5 Best Wedding Venues in Rochester, NY

Located on Lake Ontario, Rochester is a city in Upstate New York known for the nightlife and urban hustle and bustle, as well as its stunning natural beauty! Rochester offers waterfront views of one of the Great Lakes, and is also a gateway to the Finger Lakes region, where you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventures. It’s an incredible place to tie the knot, but you’ll need a venue first!

Choosing a venue is one of the first things you’ll need to cross off the to-do list for your wedding day – so to help you narrow down your options and find the perfect place to host your celebration, here are 5 of the best wedding venues in Rochester, New York!

The Wintergarden Wedding Venue – Rochester, NY

The Wintergarden wedding venue is right in downtown Rochester, and it’s absolutely stunning! It’s located in the Legacy Tower, and it’s enclosed in glass – so whether you exchange vows with the sun streaming in, you watch the sunset as you tie the knot, or you tie the knot under the stars, this is one of the best wedding venues in Rochester, with breathtaking views of the outdoors, with elegant decor inside.

You can host up to 450 people at the Wintergarden, so it’s perfect for weddings of all sizes. There are two spacious getting ready suites, where you can have your hair and makeup done and spend the morning of the big day celebrating with your wedding party. Then you have two options for the ceremony – the most popular space is the main room, with floor to ceiling windows and incredible views. This space is versatile, and great for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception! There’s also a foyer where you can walk down a traditional aisle, or set up the seats to have your loved ones circle around the ceremony spot in the middle.

The Wadsworth Homestead Wedding Venue – Geneso, NY

The Wadsworth Homestead is located in Geneso, just half an hour south of Rochester. It’s an elegant country manor estate, owned by the same family since it was built in 1804! It’s even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the stunning grounds make it one of the best wedding venues in Rochester.

The home overlooks the Genesee River Valley, and around the manor, there are pastures filled with towering oak trees, flowery meadows, and even grazing horses! The home includes rooms for you to get ready and bedrooms that you can stay in after the wedding, along with cozy touches like the fireplaces, grand staircase, and the library.

You can get married outside, and celebrate with all your guests amongst the gorgeous greenery! To see more of the venue, check out this wedding at the Wadsworth Homestead.

• 

• 

The Arbor Loft Wedding Venue – Rochester, NY

The Arbor Loft is a unique, modern wedding venue. The loft is elegant, with over 6,000 square feet of space that overlooks downtown Rochester. Designed to be industrial and customizable so you can add your own personal touches, the loft features white walls, wooden floors, exposed beams, and chandeliers – combining modern design with rustic charm, you can really make the space your own! This venue transforms seamlessly from ceremony to reception space.

With a capacity of up to 300 people, the Arbor at the Loft is perfect for any wedding day!

There’s also the Arbor at the Port, owned by the same folks. This space is bigger, and can accommodate up to 450 people, with plenty of indoor space as well as access to the river!

The Ballroom at Carey Lake Wedding Venue- Macedon, NY

With 200 acres and an incredible view of the lake, the Ballroom at Carey Lake is one of the best wedding venues in Rochester for couples who want to get married outdoors, with stunning natural scenery!

You can get ready in a cozy suite, designed to be the perfect space for hair and makeup or for mimosas with the wedding party before the main event.

Ceremonies usually take place outdoors, at the gorgeous courtyard that overlooks Carey Lake – but in case of rain, you can have your ceremony in the ballroom instead! There are three options for ballrooms where you can host your reception. The Grand Ballroom is the biggest, holding up to 450 people, and the North Ballroom is the smallest, with a capacity of 125. The South Ballroom can accommodate up to 205 guests, but if you don’t need a dance floor, each ballroom can host even more poeple! Each one has a bar, an outdoor porch, and a courtyard with views of the lake.

Belhurst Castle Wedding Venue – Geneva, NY

The Belhurst Castle is a really unique wedding venue in Rochester, located in the heart of the Finder Lakes. The historic castle is majestic, looking over the lush green lawns, right on the waterfront of Seneca Lake. The venue is absolutely stunning, with a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space and several ballrooms to choose from in the castle.

By the lake, you’ll find a dock, tree lined paths, and plenty of greenery – perfect for photos! For your reception, you’ll be in the cozy, romantic atmosphere of the historic castle. And because the venue doubles as a resort, you can aslo enjoy the salon and spa to relax before the ceremony, guests can enjoy views of the lake from the Tavern, and everyone can stay at the castle after the day is over!

Hiring a Rochester Wedding Photographer

After choosing your venue, the second thing on the to-do list is usually to find the perfect photographer! I’m all about documenting every moment, big and small, while making sure that you’re comfortable and stress free on the big day – because your photos should feel natural, and they should reflect the two of you.

If you’re ready to start planning and to meet your new #1 hype girl, contact me!