Vernon Downs Casino Hotel — Vernon, NY

About this venue

Vernon Downs Casino Hotel in Vernon is one of those venues that surprises couples who haven’t been there before. Tucked away from the main drag in the rolling hills of Central New York, the 6,750 square foot ballroom overlooks the historic racetrack with countryside views that are genuinely beautiful, especially at sunset. The outdoor terrace serves as the ceremony space, and the whole package handles up to 350 guests with in-house catering that covers everything from plated dinners to grand buffets. They also have a full hotel on site, a casino, a pool, and live entertainment, which means your guests are never bored before or after the wedding. Every package includes an on-site wedding coordinator, a two-night honeymoon suite, and a dedicated bridal suite, so a lot of the logistics are already handled for you.

Why we love it

Having both a bridal suite and a groom suite on site is something we genuinely appreciate as photographers. It means we can split our team, cover both sides of the getting-ready process simultaneously, and nobody has to scramble to find a decent prep space. Both suites give us great photo opportunities without having to get creative with a cramped hotel bathroom.

The ceremony terrace with the racetrack and countryside backdrop gives you something a little different from the typical CNY venue, and that uniqueness translates really well in photos.

And the in-house catering gets rave reviews across the board. Happy, well-fed guests make for a better reception energy, and we’ve seen firsthand how much that matters when it comes to dance floor shots and candid moments throughout the night.