Albany Area Wedding Reception Venues for 500+ Guests
Looking for a venue for your wedding can be one of the most exciting parts of planning your big day, especially in the Capital Region area! However, when you're planning a large wedding, you may run into a number of venues that aren't able to accommodate all of your guests. No need to stress out, we've rounded up venues in the area that can accommodate 500 of your friends and family members. Check it out:
In the Capital Region
The Empire State Plaza Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown Albany, serves as a great venue for a large wedding. When the room is set up theatre style, it can hold up to 2,500 people and up to 950 classroom style. The tables can be placed on each tier of the convention center, all looking down on the large dance floor in the center.
Want your guests to take in the views of the city skyline from the Hudson River? Captain JP Cruises is a wonderful reception option for a large crowd in the Capital Region. The four deck cruise ship can accommodate and seat 500 people comfortably. There are three enclosed decks with air conditioning and heat, several bars and a dance floor on each deck!
Nearby in Saratoga Springs
Only a quick drive up the Northway from Albany, historic Spa City is home to the beautiful Hall of Springs. This renowned venue is located right in Saratoga Spa State Park, adjacent to SPAC. The Hall of Springs' ballroom boasts incredible 38 foot ceilings, regal crystal chandeliers and an outdoor patio to take in the views of the park. The ballroom can hold 500 guests for a cocktail reception and up to 450 for a sit-down dinner with enough room for dancing. Also keep in mind that ceremonies can be held on the State Park grounds if the weather permits!
Further North in Lake George
What better place to celebrate a wedding with all of your family and friends than against the beautiful backdrop of the Adirondacks? The Roaring Brook Ranch Resort & Conference Center, located only two miles from Lake George, serves as a great reception venue for a large wedding. The Dining Room can accommodate up to 700 people at banquet capacity and its Conference Hall can hold up to 500 people in a school room setup. To help you visualize, banquet style seating is most common at weddings and has guests seated at circular tables. In a school room setting, long, rectangular tables set up in rows would work best.
Want your guests to truly take in the beauty of Lake George? Why not take them on a cruise on the Lake itself? The Lac du Saint Sacrament is the largest cruise ship on the inland waters of New York and serves as a truly standout cocktail reception venue. The steamboat can hold up to 1,000 people for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres! There are two fully-enclosed climate controlled decks, two open air decks (imagine the photo ops!) and a handicap elevator so everyone can reach each level of the boat.
Just because there are a lot of people who you want to be present to celebrate your wedding doesn't mean that you should have a limited number of options when it comes to where you can hold your reception. That's why the Albany and Saratoga regions of New York are a terrific choice as a location to your wedding. There are numerous indoor and outdoor venues that can welcome 500 or more guests. There are professional wedding vendors that can are used to working with large gatherings, whether it is a caterer for food and drinks or a DJ to help keep the flow of your reception going. And there are 4 seasons from which to choose the perfect time to have your wedding. Nothing beats an Albany wedding, no matter the time of year.