Pricing
What an evening here costs.
No venue in this market publishes this. We think that is a bad habit rather than a competitive advantage — you should be able to work out whether The Carder is right for you from your own kitchen table, before anyone gets on a ferry.
Peak Season
May – October
$25,000
Site fee
- Food & beverage minimum
- $60,000
- Guests included
- Up to 150
- Each guest above that
- $325
- Starting total
- $85,000
The harbor at its best, and the season that books first.
Shoulder Season
March, April, November, December
$20,000
Site fee
- Food & beverage minimum
- $40,000
- Guests included
- Up to 100
- Each guest above that
- $325
- Starting total
- $60,000
Crisp light, thinner crowds on the island, and real savings.
Low Season
January and February
$12,500
Site fee
- Food & beverage minimum
- $40,000
- Guests included
- Up to 100
- Each guest above that
- $325
- Starting total
- $52,500
Half the site fee of peak, and the whole island to yourselves.
Starting totals are the site fee plus the food and beverage minimum, before the 22% administrative fee and before any guests above the included count. They are a floor, not a quote.
Inclusions
What the minimum buys.
All of the following is inside the food and beverage minimum for your season. There is no separate line for chairs.
Food and beverage
- Five passed canapés
- One appetizer selection
- Two entrée selections, plus a silent vegetarian option
- One seated dessert, or three passed desserts
- One 6" cutting cake
- “Empire Pour” full-bar alcohol package, five hours
The building
- Exclusive use of the ballroom, bridal suite and terrace, 9am to the end of the event
- Illeta’s bar area from 3pm
- Use of the ceremony area
- One event per night — the building is never shared
Furniture and service ware
- Up to 25 × 66" round tables
- 250 chairs
- Standard linen
- Glassware, plateware and flatware
Not included
The things that cost extra.
Publishing a price is only useful if the exclusions are published beside it.
Weather cover
The Carder provides shade on the grounds but has no rainproof outdoor area. The event lawn is designed around a 32′ × 72′ Sperry oval tent covering 100 to 200 people, available through our exclusive tenting partner; additional coverage can be procured.
Administrative fee
A 22% administrative fee is assessed on all charges. It offsets operating, overhead and administrative expenses associated with your event, including staffing. It is not distributed as gratuity. Gratuity is always appreciated and never expected.
Extended hours
Events run five hours as standard. Additional hours are $1,500 each, covering labor, security and ferry logistics. A bar package extension is required for extended hours and starts at $10 per person depending on the package selected.
Private charter
Public ferry service ends at 11:30pm on weekend event nights. Events running later require a private charter, pre-approved by the Trust for Governors Island — typically $2,500 for a single run and $7,500 or more for a multi-hour block.
Deposits
Paid in three.
Split evenly across the run-up to the date, so nothing lands all at once.
- 01Within 5 days of signingOne third
- 02180 days before the eventOne third
- 0360 days before the eventFinal third
Inquire
Does this work for you?
If the numbers above fit, the next step is a date. If they do not, tell us what you are working with — the shoulder and low seasons exist for exactly that conversation.
Doors open Memorial Day weekend 2027.
Reservations open Friday, September 3rd, 2027.