Best Wedding Venues in Rochester, NY

March 30, 2021

For more than a decade, we’ve been thrilled to document weddings across New York State and beyond. Through our experience, we’ve discovered that some of the most incredible wedding locales in the country reside right here in Rochester and the surrounding Finger Lakes region. Our passion lies in sharing our extensive knowledge of the wedding industry, showcasing genuine moments from weddings we’ve captured at Rochester’s finest venues. From urban chic to rustic charm, and from historic elegance to modern allure, Rochester offers a diverse array of venues suited to every wedding style. Below, we present a selection of our cherished wedding venues in the Rochester area where we’ve had the privilege to capture real love stories.

Best Rochester Wedding Venues

Arbor at the Port

After recent updates, Arbor at the Port has turned into a contemporary and luminous space, with constant updates to enhance its appeal. It can serve as a perfect setting to showcase your creative design concepts. The Rochester wedding venue overlooks the river, and with its lovely outdoor area, it is an ideal spot for events of any size. We love its large open spaces and its close proximity to the Genesee River and Lake Ontario. There are so many great spots for photos close by. With such exceptional properties, it is no wonder this spot is among the best wedding venues in Rochester!

To see more examples of real weddings and learn about pricing and details of hosting your wedding at Arbor at the Port check out our Arbor at the Port venue page!

Arbor Loft

Arbor Loft is a marvelous venue set in the heart of the East end, ideal for non-conventional and sophisticated unions. Fans of the industrial charm simply fall in love with this place! We love the large open spaces and the ability to customize all of the areas to fit you wedding. Arbor Lofts downtown location makes it extremely convenient for all of your guests. It simply is one of the best wedding venues downtown, offering simplistic luxury and unparalleled uniqueness.

Learn more about the venue and pricing options for weddings at Arbor Loft check out our Arbor Loft venue page!

Belhurst Castle and Winery

Located in Geneva along Seneca Lake, Belhurst Castle offers a historic and romantic venue for your wedding ceremony and reception. We love the outdoor ceremonies on the lawn overlooking the lake, which are also utilized during cocktail hour with an outdoor bar. We also like to walk down to the water for pictures on the pier. Belhurst has two ballrooms, and has a bridal suite in the castle for getting ready.

Learn more about the rich history at Belhurst and see examples of real weddings that we have photographed as well as a pricing guide on our Belhurst Castle and Winery page!

Casa Larga Vineyards

Located on a hill and surrounded by vineyards, Casa Larga boasts amazing views and sunsets all year round. The golden hour at Casa Larga is amazing! The ballroom is huge and can hold up to 250 guests and has floor to ceiling windows on three sides allowing the light to pour in. There is also a deck that overlooks the vineyards that can accommodate your ceremony and cocktail hour. We enjoy taking the couple down the to wine cellar for some intimate pictures with the wine barrels.

To see more examples of real weddings and learn more about pricing and details of hosting your wedding at Casa Larga check out our Casa Larga page.

Deerfield Country Club

Located between Spencerport and Brockport, Deerfield’s recently renovated grounds are a great place for your ceremony and reception. The ballroom features large windows with a modern rustic style that runs through the whole property. I love the newly done outdoor landscaping that features large boulders, stone work, and water features that guide you around the building. The pond and pine trees beyond the building are perfect for portraits.

Learn more about the property and pricing, and see examples of real weddings that we have photographed on our Deerfield Country Club page.

The George Eastman House

No place is more historic or elegant in Rochester than the George Eastman House. When you are walking around the grounds it feels like you have been transported in time with how well it has been preserved. You can have your ceremony inside or out. The West Garden is beautiful for your ceremony and sets up perfectly for a bride to walk down with the house behind as an amazing backdrop. I love the dark greens of the gardens up against the tan stone of the house. The property is really well maintained and there are so many great spots for portraits.

To learn more about the history of the George Eastman House and see examples of real weddings that we have photographed check out the George Eastman House venue page.

The Hyatt Regency Rochester

Located in the center of downtown Rochester, the Hyatt Regency offers an elegant space for your wedding with all of Rochester close by. We love the Grand Ballroom which can comfortable hold the largest parties with room up to 750 people and the premium suites located on the top floors. The Lake Ontario Suite has huge windows throughout as well as a balcony that offers breathtaking views of the city including the Genesee River and Lake Ontario. For portraits, I love to take couples along main street and to the nearby parks for some greenery.

To learn more about the features, accommodations and pricing visit our Rochester Hyatt Regency venue page.

Lake House

The Lake House sits on an ideal location overlooking amazing views of Canandaigua Lake and was recently named the #1 resort hotel in New York state and the second best in the Continental United States by the Travel and Leisure magazine. We love the modern and simplistic design of the hotel. It really feels as if you are in a magazine but it is also easily adaptable to any style or theme for your wedding. The Rose Tavern is also a favorite place of ours for any special occasion. For pictures, the lake creates a stunning backdrop all day but we also really enjoy taking the bride and groom down the pier for portraits with the charming boathouses.

To see real weddings at the Lake House and learn more about the features, accommodations and pricing visit our Lake House Wedding venue page.

Oak Hill Country Club

Oak Hill Country Club is one of the most prestigious golf clubs in America, hosting some of the most important tournaments in the sport with the best golfers in the world. The grounds are impeccably kept. The Tudor-style clubhouse feels like an old English mansion. Every wedding at Oak Hill feels all the more important and historic because of the property. Around the back of the clubhouse is an enormous tent that overlooks the golf course. Stone bridges and perfectly manicured greenery look amazing for pictures. We love how the light glimmers through the large trees during sunset, giving a magical feel to your portraits.

To learn more about the amazing history of the golf course and see real weddings visit our Oak Hill Country Club venue page.

Pomona at Blue Barn

Pomona at Blue Barn is one of the newest wedding venues on our list and was specifically built to serve all of your weddings day needs. We love the bridal loft suite which overlooks the venue floor. There are huge windows that allow in tons of natural light to the room along with a wall of mirrors for getting ready. There is a lot of space for your whole bridal party and your hair and make up teams. This is something that is often overlooked at venues and can make a huge difference on your wedding day. The best part about having your wedding at Pomona is the ability to have everything in one location. They have a beautiful outdoor ceremony location along with acres of land for portraits. We love taking the couple out to the apple orchards for sunset pictures. The owners Jill and Jeremy Wolf took everything into consideration when building this venue in 2019, which is why it is one of our favorite venues to work at.

To learn more about the venue and pricing and see real weddings at Pomona visit our Pomona at Blue Barn venue page.

Ravenwood Golf Club

Located in Victor just below the thruway, The clubhouse at Ravenwood looks out across the beautiful Ravenwood golf course. The indoor/outdoor patio is great for your holding ceremony and quickly transforms for your cocktail hour and then into a dance floor for the end of the night. The banquet room has large sliding glass doors that look out onto golf course and brighten up the space. We love the fire pit and seating areas around the dance floor. There many great spots around the clubhouse and the golf course for pictures.

To see more real weddings and learn more about the property and pricing visit our Ravenwood Golf Club Page.

The Strathallan

Located in Downtown Rochester off of East avenue, the Strathallan Hotel is one of the premier venues in Rochester. The ninth-floor glass ballroom is a stunning place to host your reception. You and your guests will get to witness one of best spots to view the sunset in Rochester as it sets over downtown. The floor to ceiling windows on three sides and a rooftop balcony allow everyone to gaze at the city below. I love the simplicity and elegance of the décor and having easy access to the hotel below means your guests can party all night long.

To see real weddings at Strathallan and learn more about the features, accommodations and pricing visit our Strathallan venue page.

The Wintergarden

Located in the heart of downtown Rochester, the Wintergarden offers a stunning location for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The atrium is spectacular and can accommodate up to 450 guests. The glass walls and ceiling along with the real trees make it feel like you are outdoors without having to battle the elements, which is ideal all year round. I love the shear size of the space and all of the natural light that is let in. The trees are strung up with lights which look amazing at night.

To learn more about the accommodations, features and pricing, and see examples of real weddings that we have photographed check out our Wintergarden venue page!

Woodcliff Hotel & Spa

Located at one of the highest points in Monroe County, Woodcliff Hotel & Spa features one the most amazing overlooks in Rochester. The views and sunset are stunning and make for an incredible backdrop for your ceremony. Having the Spa and luxurious bridal suites at Woodcliff means that you will have everything taken care of on site. Woodcliff has a ballroom and an outdoor tent to accommodate larger weddings. Our favorite part is taking the couple out for sunset pictures at “look out point” which are always stunning.

Learn more about the options and pricing, and see examples of real weddings that we have photographed on our Woodcliff Hotel and Spa Page!

Backyard Weddings

So the last one up isn’t a venue at all, but backyard weddings have become more and more popular. The trend has definitely been fueled by the pandemic, and the tight restrictions surrounding venues. If you don’t have a large property, you can still find one using Airbnb. We love the wide open spaces and freedom that large country properties can provide. The best part is being able to have all of your four legged friends celebrate with you.

For everything you need to know about backyard weddings in Rochester, check out our Backyard Wedding page!