If you’re hoping to have an outdoor wedding in New York, then Rochester is a wonderful city to consider.
Though it may not get as much fanfare as New York City or Albany, Rochester offers just as much as its more popular counterparts!
Located on Lake Ontario, Rochester is awash with gorgeous waterfront views in addition to its gorgeous, stately architecture. Long story short? Any outdoor wedding you plan here will surely be an event to remember, and that’s not just because of the gorgeous scenery.
You know that whole saying “You get what you pay for?” Well, a wedding in Rochester will cost, on average, about $31,340, per Wedding Report.
Still interested? Great! Here are 16 of the best outdoor wedding venues in Rochester, New York.
Oaks Manor
Located 18 miles from Rochester, this elegant venue is filled with history and charm.
This classic mansion, with four acres filled with gorgeous gardens and ponds, is filled with many photo opportunities. This venue meshes classic style with modern amenities in a seamless fashion.
The estate was built for New York Senator William Ormrod in 1905. The grounds are immaculately maintained and the classy halls inside the mansion tie the romantic scene together.
There is an elegant ballroom that can host up to 150 guests along with two catering kitchens. This venue has ample room to host an elegant wedding and plenty of accommodations for the reception.
There are also eleven elegantly decorated rooms and two get-ready rooms which provide relaxation for the special couple as well as the guests.
Typical cost: Price starts at $4,000
Capacity: 150 guests
Bonus: Along with a rental bar, Oaks Manor is available to rent for a day, night, or a weekend
Find Oaks Manor at Oaks Manor or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Ballroom at Carey Lake
The Ballroom at Carey Lake is a picturesque venue of 14,000 square feet. It has two bars, a stage, and a large outdoor covered porch with a gazebo overlooking Carey Lake.
They can host up to 500 guests. If you are looking for a beautiful garden wedding that can host a large group, this is the place for you.
The Ballroom at Carey Lake is a 200-acre property with a 15-acre lake that offers plenty of photo opportunities. The reception room has been recently renovated and is a perfect setting to celebrate your big day.
The ceremony is hosted under a white gazebo with a black steeple while your guests sit beside a gorgeous fountain overlooking Carey Lake.
Typical cost: The Courtyard ceremony with the South ballroom is $1,495 (224 guest maximum. Courtyard ceremony with the Grand ballroom $2,500 (225+ guests)
Bonus: The weekends have a price and guest minimum, but the weekdays do not.
Find The Ballroom at Carey Lake at The Ballroom at Carey Lake or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Clifton Springs Country Club
Clifton Springs Country Club is a private country club nestled near the Finger Lakes.
The manicured lawns offer outstanding views of the fairways and make for a romantic garden wedding.
The ceremony can be held either in one of the gardens or overlooking the pond. The theme is customizable to make your day even more special.
After the ceremony, treat your guests to a cozy cocktail hour on the spacious deck before heading to the ballroom for the reception.
The elegant ballroom provides the right touch of romance for the reception. Clifton Springs can host intimate weddings or larger, extravagant affairs.
Typical cost: The starting site fee is $1,500
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: The country club has a Cordon Bleu trained chef in-house who is available to make a customized menu
Find Clifton Springs Country Club at Clifton Springs Country Club or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Highland Park
Highland Park is a state park with several venues to host your ceremony.
The best garden wedding option is the Lilac Arches. This is also the biggest outdoor space, accommodating up to 250 people. Brick walkways lead to the unique archways set next to beautiful flowering gardens.
The Lilac Arches are named for the lilacs that grow in abundance here. There is an annual lilac festival in May which provides a unique time to get married at the park.
The park offers open-air spaces for hourly rental. They have park benches for the guests, but tents are permissible.
This is an affordable wedding venue that has beautiful views, particularly in the Fall.
Typical cost: The Lilac Arches venue is $50 per hour
Capacity: Up to 200 guests
Bonus: Highland Park is a 150-acre park with a castle, sunken garden, and an amphitheater
Find Highland Park at Monroe County.
The Wintergarden by Monroe’s
The Wintergarden by Monroes is downtown Rochester’s most exciting and unique wedding destination.
The breathtaking glass atrium is set in the heart of downtown and the sun setting right before the city lights come on is a one-of-a-kind experience.
The Wintergarden is in the Legacy Tower and can host up to 450 guests for the ceremony and up to 650 guests for the reception.
From the beginning of the wedding until the end of the reception, this venue has you covered. Along with a chef-inspired menu, they also offer premium cocktails and complimentary items such as Chiavari chairs for the guests.
The Wintergarden offers many wedding packages for a stress-free, romantic wedding day.
Typical cost: Packages start at $5,250 for 50 guests
Capacity: 450 guests for the ceremony, 600 for the reception
Bonus: There are several all-inclusive packages to choose from, including bar and food packages
Find The Wintergarden by Monroe’s at The Wintergarden by Monroe’s or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Glendoveers
Glendoveers is a charming and rustic venue in Rochester.
This venue has an incredible woodland setting and is perfect for both intimate weddings and larger ceremonies. The charming woodland setting provides a warm and romantic ambiance that makes the ceremony even more memorable.
The indoors are equally appealing. The decor is elegant, sophisticated, and easy on the eye.
There are private get-ready rooms that offer stress-free essentials before walking down the aisle.
The sophisticated reception room is a great alternative to the traditional ballroom setting. The decor is rustic and country, with cobblestone walls and wooden chairs.
This venue is one of the most popular in Rochester for weddings.
Typical cost: Packages start at $800
Capacity: Up to 200 guests
Bonus: Take advantage of the bespoke decor to craft a personalized wedding
Find Glendoveers at Glendoveers or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Seneca Park Zoo
For a truly unique outdoor wedding adventure, check out the Seneca Park Zoo.
The zoo offers special events all across the zoo along with outstanding cuisine. To make your special day truly unique, they offer up-close animal encounters as well.
Seneca Park Zoo has its own catering service and can host intimate or large celebrations. They offer 6 wedding events, three of which are open-air.
The Crater Canteen Area is an African exhibit where you and your guests can enjoy lions, zebras, baboons, and more.
The Baboon Camp Plaza, also in the African exhibit, is where you and your guests can dine next to the baboons and lions.
The Eagle’s Landing Exhibit is outdoors but offers a roof for your guests.
Typical cost: $2,000
Capacity: Up to 200 guests
Bonus: The food is exceptionally good, and the zoo offers various packages
Find Seneca Park Zoo at Seneca Park Zoo or check out Facebook or Instagram.
George Eastman Museum
The George Eastman Museum is one of only two National Historic Landmarks in Rochester.
This museum is one of the world’s leading museums of photography and film and is renowned for its exquisite gardens. This mansion belonged to George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company.
The estate has a quiet charm and culture that is hard to beat. The facility as and the gardens are available to rent.
The estate is conveniently situated near the downtown area and its many attractions, including restaurants, and hotels.
For an outdoor ceremony, you can rent the Potter Peristyle or the Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden, with its heavenly gardens.
Typical cost:$3,500
Capacity: Up to 150 guests
Bonus: Each rental event comes with the option of a guided tour of the mansion
Find the George Eastman Museum at George Eastman Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
St. Joseph’s Park
St. Joseph’s Park is a classic church built in the early 1800s by the Redemptorist Fathers, German immigrants who purchased the property.
They spent the next three years erecting this beautiful church. The church became the mother church of another nine German churches. The church installed the bell tower in 1909.
St. Joseph’s Park is located inside the remains of the city’s oldest Catholic church, which burned down in 1975.
The park has dramatic iron fences and gates, and stone archways. The park reopened in 1980 with an enclosed fountain and courtyard.
Typical cost: $800
Capacity: Up to 125 guests
Bonus: This classic open-air venue offers gorgeous photo opportunities
Find St.Joseph’s Park at St Joseph’s Park or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Arbor At The Port by Arbor Venues
Arbor venues offer three venues in Rochester.
Arbor at the port opened in 2018 where the East Ferry used to dock.
This quaint venue overlooks the river and has an old charm style. The port setting is ideal for the adventurous couple looking to tie the knot in a classy setting.
The venue can host small or large ceremonies and has an outdoor patio filled with greenery. This open-air location is a modern blank canvas with outstanding river views.
The venue provides floor-to-ceiling white curtains to maintain a private event at all times.
They have ample room for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Typical cost: $45-$85 per guest
Capacity: Up to 300, seated, and 500, standing
Bonus: There are hotels within a one-mile radius
Find Arbor at the Port at Arbor at the Port or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Lake House on Canandaigua
This stunning venue has a breathtaking view of the Canandaigua event and is an elegant lakeside wedding ceremony.
The venue has it all: gorgeous lake views, classy cuisine, amazing get-ready rooms, and attentive staff.
The staff makes your big day effortless. They even offer a cover, in case of inclement weather.
The hotel has 124 rooms, which provide plenty of guest accommodations. The bride’s get-ready room adjoins her hotel room, which makes the preparation even easier.
The Event Barn can hold up to 250 guests with a dance floor for the reception. As a bonus, it sets right next to the ceremony and cocktail areas, which makes the event transition a breeze.
Typical cost: Starting at $23,485 for 50 guests
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: The venue is close to local attractions
Find The Lake House at The Lake House or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Woodcliff Hotel
The Woodcliff Hotel is the best all-inclusive, open-air wedding venue in Rochester.
The venue is in Monroe County’s Bristol Hills and overlooks the stunning Fairport valley. This is a very romantic backdrop in which to share your wedding day.
The best thing about this location is that you never have to leave the property.
The Hotel has a spa, a top-notch hair salon, and even golf. There are ample photography options with one set in a classic automobile.
The food is superb and the staff is very accommodating.
Typical cost: $15,000 food and beverage minimum on the weekends and $10,000 during the week
Capacity: Up to 400 guests
Bonus: This whole venue is a bonus! It should be near the top of your list
Find The Woodcliff Hotel at The Woodcliff Hotel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Shadow Lake
Shadow Lake is a renovated golf course and lakeside venue that was renovated in 2019. The 210-acre venue was a stone quarry that was turned into a clubhouse in the 1970s.
The grounds are meticulously maintained which adds a touch of refinement to the wooded scene.
Shadow Lake offers all-inclusive packages so you can have your reception dinner, ceremony, and reception in one location.
The Garden Tent is a large reception tent by the lake that can accommodate up to 180 guests.
This venue does a fantastic job of merging elegance with a woodland look. The ceremony has a beautiful view of the lake and there are plenty of photo settings.
Typical cost: They have many packages and the price is available upon request
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: Shadow Lake offers 70 weddings a year which ensures your day gets the attention it deserves
Find Shadow Lake at Shadow Lake or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth State Park
Located at the center of the park and near the Middle Falls, this romantic venue is known as the Grand Canyon of the East.
This is an ideal setting for the adventurous couple and the couple looking for a magical outdoor wedding event.
The park paths are just a short walk from where the ceremony is held, just outside the inn.
The inn was owned by William Pryor Letchworth, a Buffalo businessman in the 1800s. The inn has been fully restored and now has 15 quaint rooms for your guests.
This venue is a destination in its own right. So why not say “I do” on the classy lawns?
Typical cost: Rental for the ceremony starts at $200 for 50 guests
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: If you time your ceremony right, you can have a hot-air balloon fly by in the background
Find Glen Iris Inn at Glen Iris Inn or check out on Facebook or Instagram.
Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery
Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery is in an apple orchard and has a sophisticated feel to it.
The venue opened in 2019 so the ambiance is modern and fresh. The outdoor ceremony is held on a patio and has an awesome west New York feel.
The lodging includes get-ready suites for you and your guests.
The owners were looking for the perfect barn wedding and when they couldn’t find one; they built their own.
Along with the open-air ceremony, there is a loft and suite for the bridal parties. They also have covered apple orchards for romantic strolls.
Typical cost: $4,000-$6,000
Capacity: A minimum of 75 guests and a maximum of 225 guests
Bonus: The Autumn provides the best views of this working farm
Find Pomona at Blue Barn Cidery at Pomona at Blue Barn or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Belhurst Castle
Bellhurst Castle is one of the most elegant wedding venues in Rochester. The castle was built in 1889 and has been hosting weddings for decades.
This venue is perfect for classical and traditional weddings. The ceremony location overlooks gorgeous Seneca Lake.
The well-manicured lawns are home to a host of mature trees. Bellhurst Castle also has on-site makeup and hair salon and offers two separate ballrooms for your reception.
The wedding couple gets to stay in the original castle and the Tower Suite provides the perfect getting-ready atmosphere.
Typical cost: Prices start at $6,500 for a Sunday wedding
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Bonus: Your reception ballroom can be used as an alternative ceremony location because of incremental weather
Find Belhurst Castle at Belhurst Castle or check out on Facebook or Instagram.
