoyed creating floral sculptures that hung over the guests as they danced the night away!
Photography by Redfield Photography
What type of couple would you recommend this venue to?
The Rainbow Room is perfect wedding venue for the couple is looking for iconic New York City vibes, upscale service, and excellent food and beverage!
Rainbow Room wedding planned by Jove Meyer - video by Modern Love
Any insider tips for Rainbow Room weddings?
The venue has an in-house AV partner. Be sure to get an estimate from them before you sign with the Rainbow Room so you are fully aware of their fees before you sign onto the venue. Once you sign, you are committed as they are the exclusive AV vendor so be sure to review that detail in advance.
Photography by Studio León
Rainbow Room wedding costs: What budget level would you recommend for this venue? What does this budget include?
The Rainbow Room is one of the most expensive wedding venues in New York City. To have a Rainbow Room wedding, I would suggest couples budget around $2500 or more per guest, not including their wardrobe. Of course, budgets are based on the couple's selections, such as: a DJ or a Band, House Wine or Upgraded Wine, Flowers on Tables or Flowers Everywhere, Using the included rentals or bringing in your own, etc. Many factors need to be taken into consideration for a budget, but walking into this space you are at one of the highest food and beverage and rental fees in all of New York City. The fees at The Rainbow Room include access to the space as well as food, bar, staff, and rentals.
Photography by Redfield Photography
What is one idea you've had for this venue that you would love to implement for a client?
I would love to do the ceremony in the round in Bar SixtyFive— it feels like the perfect room to have it happen! I would also love to use the window in the gallery in a fun way to bring light and colors into that space for cocktail hour. And finally, I would love to create an epic ceiling installation in the Rainbow Room that hangs over the dance floor. I have so many ideas for this space, but the design is based on my clients; their style, vibes, and love story!
I would love to design an incredible Rainbow Room wedding for you that is unlike anything seen here before! Contact the Jove Meyer team for more details.
Photography by Redfield Photography
Rainbow Room Wedding Venue Details
Location
Midtown Manhattan
Rockefeller Center
Address, Phone, Mail, Website
30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor, New York, NY 10112
+1 (212) 632-5000
Enter at 49 West 49th Street and proceed up the escalator to the mezzanine level.
Catering Options
In-house catering team
Recipient of the Manhattan Hospitality Award in 2019
Sample menus are listed on Rainbow Room’s website.
Events
Three different event spaces allow for separate ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception space.
Venues & Capacity
Maximum capacity is 300 ceremony chairs
Maximum capacity for a seated dinner and dancing is 250
Using outside vendors requires advanced approval.
Exclusive Space
All wedding and private events are structured as full buyouts.
Other Details
Landmarked venue
Within the Rainbow Room facilities are four unique venues to host a variety of events: the Rainbow Room, Bar SixtyFive, the Private Dining Room, and 620 Loft and Garden.
Accommodations
Rockefeller Center does not offer accommodations for overnight guests. We advise our clients on nearby hotels and room blocks for guests.