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Updated Mar 06, 2025I'm a Wedding Editor and I Want a Restaurant Wedding
It's chic to say "I do" where you usually say "table for two."
I remember the first time I saw photos of Carly Cardellino's restaurant wedding at Palma in NYC. The writer and former Cosmopolitan beauty director wed on the enchanting Italian spot's covered garden patio amongst ivy, trellis-climbing roses, strands of twinkle lights and just a handful of loved ones. Between the ethereal atmosphere of the nuptials and the promise of the restaurant's incredible pasta postceremony, I was sold. If I were to throw the wedding (read: micro-wedding) of my dreams, I'd do it in a restaurant, one where I can eat baskets of focaccia and return with my love on special occasions (or on Tuesdays). A wedding at a restaurant feels intimate, cozy and stylish, plus top-notch food is a given. And 62% of couples who participated in The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study noted food and beverage as one of their primary wedding priorities, so that's nothing to take lightly.
Below, find pros, cons and planning tips for pulling off a restaurant wedding ceremony and restaurant wedding reception—plus how to find a restaurant venue that suits your style and wedding budget, if your go-to neighborhood date spot isn't a fit. While you read, I'll be convincing my partner, who wants a Catholic church ceremony, to get married in a restaurant. (As a compromise, I'm open to any churches equipped with a raw bar and oyster-shucking officiant.)
In this article: Find Restaurant Wedding Venues | Cost | Pros and Cons | How to Plan
How to Find Restaurant Wedding Venues
The Knot Vendor Marketplace is a great resource to search for restaurant wedding venues. (It's much easier to navigate than just Googling "restaurant weddings near me.") Simply head to the venues section, click the "More Filters +" button and then check off "Restaurant" under the "Venue Type" section. Wondering how to find an affordable venue? You can also filter by price to find affordable restaurants for wedding receptions in your area.
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You can also look to you and your partner's dining-out roster for inspiration. The tapas restaurant where you had your first date, your neighborhood red-sauce Italian joint and your favorite celebration spot for birthdays and anniversaries are all wonderful options to look into, not just because of their stellar food, but because of their sentimental value..
Restaurant Wedding Cost
Restaurants typically offer some kind of cost savings in the grand scheme of planning, but like any venue type, the price of a simple restaurant wedding varies depending on the eatery's location, configuration and style. Elements like tables, chairs, linens, serveware, candles and some decor are already accounted for, so you can eliminate the need for many additional rentals. And of course, the venue is equipped with a full kitchen and bar as well as servers and bartenders; plus, you won't have to fuss with liquor licenses.
Do note that the cost to fully rent out a restaurant for a wedding (and close it to normal customers) is much higher than booking a private or separate dining room during regular service. Like many other event venues, you'll likely have to meet a food and beverage minimum at a restaurant (especially if you're doing a full buyout, since they'll have to come close to the cost of a normal weekend-night dinner service). Also account for tip, tax, service fees, etc., which are all typical additional vendor costs. Though, your vendor list is probably much shorter given the amenities a restaurant offers in-house, so there are less folks to tip at the end of the day.
To get a better education of how couples in your area allocated their wedding budgets, check out The Knot Budget Tool. The tool runs the numbers for you so you can see if the quote you're getting from your restaurant venue is more or less than the combined cost of a typical venue, catering, bar services and so on. While you'd be hard pressed to find a restaurant venue where the cost per head dips below $100 (except for maybe a Taco Bell wedding), which is a little above the average wedding catering cost, there might be some that offer special deals or pricing for couples saying "I do." For example, Atlántico in Boston offers a restaurant wedding package from Sunday through Thursday where marriers can score an event for 75 guests with a family-style dinner, beverages and a space for a band for 10K.
Restaurant Wedding Pros and Cons
Before you dig into your search for restaurants to hire for weddings, weigh the pros and cons of this venue type. Here's what to consider ahead of your celebration:
Pro: Natural Inclusions
As aforementioned, many wedding/event elements you might otherwise have to acquire elsewhere are already in place, just by nature of the space being a restaurant. If you're not worried about customization, the linens, flatware, plates, tables and chairs the restaurant already has on hand will do the trick. This can save you time, money and effort. Most restaurants also come with a complete design aesthetic, so you'll only need to worry about adding flowers and a small handful of additional elements if desired.
Pro: Elevated Food and Cocktails
Ah yes, the food and drinks will always be the highlight of a restaurant wedding. Your cocktails and cuisine will be crafted by pro chefs and bartenders (and perhaps include some of your go-to date-night dishes). You can also eliminate some guesswork and extra tastings, since you probably already know the quality of the food and have some favorite apps, mains and sips in mind. And if you happen to find a restaurant that caters weddings on the side, their facilities will be well equipped for a plated dinner for a large group.
Pro: Intimate Feel
Dinner party weddings are trending, and restaurant weddings are the perfect place to pull off the style. Just think about walking by your favorite neighborhood spot on a chilly evening—warmth, light and the soft buzz of conversation spills out onto the sidewalk. The energy is unmatched. Embrace this cozy, intimate atmosphere for your wedding. Whether you're all at one long table or you're situated just a few feet from other guests, it'll be easy to mingle and chat with everyone in attendance.
Pro: You Can Visit Again and Again
Is there anything more romantic than being able to visit the locale of your nuptials on any given evening? Imagine enjoying dinner there one night and watching another couple fall in love the next table over *hand over heart.*
Con: Spatial Limitations
This isn't necessarily true for every restaurant venue, but if you're opting for a cozy bistro, there might not be space for a dance floor in the dining area, let alone a place for a DJ or band to set up and arrange speakers. It might be tough to squeeze in that massive floral arch, unless maybe you're making use of the restaurant's patio. Additionally, if your preferred restaurant has an open layout (with no additional dining rooms or a designated private dining space), your only option is to rent the entire space for your wedding, which comes with a higher price tag.
Con: Less Room for Customization
There may be stipulations the restaurant has to follow to keep within the city's fire code, like ensuring some areas remain open as fire lanes. These limitations could influence the layout of your celebration. Also, it might be complicated to swap out the restaurant's current serveware and table trappings if you'd prefer a different look.
Con: Guest-Count Constraints
You might have to cut your guest list significantly, depending on the size and scale of your restaurant. Also think about your attendee count not just in terms of the physical space itself, but also in terms of guest comfort. For example, the restaurant would need the proper restroom facilities to accommodate your full guest list as well as nearby parking, if you anticipate some attendees coming by car.
How to Plan a Restaurant Wedding
Like any wedding planning journey, dreaming up a restaurant wedding takes some time and creativity. The basic steps remain the same, but there are a few restaurant-specific tasks and nuances to take note of on your to-do list.
1. Establish Your Aesthetic and Priorities
If you know you'd like a restaurant wedding, determine exactly what that means to you before you begin to plan. First, think about your desired wedding vibe, whether that's rustic and romantic or edgy and urban. It's important to look at restaurants that align well with your aesthetic, since you won't be bringing in much additional decor. Also, hash out what activities and wedding elements you want, like a small dance floor, outdoor ceremony spot or an open-concept dining area. What you come up with during this brainstorm stage will directly influence your venue choice.
2. Set Your Budget
Yes, you must have a firm grasp on your budget for any wedding, but account for costs that might be bundled—like venue, bar and catering—if you choose to wed in a restaurant. Get a grasp on your spend ceiling and understand what costs are included with a restaurant venue—it'll make sticking to your wedding budget easier. Your budget can also inform your venue choice and exact wedding location, since a higher budget could accommodate a full restaurant buyout, while a smaller one is better suited to eateries with small event spaces that are less pricey (since the restaurant can likely continue normal service hours during your wedding).
3. Hire an Experienced Wedding Planner
Wedding planners are an incredible resource for restaurant weddings, especially if they have experience planning them. They'll know the right vendors to call up to suit your unique venue as well as any special setup or cleanup considerations that are unique to restaurants (like if the restaurant needs to be back in action by brunch service the next morning). A wedding planner will save you lots of Googling and a headache or two.
4. Make a Streamlined Guest List
The sweet spot for restaurant weddings is well under 100 guests, sometimes much smaller. Get your attendee list firm (and as small as possible) before you begin your venue search.
5. Select Your Spot
Finally! It's time to pick the restaurant where you'll wed. Besides the considerations mentioned above as far as looks and functionality go, double check that the restaurant can accommodate both your ceremony and reception (if needed). It's also worth asking if the restaurant has prior experience hosting weddings. Weddings do require more energy and a more nuanced approach compared to other events, so it's definitely a boon if they understand those ins and outs.
6. Talk Food and Drink
This is the best part. Sift through the restaurant's food and cocktail offerings to see which dishes and drinks stand out to serve at your wedding dinner. Ask about the potential for any customizations and nail down what formats are available to you. For example, restaurants with large kitchens might be able to get closer to a traditional wedding dinner experience, where guests are served individual plates at the same time. Smaller spots, on the other hand, might suggest opting for a few family-style dishes to be passed around the table (one of our favorite budget-friendly wedding food ideas). If you're envisioning your guests ordering from the regular menu à la carte, know that this will cost more than curating a limited menu and can only be offered for a very small event. If your restaurant changes their menu seasonally (the sign of a great spot), you might ask to see an example of a previous menu that corresponds with your wedding season. If it's currently winter, but your nuptials are in the summer, the hearty braises and brassica-forward bites on their menu will give way to delights like juicy tomato tarts and berry salads. And you want to account for that shift as you pick your menu.
7. Ask About Cake and Dessert
Most restaurants require a cake-cutting fee for birthdays and special occasions, so check in to see if one is needed for your wedding. It also doesn't hurt to check out the restaurant's dessert offerings, in case you'd like to select a special sweet for guests to enjoy and reserve a small cutting cake for yourselves.
