Wedding Venues in Geneva

Every detail of our wedding was truly perfect. We always knew Ventosa was beautiful but our initial walk through really sealed the deal when we heard all that you had to offer – the day-of coordination & setup, the in-house catering with delicious food, the accommodations of all allergies all had us excited to book. I have to say, Ventosa was so easy to deal with from our first visit right through our pickup of our cake and décor. Jackie Pollino was incredibly patient, responsive, accommodating and sweet. She had great recommendations and was thinking ahead for me when I was in a whirlwind the day of. I completely forgot to fill the wine vessel for our wine mixing ceremony, and I specifically told her I planned to do it myself. Then, I got busy and forgot to set any of it up. She caught that I missed it and took care of it immediately. My mistake could have ruined my ceremony but she saved the day. Every staff member made it their mission to set up my décor to my exact specifications, taking care with all the delicate pieces and everything was even packed back up so neatly and protected after, too. The mansion next door - RENT IT! You will be so glad your bridal suite is steps away from your ceremony site. A bridal party's dream - many spacious bathrooms, plenty of natural light, easy parking and entry for your vendors. This impeccably maintained, historic and opulent home made for absolutely stunning photos, and our rehearsal dinner went beautifully here, too. The view of the vines and lake is like no other on Seneca. Staff helped us select the right tent to have brought in for the deck and were accommodating of an early delivery. The ability to get ready right on property made everything so easy for us and our guests. Having to travel would have eaten up precious time that morning. Your bartenders did an amazing job of keeping the party flowing and lines short while being sure not to let things get out of control. That is not easy in a crowd of 130 or more. All food was delicious, hot and cooked to perfection. We got a ton of compliments from guests about the quality, taste and presentation. Their food is simple and classic - they are brilliant at the basics, but elevated. Staff made sure my husband and I had an abundance of appetizers and drinks available right at our sweetheart table so we could enjoy the night and socialize vs. waiting in line, or even worse, going hungry on our big day. It was such a sweet touch for staff to pack up a few containers of my “late night bites” garbage plates for us to snack on later that night. My cake was also expertly wrapped and protected so I could get it home safely to freeze. Serving wine made from their own vineyard, and their signature Tuscan decor, gave the place a unique and boutique feel - you won't feel like you're in a cookie cutter, rinse and repeat venue like some reception halls. Staff even helped me fill out my marriage certificate which I nearly forgot to do. We quite literally could not have asked for more from this venue and team. They thought of it all and made it happen, most of the time without even being asked. 10/10 experience. Booking a wedding can be high stress and is a significant investment. Looking back, we would choose Ventosa over and over again.

We had our reception at the Belhurst castle (main ballroom) and grounds in September last year, and having it there was easily one of the best decisions we've ever made. Our search criteria for a reception were a bit contradictory - we wanted to have a wedding somewhere that (a) had history, ideally stonework as opposed to anything "cheaper" and potentially tackier, (b) with plenty of room for an outdoors gathering but enough room indoors to party, and that was (c) within traveling distance of New York City. And all of this (d) on a reasonable budget as well. Based on all of the above, I honestly didn't think we stood a chance of finding any option that wasn't a scam or that wouldn't try to up-sell us the second we signed a contract. Yet my fiance (now-wife) persevered, and got in touch with Sharon at the Belhurst Castle in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. Sharon alone is what I'd define "a delightful powerhouse". She's an incredibly patient communicator who exchanged something in the neighborhood of 50-100 emails with me, not to mention half a dozen calls and at least 2-3 in-person meetings over the course of 8 months, to make sure we were well taken care of from the start. We connected with her and discussed our budget for a reception, and unlike most coordinators she was 100% upfront from the start about any expenses we should expect. If you've been searching for a venue, you know that one of the biggest headaches is simply getting a straight answer about "can I have a wedding reception for X guests with Y budget" from their event managers. Sharon and her team were both friendly and informative for the entire planning process, and made sure we felt well taken care of every step of the way. The Belhurst itself is gorgeous. Huge green lawn overlooking the lake, with a dock just begging to be used for group photo ops. An actual CASTLE in Upstate New York, complete with a Tower Suite and other storied rooms for guests and newlyweds. Two ballrooms, that can fit both big and small wedding parties. Google the pictures, what you see online is what you actually get in person. The food they made for our wedding was also excellent, and again budget-wise they have plenty of options to choose from to fit your wallet's availability - both for the appetizers and passed hors d'oeuvres, and for the main meal. Still licking my chops thinking about the lamb that we had at our tasting session with Morgan and Sharon a year ago. In terms of lodging, besides the fancier and slightly more expensive options in the Belhurst castle itself, there's also plenty of rooms at the Vinifera inn on the same property grounds - and lots of even cheaper but still good hotels in the nearby area within a 5-10 minute drive if need be. All I wish we could do is hit repeat and relive the day we had in Geneva - and celebrating our reception at the Belhurst was a huge part of that. Still can't quite believe we managed to do this - I live comfortably enough, but am by no means rich and went into this without expecting a ton of financial support by friends or family. And yet my spouse and I were able to plan and achieve a gorgeous wedding here, without sacrificing quality at all. This place is a gem - if you're within half a day's drive, do yourself a favor and check them out if you're hunting for the perfect place to get hitched and celebrate with your family and friends.

I can't say enough good things about Geneva on the Lake - Chris Clarke and her team made the day an absolute dream. They were amazing to work with, quick to respond, and treated my guests and I like royalty. The food was delicious, the wait staff courteous, attentive, and warm. The location is gorgeous and I couldn't imagine a more perfect, beautiful, and seamless day. Chris is a pro - I knew that upon arriving at Geneva on the Lake, I could relax because she had everything under control. She also made the planning process very easy, which was much appreciated since I was planning from six hours away.

Erica

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

Club 86/The Oven catered our wedding reception and we can't say enough!! We had chicken, pasta/meatballs, salad, and pizza and it was all SO delicious!! Guests kept telling us how much they enjoyed the food! Highly recommend!

The view was wonderful as well as the food. I would recomend this venu to anyone.

Emma

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

The Cracker Factory is an absolutely beautiful venue! This was the only one we toured and as soon as we saw it, we knew it was the one for us. Even though we had a smaller amount of guests (70), it didn't feel too empty at all despite the large room size. Ashley and Brandon were endlessly helpful and so friendly that many of our guests came up to me to say how great they were. From the beginning of setup the day before, to the outdoor ceremony, and the end of the reception, everything went smoothly - we never had to worry about the small details because Ashley and Brandon had everything covered. Thank you again to The Cracker Factory!

We had our wedding at the 41 Lakefront Hotel earlier this month and everything was perfect! You can't beat the view of the lake and the hotel has everything that you need -- with two ready rooms, ceremony space (with a tent, so no need for a rain option!), amazing photo locations, patio for the cocktail hour, reception space, and hotel bar for drinks after. It was so convenient and efficient to have everything in one place. Additionally, we had a lot of guests from out of town, and it was nice to have so many restaurants, bars, and things to do within walking distance. Beside the space and location, the absolute best thing about the venue is Tim. Tim is the wedding coordinator of the century. He was so professional and helped us to plan every aspect of the wedding - from helping us select food options, setting the timeline, storing florals and desserts overnight, day-of setup, coordinating vendors, managing the ceremony, keeping everyone on schedule, quality checking all the dinner dishes, and setting up our late night pizza delivery. He coordinately everything so flawlessly and I can confidently say that he is the sole reason our wedding day went as smoothly as it did. He is a true professional and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to work with him.

My partner and I chose Zugibe's after attending a friend's wedding there. The location is stunning - beautiful views of their vineyard and Seneca Lake while in a rustic, refined backdrop. From beginning to end, they were an absolute pleasure to work with. All communication is directly with one of the owners, Amy, so she knows exactly what is feasible for her property. She and her team were easy to communicate with. She kept our wedding day stress-free and quickly executed a Plan B when it rained when we were supposed to have our ceremony. It is a winery, so liquor options are limited for the open bar. However, they worked with us to pick a signature cocktail, wine, and beer options. Typically only 1 wedding is booked per weekend, so I did have access to the space for first-look pictures and wedding setup. I loved my experience and highly recommend Zugibe's.

Molly

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

The Left Bank caught our attention very quickly when looking for wedding venues in the finger lakes. It has a mixture of old world charm and a clean modern layout in an urban setting. We loved that it was steps away from other restaurants and bars, and only a couple blocks from multiple hotels and Seneca Lake. The size was perfect for our wedding of 60 guests, intimate but not cramped. A very unique aspect of this space allows you to utilize some of the cobblestone street in front of the venue like some of the neighboring restaurants. We took advantage of this and it made our night. We also would like to note that Sophie was fantastic to work with, ever helpful with planning and discussing the fine details and coordinating the day of. She truly helped to make our day feel effortless and so special for not only us but our guests as well.

We first visited the North Farm on a very snowy, cold day in January 2022. Despite the awful weather, we knew the North Farm was something special, and James and Abbey (who kindly walked us around the grounds, despite the wind and snow), were truly delightful. It was "good vibes" all around and we signed our contract right after the visit! Fast forward to August 2023, and we couldn't be happier with our choice. James, Sophie, and Abbey are wonderful hosts. Throughout the entire planning period, James was attentive and responsive via email, and allowed us to visit the farm again during warmer weather with our families. Around our wedding day, we stayed two nights in their suite (which is so beautiful and peaceful). Again, they tended to the most minor of details and made us feel welcomed and cared for during what can be a stressful time! Sophie brought us a delicious breakfast each morning, and it was so special to ease into the day. We truly hope to return and celebrate anniversaries to come. Thank you, thank you!