Nicole Samolis

Creating Memories, One Event at a Time

Explore Event Trends, Tips & Venue Inspiration by Topic

Guests raising glasses in toast at wedding reception.

Finding Your Perfect Match: How to Choose the Best Wedding Venue

Emily & Jason’s Wedding at SKY Armory. Photo by: Janelle Rodriguez PhotographyPlanning your wedding is an exciting journey, and selecting the right venue helps set the tone for your special day. When looking for an Upstate New York wedding venue, there are certainly lots of choices. But in order to find the right match, it’s a good idea to have a picture in mind of what the best wedding venue looks like to you.Before the Venue SearchBefore diving into the search for the perfect wedding venue, y

read more...
Large Irish flag carried by parade participants during Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Best Places to Watch the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, Syracuse gears up for one of its most celebrated traditions – the 42nd annual Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day parade. With a rich history dating back decades, this vibrant event brings together locals and visitors alike to celebrate Irish culture and community spirit. The parade showcases colorful floats, marching bands, Irish dancers, and community groups, all coming together to honor Irish heritage and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.If you’re looking for the prime spot

read more...
Business professionals having a meeting in a modern office space with large windows.

Ideas for Promoting Employee Engagement

Over the past few years, having a remote workforce has become more and more common. Working from home is great because it can save time and money for both the company and its employees. But one of the challenges that comes with a remote workforce can be keeping employees engaged.Company culture is a big part of any workplace. A good company culture of engagement helps to reduce turnover and burnout. Also, employees that are actively engaged with the company are employees that are your company’s

read more...
Decorated event table with floral centerpiece and candles at SKY Armory.

A SKY Wedding Tasting: Making the wedding planning process stress-free, yet exciting!

Mock Table from SKY Tasting on 1.21.24There’s a reason why more couples choose SKY. And it’s not just because we’re a conveniently located wedding venue in Downtown Syracuse or because we have amazing food. It’s because of how simple we make the wedding planning process.SKY Armory is an all-inclusive wedding venue in Syracuse, NY. This means that we have an entire team at your service from the moment you book your wedding, up until the big day. We’re able to do this because we have a wedding pla

read more...
Bride and groom sharing a dance at SKY Armory wedding reception.

Why More Couples Choose SKY Armory: Your Venue, Your Way

Photo Credit: Emily Arleene Photography Your wedding day is one of the most magical and special days of your life. It’s a day to celebrate you and your partner’s commitment to each other, with all of your closest family and friends alongside you. But from the day you get engaged to the day you both walk down the aisle, there’s a lot of thought and planning that goes into making your wedding as perfect as it can be. The first question you’ll ask is simple: “What kind of wedding do we want?”Once y

read more...
Two women enjoying drinks at Sky Armory event with a bartender in the background.

Creative Ideas for Your Corporate Holiday Party

6 ideas from Sky Armory to help you get started planning your 2023 or 2024 corporate holiday party…Photo From a Sky Armory Party Corporate holiday parties are an excellent way to show appreciation for your hardworking employees. Throwing a holiday party for employees allows teams to bond and helps leaders promote company culture in a positive way. And let’s not forget to add that these parties are a fun way to kick-back and celebrate everyone’s hard work throughout the year. But when it comes

read more...
Wedding party walking outdoors in stylish attire at SKY Armory.

Wedding Trends for 2024

Here’s what wedding trends our team at Sky Armory, a wedding venue in Syracuse, expect to see in 2024. From champagne towers to exciting colors, you’re going to want to check out these 2024 wedding trends.

read more...
Two men cutting a wedding cake at SKY Armory with brick wall background.

Micro Weddings at SKY Armory

Micro Weddings and Pop-up Weddings have been gaining ground as couples want to start their married lives without the pressures and expense of planning a wedding for 150+ guests. The appeal of the micro wedding or minimony may grow with the impact that the Covid Pandemic is creating in the wedding and event industry. We’ve seen our couples grapple with the emotions of moving their date due to the shutdown. We’ve seen our couples struggle with the decision to hang on to their date and hope that a

read more...
Couple kissing at wedding with sparklers and guests in background.

SKY Armory Reopen REMIX

We are excited that Central New York is officially in Phase 2. We look forward to getting haircuts and having more people back in downtown Syracuse. I have not had a haircut since the end of February, somehow other members of our management team have had better luck. The metrics used to determine how fast Central New York can open are very encouraging. Our Reopen Plan was received with much interest from the press and other venues but failed to persuade the Central New York Regional Control Room

read more...
Couple dancing at SKY Armory reopening celebration with guests and string lights.

Reopening SKY Armory

We have been in the news recently talking about our reopen plans which may have confused some people. How can you put 150 people in a ballroom for hours and maintain social distancing? This is a great question and the answer starts with our clients. Imagine you are getting married later this year. Now imagine you were a “June Bride” who moved to August and now second-guessing again. It creates anxiety and stress. You want grandma to see you walk down the aisle (not just because you’re her fav),

read more...
Dessert with caramelized pineapple and cream in a white bowl.

Magnificent Meals: Pop-Up Dinner at SKY Armory

At the end of nearly every wedding SKY Armory hosts, we hear the same question: "Where can I get more of that food?" This is because at SKY Armory, we pride ourselves on producing fresh, well-crafted, farm-to-table meals that leave our guests happy but always wanting just a taste more. And since, for most people, weddings aren’t an every day occasion, we came up with a solution to satisfy that desire: Pop-Up Dining. Pop-Up Dining is a monthly special event where the SKY Armory culinary

read more...
Group of bridesmaids in different pastel dresses holding bouquets at wedding.

How to Rock the Mismatched Bridesmaid Look

So you want to spice the look of your bridal party up a bit, but don’t exactly know how. If you haven’t already thought of mismatched dresses yet, you might want to! Not only will it add a bit of depth and dimension to your photos, but your bridesmaids will thank you for letting them choose a dress that works well with their body type. Having an array of dresses allows the people closest to you to feel comfortable as they stand by your side on one of the most important days of your life. "But ho

read more...
Beautiful floral wedding bouquet with roses, anemones, and greenery.

Favorite Summer Wedding Ideas from the SKY Team

We’re in the heart of summer wedding season here at SKY, and we’ve seen some great ideas come through our doors already. Our brides have brought with them some incredible visions of their own, and as a team we like to stay up-to-date with industry trends so we can provide creative input of our own for those couples who might need a little more inspiration. We’ve put our heads together to compile a list of all of our favorite summer style trends this far.Lindsey Totland – Floral DesignerTrend: Us

read more...
Hand holding a blueberry cocktail outside SKY Armory building in downtown.

Red, White & Blueberry – A Festive Summer Drink Inspired by the Holiday

The 4th of July has come and gone, but we have a surefire way to keep the celebration going all July-long. What better way to kick back with family and friends than with a drink in hand. If you’re looking for something fun, festive and new to try out this year, give our "Red, White & Blueberry," a sip! Specially created by SKY Bar Manager, Brian. Ingredients:1 1/2 oz. Real McCoy white rum4 oz Sprite2 blueberry ice cubes1 watermelon ice cubeTo make blueberry ice cubes:- In a saucepan, combine 1

read more...
WISE Symposium 2019 event banner with date and location details.

What to Expect at the 17th Annual WISE Symposium

Each year, the WISE Symposium provides a setting of inspiration for Central New York’s leading female entrepreneurs, creators and innovators. The day offers a chance to learn from women who actively shape a life they love, network and form lasting connections. This year’s conference will host a diverse crowd, from start-ups, to women business leaders, and leaders-in-development. We spoke with Anna Hartwell, one of the 2018 “Women of WISE,” to get her take on entrepreneurship and the value of t

read more...
Decorative dessert table with personalized signs and treats for a party.

Late-Night Snacks: Why + What You Should Offer

On wedding days, a few things almost always hold true. Emotions are running high, someone will cry, and guests come prepared to party. Even with the most delicious meal, after a night full of dancing (and in most cases, drinking), your guests are going to get hungry again toward the end of the night. Some couples opt to host an after-party with treats, but a great way to keep everyone satisfied at the reception is with a late-night snack!Some popular options might include: SWEET- S’mores Bar:

read more...
Colorful Shamrock Juice cocktail with lemon and cherry garnish.

Shamrock Juice

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party is just around the corner – Saturday March 16! This year’s most sought after concoction- Shamrock Juice. Make it at home to prepare yourselves (and get excited) for our Parade Party!!

read more...
Romantic wedding couple at sunset in downtown Syracuse with city skyline.

Your Guide to Photo Locations in Downtown Syracuse

When you choose to get married in downtown Syracuse, awesome photo locations are often overlooked. We wouldn’t want anybody to miss out on the beautiful scenery that Syracuse has to offer – summer and winter, so here is your guide to getting the best wedding photos in downtown Syracuse and surrounding areas! 1. Clinton Street Parking Garage Roof Top- Conveniently located in Armory Square, the Clinton Street Parking Garage has proven to be a treasure to us time and time again. Whether there is a

read more...

Contact Us For More Information

Plan Your Event at SKY Armory

Complete the form below to connect with the SKY Armory team.  CLICK HERE to schedule a personalized tour.

"*" indicates required fields