Kylee & Ben’s Rainbow Room Wedding in NYC
The Rainbow Room
A Rainbow Room wedding, located at The Top of The Rock, is one of those that stays with you for quite some time. This NYC wedding venue is iconic and quintessentially New York. Kylee & Ben hosted an elegant and sophisticated wedding here while keeping it modern and very personal to them as a couple. They brought in seasonal fall elements through the florals mixing high and low table arrangements. Sitting 65 floors above The Rockefeller Center, the Rainbow Room provides sweeping views of Manhattan and couples have exclusive access to the rooftop terrace. Having photographed many weddings here as an NYC wedding photographer, I can personally attest to the charm and magic that this NYC wedding venue has to offer.
Rainbow Room History
John D. Rockefeller opened the Rainbow Room in 1934 as an exclusive venue for the nightlife scene. Originally called the Stratosphere, Mr. Rockefeller changed the name to the Rainbow Room after thinking that the original name fell flat and sounded too much like an ordinary nightclub. He wanted something a little more elite for his circle of friends. “So great is the room’s prestige,” says the New York Evening Journal, “that ace performers will work there for much less than salaries they command elsewhere.”
Ahead of its time
The Rainbow Room offers a one-of-a-kind revolving dancefloor. Originally installed in 1934 and refurbished in 1957. What a fun way to dance through the night, ensuring that you see every angle of this iconic space.
Kylee & Ben | A love story
I had the honor of photographing these two lovers from their proposal through to their beautiful NYC wedding day. Ben connected with me early in the proposal planning stages and wanted to surprise Kylee with proposal photos. I couldn’t wait to capture this fleeting moment for this sweet couple.
Asking for Permission
“I (Ben) flew to Houston the last week of September to ask Kylee’s parents’ permission to marry her and went to Roman Malakov on 47th street in the Diamond District in NYC the day after I got back to the city to start looking. I probably spent 7 hours designing the ring with some input via FaceTime from her sister and my sister. The engagement ring is an oval shape with a halo and diamonds all along the band.”
The Proposal
“It started off with a helicopter ride over NYC. Then, when we got to Fly Nyon for the helicopter ride, I (Kylee) wasn’t even thinking we were getting engaged, so I asked if we could take a helicopter with the doors off. Ben had to empty his pockets and give them the ring and a five-page letter he wrote to me. Ben was nervous on the helicopter ride and I just thought he didn’t like having the doors off! Next, we went to brunch at Bubby’s under the Highline. Then we headed to the Whitney Museum. Ben proposed on top of the Whitney Museum of American Art (our favorite museum in the city).” To top off the celebrations, Kylee and Ben went to The Penrose on the Upper East Side to celebrate. They went on their first date there and continue to be regulars.
The NYC Wedding Venue
Kylee & Ben got married at the Kirkland Chapel at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. It was important for them to get married in a church, but wanted it to feel intimate, so they chose the chapel. The church was within walking distance of their Rainbow Room wedding.
A few wedding ceremony highlights
The Vows
This sweet couple wrote their own vows to each other and both were crying when they were reading them. I love photographing this kind of emotion. “I choose you to be my best friend and partner. All that I am I give to you. All that I have, I share with you. For all the days before us, I promise you these things.” The couple exited to a string quartet playing “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce and Jay Z.
NY BRIDE AND GROOM Photos
After the couples exit, guests walked a few short blocks to the Rainbow Room! Kylee, Ben, and I took full advantage of the streets of NYC, doing couple’s photos along the way.
Rainbow Room Wedding | A couple with impeccable style
We have to take a moment and talk fashion. This couple was styyyylish. Kylee wore a strapless, white Carolina Herrera, Indira gown with a large bow on the back. For the ceremony, she pinned a 12ft long train under the bow and took it off for the cocktail hour. She paired the look with her mom’s diamond earrings and blue Stuart Weitzman heels. Ben wore a Sartoria Rossi made to measure white tuxedo jacket with navy tuxedo trousers and Louboutin patent shoes. The bridal party wore Rosebud’s Satin, Feather & Ivory dresses and the gents wore classic tuxedos.
Rainbow Room Wedding Reception
The Reception Tables
At the Rainbow room wedding reception, the flowers used in all the centerpieces were amnesia roses, quicksand roses, burgundy cymbidiums, burgundy vanda orchids and amaranthus, white stock, burgundy snapdragons, vintage hydrangea, white anemone, burgundy and green artichokes, bells of Ireland, large burgundy dahlias, burgundy small dahlias, eggplant calla lilies, Italian ruscus, and Dusty Miller. The couple used crystal and candles wherever possible.
The cake
Having a fall/winter wedding we wanted to pay homage to the beautiful flowers in this season by having as many of them on our cake as possible.
In terms of flavors, we were lucky that Ron Ben Israel and his team are geniuses so they really enabled us to have push the boundaries. We had alternating vanilla and chocolate cakes with three different fillings: hazelnut with praline crunch, brown sugar with mini chocolate chips, and black cherry.
The music
The couple had Jessie’s Girl play a set for the whole night. They are based in Atlanta but flew up to NY for this NYC wedding.
They played a good mix of new and old and of course they managed to squeeze the cupid shuffle in there.
The couple danced to “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding for their first-dance song!
Weddings at The Rainbow Room
Customized Service
“Tailored to your imagination, the landmark Rockefeller Center hosts milestone memories to last a lifetime at The Rainbow Room.”
Unique New York
The Rainbow Room is something extraordinary. It shimmers just like the giant crystal chandelier and panoramic views from 65 floors above Manhattan.
Epic Photo Opportunities
A magical place lends itself to beautiful photos. The reception room boasts floor to ceiling windows, shining sunshine by day and city lights by night. Knowing both natural light and working with ambiance, as your photographer I can balance the two to give you those perfect moments.
Flexible floorplan
The Rainbow Room is actually a pretty great blank canvas to let your imagination run wild. The base aesthetics are there and you can jazz it up to your liking. You can host cocktail hour in Bar SixtyFive, have a more intimate wedding in their Private Dining Room, and when the weather is nice, using the 620 Loft & Garden space for those beautiful outdoor wedding photos.
Rainbow Room Wedding Vendors
Ceremony: Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church | NYC Wedding Venue: The Rainbow Room | Wedding Photographer: Leila Brewster Photography | Videographer: Fiore Films | Full Service Planner: Grayhouse Events Atelier | Florist: Pedestal Floral Decorators | Wedding Gown: Ceremony – Carolina Herrera/Reception BHLDN | Lighting: Bentley Meeker | Catering: Rainbow Room | Featured on Carats & Cake | Wedding Cake: Ron Ben Israel Cakes | Band: Jessie’s Girl
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Let’s Connect.
Planning a Rainbow Room wedding, another wedding venue in NYC, or a destination wedding? I’d love to hear about your celebration!
The Rainbow Room
30 Rockefeller Plz, New York, New York 10112
Phone: 212.632.5000
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