ONCE Finger Lakes — Penn Yan, NY
About this venue
ONCE Finger Lakes (pronounced “OHN-say,” Spanish for eleven, as in the eleven Finger Lakes) is one of the most unique wedding venues on this entire list. It’s a regional wine, beer, cider, and spirits tasting room that doubles as an event venue on 8 acres overlooking Seneca Lake, and the experience it creates for guests is genuinely unlike anything else in the area. The ceremony takes place on the lawn with the lake as your backdrop, cocktail hour moves to the main building and deck, and then the white tent on the events pad takes over for the reception and dancing, all with that same gorgeous lake view. Capacity is up to 150 guests for outdoor season events from May through October. Outside caterers are welcome, and the coordination team is included in every package.
Why we love it
If your people love wine, this venue is going to make them very happy. ONCE works with over 19 Finger Lakes wineries and showcases around 40 wines at any given time through self-service interactive dispensers, plus 12 beer and cider taps. Guests get a card to use at the stations on their own timeline, which means nobody is waiting at a bar and everyone is exploring something new. The energy that creates during cocktail hour is so fun to photograph.
And that white tent is a photographer’s actual dream. The bistro lighting strung throughout the tent gives off this warm, even, flattering glow that works beautifully all the way from dusk through the end of the night. No harsh overhead fixtures, no dark corners, just gorgeous ambient light that makes every reception photo look like it was lit on purpose.
The Seneca Lake backdrop for the ceremony and portraits is the cherry on top. Sunset over that water during golden hour is stunning, and we never take it for granted when a venue gives us that kind of light to work with.
Strengths
Interactive Wine and Beer Stations
Guests use a personal card to taste their way through 40-plus Finger Lakes wines and 12 draft taps at their own pace. It’s a guest experience you genuinely cannot find anywhere else in CNY.
Photographer-Friendly Tent Lighting
The bistro-lit white reception tent creates warm, even, flattering light from cocktail hour through last dance, making for reception photos that look consistently beautiful all night long.
Seneca Lake Views
Every part of the day, from the ceremony on the lawn to portraits to the reception under the tent, overlooks the lake. The views don’t stop, and neither do the photo opportunities.
Venue Info
Region
Capacity
Best Seasons
Lodging Options
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