Downtown Syracuse is about to have a wedding venue that turns heads, and not just because of the architecture. We sat down with Mike Green, owner of The Mizpah, and Jenna Ellis, the wedding and events manager, to talk about what it is like to bring a century-old former church back to life as one of the most distinctive event spaces in Central New York.
A Building with a Story
The Mizpah is not a new build dressed to look old. It is the real thing.
Originally constructed in 1914 as a Baptist church, the building operated as a place of worship until 1988. What makes it architecturally unusual is that the two-story church sanctuary sits at the base of a building with three or four additional floors above it, which over the years served as a hotel and then apartments. The entire structure has been vacant since around 1994.
Mike and his team are not restoring it to look like it did in 1914. They are doing something more interesting than that.
“We’re saying this building has been through these issues and we’re going to almost celebrate that part of it.”
Where plaster has fallen away and exposed the brick underneath, they are sealing it and leaving it. Decayed sections of ceiling are being encapsulated for safety but not covered up. The worn, layered history of the space is being treated as a design feature rather than something to hide. The result is a venue that feels genuinely old rather than artificially aged.
The building is owned by Tom Serio, who is also developing law offices and apartments in the upper floors. The Mizpah occupies the church sanctuary portion as a tenant.
What the Space Actually Feels Like
The main event area is a two-story sanctuary with stained glass windows wrapping the entire perimeter, both at the ground floor and second floor levels. Above the main floor sits a mezzanine that adds to the grand, layered feel of the room.
The aesthetic is dark, moody, and atmospheric. Natural light filters through the stained glass and casts color across the space, but this is not a bright, airy venue. It feels like a church because it is one, and that is the point.
For couples and photographers, that stained glass creates opportunities that most venues simply cannot offer. Lighting placed outside the windows during evening events can simulate the effect of sunlight coming through colored glass, giving photos and video a quality that is genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere. Couples who are drawn to moody, dramatic imagery will find a lot to work with here.
One practical note worth keeping in mind: venues like this require a photographer who is comfortable working in lower, more directional light. It is a different environment than an outdoor wedding or a bright ballroom, and the right photographer will lean into what makes the space special rather than fighting it.
The Wine Wall
One of the more distinctive features of The Mizpah is a self-pour wine system with 24 wines available by the ounce or by the glass. The idea is to let guests sample different wines at their own pace rather than committing to a full pour.
For weddings, this becomes something more personal. Couples can work with Jenna to customize which wines are on the wall, whether that means featuring a wine from a meaningful local winery, a bottle from a region tied to family heritage, or something the couple shared on a first date. The lineup can be tailored to fit the couple’s story rather than just defaulting to a standard bar offering.
The venue will also be open to the public Wednesday through Friday as a wine bar, giving people a chance to experience the space before committing to it for an event. As Mike put it, the hope is that someone who comes in for a casual drink falls in love with the building and eventually wants to get married there.
What Is Included When You Book
When a couple books The Mizpah for a wedding reception, here is what comes with the venue:
A four-hour reception window, with the option to add hours. Tables and chairs are included, with seating for up to 250 guests. The setup includes a mix of long rectangular tables and round tables, though couples who prefer all round tables can make that request. Bar packages are available, including access to the wine wall.
Jenna, who is also planning her own wedding while managing events at the venue, brings a personal investment to the details. She describes her approach as giving every couple the same level of attention she would want for her own wedding, from the color of the linens to the placement of the cutlery.
Ceremony, Reception, and the Room Flip Question
As of now, The Mizpah is launching primarily as a reception venue. Many of the early inquiries have come from couples getting married at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception directly across the street, which makes the logistics straightforward.
Jenna noted she would be open to smaller ceremonies at the venue, but flipping a room for 200 guests between a ceremony and reception is a significant operation, and the current phase of the build does not make that easy. It is something the team is continuing to think through.
One creative idea they floated for couples who do want both ceremony and reception on site: the mezzanine level, once finished, could seat guests across from the original choir stage area, giving the couple a ceremony moment that is unlike anything you would find at a traditional venue. It is not a conventional walk down the aisle, but in a space like this, unconventional tends to be the point.
For couples looking to flip the room and fill the transition time, the downtown location opens up some fun options. Partnering with nearby restaurants, coffee shops, or ice cream spots to give guests somewhere to go during the room change is exactly the kind of idea that plays well in a walkable urban area.
Photos Beyond the Venue
Shooting downtown has its advantages when it comes to variety. Mike pointed out that Columbus Circle, directly near the venue, offers access to the county courthouse building and some genuinely interesting architecture. There is also a small park nearby for couples who want a moment outside with some green.
For a downtown venue, having grass and open space within walking distance is rarer than it sounds. Couples who love an urban backdrop will have no shortage of options, and the exterior of the building itself is worth using for photos before guests arrive.
A Note on Day-of Coordination
No conversation about a new wedding venue is complete without talking about coordination, and this one was no exception. Jenna was candid that The Mizpah is still working through what that looks like, whether it will be handled in-house, through a recommended external coordinator, or some combination of both.
The distinction worth understanding is the one between a venue coordinator and a day-of coordinator. A venue coordinator is focused on the venue’s operations: making sure the space is set correctly, vendors are where they should be, and the timeline fits the space. A day-of coordinator works exclusively for the couple, handling every question, problem, and moving part so that nothing reaches the bride and groom on their wedding day.
The best version of this is having someone who serves both roles well. If your venue does not offer day-of coordination, bringing in an independent coordinator who has worked with the venue before is always worth it. The two of them knowing each other ahead of time makes a significant difference.
Why This Venue Is Worth Paying Attention To
Syracuse does not have an abundance of downtown event spaces, and it has nothing that looks quite like this. A Gothic church sanctuary with original stained glass, an exposed brick aesthetic that leans into its own history, a self-pour wine wall, and the flexibility of a new venue that is still figuring out its best version of itself: that combination is genuinely unusual.
The Mizpah is opening its doors in spring of this year. For couples looking for something that does not look like every other wedding they have been to, it is worth a visit.
This post was inspired by a conversation with Mike Green and Jenna Ellis of The Mizpah in downtown Syracuse, NY, on the Shoot the Vows podcast.
