Top 11 Locations for Upstate NY Elopement
SWELL & STONE / New York Outdoor Wedding & Adventure Elopement Photographer
Congrats! You just got engaged and now you’re looking for the best places to elope in New York. While there a variety of elopement packages for upstate NY, sometimes you want to build your own elopement with the help of a trusted photographer who knows exactly where to take you. The diverse and vast landscape of upstate New York happens to be one of the best places in the Northeast region and the country for elopements. From its incredible mountains and lakes to the stunning waterfalls and gorges, New York has so many options for those looking for a more adventurous wedding. Want to spread your search a little broader? Here’s my New England elopement guide. Or check out these if you’re looking for Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts.
New York is a huge state, so there are tons of options for incredible views. The further north and west you go you’ll find a little more seclusion, but some of the most incredible spots can be found just a few hours from New York City. So decide whether you’d like to get married with a waterfall backdrop, mountain views, or on a boat in the middle of a pristine lake. Regardless of what you choose, New York has something that will make your jaw drop in awe. Most places do require permitting of some sort for your ceremony. If you choose me as your photographer I help you walk through the process step by step and make sure you have the correct info for people to contact to get seamlessly through the process.
So if you’re looking for seclusion and views check out something like renting Whiteface Mountain summit for the occasion, or if you’d like to take advantage of stunning public lands for your elopement check out the Finger Lakes or the Catskills. Either way, get in touch and let’s start planning your dream elopement.
When planning an elopement, especially one in the summer months, it is always best to plan on a weekday. If you plan on having no guests, or just your immediate families, it is ultimately less expensive, plus easier to plan ceremonies with fewer crowds. Here are some of the best spots to elope in NY.
The Catskills
The Catskills are only a few hours outside of New York City, making them a close getaway spot for city dwellers, but it’s easy to get immersed in nature here, with huge cascading waterfalls, great hikes, and crystal clear rivers and streams. One of the most notable places in this area is Kaaterskill Falls, which drops 231 feet into beautiful pools. It’s a free-hanging waterfall, so you can walk underneath it for a super unique vista. There are also great views from a viewing platform and from the top of the falls. Other amazing spots include the crystal clear waters of the Peakamoose area and beautiful hikes like Giant Ledge. Because of its proximity to NYC, it does get crowded on the weekends, and even some weekdays in the summer, but it is spectacular and as long as you plan your ceremony in the morning or on a weekday in the off-season you should be able to find some seclusion.
Minnewaska State Park
This spot is also close to NYC making it crowded on the weekends. But if you can catch this area at the right time it’s one of the most stunning places for photos. The jagged cliff sides surrounding Lake Minnewaska with mountains in the background make for a truly epic photo op. Some of my favorite spots include Sam’s Point and Awosting Falls. This area is also just about an hour from Hawks Nest Highway, which is one of the most epic and scenic drives in America, especially in the fall.
The Finger Lakes
From waterfalls that plunge 215 over rocky cliffs (making it the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains) to stunning gorges, lakes and mountains, there is something for everyone in the Finger Lakes. There are amazing viewing spots from the top of the falls, and one of them makes the perfect ceremony site. You do have to get a permit from the park system and hold your ceremony outside of peak days and hours, but the scenery hardly gets any better than this. I’m happy to help answer any questions about permitting in these locations because I’ve been through the process with couples before! You can also hike to the base of the falls here and take in all the magnificence from the bottom. It’s a little louder down before, but the images are worth it.
The entire area is magical, and it looks more like Scotland than New York. Glaciers helped shaped the landscape during the Pleistocene era and created hanging valleys. There are dozens of waterfalls along miles of incredible trails, and some with stone walkways built into the canyon walls. It’s an incredible work of art by Mother Nature. The surrounding area is full of several other hanging valley’s that make up the region known as the “Finger Lakes”. There is a ton of fun outdoor activities to do in a small area, and cute towns dotted mostly at the southern end of the lakes. It’s a truly unique section of the country that deserved a few full days of exploring. Check out this gallery.
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is a private resort that often hosts weddings and events during it’s after hours. The coolest part is that you could have the entire mountain summit to yourselves. The mountain summit is accessible via driving to the top and then taking up the elevator up a bit more. The incredible views looking out over the Lake Placid region with incredible views of the Adirondacks and Lake Placid itself. There is plenty of hiking around the mountaintop, and this is a perfect place to host a small outdoor wedding where you’d love to have some friends and family involved as well. If you’re into waterfalls as well and want both the mountain and waterfall experience, Whiteface mountain is close to High Falls Gorge- a spectacular 22 acre, privately owned nature park on the AuSable River that features several stunning waterfalls.
Rocky Mountain
This short 1-mile round trip hike packs a lot of view for its short hike. It’s near Inlet, NY and the view overlooks the Adirondack Mountains and Fourth Lake. It’s a lovely spot if you’d like to have family and friends join, but don’t want them to have to hike very far. The view of the rolling mountains and the lake is great at any time of year, but especially in the fall. During the winter you and guests will need to use microspikes for hiking safety, but with some snow on the ground, it is a killer view for a short hike. Plus the crowds are likely to be thin.
Indian Head
One of the most iconic views in the Adirondacks, this hike makes you work a bit for the views. It is a 9-mile round trip, but a good portion of it is on a relatively flat dirt road. Still, only take on this hike if you are in relatively good shape, and make sure your photographer can handle it, too. But the beauty of a longer hike is that the crowds are likely to be thinner by the time you arrive. This is a popular spot, but the area has a ton of hikes so the most difficult part is getting a parking spot at the trailhead. This is usually not a problem on a weekday. The reward is vast views of Lower Ausable Lake looking southwest. It’s a great spot to catch the sunset and the stars come out. Just make sure you bring a headlamp for the long hike out in the dark!
Adirondack Woodcrafts Camp
Want the complete summer camp experience for your outdoor wedding? Adirondack Woodcrafts Camp is the spot for that! The 250-acre property which encompasses two pristine lakes and borders the winding Moose river. It is in an area far away from any light pollution, so the starry night skies are incredible. They have a dining hall and a lodge that make for the perfect indoor/outdoor wedding experience. You can canoe on their private lake, hike the trails on the grounds, and even rent bikes if you’d like. This is the spot for you if you’d like all your friends and family to be able to join you in the outdoor adventures over the course of a whole weekend.
Garnet Hill Lodge
Garnet Hill Lodge has a ton of options for scenic ceremony sites. From secluded hikes on the grounds to canoes and kayaks that are free for use when staying with them, this place takes care of a variety of wants and needs for eloping couples. You can rent out the lodge and host your small outdoor wedding on the back lawn with boasts incredible views of the Adirondack Mountains and Thirteenth Lake with easy access and nice accommodations for guests. The reception can be catered by the restaurant and they have incredible homemade pies. Or you can elope by hiking to one of the more scenic spots on the property. One of the hikes becomes shorter by taking a canoe short cut across the lake- talk about a fun, multi-activity shortcut! Check out this gallery.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East” and for good reason. The park is 17 miles long, following the Genesee River as it flows north through a deep gorge and over several large waterfalls. If you like waterfalls, especially big ones, this might be your place. There is also a hot air balloon tour company, called Balloons Over Letchworth, so if riding a hot air balloon over an incredibly scenic area sounds like your kind of adventure day, this is the place for you. The best times of year to visit are summer and fall, but the park is open year round and is absolutely astonishing in any season.
Heart Lake
This spot near Lake Placid has gorgeous views, a short hike, and private cabins run by the Adirondack Mountain Club at the base where you can stay. An added bonus is that you can paddle around their canoes and kayaks on the lake for additional fun and photo ops. Find out more info here.
Whether you’re from New York, New England, or somewhere else, NY is an incredible place to elope or have a small outdoor wedding. From epic mountain destinations to lush forests, lakes, and rivers, there are a lot of options to host the perfect outdoor elopement getaway. So if hiking to a stunning free hanging waterfall, summiting mountains, or paddling a lake or river sounds like your idea of a great elopement day, get in touch. I don’t just take a small outdoor wedding and elopement photos. I help you plan your perfect, adventurous day from beginning to end.
