Garner Arts Center is a 19th century textile mill that has been converted into a space for arts & events. As a wedding venue, it is really unassuming – tucked away in Garnerville, New York – yet with a little DIY creativity can be brought to life for a mixture of elegance and industrial charm.
What captivated us most about Garner was the atmosphere of the place. It is very urban, with plenty of exposed brick and string lights both inside and out. Some unique art pieces lining the alleyway leading to the entrance to the actual reception space, as well as little elements of the textile mills origins along the way. The actual reception hall, though, was stunning. Wood floors, string lights, moody uplighting, and exposed brick combined in an extremely simple but very modern and compelling way.
Why It’s Great for Weddings
Our experience at Garner Arts Center saw the space used for cocktail hour, portraits, and the wedding reception. As things really started to get going with a ~200 person wedding, it remained comfortable and interesting all through the night.
First – let’s talk cocktail hour. Presented outdoors in the alleyway, the layout was really perfect to get guests mingling with each other. Bars were set up at 2 ends of the alley – so a quick drink was always in reach. The couple had hired a food truck which went over extremely well, and fit the atmosphere really nicely.
Next – as photographers we really loved Garner because there are so many great photo locations. From simple brick backdrops to using window light in the actual reception space to woodsy portraits by the stream behind the building – it was all amazing. And how can we forget – the alleyway lit up with string lights at sunset made for some of our favorite bride & groom photos this year.
Last – the reception space itself is, as we’ve mentioned, really beautiful. It is also practical and able to accommodate a great party. With the right band or DJ, keeping people on the dance floor is also perfectly laid out, too.
We’d say that having a wedding at Garner Arts Center is a perfect choice if you want an urban/industrial vibe without having to go into the heart of the city. Bringing your own touches will definitely help to personalize things as well!
You can see a full blog post from Courtney & Ryan’s wedding at Garner Arts Center right here!
Check out wedding photos from Garner Arts Center below:
