UNIQUELY AFFORDABLE FINGER LAKES WEDDINGS

In a custom-made ceremony surrounded by friends and family, the bride and groom were each escorted by canoe to the dock at Steamboat Landing, where they exchanged vows on a warm August afternoon with a backdrop of beautiful Cayuga Lake. Following the ceremony, as the sun set and their guests cheered, the newly married couple and their ring-bearer dog led the crowd to the open-air Farmer’s Market pavilion to kick off an evening of Ithacan cuisine, hometown brew, and salsa dancing.Whether you are thinking classy, clever, or casual, let your vision of the ideal occasion come to life in the Finger Lakes. Hire your favorite vintner, chef, and farmer to cater a feast made from homegrown Finger Lakes ingredients, and then set the table for your guests in a beautiful sunlit field at your favorite local farm. Tie the knot among the vines, host your dinner in a candlelit wine cellar, or go grass roots and marry like a local at one of the regional farmer’s markets. For example, the Ithaca’s Farmer’s Market offers a beautiful and affordable place to host a wedding and reception–at the Steamboat Landing on the inlet of Cayuga Lake. Cater the affair with finger foods from Ithaca Bakery, and serve regional wines and Ithaca Beer Co. brew. Kick off the event with a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que rehearsal picnic at Taughannock Falls State Park. Erin and Charles of Brooktondale, New York, did just that, giving their out-of-town guests a true taste of their life together in the Finger Lakes.

Strings of Japanese lanterns hung in the rafters and round tables staggered the market floor, each adorned with a summer bouquet of sunflowers and a colorful mix of wild blossoms hand-picked from the couple’s backyard. Ithaca Bakery caterers strolled the pavilion with trays of appetizers for mingling guests while the bride and groom twirled to the live salsa band. In a region where locals and guests relish in the rich culture, diverse lifestyles, and natural beauty–from its exquisite wineries to its deep gorges–there is no season too cold or idea too lofty to accommodate your style. Celebrate your wedding with memories of the Finger Lakes.