The Sanctuary Roosevelt Island Weddings

We absolutely loved our wedding at The Sanctuary! We initially worked with Amelia and then with Arthur and Kat towards the end of our planning process. Every contact at The Sanctuary was very responsive and accommodating. We loved the space, especially having multiple different areas for guests to enjoy (the chapel for dancing/desserts, the tent for dinner/conversation, and the outdoor patio for smores!) and the beautiful NYC skyline in the background. The bridal suite where we all got ready was spacious and comfortable. I was a little nervous about the temperature in the tent during a November wedding, but it was very comfortable! We will always be grateful to The Sanctuary for our beautiful wedding!

We just had our wedding at The Sanctuary and are still glowing about it. I am struggling to think of any constructive criticism, so I will just list the things we loved about the experience. 1. Planning/Coordination: Wedding planning is no one's favorite activity, but Kat and Arthur and the rest of the staff made it as painless as it could be. They were quick to respond to any questions we had, flexible when we had custom requests and last-minute changes, and were very transparent about costs and what is/isn't included. No last-second surprise charges either. We had a few on-site visits to talk through details, and each time we were offered prosecco. :) 2. The venue itself: NYC locals and out-of-towners alike loved the location and ambiance. We had a late September wedding, and the combination of indoor/outdoor locations with Manhattan as the backdrop made for a stunning setting. The pier location for the ceremony was great (with cooperating weather, of course) and could seat 150 guests (although it was a bit tight). Guests could lounge on the patio if they needed a break from the action and get a view of the city, and the indoor former church grounds area made for a cool dance area. The lighting and aesthetic were already so pretty on their own that they needed little additional decoration. The only things we needed to provide were signage, table decorations, and miscellaneous things like guest books/card boxes/etc., which we handled. The getting-ready area was very nice and spacious, and was available for use 6 hours before the ceremony, with the staff ready to serve you a drink. 3. The food/drinks: Guests commented on how the venue-provided food was not only great but incredibly plentiful. We got treated to a tasting months before the wedding; although we couldn't taste-test every item on the menu, it gave us a good idea, and the quality was consistently high (even with the items we chose that weren't available for testing). The staff handled a plethora of dietary restrictions with ease. Guests were treated to a four-course meal (not to mention the pizza oven they got going after dinner for late-night snacks). The open bar package was great, even at the basic level (which we got). 4. Staff: Every member of the staff was professional, nice, and made us feel at home. 5. Community integration: The Sanctuary are responsible citizens of Roosevelt Island—adhering to all noise ordinances (limit outside noise after 10 p.m., which didn't put a damper on the party at all)—and they also hold an annual event for the residents of the island. 6. Pricing: Weddings aren't cheap and this wasn't either, but it was very reasonable compared to the other NYC venues we toured. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at The Sanctuary and we can only hope that we come back as guests for another wedding!

Important note: ours was a queer wedding, so it was very important to us to find queer-friendly vendors. The Sanctuary was very welcoming to both us and our many queer and trans guests - highly recommend to any other queer folks out there looking for a venue! Everything about our experience with The Sanctuary at Roosevelt Island was perfect. From the first time we contacted them, they were far more transparent about their pricing and offerings than anywhere else we looked, which remained true throughout our touring and contracting process. Their pricing was very fair, and they included lots of bonuses for signing before the year ended. Their staff were all incredibly kind, thoughtful, and helpful - shout outs to Amelia, Arthur, and Kat! They were easily reachable when we needed them and did not overwhelm us with information. Their communication about their needs were clear and very helpful in our planning process. We used their in-house catering and everything was delicious. The tasting was wonderful, and our bartender did a fantastic job helping us figure out our signature drink, which got rave reviews from our guests. The venue itself is a true hidden gem - off the beaten path of busy Manhattan with skyline views across the river during the ceremony on the pier. We and our guests loved having access to multiple different indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the evening, so folks could dance as long as they wanted to and find a quiet/cooler space when needed. Many of our guests told us it was the coolest wedding venue they had been to. We had boats honking at us as they sailed by during the ceremony, which added a special New York flair that we loved! One prime example of the care with which The Sanctuary staff work was on our wedding day. One of our guests, normally an excellent dancer and life of the party, had torn her ACL the week before and was very sad to not be able to participate as much as she wanted to. The Sanctuary staff kindly let us borrow the rolling chair from their offices so that she could roll around the dance floor and still have a ball! It was so helpful and led to some fun pictures. The Sanctuary at Roosevelt Island is a truly one-of-a-kind New York venue with a staff that goes above and beyond!

As two people who work in events, we came into wedding planning with a clear vision and high expectations — and The Sanctuary exceeded every single one. Not only is the venue absolutely stunning, but the team behind it made the entire experience seamless and stress-free. Cat and Arthur truly stepped up to make sure everything ran smoothly, allowing us to actually enjoy the day and just have fun. That’s not something we take for granted, especially knowing all that goes into producing events like this. We also want to give a big shoutout to Steve the bartender, who was part of our initial tastings and ended up being a total hit with our guests. His energy, professionalism, and cocktails added so much to the experience — people are still talking about him! From the planning process to the final moments of the night, the entire team’s professionalism, care, and attention to detail were evident. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful the space was and how effortless the whole celebration felt. We’re so grateful to the team at The Sanctuary for helping create a day that was meaningful, joyful, and completely us. If you’re considering this venue — go for it. You’re in the best hands.

We booked The Sanctuary as our venue back in 2023 when they were just re-opening, and we have zero regrets! Every New Yorker should have this place on its radar! The very first day we were there with Fonsi, we knew we were in good hands! Everything was perfect: the pier set-up for the ceremony, the open bar, grazing table and passed hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour and finally the dessert table and pizza stations for the after party. The food was AMAZING and cooked on-site so it was as fresh as it can be! And then they seamlessly cleared out the cocktail area and transformed it into the dancefloor while we were all enjoying our dinner buffet in a separate tented pavilion. Shout out to Amelia, Frank, Artur, Cat, and the rest of their wonderful team!