THE 24 BEST WEDDING
VENUES IN ROCHESTER, NY
Rochester Weddings = Perfection
UPDATED : February 27, 2024
Are you getting married in Rochester, NY? If so, you have gorgeous options!
Learn the inside story of the most beautiful wedding venues in Rochester. You’ll find historical sites, stunning architecture, and modern spaces for your refined wedding vision.
Here’s a list of the 24 best wedding venues in Rochester - read on for the detailed scoop on each one:
Detailed Information on the Top 24 Best Wedding Venues in Rochester, NY
ARBOR MIDTOWN (NEW!)
01
Arbor Midtown is hands-down the most sophisticated and refined wedding venue in downtown Rochester.
It first started life in 1926 as a bank headquarters, and now Midtown adds to and elevates the space with 21st-century design sensibilities. With a capacity for over 300 guests, Midtown has set the bar for medium to large downtown venues - and it’s absolutely the place where you want to be.
Add on the warm, personal, and detail-oriented (and super fun!) Arbor Venues team, and you’ve got the ideal location for 2024 weddings and beyond.
Midtown Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 320 maximum (250 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Excellent (you’ll gasp when you see the bridal suite)
Aesthetic: Elegant, sophisticated, Great Gatsby-esque
Guest experience: Excellent, close to downtown hotels, stunning indoor visuals
Parking: Valet included, not convenient on your own
LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA
02
The Lake House on Canandaigua is easily one of the newest and most stunningly gorgeous wedding venues in the Rochester, NY area.
From its refined and sophisticated aesthetic to the perfect lakeside location and impeccable level of service you’ll experience, the Lake House is the wedding destination in the Finger Lakes region.
Even better, the Lake House has a dedicated bridal suite for getting ready, on-site spa services, and a world-class culinary team. You and your guests will have an experience that goes beyond a regular wedding weekend, and it will be surrounded by calm and luxury.
Lake House Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor & outdoor
Seated Capacity: 250 maximum (180 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Excellent - dedicated bridal suite with large countertops and natural light for ladies’ getting ready. Guys typically use a hotel room.
Aesthetic: Elegant waterfront vibe with sophisticated service and luxurious touches
Guest experience: Excellent, on-site hotel and close to lakeside amenities
Parking: Easy
Has lodging for guests: Yes
THE WINTERGARDEN
03
The first time you walk into the Wintergarden's main atrium in the heart of downtown Rochester, I guarantee you'll catch your breath. It’s still amazing to me that such a beautiful and large glass structure exists in Rochester!
As a reception space, the Wintergarden provides elegance with a whimsical flair: real trees surround you and your guests as you dine under the stars in any season. Truly a unique experience in our city!
Even better is how the Wintergarden offers separate spaces for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. No last-minute flipping the room after your ceremony wraps up - instead, you and your guests move from the two-story lobby to your private cocktail hour hosted on the second floor, and then to the grand atrium for dinner and dancing.
Wintergarden Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor, multiple spaces are available
Seated Capacity: 450 maximum (250 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Decent: dedicated rooms with no window light
Aesthetic: Remarkable glass atrium, welcoming weddings of every season
Guest experience: Good: set-apart areas for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception progressively reveal your vision. Hotels nearby.
Parking: Decent, parking garage is nearby & often free on weekends
JACKRABBIT CLUB
04
If you’re looking for a small-to-midsized wedding venue with a modern, industrial look, best-in-class culinary team, and a ton of downtown Rochester energy, the Jackrabbit Club is your place. The Club hosts ceremonies and receptions with an aesthetic that’s perfect for modern couples who love city life.
The fact that it’s operated by the Restaurant Good Luck team is the icing on the cake - they know how to create magical events with food and beverage day in and day out.
Jackrabbit Club Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 100 guests
Getting ready facilities: None, get ready off site
Aesthetic: Industrial & refined
Guest experience: Good: service, food, and visuals are excellent; hotels are a bit of a drive
Parking: Ok, street and small parking lots
GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM
05
Do you want an effortlessly gorgeous wedding ceremony venue? The George Eastman Museum is your place!
Easily one of the most iconic locations in Rochester, few venues encompass the history of our city like this one. It’s also one of the most exclusive - the museum only does a handful of weddings each year, and often books up over a year in advance.
If you can get in, you’re in for a treat: manicured gardens, flowers blooming consistently throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and classic architecture that’s rare to find in Rochester.
And, if you’d like to reserve the indoor Conservatory, then you’re in truly unique company. With under five ceremonies hosted in the Conservatory each year, it’s an exclusive environment few get to experience.
George Eastman Information
Event types: Ceremony only
Ceremony location: Outdoor or Indoor
Seated Capacity: 120 guests
Getting ready facilities: Not great, get ready off-site
Aesthetic: Historic opulence, neoclassical architecture, and manicured garden
Guest experience: Good; the setting is remarkable and historic, but guests must travel to a difference reception location. The Strathallan Hotel is right down the road.
Parking: Easy
ARBOR AT THE PORT
06
If you want a bright and airy wedding venue in Rochester, NY, look no further than the Arbor at the Port.
Located in the former Port of Rochester, the Arbor at the Port’s windows overlook the Genesee River as it empties into Lake Ontario. And it. is. perfect!
The Arbor at the Port features thoughtful design elements and a flexible space that can accommodate just about any size wedding. And, it does so with an effortlessly-beautiful design aesthetic that feels completely at home in 2024.
Put simply, the Arbor at the Port gives you generous amounts of natural light in a tasteful and on-trend space, so you can focus on what matters most: you, your love, and the friends and family who celebrate with you.
Arbor at the Port Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor or outdoor
Seated Capacity: 300 seated (200 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Ok for one side of the wedding party only, not private from the main reception room. The other side of the wedding party will get ready off site.
Aesthetic: Light & airy waterfront
Guest experience: Excellent; ceremony and reception are feet from each other, and stepping out at sunset along the Genesee River as the boats come home is magical.
Parking: Easy
ARBOR LOFT
07
Arbor Loft is the urban, cool counterpart to Arbor at the Port. Both are owned and operated by Arbor Venues, the Loft is perfect for an industrial, downtown vibe that’s also upscale and refined.
Arbor Loft embraces its industrial roots with exposed rafters and ducts, while also feeling light and open with white walls and huge windows that let in tons of natural light. Combined with magical string lights in the evening and Arbor Venue’s phenomenal staff - they’re my favorite people around! - Arbor Loft is a perfect location for you to spend your whole wedding day.
Arbor Loft Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 200 maximum (160 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Excellent; dedicated rooms for each wedding party. One room is huge with large windows and generous space for your whole wedding party, and the other room has a ping pong table and is great for guys getting ready.
Aesthetic: Effortlessly modern industrial
Guest experience: Good; ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour are all within 50 feet of each other.
Parking: Valet included, not convenient on your own
STRATHALLAN HOTEL
08
The Strathallan Hotel is one of the most modern and sophisticated hotels in Rochester, and the weddings it hosts are no different.
Located on East Ave, right down the road from the George Eastman Museum and the Memorial Art Gallery, the Strathallan is a perfect downtown wedding venue.
The most striking feature of weddings hosted at the Strathallan is the glass-walled 9th-floor ballroom. The room soaks in the sunset throughout your dinner and first dances, and then you get to party with your friends and family as night falls. Pair this with Hattie’s, the rooftop bar that’s a destination all on its own, and you’ve got one of the best wedding venues around.
Strathallan Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 150 ceremony, 200 reception
Getting ready facilities: Good, get ready in hotel suites
Aesthetic: Modern & sophisticated downtown hotel
Guest experience: Excellent; ceremonies can be held in the Century Club across the street, cocktail hour in the garden bordering East Ave, reception is in the 9th floor ballroom with breathtaking window walls, and guest lodging is right down the hall.
Parking: Good
Has lodging for guests: Yes
WOODCLIFF HOTEL
09
The Woodcliff Hotel is the perfect all-inclusive wedding venue in Rochester.
Not only can you host your ceremony and reception in the same place, but you can do everything you want - done excellently - on-site. The spa and salon are top-notch, there are hotel rooms for your guests and wedding party, and there’s even a golf course (for members of your party who don’t need four hours to get ready 🙂).
And we haven’t even talked about the view! The Woodcliff Hotel has one of the most striking outdoor wedding ceremony locations in all of Rochester. It’s perched high over the Fairport valley and makes for stunning ceremonies and sunset pictures.
Woodcliff Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Two outdoor options (Meadow and Overlook)
Seated Capacity: Event Center: 250 maximum (200 comfortably), Ballroom: 200 maximum (150 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Excellent; on-site spa for hair & makeup and freshly updated suites in 2024
Aesthetic: Established and comfortable hotel that provides everything you need in one place
Guest experience: Good; everything is on-site, and staff is available with golf cart when neeeded
Parking: Easy
Has lodging for guests: Yes
SONNENBERG GARDENS
10
Sonnenberg Gardens is one of the most elegant wedding venues in the greater Rochester, NY area. Established at the beginning of the 1900’s, the gardens are inspired by varied European and Japanese traditions. And you get to have your wedding in the midst of this beauty!
Wedding ceremonies are held outdoors within the gardens.
Receptions are held under a spacious tent, and guests are free to enjoy the gardens while waiting for the reception to begin. Sonnenberg generously provides tram service for all guests to enter and exit the site, as it’s a bit of a hike to cover the distance on foot.
Bonus tip: Sonnenberg Gardens is the perfect place for your engagement session. Just pay $9/person to get in, and you’ll have the run of every garden and 100+ year old building on site!
Sonnenberg Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Multiple outdoor locations, rain backup is the reception tent
Seated Capacity: 200 maximum (160 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Not great; recommended to get ready off-site
Aesthetic: Gorgeous manicured gardens with historic architecture
Guest experience: Excellent; guests can stroll the gardens during cocktail hour. Canandaigua hotels are only a few minutes away
Parking: Ok; shuttles will move guests when needed
GENESEE VALLEY CLUB
11
As the most exclusive and respected social club in Rochester for over 100 years, just walking into the Genesee Valley Club feels luxurious. From the ringing of the dinner bell to the stately dining room, GVC offers members an elegant wedding experience that no other venue can.
From the start, both the guys and the ladies get spoiled while getting ready. The ladies have the run of the upstairs, with both a getting-ready room and a special room for the bride. And the guys get a billiards room plus the bar area to relax and spend time together. Definitely better than the basic conference room that some venues feature!
And it just gets better from there: indoor and outdoor options for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The staff is exquisite and attentive, and the meal service is always excellent.
Note: you’ll need to be a member of GVC or sponsored by a member to host your wedding at the club.
GVC Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor or outdoor
Seated Capacity: 250 maximum (180 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Good; many meeting rooms are available for use, with a dedicated dressing suite for the bride
Aesthetic: Refined and classical
Guest experience: Good; guests are served by caring and attentive staff, and multiple hotels are within walking distance
Parking: Easy
CASA LARGA
12
Casa Larga is an iconic Rochester wedding venue that specializes in amazing wines and even more spectacular weddings. Built in an Italian style that honors its founder’s family heritage, it’s a slice of European living right here in Rochester.
Weddings at Casa Larga fully embrace the uniqueness that comes with a winery wedding. Your ceremony will overlook the vineyard as the sun sets behind the Fairport hills, and the reception hall is wide-open, features elegant styling, and seats up to 250 comfortably.
Perhaps the best aspect of weddings at Casa Larga is the access to the vineyard you get for photographs. Evening light filters in through the vines and creates beautiful moments for you and your spouse to enjoy forever.
Casa Larga Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor
Seated capacity: 260 maximum (200 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Not great, get ready off-site
Aesthetic: Mediterranean-inspired architecture and a celebration of wine in the Finger Lakes region
Guest experience: Good; the vineyard grounds and architecture are gorgeous; hotels are a bit of a drive, however.
Parking: Easy
POMONA AT BLUE BARN CIDERY
13
Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery is perfectly nestled in an upstate NY apple orchard. It’s connected with the land and the on-site cidery, and it does so with an elevated and sophisticated feel.
Pomona opened in 2019, and it feels modern and fresh. From the generous getting-ready suites to the graceful open space to fit 225 to the outdoor patio for your summer or fall ceremony, it hosts your whole day with a uniquely western NY feel. It’s especially beautiful in the fall when the apple orchards are full with fruit!
Pomona Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor
Seated Capacity: 225 guests
Getting ready facilities: Excellent; the bridal suite is top-notch, and the guys’ getting ready space is smaller but well-appointed
Aesthetic: Clean and modern space nestled in a classic NY apple orchard
Guest experience: Good; the space is beautiful and everything is close together. Hotels are 20+ minutes away.
Parking: Easy
SHADOW LAKE
14
Shadow Lake is one of the classic golf course ceremony and reception venues in Rochester, NY, but don’t let decades of experience make you think anything is dated. The Clubhouse was completely redone in 2019 and it features some of the nicest appointments around - not to mention the lakeside view!
You can host your outdoor ceremony right next to the lake, and the point jutting out into the water is helpfully paved to keep everyone mud-free. And, Shadow Lake offers two separate reception venues for hosting events simultaneously, along with beautiful grounds for taking pictures.
Shadow Lake Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor
Seated Capacity: 220 maximum (170 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Ok, many couples get ready off-site
Aesthetic: Classic and refined clubhouse feel with lush greenery and a beautiful lakeside view
Guest experience: Good; everything is close together. Hotels are 10 minutes away.
Parking: Easy
WESTMINSTER CHAPEL
15
Are you looking for a chapel feel in a non-religious setting? Westminster Chapel is right up your alley. A former church building, it’s now open to the public for beautiful weddings with a traditional feel.
And the news gets better from there: you can hold your reception right there on-site! Attached to the chapel is a two-story reception hall that’s finished in a modern and approachable style. Even though Westminster can accommodate seated receptions up to 180 people, I’d describe the space as "cozy“ - not because it’s small, but because it’s intimate and your guests feel connected and close.
On top of that, the owner & coordinator at Westminster, Angela, is top-notch and she goes out of her way to make sure your schedule and day happen effortlessly.
Westminster Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 200 maximum (140 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: Good for one half of the wedding party in the new Haven at Westminster.
Aesthetic: Charming chapel feel without religious affiliation; warm and cozy reception space.
Guest experience: Good, ceremony and reception areas are connected. Hotels in Victor are 10 minutes away.
Parking: Ok; lot fills up quickly, then street parking
MAX OF EASTMAN PLACE
16
Want something a little different for your downtown Rochester, NY wedding? Try Max of Eastman Place. Max is one of the great, unique venues in the city, located in the heart of Rochester, right across the street from Eastman Theater.
A modern and contemporary space for your reception, as well as hosting indoors or out for your ceremony.
Complimentary valet parking - a fantastic perk in the middle of downtown Rochester, especially when Eastman Theater is open just across the street.
Beautiful hotels within walking distance.
Max of Eastman Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor (urban) or indoor
Seated Capacity: 150 guests
Getting ready facilities: None, get ready off-site
Aesthetic: Striking modern atrium in the heart of downtown Rochester, next to the Eastman Theater
Guest experience: Good; ceremony and reception locations are close by. Hotels are a few blocks away.
Parking: Valet included, not convenient on your own
INN ON BROADWAY
17
The Inn on Broadway is a gem among Rochester hotels. Far more boutique and personal than any hotel chain, the Inn is a unique, family-owned inn located in the heart of Rochester. Coming up on 100 years since its completion, the Inn exudes class, sophistication, and history in its guest rooms and historic ballroom.
The Inn on Broadway is perfect for couples who are planning a small to mid-size wedding (up to 150 guests), and who value a space that feels classy, historic, and has a connection to the city.
Inn on Broadway Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities:
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking:
Has lodging for guests: Yes
GLEN IRIS INN AT LETCHWORTH STATE PARK
18
Letchworth State Park draws visitors from near and far all year round. But did you know it’s also a magical wedding venue?
Located in the heart of the park and near the Middle Falls, the Glen Iris Inn is a historic building that hosts unforgettable wedding experiences.
You and your guests will be surrounded by the stunning nature and views of the park known as the "Grand Canyon of the East.“ The park paths are a short walk away from the Glen Iris Inn patio that will host your ceremony, and the seasonal tent is perfect for hosting your gathering up to 120 guests (or more, with a second tent).
And, if you’re really lucky, you’ll see the balloon launch that often happens near sunset. Did I mention it’s magical there?
Read more about weddings at Letchworth State Park and the Glen Iris Inn.
Glen Iris Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities: Good
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking:
DEL MONTE HOTEL LODGE RENAISSANCE
19
The Del Monte Lodge Renaissance Hotel is a sophisticated and modern location for your smaller-sized wedding plans.
If you have a more intimate wedding planned - anything under 90 people - this is easily one of the nicest spaces around.
The Del Monte group is committed to continually refreshing the style and decor of their property, and the Lodge Renaissance Hotel’s detail are on-point in every way: quiet outdoor patio with string lights, appropriately-sized ballroom to hold your smaller event, and luxurious and modern furnishings at every turn.
Not to mention it's located in the heart of Pittsford, NY, right on the canal. Guests can watch the sun set over the canal, enjoy the curated amenities and finishes of this recently-refreshed space, and stay right on site in the modern hotel at the end of the night.
Read more about weddings at the Del Monte Hotel Lodge Renaissance
Del Monte Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities:
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking:
Has lodging for guests: Yes
DIVINITY CHAPEL (FORMER COLGATE DIVINITY SCHOOL)
20
In 2018, the Colgate Divinity School moved locations and their gorgeous building was closed for weddings. I was devastated: it’s one of the most beautiful older buildings around. So you can imagine my delight when it reopened in 2022 under new management - and it’s better than ever!
Rich, dark wood-paneled rooms are available for getting ready, which honestly is worth the price of admission right there. The chapel features traditional brick styling that blends perfectly with the aesthetic of the whole campus, and the reception ballroom has a classic and sophisticated feel.
Please reserve the Divinity Chapel for your wedding ceremony and reception today - your guests and your own memories will thank you for it.
Divinity Chapel Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 320 seated guests
Getting ready facilities: Excellent (you’ll gasp when you see the bridal suite)
Aesthetic: Elegant, sophisticated, Great Gatsby-esque
Guest experience: Excellent, close to downtown hotels, stunning indoor visuals
Parking: Valet included, not convenient on your own
ST. JOSEPH'S PARK
21
Do you want something completely different? In 1975, the oldest Catholic church in Rochester was gutted by fire, but the stonework remained standing. Unwilling to let the historic site be completely demolished, motivated citizens and organizations arranged for a structure to be built around the stone walls and tower. This created an open-air park unlike any in Western NY.
St. Joseph’s Park is available for small-to-medium-sized wedding ceremonies (<125 guests). If you like the idea of an outdoor ceremony, with hints of traditional history in a non-traditional space, this park is perfect for you.
St Joseph’s Information
Event types: Ceremony only
Ceremony location: Outdoor (no covered rain backup)
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities: None, get ready off-site
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking: Ok, street & garage parking only
BELHURST CASTLE
22
Belhurst Castle is one of the most well-established and elegant wedding venues in the Finger Lakes.
Located in Geneva, NY, and overlooking Seneca Lake, the castle was constructed in 1889 and has been hosting weddings for decades. Belhurst is perfect for elegant, traditional weddings.
There’s a lot to love about holding your wedding at Belhurst Castle. The lawn overlooking the lake is surrounded by mature trees that speak to the longevity of the property. You’ll have access to the on-site hair and makeup salon, a lakeside view for your outdoor wedding, and a choice of two different ballrooms - one original, and another modern and spacious one overlooking a patio and the lake.
Belhurst Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Outdoor
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities: Good, on-site hotel rooms
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking: Easy
Has lodging for guests: Yes
HARRO EAST BALLROOM
23
If you like the idea of hosting your wedding reception in one of the oldest and most grand ballrooms in all of Rochester, then the Harro East Ballroom is likely your perfect venue. It can seat 300 guests for your reception, and it has a sense of grandeur that’s missing in many modern meeting spaces.
The ballroom itself is the main draw of this venue: 30-foot ceilings, brass chandeliers, and massive windows make this a classic reception space. And as an added bonus, the theater-like marquee outside is the perfect covered area for nighttime pictures!
Read more about wedding receptions at the Harro East Ballroom.
Harro East Information
Event types: Reception only
Ceremony location: Indoor
Seated Capacity: 330 maximum (250 comfortably)
Getting ready facilities: None, get ready & do ceremony off-site
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking: Ok, lot & street parking
RAVENWOOD GOLF CLUB
24
Ravenwood Golf Club has a unique draw for couples looking for an outdoor ceremony: a covered patio for all your guests, allowing your wedding party to be outside (or easily under-cover, if necessary), while still having that beautiful Upstate NY summer wedding feel. This patio, alone, makes Ravenwood one of the most in-demand wedding venues in Rochester, but it gets better from there.
Many couples get ready in the conference rooms onsite to keep things simple. Your guests will appreciate the easy move from ceremony to reception right next door, and the open-air dance floor can be closed off if the weather turns less-than-ideal. Oh, and Ravenwood gives you a driver and a golf cart to go wherever you want for pictures, which makes for epic memories.
Ravenwood Information
Event types: Ceremony & Reception
Ceremony location: Covered outdoors, great in all weather
Seated Capacity:
Getting ready facilities:
Aesthetic:
Guest experience:
Parking: Easy
I HOPE THESE VENUE
IDEAS ARE HELPFUL
FOR YOU!
As you do your research, please explore the blog for real Rochester wedding day inspiration.
As you get close to choosing your wedding date, feel free to reach out to see if I’m still available for photography on your date.
Want to know more about the wedding photographer behind this page? You can learn all about me (and my wife and kids, all of whom are way more cute than me).