Written by Lisa Light

Saratoga Springs is where DestinationBride.com calls home... And it is one of my favorite places to plan weddings. With all of the charm and beauty of a quintessential New England town, Saratoga Springs has its own unique culture and history. Horse racing? Yes, Saratoga is famous for it, and the late summer racing season is a cherished tradition and a cultural magnet. But there’s more to Saratoga Springs, and as a wedding destination, it has so much to offer.

The Saratoga National Golf Club is a favorite among our brides. The mile-long private drive meanders past ponds, bridges, stone walls, and beautiful golf courses, to a fieldstone gatehouse that looks like it belongs in Scotland. The Victorian era charm of the fieldhouse is matched by the wonderful service—for parties indoors or out for up to 500 guests. One of the loveliest weddings I’ve seen there was a winter wedding…with horse drawn carriages riding through the snowy golf course lit with fairy lights…very romantic! During the summer couples can choose to be married outside overlooking the pond and the golf course.

The racetrack is one “heart” of Saratoga Springs, but another is its mineral springs, and its reputation for healing and rejuvenation. The Saratoga Hall of Springs is a gorgeous building that was built in 1933, known as the first modern “spa”. The Grand Ballroom has impressive columns and stone work, vaulted ceilings and crystal chandeliers; it can accommodate up to 500 guests. The Hall of Springs is located on the grounds of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, so the views are stunning inside and out. The Hall of Springs is truly one of the largest, grand ballrooms in the North East…larger that all of the Mansions in Newport, the Berkshires and the Hudson Valley. The architecture is so spectacular that it needs little more than beautiful linens and lots of candle light to make it spectacular. The cuisine and the service, by Glen Sanders, are renowned locally.

Saratogians saved the beautiful, and historically important Universal Preservation Hall, a Universal Life Baptist Church in the center of the town. Through community contributions and efforts, this stunning structure has been preserved, and is now a performing arts space that can be rented for weddings and private events. The Community Room downstairs is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, or a small gathering, and the upstairs Hall can accommodate up to 300 guests. Best of all, this stately grande dame in the center of the town can be rented at reasonable, non-profit rates.

The Canfield Casino is an icon in Saratoga and the annual venue for the Mary Lou Whitney Ball. It is located in Congress Park, which also includes the History Museum and Italian Gardens. What I love about the Casino is that it retains its original beauty and character. Built in 1870, it operated as a casino until 1907, and it still has the feel of an elegant men’s club: stately, comfortable, with a hint of decadence and intrigue. There’s a ballroom, the casino parlor, even the upstairs “High Stakes Room” where only the wealthiest of patrons were allowed, which still has an old roulette wheel.

A unique, fabulous place for a reception celebration.

Are you, or your intended, a car enthusiast? Can you imagine swirling next to a vintage Lamborghini as you dance your first dance? The Saratoga Auto Museum is dedicated to preserving all things beautiful and important about our national love affair with automobiles. They have two different galleries, one which can accommodate up to 100 guests, and the larger Freihofer gallery, which accommodates 100 sit-down, and 200 for cocktails. This is a really fun venue. No need to go overboard on flowers here, either: the real decorations are the beautiful vintage cars that share the space.

Why do I love Saratoga Springs? Believe me, I am just getting started here. Give me a call and I will show you more of what makes this town—with its sense of history, excitement, and healing waters—such an ideal wedding destination. For now you will have to whet your appetite with this suggestions and these fabulous photos by local photographer extraordinaire, Tracey Buyce!