Nontraditional Rochester Wedding Venue Love Story: Whimsical Micro Wedding at Slate on South
If you’re searching for nontraditional Rochester wedding venues that actually feel like you, let us introduce you to this dreamy little micro wedding at Slate on South.
Classic ballrooms weren’t their vibe. Park weddings felt a little too rustic. What this out-of-state couple really wanted was a day that felt warm, intimate, and completely authentic: good food, their favorite humans, and a space they could transform into a magical fairy garden.
Slate on South was the perfect small wedding venue for a celebration full of personality, color, and pure joy — proof that small weddings can be unforgettable, stylish, and totally nontraditional in the best way.
Why Slate on South Is One of the Best Nontraditional Rochester Wedding Venues
Slate on South quickly became one of their favorite nontraditional Rochester wedding venues (and the one they booked) because it offered intimacy and creative freedom.
The couple chose the Set the Scene package— a bundle that includes design, styling, décor, and access to this stunning downtown South Wedge venue.
✨Their vision? A fairy garden — but make it eclectic, warm, and enchantingly moody. Think: enchanted forest energy, rich greens, pops of sunset oranges and yellows, twinkling pendant lights, and tiny details with big personality.
Getting Ready on Site: Stress-Free & So Sweet
Before their ceremony, the couple got ready onsite in Slate’s cozy second-floor suite — complete with a lounge, kitchen, two bathrooms, and a private getting-ready room. It’s one of the perks of the venue that couples love because it cuts out the scramble, the travel, and the chaos.
They shared a first look inside the venue, tucked away from guests, soaking in that “holy crap, we’re actually getting married today” moment — calm, sweet, and uninterrupted.
An Intimate Wedding Ceremony with a Hint of Fairy Magic
When guests arrived, the first-floor space was completely transformed into an intimate ceremony setting curated by Barlyssa, the duo behind the Homemade Events wedding planning team.
The backdrop was a total showstopper:
cascading pendant lights
an oversized gilded gold frame
lush greenery garlands
It felt soft, whimsical, and romantic — the perfect setting to say “I do.”
Transforming this Nontraditional Rochester Wedding Venue into a Fairy Garden Reception
Right beside the ceremony setup, we styled one long dinner table that looked like it belonged in a storybook.
We’re talking:
🍃 Overflowing floral centerpieces with greenery and vibrant orange + yellow blooms
💚 Emerald gauze runners flowing down the table
✨ Amber vintage goblets adding warm golden glow
🥂 Gold chargers, candles & organic textures tying it all together
Dimming the lights created the exact vibe the couple wanted — cozy, enchanting, and full of that woodland-fairy-tale energy.
Nontraditional Wedding Details We Absolutely Lived For
This couple had the best energy and leaned fully into having a day that felt authentic and fun. A few standout moments:
🍕 They picked up their own pizza.
Yes, the bride — in her gown — and the groom drove to Pizza Wizard to pick up dinner. Legendary.
🍋 They cut a lemon Bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes because it’s their favorite — but not before each taking a bite straight out of the chocolate topper.
🌿 The groom’s emerald suit matched the décor perfectly.
Whether fate or fashion magic — we approved.
👑 The bride crafted her own floral crown.
Full fairy-princess energy.
📜 They wrote their vows on-site.
Spontaneous. Romantic. Completely them.
📸 Captured by Susan Elizabeth Photography.
Every choice they made wasn’t about tradition — it was about joy.
The Vendors Who Helped Bring this Micro Wedding Magic to Life
✨ Venue: Slate on South
✨ Planning & Design: Homemade Events
✨ Photography: Susan Elizabeth Photography
✨ Officiant: J Costello Officiants
✨ Pizza: Pizza Wizard
✨ Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes – Henrietta
Want a Wedding Day That Feels Like YOU? Let’s Chat.
If your ideal wedding day looks like:
✨ good food
✨ your favorite people
✨ a vibe that’s totally “us”
✨ and zero pressure to follow traditions that don’t fit...
Then Slate on South + Homemade Events is exactly the wedding-day duo you need.
“Do your day your way - that’s where the magic happens.”
👉 Want a non traditional wedding venue that actually feels like YOU? Let’s chat!
