Are you on the hunt for the best Rochester, New York wedding venues? If so, you’re in luck boo! As an upstate New York wedding photographer, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with venues. I’ve also been a New York bride myself, and I know the struggle of finding the perfect one! To help you out, I’ve out together a list of my favorite wedding venues in the Rochester, New York area. Happy reading!
Arbor Venues // Arbor at The Port & Arbor Loft
The Arbor Venues are by far some of the best Rochester, New York wedding venues around. Their goal was to combine their amazing team of wedding professionals with the best boutique event spaces in the area. The result? Two distinct venues that any couple getting married in Rochester should check out.
Arbor at The Port
Arbor at The Port was renovated into a venue in March 2018. It has over 12,000 square feet of indoor space, and an additional 2,000 square feet of outdoor space with crazy beautiful riverside access and views. If you envision a lakeside New York wedding, I would definitely recommend checking out this venue! It can be totally customized for both larger and more intimate weddings. The light-colored vinyl combined with the off-white chandeliers gives a simple yet luxurious feel, perfect for any couple wanted a blank slate. The port can accommodate more than 450 seated and 600+ standing.
The Arbor Loft
The Arbor Loft is located in Downtown Rochester, and the vibe definitely matches the location! White walls, wooden floors, exposed beams… talk about the rustic charm of your dreams. There is over 6,000 square feet of event space at The Arbor Loft, but it’s definitely more suited for smaller weddings than Arbor at The Port. There are two beautiful onsite suites for you and your partner to utilize for getting ready, and are seriously so convenient. Depending on the layout of your big day, a ceremony, reception, or cocktail hour can be held anywhere onsite.
The west-facing windows bring in tons of natural light (which is every photographer’s dream) that would be perfect for a daytime wedding. The Arbor Loft comfortably accommodates about 225 people seated and 350+ standing. You can also customize the space for more intimate weddings and elopements!
The Wintergarden by Monroe’s // Best Downtown Rochester, New York Wedding Venues
Ummmm, did someone say all-glass city views atrium in Downtown Rochester?! The Wintergarden by Monroe’s is one of the most beautiful wedding venues in New York. It’s located in the Legacy Tower, and is a completely glass-enclosed space for your big day. Depending on what time of day you have your ceremony, you can enjoy the stunning sunsets or breathtaking city views from this venue! It holds up to 450 guests standing, and 600 for a cocktail-style reception.
The Highline // Best Rochester, New York Wedding Venues
This is the wedding venue that I myself got married at! So of course it had to make it onto the list of my favorites. There are two different spaces at The Highline, both suited for different purposes. The Highline South is the bigger ballroom of the two, with vintage-style lighting and exposed brick walls. With the towering windows in the space, natural light floods this ballroom. This space can hold up to 200 guests standing and about 300 seated, so naturally more suited for larger weddings.
The Highline North is the smaller, more intimate venue of the two! Perfect for intimate weddings and elopements that have up to 70 seated guests for your reception. There is an option to use The Highline North for your seated ceremony, because it can fit about 200 guests. You can also combine these venues and utilize them in tandem if you’d prefer! This space is a little more dramatic than the former, with matte black elements, industrial-exposed beam pillars, and finished concrete floors.
Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery // Best Rochester, New York Wedding Venues
I recently shot yet another wedding here at Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery, and it was so much freakin’ fun. Hannah, the coordinator, is so sweet and always makes sure that couples and vendors alike are taken care of! You can check out Casey & Alex’s blog post for tons more photos from this venue. There are two different getting ready suites for both parties that offers the utmost convenience on your big day. There’s also an onsite ceremony location that looks onto the apple orchard, and for sunset photos you can drive out there and take pictures in the vineyards. The minimum guest count is 72, but this venue can hold up to 225!
Cobblestone Wedding Barn // Best Historic Rochester, New York Wedding Venues
Cobblestone Wedding Barn is a historic venue located just outside of Rochester, New York. It was originally built in 1838, and has served as an event venue ever since then. This 30-acre estate gives us tons of farmland to roam and enjoy for wedding photos! They have multiple different indoor & outdoor spaces to choose from. Cobblestone can also accommodate up to 220 guests, or up to 400 if you utilize the chapple. It’s minutes away from Rochester hotels and airports, so you and your guests can be conveniently and easily located for your wedding!
Wingate Barn // Best Rochester, New York Wedding Venues
Weddings at the Wingate Barn will be nothing short of spectacular. When you book this venue, you have onsite access from Friday to Sunday to make sure you have plenty of time for setup, teardown, and anything else you might need. The barn itself sits on 40 acres of land, and an hold up to 200 people inside. If you’re getting married in the summer (or winter!), you’ll never have to worry about your guests being uncomfortable. There’s air condition and central heating in the barn, so you’ll be set no matter what! They work exclusively with Partyman Catering and Rentals for all of your, well, catering and rental needs, so that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about.
Those are my favorite wedding venues in Rochester!
I hope you enjoyed this comprehensive list of my top 7 wedding venues in Rochester. If you’re interested in booking me for your wedding or elopement at any of these venues, I would love to chat with you! You can fill out my contact form to get in touch with me. In the meantime, I would love to connect with you on Instagram! And if you’re looking for some more upstate New York wedding inspiration, feel free to check out my Pinterest profile.