Looking for a UNIQUE reception location

csteve03

Hello,

I'd love for any suggestions for reception locations in or around (maybe an hr outside) the Syracuse area. Originally, my fiance and I were planning a destination wedding down in the Caribbean, but my mother would not get on board with the idea. So, we scratched it. I've been searching for the prefect reception location for the past month. I've read through tons of previously posted ideas, but still haven't found exactly what I'm looking for.

Ideally, I'd like a place with a vintage feel - exposed brick, wooden beams, tiled or wood floors, NO outdated carpet. I'm not into hotels at all, not my style. I love the ambiance at Francesca's Cucina, a restaurant in Syracuse (http://www.francescas-cucina.com/?p=weddings_facilities) and Phoebe's, another restaurant in Syracuse (http://www.phoebessyracuse.com/index.html), however both are too small. Right now our guest list has about 180-190ppl, but I'm thinking our reception will be around 150ppl.

My mother is helping with cost of the reception. Ideally, I'd like to keep the cost of the reception under $10k. We just bought a house this month so we're investing a good deal of $ into that.

We are planning on getting married September 22, 2012. An indoor or outdoor reception could work if it was at the right place. I just read a posting about Skyline Lodge and absolutely love it. It has brick inside, a large fireplace (another plus), large windows to see the beautiful fall foliage and tiled floors, however, September 22nd is completely booked, which was my parents' anniversary and my father recently passed away, so I have my heart set on that date.

I'd love any suggestions on non-traditional locations. I love the idea of a bed and breakfast if it had the right look. Even places that don't typically do weddings, but fall into the style we're looking for.

Sorry to write a book, but I just wanted to give as much info as possible to help narrow down choices! :-)

Any help is welcomed!

Chelsea

csharpe44

I forget what the name of it is but there is a place just outside Clay you might like, it's an kind of an old colonial type house and you can rent out the whole house...I can't for the life of me remember what it's called...I'll keep looking

MCTD31

I'm doing a sort of country chic-vintage-victorian theme at the lodge at Pratt's Falls. It has a large stone fireplace, hardwood floors, high ceilings with exposed beams, and lots of windows. Its bare bones, which I like because you can make the space your own, but you also have to be prepared to do everything yourself, arrange for catering, decorations, everything. It works for me because I am most definitely a DIY bride.

I also looked into vineyard locations, Anyela's in Skaneateles was nice but expensive to book.....vintage-esque farms such as Hobbit Hollow (also in Skaneateles).....renting a lakehouse with a scenic view, etc. Think outside the box, there are a lot of hidden charms in CNY.

elizward21

It would be about an hour from Syracuse but we just booked at John Joseph Inn that is right by Ithaca. They had the 22nd open when I booked. They are super helpful and the venue is so pretty.

csteve03

MCTD31 - I had an appointment to look at Camp Brockway at Pratt Falls bc I love it for the same reason as you.. it's a beautiful blank canvas. However, my uncle told me he heard on the news that they be closing Pratt Fall's, so I canceled my appointment. The last I read they were keeping it open though. It is now closed for the season. I've seen a lot of pictures inside from other brides that have posted their wedding pics. Are the tables and benches already in there? I also looked at Hobbit Hollow online. I plan on calling to get more information. I really like the barn idea.

Elizward21 - I saw John Joseph Inn online and I loved it! It looked expensive though. How much to book? And could you give me an idea on the cost of food per person?

Thanks for the great ideas! :-)

elizward21

They send you a whole wedding packet with different options for pricing. Food starts around $70 per person. Booking is 2000 but you must have all 6 rooms rented for Saturday.

MCTD31

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_central-new-york_looking-unique-reception-location?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:621Discussion:35241187-b417-4c4b-92a4-dbc7f7d0a180Post:de366be4-7e6b-406a-bf0f-e589b2491843">Re: Looking for a UNIQUE reception location</a>:
[QUOTE]MCTD31 - I had an appointment to look at Camp Brockway at Pratt Falls bc I love it for the same reason as you.. it's a beautiful blank canvas. <strong>However, my uncle told me he heard on the news that they be closing Pratt Fall's, so I canceled my appointment. The last I read they were keeping it open though. It is now closed for the season.</strong> I've seen a lot of pictures inside from other brides that have posted their wedding pics. Are the tables and benches already in there? I also looked at Hobbit Hollow online. I plan on calling to get more information. I really like the barn idea. E lizward21 - I saw John Joseph Inn online and I loved it! It looked expensive though. How much to book? And could you give me an idea on the cost of food per person? Thanks for the great ideas! :-)
Posted by csteve03[/QUOTE]

I actually posted a (not so) funny story a while back about how people came to my mom's house during a family dinner with a petition to "Save Pratt's Falls"....when I had no idea it was in danger of closing. But yes, the budget passed and it will remain open....at least through 2012. Although the park is closed for the season I'm pretty sure you can still make an appointment to visit Camp Brockway. The tables and benches are already in there....I plan to use some of the benches for the ceremony outside and mix benches and rental chairs at the tables for the reception. I would LOVE to find some <a href="http://ruffledblog.com/mismatched-vintage-chairs-for-weddings-ceremony-reception/" target="_blank">vintage, mismatched chairs</a> to rent but I haven't been able to find anything in the area.

Hobbit Hollow looks like a really beautiful place, but as with most places in Skaneateles I have a feeling it may be pricey. Best of luck to you!

DondadaTimes2

My sister recently got married at Gilfillans West Hill in Camillus. Wooden walls, a beautiful fireplace on the dance floor. The owner helps run things and the staff was great. She had her entire wedding for under $10G. She had a buffet, the food was amazing, but they offer plated dinners as well if you were looking to go more that route.

pitbullmommy315

We almost had our wedding at the Skyline Lodge, it is beautiful. Check out a similar location - the Arrowhead Lodge at Oneida Lake. Pretty woodwork. Also, Gilfillian's is really nice as well.

maggiebeth29

I love the weddings I've seen set up at the Everson Museum.  They bring in tons of trees and greenery! Plus there is artwork down there! My FI wouldn't allow us to get married there bc we both work in the courthouse and he refused to see work while we were having our reception.  But it is absolutely beautiful!

welchwedding

I am getting married at Logan Ridge Estates in Hector, which is right near Seneca Falls. I live in Marcellus and its about an hour and a half from me. Its a beautiful venue though, and the guy is super laid back and lets you do pretty much whatever you want. You get the rental for the whole weekend and it has a HUGE resturant kitchen in it. You can bring in your own caterer, and alcohol if your caterer lets you. It has wood floors, a huge fireplace, a nice ourdoor area that overlooks Seneca Lake, downstairs theres a bar, upstairs theres one too, its a huge building!!! The website doesnt really show much....but you will get a feel for the place from the pics. It worth the drive!! Good luck!

ChelseaB425

The Aurora Inn (about an hour from Syracuse) offers lakeside,  tented weddings  for up to 220. You have the option to hold cocktail hour inside the bed and breakfast, which is absolutely beautiful and exactly the look you're describing. The food and service we received when we stayed for the weekend was incredible so I imagaine weddings would be wonderful too. If it was a bit closer to Rochester, I'd get married there in a heartbeat.

An Aurora Inn wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty: http://www.stylemepretty.com/new-york-weddings/2011/10/13/the-aurora-inn-wedding-by-clarkwalker-studio/

Sbarbato

WE HAVE THE SAME DATE!!! YAY!!  Look online for like vacation rentals or old home rentals or something like that ....Or maybe a park.  Here in Rochester we have Mendon Ponds park and it has an old cobblestone house that you can rent out and have your weddings at. Or even a local farm...ask them if you can get married or have the reception in their barn..idk...that may seem crazy and stinky, but it could work!!  An apple orchard would be AWESOME!!  With a big bonfire   Your Carribbean idea seems wonderful....I am looking into that myself now....cuz wedding planning is driving me NUTZ!! lol

SchoBooker

FYI- I just inquired at the Everson, and they said they don't do weddings anymore. I'm about to book my wedding at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. They have a great banquet room & courtyard, and the pictures from their events look nice. Not vintage-like, in fact it looks fairly modern. They have a Facebook page for Catering at the Zoo: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Syracuse-NY/Catering-at-the-Zoo/52991833873. Their food rates seemed very reasonable. 

BTW- I'm also swinging away from the original plan of a destination wedding (ours was going to be in Mexico).

~ Sara