Capitale is one of those venues that stops you the first time you walk in. The facade on the Bowery is simple — almost anonymous. Then you step through the doors and there are soaring marble columns, frescoed ceilings, skylights pouring light onto the main floor, chandeliers overhead. It was built as the Bowery Savings Bank in 1895 by Stanford White. Today it’s one of the most theatrical, dark, moody, and gorgeous wedding venues in New York City. Which is exactly my kind of space. More at capitalenyc.com.
About Capitale
Designed in 1895 by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White — the firm responsible for the original Penn Station and the Metropolitan Museum of Art — the Bowery Savings Bank was one of the most architecturally significant buildings in lower Manhattan. Corinthian columns, intricate stonework, a towering clock face, marble floors, soaring ceilings. It operated as a bank for nearly a century before closing. In 2002 it was transformed into Capitale, an event space that preserved almost everything original about the building while giving it a new life.
The Spaces
The Main Ballroom
The heart of the building — soaring ceilings, marble columns, skylights, ornate architectural details throughout. Accommodates up to 1,000 guests and can be configured in multiple ways. The stage at the far end of the room is extraordinary for first dances and live entertainment. The mezzanine level above gives a view over the entire space that is dramatic and cinematic.
The Golden Entry Arch
The golden arch of the front entryway is one of my favorite portrait locations in the entire building. The scale, the color, the light — it photographs beautifully.
The Cocktail Space
Beautiful artwork on the walls, natural light, an inviting atmosphere for guests to gather before the reception. The space flows naturally into the main ballroom.
The Prep Suite
Spacious, well-lit, beautifully appointed. Good natural light for hair and makeup coverage and comfortable enough for a full wedding party.
The Vintage Elevator
A small detail but a memorable one — the vintage elevator in the main lobby is a beautiful, unexpected portrait location.
Photo Locations
Inside Capitale
The building itself is the photo location. The marble columns, the frescoed ceilings, the grand staircase, the golden entry arch, the mezzanine overlooking the ballroom, the stage. Every corner of this building has architectural depth that few venues in New York can match.
The Bowery Streets
The neighborhood outside provides a powerful contrast to the building’s grandeur — vibrant street art, vintage storefronts, urban texture. The Bowery’s character adds an edge to outdoor portraits that complements the interior’s elegance.
Freeman Alley
Adjacent to the venue — one of New York City’s most famous street art locations. Murals, graffiti, narrow walls, occasional reflective puddles. Ideal for edgy, urban portrait moments that feel completely different from anything inside the building.
Sara D. Roosevelt Park
A short walk away — gardens, fountains, green space amid the surrounding urban density. A useful contrast to both the building’s grandeur and the neighborhood’s industrial character.
Nearby Hotels
The Bowery Hotel — one block away. Luxurious, vintage vibe, cozy lobby with fireplace.
The Ludlow Hotel — chic boutique hotel, popular rooftop bar, stylish rooms.
Sixty LES — modern, rooftop bar and pool, heart of the Lower East Side.
Crosby Street Hotel — art-filled boutique hotel in SoHo, a short walk.
The Greenwich Hotel — bohemian luxury in Tribeca, beautifully decorated.
Frequently Asked Questions: Capitale Weddings
Where is Capitale located?
130 Bowery at the corner of Grand Street in the Bowery neighborhood of Manhattan. Closest subway is Grand Street on the B and D lines. More at capitalenyc.com.
What is Capitale?
A grand event space in a Stanford White–designed 1895 Beaux-Arts bank building on the Bowery. The main ballroom features soaring marble columns, frescoed ceilings, skylights, and chandeliers — one of the most architecturally extraordinary wedding venues in New York City. Accommodates up to 1,000 guests.
What makes Capitale distinctive as a wedding venue?
The architecture. There is no other wedding venue in New York with this specific combination — the grandeur of a 19th-century Beaux-Arts bank, the drama of the original marble columns and frescoed ceilings, and the theatrical quality of the space at night when the chandeliers are the primary light source. It’s theatrical, dark, moody, and gorgeous.
What are the best photo locations at Capitale?
The golden entry arch. The mezzanine looking down over the ballroom. The stage. The vintage elevator in the lobby. And outside — Freeman Alley for urban street art portraits and the Bowery streetscape for edgy outdoor images that contrast beautifully with the building’s interior grandeur.
What is the light like at Capitale for photography?
The skylights pour natural light into the main ballroom during the day, creating a warm and luminous quality across the marble floors. At night, the chandeliers and architectural lighting give the space a dramatic, theatrical atmosphere that photographs with extraordinary depth. The cocktail hour natural light in the side spaces is soft and flattering.
How many guests can Capitale accommodate?
Up to 1,000 guests in the main ballroom, configured in multiple ways. Also suitable for smaller, more intimate celebrations — the scale of the room works at a range of guest counts. Confirm current capacity and configuration options directly with the venue.
What neighborhood is Capitale in?
The Bowery in lower Manhattan — a neighborhood that has transformed from its 19th-century entertainment roots through the punk rock era of the 1970s and 80s to its current mix of boutique hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and cultural institutions. The contrast between the neighborhood’s urban character and Capitale’s interior grandeur is one of the things that makes weddings here so visually rich.
Do you photograph weddings at Capitale?
Yes — it’s one of my favorite venues in the city. The theatrical, dark, moody aesthetic is exactly what I love to shoot. If your wedding is at Capitale, I’d love to hear about it. And for more on my Manhattan work, my New York City wedding photographer post covers the full picture.
Capitale is theatrical, dark, moody, and gorgeous. If yours is here, I’d love to be there for it.
