About this vendor
Bear Ridge Destination is a wedding destination located in Clymer, NY, just 30 minutes away from Erie, PA. When hosting here, couples are welcome to extend their wedding day into a weekend getaway where they can create lifelong memories with loved ones.
Bear Ridge Destination consists of a number of eye-catching, versatile event spaces where you can host your milestone moments. The venue’s three ceremony locations highlight the abundant natural beauty of New York’s western region. You and your beloved are invited to tie the knot beside two trickling streams, in front of a tranquil pond, or under a towering tree. After you say “I do,” you and your new spouse can enjoy celebratory drinks, dining, and dancing in one of two spacious reception sites. A rustic building, the Burly Bear is tucked away beside the forest. Here, you and your partner can host a stand-out event across its three levels, including a loft area ideal for cocktail hours. Complete with soaring ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and fine craftsmanship throughout, it's sure to impress you and your guests. With multiple 20-foot balconies, you can admire the leafy treetops as you celebrate. The building also consists of additional luxurious amenities such as a catering kitchen, a get-ready suite, and eight bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. After the last dance of the evening, you and your loved ones are welcome to rest here to make the most of the blissful setting.
Another reception option, the Cozy Bear, is also available. Ideal for events with guest lists of 100 people or fewer, this intimate barn offers a romantic ambience for milestone moments. Thanks to its insulated structure and large, beautiful doors, it can provide a comfortable setting for celebrants no matter the season. Fitted with eye-catching chandeliers and featuring a spacious concrete patio, the site offers endless celebration options. Throughout the day, you and your beloved can avail of unique photo opportunities with a 1940s Chevy and a wooden canoe from the same year.
Wooden farmhouse chairs, handcrafted pine tables, and ivory cushions will be supplied to align with the venue’s rustically charming aesthetic. Additional event items such as arches in various styles, white drapery, a teepee, and more can also be provided, depending on your one-of-a-kind vision. A thoughtful finishing touch, the venue’s staff will be there to set up and tear down your chosen event space.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Barn
- Trees
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Bar Rental
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.010 reviews
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The perfect place to have a wedding the owners are amazing and answer all my questions they made it so easy and I couldn’t be happier with it
Chelsea and Seth from Bear Ridge are absolutely amazing! My wife and I got married there in August (2025) and couldn't have asked for a better venue, or for better owners/coordinat...
ors. Chelsea was wonderful to work with, consistently responsive, and extremely flexible working with all of our vendors and special requests. We heard (and still hear) from our guests over and over how impressed they were with our venue and how smoothly the wedding ran. The beautiful weather certainly helped too!
We toured 12 different venues in the greater Erie area and Bear Ridge was by far our favorite. Many of our guests (250 total) were traveling in from out of town, so having the Peak n Peak hotel nearby and the barndo suites / houses onsite at Bear Ridge was perfect. We decided to have our rehearsal dinner (100 guests) in the cozy barn venue, and it turned out great. We appreciated that Bear Ridge offered such a comprehensive experience!
My wife and I would highly recommend Bear Ridge to anyone looking for a large, beautiful wedding venue in the Erie area.
I can't say thank you enough to Chelsea, Seth, and their daughters for their hard work, dedication, and flexibility. You all played a pivotal role in making our wedding weekend so special. Thank you!
My husband and I were the first couple to book a wedding at Bear Ridge since they’ve had new owners, Chelsea and Seth. At first, we were cautious - not knowing how Chelsea and Seth...
would be as new owners. However, they completely EXCEEDED our expectations. They are INCREDIBLY accommodating, doing anything and everything to make sure your day is the best day possible. They always made us feel like nothing but they best. They worked with us on the small things. And they are the SWEETEST people ever. Besides this, the venue itself is BEAUTIFUL. We chose it due to its beauty, but also due to having housing accommodations for family and friends right on site. We were able to have a great weekend with everyone we loved able to stay there and party all night. Also a very big place for girls to get ready right under the venue !! I could not recommend this place more !!! Best day of our live!!!!
This was the best experience ever. Not only was the entire place absolutely stunning, the property manager went above and beyond what was expected of her. Laikin, was in contact wi...
th me through the entire process, she answered all my questions, she gave me advice when I was struggling and it felt like she was my best friend. I truly think Laikin was a huge part of my 5 star review. 1000% recommended.
This venue is absolutely gorgeous— it looks amazing in pictures, of course, but you really have to see the space to understand the magnitude of its beauty. The barndominium (the 8 ...
rooms under the venue) were perfect for the bridal party and the bridal suite down there was perfect for getting ready on the morning of the wedding. The other large cabins on site were perfect for our families, too, because it allowed everyone to stay on site the night of the wedding.
Laikin was so, so, so helpful and attentive— she really made the day so perfect by being detail-oriented and experienced with weddings. She answered all of my many, many questions and she was flexible to some day-of changes. I received so many compliments about the space and how efficient Laikin’s team was— the guests were all very, very impressed. I would recommend this venue to absolutely everyone, whether the couple is local or looking for destination spots. The venue is enormous and can accommodate a large guest list, and Laikin also has options for renting some additional decor, which was super helpful.
Again, I have nothing but praise for Laikin, her team, and the venue itself. My wedding would not have been as perfect as it was without her and her space!!
This is the MUST have place if you are looking for the most beautiful, jaw dropping place to have your wedding. We were the first winter wedding at Bear Ridge, and let me just te...
ll you, it was AMAZING. The team at Bear Ridge did absolutely everything they could to make sure our day went smoothly.... this included moving tons and tons of snow where they hold the ceremonies, just a few short steps away from the reception building. The outdoor ceremony spot has plenty of room for a big wedding, and has a beautiful backdrop. The downstairs of the lodge has a super nice bridal suite, and plenty of room for the rest of your party to get ready. They offer all the amenities that you'd need whether you're staying just for the day, or for the entire weekend (Like we did). All of the bedrooms are super cute and offer the luxury you'd see from places that are far more expensive. As you make your way upstairs to the main reception area you'll find beautiful wood work, and lighting that really sets the mood once the sun goes down. Theres also a loft that overlooks the main floor that can serve many purposes... We used it for our DJ, and to setup a photo booth that was a blast!! We used, the.event.full on Instagram... it was a great compliment to Bear Ridge. The loft also has a deck that you can walk out onto and get some fresh air or snap a pic of the scenery. We took some of our wedding party photos out there and they turned out AWESOME!!!
The parking lot is large, we had about 200 people and there was plenty of room for everyone. The barn also is very spacious... we were worried because of the way the world is now that people would not have enough room for social distancing... but once everyone was in the building we saw just how big the place really is. The bar area is built really well and has tons of space for all of your liquor and wine, and they also have a four tap system that you can bring your kegs in for draft beer.
The owners, Sheldon and Laikin, did an absolute killer job on this place... and Laikin was super helpful with every question we had as a couple of first time wedding planners. I can't recommend this place enough, I've literally told EVERYONE we know that if they're not getting married at Bear Ridge Destination, they're making a mistake!! If you're looking for the BEST place to get married in Western NY, look no further. 5 Stars 10/10
We were SO thrilled with our decision to have our intimate wedding at Bear Ridge Destination! As one of the first few weddings, even before the addition of the big barn, we are hon...
ored to be part of the Bear Ridge family. That is how Laikin & Sheldon make you feel when working with them. They we're wonderful, professional, and accommodating. Our family and bridal party all stayed multiple nights with us in the beautiful houses on location and it was magical! From crazy fun nights in the tipi, to the quaint ceremony space, tented dinner and perfect little barn reception, we couldn't have picked a better place! We loved everything about it! We recently went back to celebrate our one year anniversary and babymoon in the cabin by the pond and we had so much fun reminiscing about our big day and seeing all the new improvements to the grounds! We cannot wait to come back and rent the Estate or the Manor for a ski weekend with friends, and to come back in the summer after the tree houses are finished! Bear Ridge will forever be a home away from home for us!
We were one of Bear Ridge’s first weddings and booked them before the big barn was even built! We just had such a great first meeting with the vendors that we knew it was going to ...
be the right fit for us- so we took the leap and we are so happy that we did!! The blended streams ceremony site was exactly what we wanted (green and forest vibes during the late summer) and the big barn blew us and all of our guests away! The bartenders and bar were a big hit as well! Not to mention the entire property has the most gorgeous spots for photos. We plan to make an anniversary trip in the future at one of their luxury cabins!
Our wedding day was absolute perfection thanks to Bear Ridge. Everything was truly magnificent and more than we could have ever dreamed of. Family and friends continue to talk abou...
t the venue and sing their praises for the authentic, chic, rustic, and unique style Bear Ridge has to offer. The team at Bear Ridge made everything seamless and worked with us throughout the entire process. They were helpful in every way they could be and made our day that much more meaningful. There is truly no other venue like Bear Ridge. The venue space itself along with the ceremony space and the homes on the property make for a one of a kind, ideal wedding retreat for any couple. We would highly recommend this space to anyone, you won't regret it!
I signed a wedding contract with Laikin while this barn was just a slab of concrete, knowing it would be beautiful but MAN did they go above and beyond. This venue is amazing, and ...
in my opinion- it blows the other venues near Erie out of the water. The ambiance, lighting, and energy here is amazing.
A beautiful building is great and all, but if the management is poor then it really doesn’t come full circle. This brings me to one of the best things about this property- Laikin and Sheldon. Laikin is the property manager who helps make all of Sheldon’s crazy big ideas come to life. They are such down to earth people who are so pleasant to work with. You talk to them and just feel like you’re old friends. Very trustworthy, they don’t make things complicated or difficult for your big day, and they genuinely care. They were very helpful and helped minimize my stress. They are go-getters and absolutely nothing they do is half assed. They roll with any situation and I never once doubted whether they would make things work for me. They have been very busy with opening this new venue, so if they don’t get back to you immediately, be patient and know that they will! They really are awesome people.
My wedding here had around 260 guests. We sat 3 round tables on the upper balcony to leave space on the main level for a dance floor. In my own personal opinion I wouldn’t want more people than that because you’d either have to fill the dance floor area with tables or place more tables on the balcony where people couldn’t see below. You certainly could have more people and just move the tables away from the dance floor later though. They have a bar with 4 taps, an ice machine, and lots of refrigerator space for drinks. The multi levels and multiple balconies allowed people to walk around and really enjoy themselves. There is a pond on the property but it’s far enough away I don’t think you need to worry much with children. This venue doesn’t even require much decor as it is so beautiful on its own. All 8 beds in the downstairs are comfy memory foam mattresses. The AC works wonderfully, keeping it nice and cool on all 3 levels. The bathrooms are beautiful. Having all of those bedrooms there made it so relaxed for my wedding party. This place is top notch.
Contact
1879 Pekin Rd, Clymer, NY
Bear Ridge Destination