How Much Does it Cost to Get Married at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City?

Let’s be real: planning a wedding at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is not for the average couple — at least, not budget-wise. With base costs that easily reach into the seven figures, a wedding at The Met is one of the most exclusive (and expensive) experiences a couple can book. But if you’re dreaming big — or just curious what it takes to host a celebration in one of the world’s most iconic museums — here’s a detailed look at what’s included, what it costs, and what makes it so special.

The pricing quote to get married here was submitted to us through The Wedding Pricing Transparency Project, which is a crowdsourced initiative to make wedding vendor pricing more transparent for couples planning their wedding. Explore over 1,600 venue pricing PDFs by logging in here!

First, a note: You can’t actually have your wedding ceremony at The Met

As dreamy as it sounds, The Met doesn’t permit wedding ceremonies — civil or religious — on the premises. What the museum does allow, however, are after-hours wedding receptions and dinners at their Fifth Avenue flagship location. So while you can’t walk down the aisle beneath ancient Egyptian columns, you can sip champagne next to them afterward.

So how much does it cost to have your reception in The Met? You can view the full pricing quote and details in the Transparency Project in TulleTogether.com – but here’s the high-level details. There are two main event structures to choose from: the Standard Package, which follows a preset timeline and locations, and the Custom Package, which offers more flexibility (for a significantly higher price).

The Standard Wedding Package: Starts at $750,000

This more structured option includes:

• Reception (6:30–7:30 PM): Great Hall
• Dinner & Dancing (7:30–11:30 PM): Temple of Dendur
• After-party (11:30 PM–12:30 AM): Back in the Great Hall

Starting Costs:

• Contribution Fee: $500,000
• Operational Fee: $250,000
• Beverage Fee: $115 per person (upgrades available)

The Custom Wedding Package: Starts at $1.5 Million

If you want to customize the flow of your event — and are prepared to double your base cost — the Custom Package offers more location choices and an extra day for setup.

• Reception: Choose from the Great Hall, Temple of Dendur, Petrie Sculpture Court, or Charles Engelhard Court
• Dinner & Dancing: Choose from Temple of Dendur, Petrie, or Engelhard
• After-party: Great Hall

Starting Costs:

• Contribution Fee: $1,000,000
• Operational Fee: $500,000
• Beverage Fee: $115 per guest, with upgrades available

For a guest list of 120, just the beverage fee totals $13,800 — and that’s before hors d’oeuvres, entrées, or even the band.

For more pricing of iconic NYC venues, check out our breakdown of The Plaza, Rainbow Room at the Rockefeller Center and the Central Park Boathouse!

The Venue Spaces You Could Have Access To

The Met’s architectural grandeur sets it apart from almost any other event venue in the world. Here’s a quick overview of the main spaces used for weddings:

Charles Engelhard Court (American Wing)

Iconic American sculpture and stained glass under a vaulted glass ceiling.
Reception: 400 guests
Dinner: 220 guests

Great Hall

Think: soaring ceilings, neoclassical arches, and major “wow” factor.
Reception capacity: 750 guests
After-party capacity: 1,000 guests

Temple of Dendur

Host dinner beside an ancient Egyptian temple, complete with a reflecting pool.
Reception: 800 guests
Dinner: 550 guests

Petrie European Sculpture Court

Elegant, light-filled, and flanked by classical sculptures.
Reception: 400 guests
Dinner: 200 guests

What the Fees Do — and Don’t — Include

While those numbers cover venue use and operational staffing, they do not include catering, rentals, florals, décor, AV, lighting, or planning. This venue is essentially an expensive blank slate. You’re required to work with The Met’s exclusive roster of vendors, which includes some of New York’s top names in events and hospitality.

Expect significant additional costs for each vendor category — and keep in mind that most of these teams specialize in high-end, large-scale productions.

What’s the Full Cost of a Wedding at The Met?

When you factor in everything — from venue fees to vendor costs — Tulle Together’s Cost Forecast Tool projects that the total budget of wedding at The Met will likely land between $1.9 million and $3.8 million, depending on your guest count, design scope, and vendor selections. This estimate factors in a range of typical wedding expenses beyond the venue itself, helping couples get a realistic view of what their wedding might actually cost before making any commitments. Of course, someone with a high budget could easily spend more than this – but it’s a starting estimate for what that total wedding cost could look like.

The Cost Forecast Tool is just one of Tulle Together’s budgeting resources. On the website, you’ll find a variety of budget tools designed to help couples plan out their total wedding costs before they book anything. Whether you’re estimating expenses, tracking your spending, or looking for real venue pricing, Tulle Together’s tools provide a transparent approach to wedding budgeting—so you can plan confidently and avoid unexpected surprises. Sign up here for a smarter way to plan your wedding!

For most couples, a Met wedding will remain firmly in the dream category. But if you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime celebration and want to host it in one of the most architecturally and culturally significant buildings in the world, The Met delivers on every front — drama, beauty, exclusivity, and unmatched style.

And if you’re just here to peek behind the velvet rope and see what a multi-million-dollar museum wedding looks like — we get it. It’s fun to dream, and even more fun to imagine what’s possible. Whether you’re planning your own big day or just love a good behind-the-scenes look at iconic venues, The Met is nothing short of spectacular.

Photo Credit: Pexels