Providence may be a small capital city relatively speaking, but there is no shortage of insanely good restaurants to choose from. This is due in good part to the fact that Johnson and Wales, a university with a top culinary institute, is located in Providence. Lots of insanely talented and creative chefs work in and open restaurants in the area. From low key, comfort food establishments to Michelin caliber dining experiences, there truly is something for every vibe and palate. It’s for this reason that some of the best restaurant wedding venues are in Providence, Rhode Island!
Providence also consistently scores 100s on the Human Rights Campaign Municipality database. This makes it a very welcoming and inclusive location for our fellow LGBTQIA+ friends to marry. So why wouldn’t you want to host your wedding at a restaurant instead of a traditional venue?
Well hey there, I’m Meagha, a wedding photographer who works and dines all across Providence on the regular. So I feel it’s only fair to share with you what I consider to be the best of the best restaurant wedding venues in Providence Rhode Island. And if you stay until the end, I’ll also give you some tips and resources for planning your own restaurant wedding!
Eclectic Restaurant Wedding Venues in Providence Rhode Island
CAV – Jewelry District
With space for 20 – 50 guests, CAV is gem (pun intended) in the Jewelry District of Providence. It’s just a little bit off the Point St exit of I-95N. With an eclectic mix of artifacts from around the world, crystal chandeliers and patterned tablecloths, you won’t need to do much if anything at all in terms of decorating. And even better? The food is always delicious! They serve elevated dishes with globally inspired flavors and super tasty dinner and dessert cocktails.
Ogie’s Trailer Park – West End
Colorful midcentury patterns meets trailer park chic with tiki drinks and throw in some disco kitties. Yup that’s Ogie’s. It’s a colorful, fun and totally chill bar on the West End of Providence. If tiki drinks weren’t already enough for you wait until you hear about the food. They have the most delicious tater tots (get the truffle parm ones), sammies, hot dogs and other comfort food bites served hot and fresh from Granny Boo’s Kitchen. And they also have plenty of space for an epic dance floor for your wedding! Honestly, if Evan and I were to get married again, this would probably be the spot. It’s just too much fun!
Troop – Olneyville
Located in the Olneyville neighborhood (or more specifically the Valley) of Providence, Troop is a moody, colorful, ultra vibey spot. They have giant murals of hip hop legends and bar seats with old skate boards as backs. Plus you’ll hear their ever rotating playlist of hip hop music from the 80s to today while dining there. Troop is one of the dopest spots in Providence to get hitched! Troop also has an insanely good cocktail and mocktail menu and elevated, ultra fresh comfort foods with tons of flavor! So basically, you can’t go wrong having your Providence wedding here.
Cozy Restaurant Wedding Venues in Providence Rhode Island
Bellini – Downtown
A relatively new addition to the Providence restaurant scene, Bellini is a fine dining, contemporary Italian restaurant. It’s located in The Beatrice hotel in the heart of downtown Providence. So if you’re looking for a more luxurious feel while still being comfortable, Bellini is it. It’s simultaneously warm and bright. You’ll have a hard time feeling anything but cozy while enjoying their rustic Italian cuisine. And of course, you HAVE to have a bellini while you’re there. It’s the perfect signature cocktail for your wedding!
Costantino’s Venda Bar & Ristorante – Federal Hill
Venda Ravioli is an institution on Federal Hill. Costantino’s is their very popular and insanely delicious restaurant located just across the plaza from their grocery store. Speaking of the plaza, Costantino’s is a unique spot in Providence in that it sits right on the stunning DePasquale Square. This open air plaza with a fountain, brick patios and string lights is nestled amongst the cozy restaurants. It’s a vibe that will have you feeling like you’re in Europe, not Providence. Add fresh pasta dishes, their famous Italian lemonades (lemonade and amaretto) and decadent desserts. You and your wedding guests will be in Italian heaven.
Ellie’s – Downtown
If Paris cafe is your vibe, then Ellie’s is the perfect spot for your wedding reception! Its intimate space with a customizable bar and menu for up to 70 guests is ideally located in downtown Providence. And they’re a member of the Rhode Island Wedding Group! This means they’re fully equipped and knowledgeable about weddings. Your event planning process will be seamless, personal, and simple!
Rooftop at the Providence G – Downtown
Unlike many other locations in this blog, the Rooftop at the Providence G is exactly like the name says. It’s on a rooftop with epic views of Providence. Open air may not feel like it should be in the cozy category. However, the couches, fire pits and greenhouse style overhead cover will absolutely make you feel cozy when you’re up there! And this location is owned by a big wedding group. So your experience will be streamlined and personalized with a great dinner menu!
Elevated Restaurant Wedding Venues in Providence Rhode Island
Bayberry Garden – Innovation District/ Downtown
Bayberry Garden is located in the innovation district of downtown Providence (right next to the stunning pedestrian bridge). It offers both indoor and outdoor dining options for reserved tables, partial and full buyouts for up to 100 wedding guests. Their menu is tapas style with fresh ingredients, seafood, and an amazing wine and cocktail menu.
Gracie’s – Downtown
You’ll love the elevated New American cuisine from some of the best chefs in Providence at Gracie’s. It’s situated in an ideal spot right downtown in Providence. With options for smaller gatherings with only your closest loved ones on up to full scale 110 person wedding guest counts, they have you covered. And my favorite part? They’re also partnered with Ellie’s down the street to provide delicious French-inspired desserts!
Oberlin – Downtown
Oberlin is a small plates restaurant known for it’s modern, fresh pasta dishes and seafood offerings. Similarly to Gracie’s, it’s located in the heart of downtown Providence (just one street over). With large windows overlooking Westminster St and bright paint yet cozy lighting and seating, it’s the perfect vibe for couples looking for something different and effortlessly cool for their intimate wedding.
Check out a real intimate evening wedding at Oberlin here!
Persimmon – Fox Point
This small plates style restaurant located in the Fox Point neighborhood has been known to attract celebrities. It’s actually one of Evan and I’s personal favorite special occasion (or just because) restaurants. It has the perfect vibe with a mix of elevated food and drinks served in a laid back environment with an open kitchen. The architecture is so cozy too with original flooring and historic details restored in a very modern and colorful way. Persimmon is a dope spot for a wedding dinner!
Classically New England Restaurant Wedding Venues in Providence Rhode Island
Cafe Nuovo – Downtown
Right down the riverwalk from Waterplace Park is Cafe Nuovo. This epic fusion restaurant draws inspiration from flavors around the world. What makes this classically New England is that this region, and Providence especially, is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. And it’s located right along the site of Water Fire. What’s more uniquely Providence than that?
Hemenway’s – Downtown
Hemenway’s is a staple in the Providence restaurant scene with both indoor and outdoor seating options. It’s available for small to large guest counts alike and located right along the Providence River walk downtown. Their mix of delicious local seafood and Italian dishes will leave your guests with the full New England experience when you host your wedding here.
Waterman Grille – East Side
Located right along the Providence River on the East Side of Providence, this Newport Restaurant Group property is a quieter spot than those located in the heart of downtown. Waterman Grille’s got a more classic wedding venue feel. They have options for upgraded linens, tables and chairs but with a more intimate feeling than most traditional big wedding-only venues. With rooms both inside and outside ranging from 30 to 120 guests, there is plenty of flexibility for weddings of all sizes. This includes having space for a dance floor, if that’s your jam!
So now that you have a bunch of restaurants to choose from, let’s go over the logistics of hosting a restaurant wedding in Providence so you know what to expect.
Planning Tips for Hosting Your Restaurant Wedding in Providence
- Don’t wait until the last minute– Many of these restaurants schedule weeks or even months in advance, especially from prime weekend evenings. I would suggest getting in contact with them anywhere from 3-12 months in advance (restaurant depending) especially if you’re hoping to book a full buyout.
- Make your menu your own – One of my favorite things about hosting your wedding at a restaurant instead of a traditional venue with a caterer is that usually you’ll have the opportunity to truly customize your menu – especially if you’re opting for a micro wedding (under 50 people).
- Have a few date nights – That’s right! These are all fully functioning restaurants, which means you can actually go and try the food and get a vibe for the space before making a decision. So make those resies and enjoy!
- Book other vendors who are familiar with restaurant weddings – Photographers, planners, florists, bakers – you’ll want to make sure that your vendors are comfortable and experienced in working with couples having restaurant weddings. They can oftentimes be darker and tighter and require a bit more finesse when working them. Speaking of… we just so happen to be photographers experienced in restaurants weddings if you’re looking! Take a look at our website here, and use our contact form to request a more in-depth experience and pricing breakdown.
What do a restaurant wedding venues in Providence Rhode Island cost?
Some couples think that restaurant weddings will help them to save money when it comes to their wedding day, and that can be true, but it’s certainly not always the case. Different restaurants will have varying costs associated with hosting your wedding reception there. So you’ll want to ask about and factor in all of these costs before deciding where to host your restaurant wedding reception in Providence. Here are some of the most common things you’ll see when inquiring about cost and what they mean:
Minimum Spend
This means that regardless of how many guests you have or what they order that you’ll need to reach a specific amount at a minimum in order to host your wedding there. You can absolutely go higher than this number in spending, however!
Per Person/ Per Plate
A per person or per plate charge can range roughly from anywhere between $50 – $200 or more per guest depending on whether you have an open menu or set choices for guests, service style (eg. buffet, plated), inclusion of drinks or open bar, etc. This is a more traditional wedding and event pricing model, but it can also be more predictable. It won’t fluctuate based on day-of guest food selections, only your final guest count. However, they still may have a guest minimum with this model.
Buyout
A full or partial buyout is common at many restaurants and essentially covers their estimated revenue for the evening for closing all or part of their restaurant to the public for that period of time when your wedding reception is happening. Sometimes this is an additional cost and other times they may lump the cost into a minimum spend option.
Room Rental Fee
Certain restaurants will also charge a room rental fee on top of your food costs. This typically covers additional staff, cleaning, plating, serving, dinnerware, linens and decoration fees, but again it will vary from location to location.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Choosing Restaurant Wedding in Providence
Before you decide if having your wedding at a Providence restaurant is the right choice for you, it’s important to consider the pros and cons.
Benefits – it’s fairly all-inclusive
- Already comes with kitchen and serving staff and an on site kitchen – no need to hire an additional caterer/ staff
- Potential for cost savings (but not always – it truly depends on the type of cuisine and how upscale the restaurant is)
- They come with decor, tables and chairs, flatware and glassware, which reduces the needs for additional rentals. And frequently they’re actually much more unique and artistic than your standard banquet hall options
- Often includes a full bar setup with licensed bartenders and fun cocktails/ mocktails
- Cozy atmosphere for smaller guest counts and a more intimate feeling
- Typically located in accessible areas with lots of parking, hotels and activities for guests nearby
Drawbacks
- Guest counts can be much more limited due to the nature of the size of these restaurants
- Oftentimes you won’t get a say in the layout of the restaurant tables
- There may be time constraints due to their standard operating hours
- Not all restaurants have the space or ability to host a ceremony and/ or dance floor meaning you’ll need to reserve additional venues for these, if that’s your jam (though Providence does have lots of great ceremony and after-party venues for you too!)
- Limited privacy if the restaurant remains open to other diners
- May have less time for set up and breakdown if you’re bringing in outside decor
- If they’re not a frequent host to private events, they may not be familiar with or have a coordinator designated to help with the flow of the wedding
There truly are no wrong choices when it comes to booking your restaurant wedding venue in Providence. All of these places offer a unique menu, ambiance, and experience that will elevate your guests’ experience. Like I said before, pick a few favorites from this list and go visit them! Experience the delicious cuisines, the top notch service, and the vibes. See which one speaks to you the most – the one you can envision being surrounded by your closest family and friends in for your wedding day! Then, once you’ve locked in your restaurant of choice, give us a shout. We would absolutely love to photograph your wedding day in our candid style with a vibey mix of digital and film photography. Reach out here to set up a consult and book us!
