Let’s be real. One of the best parts about New York City is the skyline. It is something that almost anyone in the world would recognize, and it is a dream backdrop for your wedding. And the best way to capture it? With a rooftop wedding in NYC. 

As a New York City wedding photographer, I’ve had the chance to photograph at a ton of different venues throughout the city, and nothing beats a venue with an incredible view. Not only does it give off that quintessential New York vibe, but it also makes your photos look absolutely stunning. 

So, if a rooftop wedding in NYC is exactly what you are looking for, take a look at The Skylark and some tips for having the perfect wedding there! 

About The Skylark 

The Skylark is right in the heart of the city and sits right above Times Square. You can’t get much more New York than this. During the week, The Skylark is a bar and lounge for everyone to enjoy, but it can be transformed into your dream wedding venue on the weekends. 

There are a few incredible aspects to The Skylark. One is just its location in general. Not only are you right in the city, but you can also get amazing views of the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Hudson River. 

A groom and a witness in black suits sit at a modern lounge, signing the wedding documents on a marble table, while the bride in a white dress smiles beside them, holding a glass of champagne.
A groom in a black suit holds hands with his bride in a white gown during an emotional first look on the Skylark rooftop, with the Empire State Building standing tall behind them.
A view of the Empire State Building on a cloudy day, captured from the rooftop of Skylark NYC, with modern skyscrapers in the background.
A black-and-white wedding program titled "Newlywed Times" rests on a mauve cushion, featuring a romantic image of the couple celebrating on a grand staircase.
A beautifully arranged indoor wedding ceremony at Skylark NYC, featuring white floral arrangements on tall pedestals in front of floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city skyline.
A set of elegant champagne glasses filled with bubbly sits on a reflective round table, with the blurred New York City skyline and Empire State Building in the background.

You are 30 stories above the city, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows all around, so there really isn’t much that can beat this view. 

Not only do you get the views from inside the venue, but there is also a rooftop terrace. You can head up here to really feel like you are on top of the world and get the most stunning sunset views. Whether you have your cocktail hour out here or just head out here for some portraits, you absolutely do not want to miss out on this area. 

The Skylark also has a very modern and refined vibe, and the space really does speak for itself. Because of how thoughtfully designed the lounge is and the incredible views surrounding you, there isn’t much decorating you have to do. The natural beauty of the venue really creates the perfect aesthetic. 

Tips for a Wedding at The Skylark 

If this sounds like the perfect spot for a rooftop wedding in NYC, here are a few tips to help make your day go off without a hitch. 

Find the perfect getting-ready space 

A smiling bride in a strapless white gown stands near a large window with a New York City skyline view, as an older woman in an elegant pink dress fastens the back of her dress.
A groom in a crisp white dress shirt and black tie has his cufflinks carefully secured by another person.
Elegant white slingback heels paired with a bottle of perfume, carefully arranged on a dark table.

First, you want to make sure that you find the perfect place to get ready before your wedding. The Skylark offers spaces for you and your wedding party to get ready right at the venue, but there are also some amazing spots throughout the city that you can choose from. 

Hotels are a great option for this, and there are so many unique places right around the venue. I recently had a couple get ready at the Arlo Hotel in Midtown before heading over to the Skylark to tie the knot. 

This was a perfect choice because they were just a few blocks away from each other, which made getting to the venue so easy. It also allowed us to get some variety in their wedding photos, with different vibes and aesthetics for their getting ready photos compared to their ceremony and reception photos. 

If you are going to get ready offsite, make sure you account for traffic and the time it will take to get to the venue. Getting ready at a space closer to the venue will make your day much less stressful and ensure that you don’t feel rushed or behind schedule! 

Keep your guest list on the smaller side 

A group of wedding guests in formal black attire, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, dance energetically at a wedding reception at Skylark NYC.

The Skylark is a bit of a smaller wedding venue. If you plan on having a traditional ceremony and sit-down reception, the venue can accommodate up to 80 guests. If you want more of a standing/cocktail-style reception, your guest list can get to as high as 120. 

It is important to keep this in mind as you create your guest list. This space is absolutely stunning, but you don’t want it to feel so overcrowded that you can’t enjoy the views and beauty of the venue. 

If you are planning on having a smaller wedding, this is the perfect venue. The views give it that grand NYC feel, but the atmosphere creates a very intimate and personal setting. 

Plan for sunset or nighttime photos 

The couple sits close at a romantic reception table adorned with white flowers and candlelight, smiling at each other against a dreamy city skyline.
The groom wraps his arms around the bride from behind as she softly smiles, with the Empire State Building and NYC skyline in the background.

One thing you definitely don’t want to miss out on when it comes to this venue is sunset or nighttime photos. With views like this, it’s not hard to get incredible portraits of you and your partner with the city skyline stretching behind. 

During the warmer months, the rooftop is open and is an absolute must when it comes to your portraits. Whether you want to grab some golden hour photos before your reception gets into full swing or if you want to sneak out after the sun has set to capture the lights on the city, you will not be disappointed with what you get. 

If the weather isn’t that great and you can’t get out to the rooftop, even the views from within the lounge itself are absolutely incredible and are something you don’t want to miss out on. 

Pro tip: if it is expected to rain a bit on your wedding night, bring a clear umbrella. This is such an easy way to still capture those stunning portraits with the lights of the city (and it may even feel a bit more romantic with the rain) without having anything super distracting in the images. 

If you do plan on taking golden hour or sunset photos, make sure you are paying attention to when the sun is going to start setting. You’d be surprised at how fast it starts to go down and how quickly you lose light. 

My best advice is to head outside 10-15 minutes before just to make sure you are able to get everything set and know exactly what you want to do before you start chasing the sunset! 

Meet Clarissa & Tyler (aka the Couple Featured in this Post!)

The bride in a sparkly white mini dress and the groom in a black suit share a playful moment in front of an intricate gold Art Deco backdrop, gazing at each other with smiles.
The groom in a black suit dips the bride in a sparkling white dress under the night sky, their silhouettes glowing against the city lights from the Skylark rooftop.
The bride and groom share a kiss in a metallic elevator, as she holds up a custom wedding newspaper titled "Newlywed Times," featuring a black-and-white photo of them.
The bride in a white gown and the groom in a black suit walk hand in hand on a New York City street, captured mid-stride in front of a Pret A Manger café.
The bride and groom cut their elegant three-tiered white wedding cake adorned with sugar flowers, with the New York City skyline twinkling in the background.
The bride and groom holding hands on the Skylark rooftop, with the Empire State Building towering behind them.

After meeting at the University of Oregon and making a few big moves throughout their 20s, Clarissa and Tyler finally put down roots in NYC. With most of their guests traveling in from California and Oregon, they wanted a venue that offered an unforgettable New York experience, and The Skylark delivered with its rooftop views and prime location.

Keeping their wedding intimate was just as important as choosing the right venue. Clarissa and Tyler wanted to be surrounded by their closest family and friends, and The Skylark’s atmosphere made it the perfect fit. Every detail came together seamlessly to create a celebration that felt uniquely them. For a peek at their love story before the big day, check out their West Village engagement session!

Are you Ready for a Rooftop Wedding in NYC at The Skylark? 

Hopefully, this helps give you a glimpse into what a wedding at The Skylark can look like. It truly is an incredible wedding venue and has views that are absolutely to die for. If you do want a rooftop wedding in NYC, I would highly recommend checking this venue out. 

And, if you still need the perfect photographer to capture your wedding here or anywhere else, I’d love to chat. You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or you can head over here to get in touch!

The Incredible Vendors Behind This Wedding

Venue: The Skylark

Florist: A Lily Among Thorns

Photographer: Francesca Lee Photo

Videographer: Vanilla Films

DJ: Allison Kinney

Hair and Makeup Artist: WillowHouse

Planner: Poppy + Lynn

Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Support: Michael McGarril

Read these next:

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The Skylark: Your Dream Spot for a Rooftop Wedding in NYC

Clarissa and Tyler kiss at a rooftop NYC wedding at Skylark.

February 26, 2025

I’m an NYC + LA photographer who is more than a little obsessed with documenting your looking-good-feeling-even-better moments.

I’m Francesca!

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