5.0
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Quality catering
Helpful staff
A Stunning Venue With Everything On-Site
Holds ceremonies and receptions
The team at Tailwater is top notch! They were extremely helpful and responsive throughout the planning process and during the wedding weekend. They executed our vision exactly how we wanted. Food was delicious and service was amazing. We definitely recommend this venue to anyone planning a wedding!!
Sara D.
5.0
The Tailwater Lodge was such an amazing venue. From the scenery to its incredible staff in the restaurant. The staff at the Tailwater make planning and enjoying our wedding simply amazing.
Amanda P.
5.0
Deals
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Winter Lodge Wedding Experience
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Custom discount
$8,000 OFF Friday Weddings!
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AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Tailwater Lodge is a sprawling destination featuring well-appointed accommodations, a beautiful spa, an award-winning restaurant, outdoor recreation, and much more. Our team loves working with couples and their families to create unique, unforgettable weddings every season.
The Barn at Tailwater Lodge
Celebrate in our signature venue—The Barn at Tailwater Lodge. This rustic-yet-refined space blends countryside charm with modern comforts, nestled along the banks of the world-renowned Salmon River for a truly picture-perfect setting.
Inclusive Weekend Experience
Host your entire wedding weekend in one place. From rehearsal dinners and welcome receptions to farewell brunches, you and your guests can enjoy every moment without ever leaving the property.
Thoughtful Support, Start to Finish
With a dedicated wedding specialist by your side, every detail is thoughtfully handled—from personalized planning to seamless day-of coordination.
Customizable Packages
Tailor a memorable celebration with flexible options from our team—whether it’s personalized décor, a curated ceremony setup, or gourmet food and beverage menus.
Exceptional Service & On-Site Amenities
With upscale rooms, elevated dining, outdoor activities, and indulgent treatments at The Lodge Spa, your guests will enjoy every part of their stay. Prepare for the big day in a well-appointed suite, exchange vows with the Salmon River as your backdrop, and end the night just steps from your celebration.
Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life
Contact our wedding team to learn more or secure your preferred date.
Tailwater Lodge is a wedding venue located in Altmar, NY.
Take a 360° Virtual Tour and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek today!
Amenities + details
Amenities
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
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Barn
Hotel
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2023.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Jennifer DiRusso
Director of Weddings and Events
With 18 years of Food & Beverage experience helping people execute their dream wedding is my passion. I look forward to working with you in helping to plan yours!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.026 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Tailwater Lodge is a stunning riverfront venue with on-site lodging and elegant, well-maintained spaces. Reviewers praised the professional, responsive, and detail-oriented staff who made planning and the wedding day seamless and stress-free. The food was repeatedly called exceptional. Couples highly recommend it for its value and accommodating service.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 4
Kara D
Highlighted review.
5.0
If we could give it 6 stars, we would. Tucked away- seemingly in the middle of nowhere- you come onto this beautiful, well maintained resort/lodge that sits right next to the prist...
ine salmon river (wonderful photo opportunities everywhere!). Had it not been for my husband being an avid fisherman, I would have never known this place existed. But I’m so glad I do!! The communication and transparency from our point person, Jenn, was exceptionally fantastic from start to finish. She worked with us to make sure that everything was exactly how we wanted it from the big details down to the very small ones. Our day- of coordinator, Liberty, was also amazing as was the entire staff- I would describe the entire team as a well oiled machine and we really did feel like they genuinely cared about our experience being positive. The venue is clean, new, comfortable, and elegant. The food is absolutely delicious as well and is not anywhere near the category of “typical wedding food.” Being able to have our reception there and then having the hotel attached for our guests to stay the night really took the experience to the next level and we still have guests reaching out telling us how fantastic everything was. Excellent value for the price.
Sara D
5.0
The team at Tailwater is top notch! They were extremely helpful and responsive throughout the planning process and during the wedding weekend. They executed our vision exactly how ...
we wanted. Food was delicious and service was amazing. We definitely recommend this venue to anyone planning a wedding!!
Any questions?
Amanda P
5.0
The Tailwater Lodge was such an amazing venue. From the scenery to its incredible staff in the restaurant. The staff at the Tailwater make planning and enjoying our wedding simply ...
amazing.
Terri C
5.0
The Perfect Wedding at Tailwater Lodge
We could not have asked for a more perfect place to celebrate our wedding on August 16th than Tailwater Lodge. From the very beginning of th...
e planning process through the last moments of our wedding day, the entire experience was exceptional.
A very special thank you to Jenn, Director of Wedding Sales and Catering, who was wonderful to work with from day one. She was incredibly helpful, responsive, and attentive to every detail, making the planning process feel easy and stress-free.
Liberty, our wedding day coordinator, was absolutely amazing. She made sure everything ran smoothly and seamlessly, anticipated our needs, and handled all the little details so we could simply relax and enjoy our day. Having someone so capable and caring taking care of everything was priceless.
The entire Tailwater Lodge staff deserves recognition. Everyone we encountered was friendly, professional, welcoming, and genuinely committed to making our wedding special.
The food was outstanding! Not only was everything absolutely delicious, but the quality and quantity were exceptional. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful the food was. It was clear that Tailwater takes great pride in every aspect of the dining experience.
The bridal suite was another highlight—beautiful, comfortable, spacious, and the perfect place for spending those special moments with the people closest to us.
Our wedding was everything we dreamed it would be: beautiful, relaxed, intimate, and filled with so many wonderful memories. Tailwater Lodge didn’t just provide a beautiful setting—they helped create an experience that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
Thank you, Jenn, Liberty, and the entire Tailwater Lodge team for making August 16th truly unforgettable. We couldn’t recommend Tailwater Lodge more highly for anyone looking for the perfect wedding venue!
:::
Anna S
5.0
We truly could not have imagined a more perfect place to have our wedding than Tailwater Lodge. From the beautiful property and scenery to the incredible staff, everything about ou...
r wedding weekend exceeded our expectations.
The entire team was so helpful, accommodating, and organized throughout the planning process and especially on our wedding day. They made everything feel seamless, which allowed us to actually relax, be present, and enjoy the day with our family and friends. Every detail came together beautifully, and we never felt like we had to worry about what was happening behind the scenes.
The venue itself is absolutely stunning and was exactly what we wanted for our wedding. Our guests loved being able to stay right on the property and enjoy the lodge for the entire weekend, and we received so many compliments about the venue, food, and overall experience.
Our wedding day was everything we hoped it would be and more, and Tailwater Lodge will always hold such a special place in our hearts. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our weekend so memorable. We would choose Tailwater all over again in a heartbeat and cannot recommend it enough to anyone considering getting married there! 🤍
Anna B
5.0
Working with the Tailwater, especially Jenn, was a wonderful experience. They made us always feel special and taken care of. So many people told us this was the best wedding they h...
ad ever been to. They made the process so seamless. Having a venue with everything right there, with set-up and teardown included, accommodation, etc. was the best decision we made to actually be able to enjoy our whole wedding weekend!
Jamie M
5.0
Our wedding was such a perfect day and we are so happy we chose Tailwater. The Tailwater team was attentive, thoughtful and patient. We could not have picked a more perfect venue f...
or our wedding. We would recommend Tailwater over and over again.
Naomi G
5.0
Not only is this venue stunning in the fall and summer, situated on the Salmon River with multiple beautiful ceremony options, it was even more beautiful in February. Our Original ...
wedding date was set for August, and when we thought we would have to cancel after a little surprise, the staff was incredibly accomodating and laid out all of our options including rescheduling the wedding. When January came went from 8 months to plan to 5 weeks, and Tailwaters staff was so kind, efficient, and helpful.
From our original walk through all the way to execution of our day, our event coordinators shared our excitement for our next chapter, and they were just as invested in our day as we were.
The staff were so kind and professional, when I had a snaffu with my dress during the reception the whisked me away to a private area to get it situated.
The Food is amazing. The Chefs accomodated a unique menu for our rehersal dinner.
The Cocktail Horderves and Reception Dinner was just as delicious, we had guests coming up to us saying that they had never had such a delicious meal at a wedding our size.
At 14 weeks pregnant, the whole team handled our surprise with care, quietly congratulating us when they saw us alone. The Bar manager even special odered zero proof options for the bar so I could still enjoy some of the drinks we had excitedly planned before learning we were expecting.
The rooms at the lodge are beautiful, comfortable and spacious. The food is incredible, and the staff is so skilled we never worried about anything the day of.
If you are looking for a venue in Central or Upstate New York, we would recommend checking out Tailwater Lodge.
Lauren R
5.0
Our wedding was absolutely perfect! The staff were all extremely helpful, especially our coordinator Jennifer. They are a pleasure to work with, you will not be disappointed.
Anna Y
5.0
We just had our 2025 wedding at Tailwater Lodge, and 10/10 recommend! Their event team was absolutely awesome to work with and helped guided you every step of the way! The venue is...
very beautiful with the scenery and the hotel/venue inside has a lovely rustic touch to it. What’s really nice about this venue is that they also help set up everything for you the day of the wedding so it’s stress free on your special day!
Jordyn C
5.0
Everything from the food to the venue itself is nothing less than incredible!! We had visited Tailwater on a whim a few years ago and the second I saw it I knew it would be the per...
fect wedding venue, even before we got engaged. Fast forward to 2024 and the entire process was so easy and the staff always made us feel so special! When the wedding weekend came I don’t think it could go any more perfect! Highly highly recommend Tailwater lodge to everyone!!
Elizabeth M
5.0
I cannot begin to recommend Tailwater Lodge enough. Jenn was wonderful every step of the way with timely responses to every question and accommodating our requests. Kate and Libert...
y were phenomenal on the wedding day with assistance, guidance and overall support. They truly did not overlook even the smallest detail. For example, I was not at my seat the moment my dinner was served and a cloche was immediately placed over my meal to ensure it didn’t get cold. Also, a tray of appetizers was provided during dress bustling so we did not miss out on their delicious food. We had multiple guests report it was the best wedding they have ever attended and the food was phenomenal. It was an incredible weekend from the rehearsal dinner all the way through the farewell brunch, Tailwater was wonderful and I would not change a thing!
Britney B
5.0
From the moment we toured the venue to the very last minute of our wedding night, the team was nothing short of exceptional. Their professionalism was evident in every interaction ...
— they truly went above and beyond to make sure our day was seamless. We never felt like “just another couple”; instead, they made us feel like our wedding was the only one that mattered.
They were there for us every single step of the way, offering helping hands, calming words, and quick solutions to any question we came across. Their attention to detail was incredible — from remembering the smallest preferences we mentioned months ago, to anticipating our needs before we even realized them. We felt supported, heard, and completely cared for.
Thanks to them, our wedding day was stress-free, beautiful, and everything we dreamed of. We could not recommend this venue and their amazing team more highly!
Ally L
5.0
The staff at Tailwater Lodge were so helpful, kind, and proactive. They answered all our questions and helped our dream for the wedding become reality! Everything went so smoothly ...
that day and my husband and I were actually able to enjoy every moment of it! Thank you so much Tailwater, especially Jenn, Kate, and Liberty!
Lisa M
5.0
Right from the start, the staff at the Tailwater were so helpful and accommodating. The venue itself is so beautiful and we loved that our guests could spend the night right there ...
and not have to worry about transportation. The wedding coordinator Jennifer and her team were phenomenal and so nice. They answered our millions of questions and made all our requests a reality. I could not recommend this place more for a wedding. We received so many compliments after our wedding of how beautiful the venue was. Book your wedding at the Tailwater now!
Chelsea M
5.0
Everyone was fabulous and the food was amazing. They took so much stress off my shoulders and made the day perfect.
Meghan M
5.0
From the moment we started looking at Tailwater I knew I wanted to get married there. To start, Michele was there every step of the way. She answered my 1000+ emails in a timely ma...
nner and made sure everything was perfect for the big day.
We loved Tailwater because of the location, convenience, bar / restaurant, lodging, and spa! We loved that we could get married on site and didn't have to worry about anyone getting home safe, with lodging right there. Since we were married on a Friday night and there were no events during the week, Michele and her staff had the entire reception and ceremony space completely set up on Thursday, before we started our rehearsal.
On our wedding day, everything went so smooth. There were quite a few people involved to help coordinate and make sure everything was on time. So there is no need to hire an outside day of planner, they have it down to a science.
From the food to the staff, the day couldn't have been more perfect. They even allowed our dog to be a part of the day, from getting ready to walking down the isle.
For about 75 guests, the size of the barn was perfect, but you could easily have more. And for the price, off season, we really got a great deal. We walked away paying around 12k all said and done (including some upgrades and extended open bar).
Michele and Anne were amazing to work with. After going to 4 other weddings this year it really put into perspective how much work they did in order to make sure everything was perfect.
100% I recommend this venue. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Meghan T
5.0
I cannot recommend this venue enough! It was the absolute perfect vision of upscale rustic, and the ability to fulfill that vision in a hotel (aka no transportation worries!) was a...
dream come true. The wedding coordinator Michele was amazing to work with from our first visit to the big day and every event in between. They found a way to say yes to every request and every person at the venue was so so kind. I can't recommend enough!
Kay W
5.0
Words cannot describe how incredible our wedding at the Tailwater Lodge was. From the gorgeous rustic beams that line the reception hall, to the intricate lighting of the tasting ...
room and the convenience of on-site lodging, the Tailwater was our first and only wedding venue we visited. Michele was outstanding throughout the entire planning process. Her professionalism is unmatched. She was attentive, organized and extremely responsive. Ryan (the man!), Ann and Margot helped to transform our vision into reality. No task was too much to ask. They were extremely efficient, professional and helped to make our entire day feel like an absolute dream. From the minute details of remembering what drink the bride/groom would like and always having one ready, to ending the night with a surprise bottle of champagne and homemade rosemary bacon popcorn delivered to our room, and everything in between, we cannot say enough about the Tailwater. Guests continue to talk about their wedding meals. We are forever grateful for the Tailwater Lodge staff, wedding staff and entire team who helped to make 8/12 a day we will never forget.
Emily R
5.0
My Husband and I got married on August 26, 2022 and our experience at Tailwater Lodge was nothing short of perfect. The attention to detail from decoration, food, and customer serv...
ice was 5-star across the board. The groomsman and groom enjoyed massages and facials at the onsite Spa peppered with some jacuzzi time before the wedding while the girls got ready at the huge bridal suite. The staff were very accommodating with assisting with any needs such as bringing extra chairs and espresso martinis to my bridesmaids and I. The Barn at Tailwater lodge nails the natural rustic theme we were searching for in a venue and having the staff take care of all setup and takedown was a huge relief to our parties. The wedding coordinators did an excellent job helping the day flow smoothly in a timely manner. Being right on the Salmon river allowed for unique pictures that we will hang on our walls and provide memories for a lifetime of a perfect day that wouldn't of been possible had it not been for Tailwater Lodge.
Kathryn B
5.0
Michele and the rest of the Tailwater crew were beyond incredible. They took care of EVERYTHING, were incredibly transparent about costs, communicated with us every step of the way...
, and took SUCH amazing care of us on our wedding day. We used the outdoor Overlook site for our ceremony. The tent and decor outside were beautiful and helpful on our sunny 90 degree day. The Barn reception space is the perfect combination of rustic and classy. Michele's team transforms the face beautifully with your decor and takes care of all the set up and tear down for you! I initially fell in love with the venue for its gorgeous ADK charm with the ease of access for our guests but this event coordination team made this experience so incredibly special and stress free. Thank you all!
Jolene Z
5.0
Tailwater was amazing. Working with Michele and the whole team was nothing short of perfect. They were attentive and helpful leading up to and the day of the wedding. Our guests ra...
ved about the food and the beauty of the facility. If I could do it again, I would choose Tailwater over and over again!
MacKenzie H
5.0
We haven’t had our wedding yet, but just had our final detailing meeting. Michele, the event planned, is so accommodating. I love the rustic lodge look of the hotel. It is much cla...
ssier than a barn. I also love how much there is to do: a public and private fire pit, horseshoes, bocce ball, disc golf, hiking trails, fishing spots, a spa, and an indoor pool. The all-inclusive nature of the wedding package made it easy to plan (and saves money in the long run.) I highly recommend to anyone getting married in central NY.
Annie W
5.0
We landed at Tailwater by a stroke of luck, or even fate. Tailwater was my dream venue, even after thorough wedding venue research. When my fiancé (now husband) and I decided to mo...
ve up our wedding date drastically, I never thought my dream of a Tailwater wedding would become a reality. However, due to COVID-19, Tailwater had our date, 10/3/2020 open.
From the initial inquiry to the heartfelt farewell after the wedding, Michele was wonderful to work with. Her attention to detail and experience are priceless. She took our ideas, with very little direction, and made them come to life. Anne was also incredible. She did not miss a beat. She has an incredible eye for detail, is incredibly personable, and we had complete confidence in her.
The venue is just perfect. The porch is an incredible spot for the ceremony and everything flowed perfectly into the reception space. The food was INCREDIBLE. Our guests raved and raved about it (I wanted to take home a 10 gallon bucket of the garlic aioli). Every banquet team member was kind and personable. Our guests enjoyed hanging out by the fire after the reception. Everything was perfect, from start to finish. We have gotten many compliments that it was the most beautiful wedding.
Additionally, Tailwater handled COVID-19 restrictions with class and grace - we felt safe and were happy with the enforcement of policies.
Only minor complaint was that front desk staff seemed overwhelmed and there were a few mix-ups with our accommodations. It was salmon weekend, one of their busiest weekends of the year. However, we would have anticipated a more organized and hospitable approach to the management of our room block.
Overall, my mom, husband, and I could not recommend Tailwater Lodge more.
Antoinette K
5.0
The Tailwater Lodge was the perfect place for our wedding. Everyone was welcoming and friendly and made our day perfect. The location is beautiful and offers a variety of ceremony ...
locations. We had great weather but if it had rained, the indoor ceremony option would have been equally beautiful. The food was phenomenal - we went with the "Build Your Own Barn Party" package and all of our guests raved about the options. The staff was great about making sure we had food during the reception and they also left containers filled with leftovers in the fridge in our room. The rooms are beautiful and spacious - we didn't want to leave! If we were going to get married again, we'd definitely choose the Tailwater!
Katie C
5.0
A hidden gem! Owned by the Woodbine group out of Syracuse, the Tailwater Lodge is a beautiful rustic Hotel located on the Salmon River. The food is great and the staff is extremel...
y professional, everyone really went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect! We couldn't have been happier, Thanks Tailwater!!!
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Tailwater Lodge
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