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One of New York City’s most storied hotels is shutting its doors for years, leaving brides and grooms scrambling to secure new wedding venues.
For over a century, The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan has stood as the ultimate crown jewel of luxury weddings, setting the stage for extravagant celebrations — most notably the star-studded 2000 nuptials of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones and a glamorous gathering back in 1968 for Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower.
The Fifth Avenue landmark is also deeply woven into the fabric of popular culture. It has served as the backdrop for blockbuster films like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and “Bride Wars.”
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It was also the beloved stomping ground of Eloise from Kay Thompson’s classic children’s books.
The Plaza Hotel will close in January 2027 for at least four years as the landmark undergoes extensive restoration work, the hotel said in a press release shared with Fox News Digital.
The hotel, which opened in 1907 overlooking Central Park, said the work will focus on repairing and restoring its historic façade.
“Due to the complexity of this undertaking and significant intrusion to operations, The Plaza Hotel will be closing for at least four years commencing January 2027 while the work is underway,” the hotel said.
The announced closure is creating uncertainty for couples who had planned to marry at the hotel.
Several brides with upcoming weddings said they were left scrambling for alternate venues after learning of the closure, according to the New York Post.
Christine Carney, 38, had planned a roughly 200-person wedding at the Plaza for May 1 after booking the venue nearly a year in advance, the outlet reported.
Carney told the Post she learned about the closure from a friend rather than the hotel itself, leaving her worried about the money already paid for her wedding.
“I’m definitely frustrated and disappointed that this happened, and I’m anxious to figure out what the next steps will be,” she told the outlet.
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The closure drew reactions from New Yorkers and travelers online, including some who immediately thought about the weddings affected.
“I feel sorry for all the weddings that had to [be] canceled,” one Reddit user wrote. “[I] was [supposed] to go to a wedding in [February] and now the groom is scrambling.”
Another commenter responded, “It’s going to be impossible to find something comparable on such short notice.”
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The Plaza said additional details surrounding the planning and execution of the restoration remain under review.
The hotel has hosted some of the country’s most high-profile weddings and receptions, including Patricia Kennedy and actor Peter Lawford’s reception in 1954, as well as Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower’s reception in 1968.
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