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Planning Your Wedding at Rosecliff
Rosecliff is one of the jewels of the Newport Historical Society and the only mansion made available to host wedding receptions. This venue checks just about every box that a bride and groom could have for their magical day, but this is another venue (similar to Glen Manor) that is owned and operated by the city and the historical society and is not a private business, so there is a lot to consider and navigate if you’re thinking about choosing Rosecliff for your wedding reception.
History of Rosecliff
Rosecliff was completed in 1902 to be the summer cottage of Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs at the cost of $2.5 million. It was designed by Stanford White and modeled after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat at Versailles. His firm also designed the Isaac Bell House in Newport, the Boston Public Library, and both the East and West Wings of the White House.
Once completed, Theresa Olerich hosted some of the most extravagant parties that Gilded Age Newport ever saw. Each season, she often budgeted up to $500,000 for her events, roughly $12 million equivalent today.
After she passed away, her son auctioned off the house and its furniture. The house was sold for $21,000, after which it passed ownership a couple of more times until it was donated to the Newport Preservation Society in 1971 and is open for tours most of the year. It’s been featured in several films, such as The Great Gatsby, 27 Dresses, Amistad, and True Lies.
Location
A wedding venue location can’t get much better than Rosecliff’s. It’s in the heart of Newport, along the famous Bellevue Avenue (mentioned in Downton Abbey), and the land stretches back to the Cliff Walk, meaning that it offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. It really can’t get much better than this. Regardless of where you and your guests may be staying in Newport or maybe in Middletown, this is a spot that is easy to get to. We’ll cover this later, but you also do not need to worry about parking when it comes to Rosecliff, despite its location in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Newport tourists.
Wedding Venue Features
Rosecliff has plenty to offer for your wedding reception, regardless of the time of year. Let’s break down some features of a wedding at Rosecliff.
Historic
As detailed above, Rosecliff was at the center of Newport’s Gilded Age festivities and lifestyle. Since its owned and maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County, it still looks the part. The grounds and interior are meticulously maintained, and only the best of the best are brought in to ensure the building can last another 100+ years.
You and your wedding guests will feel as though they stepped back in time and are experiencing life in the Gilded Age. The marble entryway, the heart-shaped double marble staircase, hand-painted murals on the ceiling, and family portraits throughout the house make it feel like the Oelrichs opened up their summer mansion just for your reception.
When many hear the word historic, feelings such as dark and cramped are at the forefront of their mind. That could not be further from reality when discussing Rosecliff. The light blue-sky mural on the ceiling, the light brown hardwood flooring, and the massive glass doors that form the walls on both long ends of the rectangular ballroom make it bright and inviting. The doors can even be opened during the summer months to open the ballroom up to the stone terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The ballroom at Rosecliff is the largest single room out of any private residence in Newport.
Water Front
Rosecliff extends out to the Cliff Walk and the Atlantic Ocean. To avoid seeing any of the public enjoying the Cliff Walk from the grounds, a giant sea wall with massive potted plants was constructed to the same height as the ballroom and terrace. The end result is that you and your guests will only see the Atlantic Ocean from your reception and not a single tourist walking the many miles of the Cliff Walk.
If it is important to you, the only downside is that you will not be able to get pictures close to the water. You can choose to take your wedding party elsewhere, such as along Ocean Avenue, for additional pictures, but close water photos will not be possible at Rosecliff. The grounds stretch back to the Cliff Walk and on the other side of that is a steep 30-40 foot drop down to the ocean. The water does serve as an excellent backdrop but is different from a beachfront venue or a venue with a dock.
Estate/Grounds
The estate and grounds are as lovely as you can get in Newport, which is saying something. The massive front lawn and gardens create an excellent buffer between your reception and the busy and famous Bellevue Avenue. The fact that the mansion is pushed back on the property also makes the view out of the back all that much better, with greater proximity to the ocean.
The grounds could also be used to add an outdoor dimension to your reception, depending on the time of year. Opening the ballroom glass doors allows guests to move freely between the ballroom, terraces, and gardens.
Single Ballroom
What’s rare about Rosecliff is that all your guests can be seated in a single ballroom. Theresa Olerich designed this as a party house, which had to feature a sizeable stunning ballroom as its focal point. Unlike other historical venues in Newport, your guests can dine and dance in a single room. This creates a more traditional wedding environment without sacrificing the historical uniqueness and oceanic beauty that Rosecliff offers.
Despite the single ballroom, your guests can still utilize a couple of different spaces during your reception, regardless of what time of year you get married. The gardens and terraces are fully used during the late spring and summer months, but there is also a dining room on the left side of the house, adjacent to the ballroom. This can be used for quieter conversations by your guests and is a great spot to set up desserts and cake. The room features light green drapes and a large marble fireplace. The room may be adjacent to the ballroom; however, this is not a similar flow between rooms as described in Glen Manor. The feel at Rosecliff is one of separation and seclusion between the two spaces. This is an excellent spot for conversation and non-assigned seating, but I would not recommend using this space for assigned dining seating as the guests will be cut off from the rest of your reception.
Ceremony
Rosecliff does offer two stunning spots for your wedding ceremony, either on the back lawn, with the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop, or inside in the Salon room amidst the impeccable design and architecture of the Gilded Age. Both options offer a unique setting to exchange vows.
It really comes down to the time of year, your preference, and the guest count. A smaller, more intimate ceremony is perfect for the Salon, whereas the back lawn could handle any size wedding. One thing to remember is the weather in Newport and the fact that you are beside the Atlantic Ocean. The wind is a constant presence in Newport, along with cooler ocean air and fog formation. As with any location, an outdoor ceremony largely depends upon the weather. As long as the winds are not expected to be too high, renting a tent is a great option, which is quite popular. There are a couple of professional tenting companies in the area, which could be used for your ceremony (if need be) or even to add additional outdoor covered space for your reception.
Staff
Although Rosecliff is not a privately-run wedding venue business, they offer excellent structure and support to ensure your wedding day goes smoothly and the planning process is as stress-free as possible.
Roughly half a dozen staff are required to be on hand and paid by the hour for your event, not including the workers for each of your vendors. This means that setup and cleanup are all taken care of.
Customization
Rosecliff has seen some of the most unique wedding extras in the area and is known for working with couples to make their every wish a reality. Some things they’ve had requested and accepted were a couple wanting Lions to be at their wedding, a couple riding an elephant on the grounds, and even a couple who landed in a hot air balloon. Such extravagance would make Theresa Olerich proud!
Now let’s say you’re not looking to include exotic animals or crazy means of transportation in your wedding. What can you customize and personalize?
As discussed above, how you envision utilizing the grounds would be a great example. Do you want to add outdoor professional tenting? Maybe some outdoor activities for your guests? All of this can be worked out with the event coordinator at Rosecliff.
Another significant aspect of customization is in regard to your vendors. Because Rosecliff is not a wedding venue business, outside vendors need to be brought in to supply food and beverage and whatever else you may want to include at your reception (Ben and Jerry’s, anyone??). They provide a list of preferred caterers, but you can choose which one best fits your style and needs from that list. Private caterers are much more likely to include seasonal cocktails, a wide array of appetizers, and customization options instead of a venue that prepares the food internally.
This does result in the additional time of talking and negotiating with different caterers and eventually signing a contract. Still, this is an excellent option for those looking to put their stamp on their special day.
Parking
When you hear about the location of Rosecliff, it would be a fair assumption that parking must be a nightmare. After all, it’s located on the most famous, and therefore one of the busiest roads in the city. Not to worry, Rosecliff has ample parking, even if many of your guests decide to drive. This is rarely the case, but you will not have to worry about parking at all at this venue.
Price of a Wedding at Rosecliff
Rosecliff does not openly advertise its prices and, like all places, will likely increase each year, especially in today’s environment. An excellent range to use is $25,000-$45,000, depending upon the day of the week and time of the year. This price would be for space rental, preparation, and cleanup for a four-hour event. An additional hour may be tacked on for $3,000. They also charge for each chair and table needed for your event.
You’re responsible for paying at least nine staff for each event hour, including a police officer, a firefighter, a museum custodian, one women’s room attendant, and five house attendants. These do not take the place of the staff that will be working with your caterer.
Below is a recent cost breakdown. This should not be taken as current pricing for Rosecliff but a rough guestimate of how the pricing will likely be broken down. You should reach out to Rosecliff directly for the most current pricing for the year you’re getting married.
4 Hour Rental Cost Estimate:
Offseason (November-April) – $9,000
May (Sunday-Friday Evening) – $15,000
May (Saturday) – $18,000
In Season (June, July, August, September):
Sunday through Friday – $16,000
Saturday – $25,000
October (Sunday through Friday) – $15,000
October (Saturday) – $18,000
Additional Costs:
Additional Time (1 hour) – $3,000
Preparation/Clean Up (4 hour event) – $2,000
Preparation/Clean Up (5 hour event) – $2,500
Tables – $10/each
Chairs – $6-7 (depending upon style)
Attendants (7 required) – $25/hour each
Police Officer – $75/hour
Firefighter – $75/hour (needed if 200+ guests)
Pros of Rosecliff as a Wedding Venue
Stunning Photos
You can pick the best dress, the best photographers, and even luck out with fantastic weather. Still, the backdrop and setting of your wedding photos are hugely important, and Rosecliff is unrivaled in that category. Whether you want pictures inside the historic house, in the meticulously maintained gardens, or with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop, Rosecliff offers them all to you on your special day.
Cons of Rosecliff as a Wedding Venue
Although Rosecliff has many amazing things going for it as a wedding venue, there are some things to be aware of before choosing this venue.
Price
The price may be a real deterrent for some couples, so we’ve added it as a negative. This is not to say that the venue’s value is beneath the price, but instead that the price is definitely something to think about for what amounts to just the cost to rent the space. Chairs, tables, and support staff also need to be paid (and tipped, many forget to include tipping in budgeting).
The price structure is excellent because couples can have other options to help reduce costs, such as a non-Saturday wedding or choosing a day during the offseason. If you love the fall or the winter, this may be a great option for you. We cover off-season weddings in Newport more in-depth here.
Need Vendors
Depending on your style and preference, the fact that you’ll have to get vendors for all of your reception needs other than chairs and tables can be positive or negative. The pessimistic take on this is that it makes it more of an attractive option to hire a wedding planner to assist you (an added cost). Dealing with all the vendors yourself is doable. Still, if you are very unsure of the area or don’t want the burden of having to search for vendors and remain on top of them and all the details and communication with them, a wedding planner will likely be a must for you. Even with a wedding planner, you must review and sign contracts, such as with a caterer.
No cocktail hour included
No cocktail hour included is a bit of a bummer for most. The cocktail hour is a great chance to get additional pictures will family and friends who are not in the wedding party. When working with a caterer, the cocktail hour is a great way to customize your reception with seasonal cocktails and specialty appetizers. Although it will decrease your contract with your caterer, we find that this is a great investment as it yields memorable returns.
Time
Due to the fact that Rosecliff operates as a museum most of the year, there is a good chance that the house will be used for tours prior to your reception. Because of this, no event may start before 6 p.m. This makes it challenging to have a cocktail hour as a part of your reception unless you want a late dinner. We break down the benefit of a cocktail hour more here. We highly recommend it, but at Rosecliff, it is rather difficult to swing one. The additional hour can be booked, but you’re still unable to start before 6 p.m., so the time would be added on the back end. Most other venues will be a standard 4-hour reception and a one-hour cocktail hour. I would recommend checking with their event coordinator to confirm if you could tack on the additional time to the front of your reception depending on your time of year, which may possibly be a chance during the off-season.
Tips
Hire a wedding planner or use Excel/Sheets
This is an excellent tip regardless of where your wedding is; however, this is an absolute must with a wedding at Rosecliff. Several different expenses just through the mansion itself can change depending upon guest count and the setup floorplan you decide on—layer on top of that a multitude of vendors; it’s enough to drive a couple crazy. Keep track of vendors, deposits paid, remaining balances, and due dates to ensure that you and your significant other stays on top of financial matters regarding your special day.
Opt for the additional hour instead of an after-party
Paying for the additional hour at Rosecliff is a great option and can save you a big headache. Work with your caterer to provide guests with late-night snacks and ensure the bar remains open.
The alternative is to offer no after-party or instead rent a space and pay for the bar to remain open. This requires a deposit and a food and beverage minimum in a contract. This means you would either completely guess or try to have guests RSVP to your afterparty (a horrible idea).
If you’re worried about guests being too exhausted for the extra hour, you can always have one bus or trolley leave with a first wave of guests at the start of the final hour or halfway through it.
Additional seating
Make sure that additional seating is available in the dining room or outdoors, weather permitting. I do not mean dinner seating but some high-top tables mixed with standard tables and chairs. This is an excellent option for those that want to hold normal conversations away from the noise of the DJ/band in the ballroom. The single ballroom can be great, but don’t forget that some will want to talk with family and friends but will be unable to hold a conversation with the DJ or band playing in the same room.
Closing Thoughts
Rosecliff was the heart of the Gilded Age scene in Newport and makes a perfect wedding venue. The rich history, immaculate gardens and lawns, an ideal location on Bellevue Avenue, and overlooking the Atlantic all make Rosecliff one of the most stunning and unique wedding venues not just in Rhode Island or New England, but in all the world. There’s the possibility of overwhelm when planning your special day here, but if it fits your style and vision, booking Rosecliff will most definitely be worth it.
FAQ
What Newport mansions can you have your wedding at?
Rosecliff is the only mansion run by the Preservation Society of Newport County that is available to host weddings. Some other locations may be used for rehearsal dinners, but only Rosecliff is used for wedding receptions.
What Newport mansions can you get married at?
The only mansion run by the Preservation Society of Newport County that is available for marriage ceremonies is Rosecliff. The back lawn and the salon are used for wedding ceremonies and can accommodate small intimate ceremonies or large, extravagant ceremonies.
How much does it cost to get married at Rosecliff?
The cost to get married at Rosecliff mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, varies greatly depending upon the day of the week and time of the year. The rough estimate is $25,000 to $45,000+, excluding all vendors. This price would just be to rent out the space and pay the additional costs for things like chairs, tables, and attendants.
