After their wedding plans in Italy were cancelled, Justin and Justine were on the search for a luxurious venue in the city with classic, timeless architecture – enter the Cooper Hewitt Museum.

The Cooper Hewitt recently opened their doors to hosting weddings and the Smithsonian Design Museum couldn’t have been more perfect.

This Georgian style mansion screams luxurious and grand, surely one that will go a long way in impressing your guests. Justin and Justine had an incredibly chic Cooper Hewitt wedding in Manhattan. As part of the Smithsonian, Cooper Hewitt is a museum located on the UES in Manhattan. Down to the very last detail this incredibly cool couple thought through every part of the contemporary design of this event. As an NYC wedding photographer, I was so honored to capture their big day.

Justin and Justine (don’t their names scream match-made-in-heaven?) decided to go with a garden theme -inpsired by the venue itself!

The lawn of the Cooper Hewitt had beautiful green vines crawling up the sides of the red brick institution.

Justine and Justin celebrated their rehearsal dinner at Bluestone lane and despite a terrential storm, we still managed to get ultra romantic pictures in the rain and at Grand Central Station.

Fashion and food:

Justine is the very definition of a “fashion bride”. She wore a strapless silk gown from Monique Lhuillier paired with a classic pair of white Amina Muaidis.

After the ceremony, she changed into a short party dress with the most dramatic puffy sleeves from Watters. I loved how she had all her bridesmaids in white dresses.

Not many brides would make such a daring and untraditional decision but I absolutely loved how classy everyone looked in a white number.

When it came to the menu, the obvious choice was Italian food – paying homage to the couple’s love of Italian food! Justine’s pastas of choice make me drool all the time when I see it on her Instagram feed!

To end off the evening, Justine had her cousin bake her wedding cake for the event. Instead of a traditional 3 tier wedding cake, she opted for a crepe mille cake topped with colorful red and purple berries.

Why have a wedding at the Cooper Hewitt

1. Have a timless Georgian Style Mansion as your ceremony backdrop

2. The Cooper Hewitt is right next to Central Park! It’s the perfect location for out of town guests to visit the city

3. If you love outdoor weddings with tons of natural light, this venue is perfect for you!

What is the cost of having a wedding at the Cooper Hewitt?

The cost to use the space at the Cooper Hewitt can start at $10,000 and can hold 500 seated guests. Meals range from $150-200 per person.

What are some photo locations that you recommend to get Bride and Groom portraits at?

The Conservatory Gardens can be a nice spot to do a first look and it is only a 10 minute drive away from the venue

Grand Central Station is always a great location for a rainy day too!

What are some getting ready hotels close by that you recommend booking?

Justin got ready at the Marriot Essex House and the lobby of the hotel was an amazing location for old school photographs. Not to mention, you get gorgeous views of Central Park!

Have an Iconic Cooper Hewitt Wedding in Manhattan

Cooper Hewitt, of the Smithsonian Design Museum, is a must-see for anyone who loves historic homes and architecture. The museum features one of New York City’s greatest treasures: an elegant late 19th century mansion with intricate craftsmanship that has been restored to its former glory as well as injecting modern architectural elements into this stunning structure so it can be enjoyed today!

About This Exclusive Event Venue in New York

This renovated mansion is an architectural marvel, with its fin de siècle interiors and restored grandeur. With so many features, it’s hard to choose which one you like best! The opulent Fifth Avenue estate is situated on the highest point of Central Park, with expansive views to Manhattan’s skyline. This majestic seat has a garden that includes historic plantings and recent renovations for events such as a tented or plein-air setting, which can be held year-round in this beautiful space.

Cooper Hewitt Wedding Venue on the Upper East Side

With four unique event spaces, Cooper Hewitt offers many options for different aesthetics on your big day. From the Great Hall, to the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden, to the Trustees Room, you have options for a capacity from 40 to 500.

Romantic Garden Wedding Venue in NYC

The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden is one of the most exclusive wedding locations in the whole city. The enclosed garden named after Arthur Ross was redesigned by Hood Design Studio in collaboration with RAFT Landscape Architecture and Diller Scofidio + Renfour. The reopening of this beautiful space last year marked one final phase for Cooper Hewitt renovations on campus museum itself.

A Stunning Outdoor Area in the UES

For your wedding ceremony or reception, you can plan to use one of three outdoor spaces at this chic venue. This Arthur Ross Terrace wedding  location has an outdoor terrace adjacent to the garden, with views of Central Park.

A Gorgeous City Garden Setting

Many couples choose Arthur Ross Terrace as a wedding ceremony location because it is located within beautiful intimate walls of greenery, flowers and trees that surround this gorgeous estate. With a large, open space and grand staircase it is the perfect area for your wedding ceremony.

Romantic Arthur Ross Terrace Wedding Ceremony

Many couples dream of getting married outside in a traditional garden setting. Imagine standing on the top point in Manhattan with views to Central Park, while surrounded by greenery.

Justin and Justine’s Wedding at the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden

With a stunning view of Central Park and the magnificent Carnegie Mansion, their newly restored garden offers an inviting space for outdoor entertaining. The lush lawn can be transformed into any number or color with just one tent! Justin and Justine held both their ceremony and reception at this beautiful outdoor space.

A First Look at the Cooper Hewitt Garden

Justin and Justine had a beautiful first look at the Cooper Hewitt garden. Featuring iconic architecture, this made for a perfect backdrop for this chic couple. Their reactions to seeing each other for the first time were just priceless! As a  New York wedding photographer, I love capturing authentic moments like this.

A Classy and Elegant Affair in the Upper East Side

This venue could not have been more perfect. At their Cooper Hewitt wedding, the scenery mixed iconic architecture with stunning greenery for a timeless aesthetic. The romantic, editorial wedding photography was a perfect match for this stylish couple. I loved photographing their black-tie garden party wedding.

Garden Party Cooper Hewitt Wedding in New York City

Using greens, white, and gold, the couple created a fresh and timeless look with their ceremony and reception setup. We loved this tented celebration space, which kept guests out of the sun for too long. The beautiful garden setting at the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden was just exquisite.

A Dreamy Event in NYC

With a dreamy setup, their love-filled ceremony set the tone for this elegant affair. The greenery and trees that surrounded them immediately distracted guests from any city life. Cooper Hewitt offers many unique places for your ceremony, everything from an outdoor space to a grand staircase inside the museum.

Romantic Wedding Vows Between Justin and Justine

During their ceremony, Justin and Justine were able to say sweet vows to one another. Their chemistry was absolutely contagious! It’s no wonder why they had an amazing wedding day. Loved ones looked on as these two committed to each other for the rest of their lives.

Get Beautiful Natural Light Wedding Photos in New York

The Arthur Ross Terrace wedding venue makes it so easy to get lovely natural light wedding photos. Justin and Justine’s wedding ceremony and reception took place during daylight, which is great for this venue. At the Cooper Hewitt wedding venue, you have to have amplified outdoor noise turned off by 9:00PM.

Plan for Natural, Candid Wedding Photography

If you want to have lots of daylight in your photos like these two had, you can plan for it. It helps to create a natural atmosphere because flash doesn’t need to be used. This can create more candid moments for couples on the big day. This Cooper Hewitt wedding did this perfectly and had more of a garden party style wedding.

Hire the Best Editorial NYC Wedding Photographer for Romantic Imagery

As one of the top New York editorial wedding photographers, it’s important that my couples feel beautiful on their wedding day. With Justin and Justine, it would be hard not to feel beautiful in such a stunning location.  Professionally capturing such an intimate moment was such a pleasure, and I know their wedding photos will be timeless through the ages.

Host a Cooper Hewitt Wedding in Manhattan

I absolutely love this one-of-a-kind wedding venue in New York. If you’re thinking of hosting a Cooper Hewitt wedding, I would love to capture your special moments. The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden space is the perfect backdrop for any couple. The light comes through perfectly here, creating gorgeous images like these ones.

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