According to The Knot, it’s not uncommon for couples planning a traditional wedding to spend up to 40% of their wedding budget on a venue. After all, your wedding day should be as perfect as possible, and your event space will heavily influence the entire experience. You have to choose the best venue possible!
Whether you genuinely want the best in luxury wedding venues or are just daydreaming about what could happen if you win the lottery between now and your big day, these are some of the most expensive wedding venues in the world.
What You Will Learn
- 1. The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park
- 2. The New York Public Library
- 3. Belmond Hotel Caruso
- 4. Little Palm Island Resort
- 5. COMO Laucala Island Resort
- 6. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
- More Palatable Options for the More Budget-Conscious Couple
- Most Expensive Wedding Reception Venues FAQs
- Whatever You Pay for Your Wedding Venue, Make Sure Your Wedding is Covered
1. The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park
When you think of the most luxurious wedding venues, you might imagine grand ballrooms, ancient castles, or seaside resorts, not parks. However, while Central Park may be open to the public for free at any time, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its ultra-luxurious and ultra-expensive side.
The Loeb Boathouse — which you’ve probably seen in a bevy of Manhattan-set shows and movies, from “Sex and the City” to “When Harry Met Sally” — is one of the most expensive wedding venues in the United States. You’ll pay a cool $60,000 (approximately) for the venue, which, if we’re taking The Knot’s 40% estimate as accurate, your overall wedding budget should be about $150,000 to afford this venue.
2. The New York Public Library
Another New York City landmark that is typically free to the public, the New York Public Library is yet another one of the most expensive wedding venues in America. You won’t pay as much as you would at the nearby Loeb Boathouse, but you will pay about $50,000 for access to a dinner hall and cocktail hour space, with room for up to 450 people.
3. Belmond Hotel Caruso
Is your dream wedding a destination wedding? If so, head to Europe, along the Amalfi Coast, where the Belmond Hotel Caruso awaits in Italy. This hotel is hardly your average wedding venue. It’s an 11th-century castle! You can take over the entire hotel, exchange vows in the 900-year-old Duomo of Ravello, or drink and dine in the Italian formal gardens.
It all comes at a high cost, though. A full luxury wedding package reportedly costs up to $430,000.
4. Little Palm Island Resort
Little Palm Island brands itself as America’s only private island. The adults-only Florida Keys locale offers packages ideal for smaller weddings, and some packages run around $175,000. If you buy out the entire island, you’ll get some fantastic inclusions, such as the services of an event planner, yacht transfers to and from the islands, access to more than two dozen suites, meals for all your guests prepared by world-class chefs, and more.
5. COMO Laucala Island Resort
In Fiji, COMO Laucala Island Resort provides another island backdrop. This expensive wedding venue costs about $150,000 and is a private island like Little Palm Island. It has 25 villas and an airstrip for private planes. Suitable for weddings with just 50 or fewer guests, it’s a good pick for micro weddings. There are five ceremony venues to choose from, and the wedding package includes planning assistance, floral design, music, a wedding photographer, and more.
6. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
This luxury wedding venue takes things to an entirely new level — particularly regarding cost. You’ll pay $2 million or more for the complete luxury treatment at this hotel that overlooks Victoria Harbor. The views are amazing, and the extra touches include Michelin-starred fine dining and celebrity-approved styling for the wedding party.
More Palatable Options for the More Budget-Conscious Couple
Did your heart drop looking at these most expensive wedding reception venues?
Don’t worry. You can still have a fantastic wedding with an equally impressive venue rental without spending your entire life savings and that of your fiance (and probably your parents). There are many luxurious wedding venues out there that look highly expensive, but there are more affordable and fabulous wedding venues than you might think.
For example, take The Plaza Hotel in New York. A landmark venue and stunning staple on the Manhattan skyline, a ceremony among the timeless elegance of the Terrace Room will only cost you $12,000.
Likewise, on the other side of the country, you’ll find many luxurious wedding venues with a central location and easy access to San Francisco in nearby Napa Valley. You can plan a wedding for a similar venue cost (under $20,000) at vineyards, wineries, lodges, and resorts.
Most Expensive Wedding Reception Venues FAQs
What is the most expensive wedding venue in the U.S.?
While possibly not THE most expensive wedding venue in the U.S., Little Palm Island Resort certainly stands apart as one of the most costly luxurious venues, with rental fees around $175,000.
What should you expect from an expensive wedding venue?
Make sure you’re getting what you pay for! These venues that host events regularly should be able to pack in many extras, such as photography services, shuttle services (if the venue is not within walking distance of your guests’ accommodations), overnight accommodations, and more.
Is an expensive wedding venue worth it?
It all depends on your preferences and priorities. Will you look back at your wedding photos and wish you’d sprung for the grand ballroom wedding, with the magnificent crystal chandelier overhead and the iconic backdrop out the windows beyond? If so, you may want to evaluate your wedding budget and whether or not it aligns with your dreams.
What are the most expensive types of wedding venues?
Don’t assume that all expensive wedding venues are ballrooms. From winding gardens to historic castles to beachside resorts, expensive wedding venues run the gamete, all while offering modern luxury.
How much can you expect to pay for a luxury wedding venue?
It depends on your definition of “luxury.” Some might pay tens of thousands, while others may pay millions.
Whatever You Pay for Your Wedding Venue, Make Sure Your Wedding is Covered
No matter your wedding venue investment, make sure the cost of your big day has wedding cancellation insurance protection. You really need it, and it’s likely more affordable than you think.
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