Upstate New York includes all of the state except New York City, though Western New Yorkers take exception to that idea. For a small state it packs a lot of education with 64 State University of New York campuses. The gorgeous fall foliage and the world famous Niagara Falls bring people from all over the world.
Lovers can find many outdoor adventures in the area, from exploring the region's many lakes to hiking the Adirondacks to island hopping the Thousand Islands. If the extreme amounts of snow drive couples indoors, they can enjoy the area's famous cider donuts, delicious BBQ, the original chicken wings and the locally brewed beers.
Wedding venues in Upstate New York include resorts, country clubs, farms, and casinos. Because the region covers such a large area, couples can get hitched at a lakeside venue or with a background of the Adirondacks, and they'll have many options for accommodations in either one of the cities or out in the country.
For exquisite wedding ceremonies in Upstate New York, lovers can choose from castles and ballrooms. Enamored duos can be royalty for a day and say their vows in a castle that boasts a magnificent tower and has spaces easily customized for modern, intimate or luxurious wedding styles. The venue can host up to 700 of their closest family and friends, who will be enthralled by the luxury and enjoy dancing on the expansive hardwood floors. For an equally extravagant venue, the couple may choose a ballroom with vaulted ceilings and stately pillars lining the intricately carved walls.
Wedding receptions in Upstate New York can be held at a variety of rustic barns surrounded by rolling green hills with incredible sunset views. Other barns are set in currently working farms and beside crystal clear private lakes. Guests will be charmed by open air dining beneath the stars or sharing drinks by an open fire.
Couples can get hitched in a historic art gallery with exquisite architecture, where guests will enjoy dining on the lawn beneath a white canopy and dancing in the Fountain Court. Other unique venues include a historic hall with props such as a bank vault for fun and memorable pictures, and a casino ballroom with a stained glass honeycombed ceiling.
Waterfront venues include resorts with stunning views of the lakes for the ceremony or the reception, and an event center where guests can revel in sights of the Hudson River from both the dining hall and the grounds.
Wedding venues prices average $100 per person, though some venues have a minimum rental fee of $7,000 or more. Many venues also require a deposit, often between $1,000 and $4,000.