Years ago I lived on Roosevelt Island. I rode the tramway to Manhattan for my first post-college job, looking out at the skyline every morning. I never imagined I’d come back as a wedding photographer. Now I have, multiple times, and The Sanctuary is one of my favorite venues in the city.
We started our day at the Graduate Hotel. The Graduate Roosevelt Island is a hotel located on Roosevelt Island in New York City. It is part of the Graduate Hotels chain, which specializes in boutique hotels situated in or near college towns or campuses. The hotel is situated in close proximity to the Cornell Tech campus, making it a popular choice for visitors to the university, academics, and tech professionals.
It’s also the only hotel on the Island, which makes it a super convenient, nearby choice for Sanctuary Roosevelt Island wedding clients and their wedding guests.
As you enter the Graduate, you’re greeted by a towering 13-foot statue of Hebru Brantley’s celebrated Flyboy. The lobby is a bibliophile’s dream, featuring 5,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves reminiscent of a classic library.
Designed with an eye on the past, present, and future, the rooms incorporate elements of classic Americana, Roosevelt Island’s own history, and the forward-thinking ethos of Cornell Tech. The actual hotel rooms are my favorite part, offering remarkable views of Manhattan and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Katie and Greg opted for a first look at the lawn right outside the Tram Station. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the tram, especially since I used to take it to work when I lived there!
The Roosevelt Island Tramway, commonly known as the Roosevelt Island Tram, is an aerial tramway in New York City that connects Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It was inaugurated on May 17, 1976, originally intended as a temporary transportation solution while the subway connection to the island was being constructed. However, the tram gained popularity and became a permanent fixture, even after the subway’s F train began serving Roosevelt Island in 1989.
The tram was the first commuter aerial tramway in the United States and has since become an iconic part of New York City’s public transportation system as well as a tourist attraction. It offers exceptional views of the Manhattan skyline during its approximately 3-minute ride across the East River. I highly recommend it if you’re ever in New York!
If you continue along the East River up Roosevelt Island you’ll end up at Katie and Greg’s wedding venue: The Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is not just another wedding venue; it’s an incredibly cool 16,000-square-foot experience. Located near The Octagon, a historical monument on Roosevelt Island that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this venue has been meticulously designed to offer a blend of the old and the new.
Once a church, The Sanctuary retains its historical grandeur—I especially love the original stained-glass windows and locally-sourced granite. These traditional elements are seamlessly integrated with modern enhancements, such as a staggering 40-foot ceiling and a 30-foot marble bar
Rain threatened all day, so the original outdoor ceremony location was changed to indoors. Want to hear a funny story about the indoors? (Of course you do!)
If you ever thought that a place full of wild animals wouldn’t be your first choice for saying “I do,” you might need to think again. This historic church from the 1920s used to be home to a menagerie of cats and raccoons.
The church’s lot previously served as a sanctuary managed by the Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF). The space was shared harmoniously by the feline and raccoon inhabitants, according to Frank Raffaele, the co-owner who supervised the property’s transformation. Partnering closely with WFF, Raffaele faced the daunting task of relocating the cats to a new sanctuary merely 50 yards away. “Cats are super-smart; they go where the food is. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had a new home,” he shared. Rossana Ceruzzi, the founder of WFF, confirmed that the cats continue to visit their old home, although they now reside in the new sanctuary.
Because of that, this ceremony was cat-and-raccoon-free!
After the ceremony, the rain held off just enough for us to take family pictures at their original ceremony site by the water.
Then it was off to the reception!
For reception space, the Sanctuary features a covered veranda adorned with lounge seating and a Roosevelt Island-themed mural.
Stepping outside the veranda, you’re greeted by a 4,000-square-foot Terrace, an outdoor gem that can comfortably seat over 250 guests. The venue’s flexibility extends to other event spaces like a charming front-yard Patio and a secluded VIP Courtyard. It really makes for a peaceful, private enclave-like feeling to the cocktail hour and reception.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Sanctuary Roosevelt Island Weddings
Where is The Sanctuary located?
On Roosevelt Island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens — accessible by the Roosevelt Island Tramway from Midtown Manhattan, by the F train, or by the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens. The island itself is a fascinating and undervisited corner of New York City with its own distinct character. More at thesanctuarynyc.com.
What is The Sanctuary?
A former chapel that has been transformed into a wedding and event venue. The building retains its original architectural details — including the stained glass windows that are one of the most striking visual elements of the space — while functioning as a fully modern event venue. It’s one of those spaces that photographs like nowhere else in New York.
What makes The Sanctuary distinctive as a wedding venue?
The stained glass. The history. The location on Roosevelt Island with East River and Manhattan skyline views. Most NYC wedding venues are either grand hotels or converted industrial spaces — The Sanctuary is neither. It has a sacred quality that comes from the building’s original purpose, and that atmosphere carries into the wedding day in a way that’s genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere.
What does the light look like at The Sanctuary?
The stained glass creates colored light patterns that shift throughout the day — one of the most photographically distinctive lighting situations in any NYC venue. The colored light falls across the ceremony space and changes as the sun moves. No two weddings at The Sanctuary look exactly the same because the light is always different.
How do guests get to Roosevelt Island?
Three options: the Roosevelt Island Tramway from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan (about 3 minutes, iconic NYC experience), the F train to Roosevelt Island station, or the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens by car. The Tramway is the most memorable arrival and worth building into the wedding day experience for guests. Factor in logistics when planning your timeline.
How many guests can The Sanctuary accommodate?
Confirm current capacity directly with the venue — configurations vary. The space works well for intimate to mid-size weddings. It’s not a grand ballroom venue; it’s more suited to weddings where the architecture and atmosphere are the focus rather than scale.
What are the best portrait locations near The Sanctuary?
Roosevelt Island itself — the promenade along the East River with Manhattan skyline views, the Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip of the island, and the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital which are extraordinary and unlike any other portrait location in the city. The island is genuinely underused as a photography destination and produces images that look completely unlike anything from Brooklyn or Manhattan.
Do you photograph weddings at The Sanctuary?
Yes — it’s one of the most distinctive venues in New York City and I’ve photographed multiple weddings there. If your wedding is at The Sanctuary, I’d love to hear about it. And for more on what I do across NYC venues, my NYC wedding photographer post covers the full picture.
The Sanctuary is unlike anywhere else in New York City. If your wedding is here, I’d love to hear about it.
