Canfield Casino is a stunning, elegant, and historic wedding venue in Saratoga Springs NY (less than an hour north of Albany, NY). With a Ballroom that seats up to 220, the venue is perfect for both smaller and larger weddings, and because Canfield Casino is located within Congress Park, there are endless opportunities for outdoor portraits in the park.
Canfield Casino Wedding
Earlier this month I photographed a wedding at Canfield Casino and fell absolutely in love with the venue. If you love a historical wedding venue and dream of a stunning brick exterior, a garden ceremony, a reception space with a soaring ceiling, and maybe even a carousel ride, Canfield Casino might be the perfect location for your wedding. Before Ashley and John contacted me I had honestly never even heard of Canfield Casino, so if you're like me, keep reading because I want to share all the reasons I can't wait to go back:
Congress Park in Saratoga Springs
Nestled in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs, the Canfield Casino is actually located in Congress Par, so it's surrounded by enchanting gardens, picturesque fountains, and stunning architecture. is a photographer's paradise, and the entire venue exudes timeless elegance and charm. I really can't say enough how wonderful it is to have SO many locations for photos inside and outside the venue.
Hotels near Canfield Casino
Saratoga Springs is a tourist destination, which means that there are plenty of hotels for your wedding guests to choose from, all within a short drive of Canfield Casino. It also means there are a lot of other attractions in Saratoga Springs, like the Saratoga Race Course, so it's definitely a good idea to contact a few hotels in advance and set up room blocks for your guests.
Canfield Casino Wedding Photos (For Saratoga Springs Wedding Photographers)
If you're a Saratoga Springs Wedding Photographer, you know that the weather can be one of your biggest challenges, but not at Canfield Casino. you've Ashley and John chose to have their ceremony in Congress Park right outside the Casino, but if it were to rain, they would have had their ceremony inside where they had their reception. As a photographer, one of the things I worry about on a wedding day is where the ceremony will take place if it rains. A lot of venues rely on that outdoor ceremony space, and if it has to be moved inside because of the weather, the setting is less than ideal. That is not at all the case at Canfield Casino. With the barrel vaulting and stained glass windows in the ceiling, there's plenty of natural light, and I honestly wouldn't have minded one bit if the ceremony had been moved inside.
Canfield Casino Parlor
Another thing I love so much about Canfield Casino is their Parlor space that's used for cocktail hour. Having such a large space for cocktail hour means the guests have plenty of space to socialize without being inside the reception space. This is a HUGE plus as a photographer because it means we're easily able to take those beautiful photos of the empty Ballroom reception space all set up before guests arrive. It also means that if it were to rain and both the ceremony and reception were to happen in the Ballroom, since you have the large parlor space, guests have somewhere separate to go during cocktail hour while the space is turned around after the ceremony.
Congress Park Carousel
I absolutely love that we were able to use the Congress Park Carousel for a few photos. The carousel is open seasonally, May through Columbus day each year, but it's only a few minutes walk from the Casino, and they opened it up just for us. It also made for one of my favorite photos of the day.
Canfield Casino Ballroom
The Ballroom at Canfield Casino seats up to 220 people, so there is enough space for larger weddings. Also, with ceilings so high, the room feels even more luxurious and spacious. The only con is that parking is limited and a little tricky, so my suggestion would be to arrange shuttles for your guests. Trust me, they'll thank you!
Saratoga Springs Historic Wedding Venue
Canfield Casino is very much a historic wedding venue. The main building (the Parlor where cocktail hours are hosted today) was built in 1870, and the Ballroom where receptions are now hosted was built in 1902-1903. The venue used to be the Congress Hotel and was a resort and gambling site. A lot of the architectural details you see in the Casino today are original, like the parquet flooring and the mirrors and statuettes in the gambling room. With it's stunning stained glass windows, high ceilings, and dazzling chandeliers, you'll feel like royalty on your special day. Seriously, even the bathrooms were gorgeous.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Springs is not only home to the Canfield Casino, but it's also a vibrant and lively city with plenty to offer your out-of-town wedding guests. They'll have tons of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from cozy bed and breakfasts to luxurious hotels. Plus, they can explore the city's charming downtown area, visit the famous Saratoga Race Course, or indulge in the healing waters of the Saratoga Spa State Park.
Ashley and John chose a pretzel bar as a late-night snack for their guests and 2 Shea Catering knocked it out of the park. Seriously, how cute are these hanging pretzels?!
With its timeless beauty and historic charm the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, NY, is truly a one-of-a-kind wedding venue. If you're looking to get married in the area I really can't recommend it enough and I absolutely can not wait to go back.
Are you interested in having me photograph your Canfield Casino wedding?
Let's chat!
A warm thanks to all the vendors who made this day possible:
Venue: Canfield Casino - 1 E Congress St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Photographer: Kelsey Travis Photography
Caterer and Coordination: 2 Shea Catering
Dress Shop: David's Bridal
Seamstress: MaryLyn Sewing
Hair and Makeup: Allie's Hair and Makeup
Florist: Janine's Floral Creations
DJ: DJ Vinny Vin