MA/New England Venue Ideas or suggestions?

[Narwhal]

Hi Ladies,

We got engaged Nov 4th. The questions of when, where, how etc have already rolled in. I know with upcoming thanksgiving, we will need more info.

I was hoping you ladies would have some wonderful ideas.

We are both originally from MA, Winchester and Walpole areas. Family is still very much in that area. We would have a few out of state guests, but not enough to move it from MA area. Would be open to Lower NH or RI and CT. Long island would be the farthest considered. We are currently in MD.

Guestlist will be in the 80 people range. That is our first draft. Could be cut to 75ish or expanded to 100 if needed.

Budget- still working out solid numbers, but cheaper is better. Hoping to not spend over $10k and more comfortable in the $7K range.

I don't have that "ive dreamed of since i was a little girl" location. I was hoping for something outdoors or unique. Love to have non religious ceremony and reception in one place, but open to splitting it up. I was thinking water gardens, fish tanks/aquarium, botanical gardens, water/beach, a museum, farm or winery/brewery etc. Something for people to look at and see. We have a strong connection with fish/aquatic so I've looked into Atlantis Marine World on Long Island, NY, Mystic Aquarium in CT. Also at the Botanical Garden in Providence (but is unfortunately more expensive if you are not a RI resident) . I also found the Bradley estate in Canton, MA which could be promising. Not interested in the NEAq. We do have a BU connection, so the BU Castle idea has been floated around too.

Also open to renting a nice cool restaurant with a nice ceremony space but having a hard time thinking of a place to start.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Prana]

Hello and congrats!!

I got married here http://www.branford.uconn.edu/ It would be a perfect venue for around 80 people because it's an old mansion, so it's like having a wedding in someone's house. It's called the branford house, and the location is just gorgeous. It's right on the water. DH and I married in front of the mansion in the field, and there are views of 5 lighthouses from the grounds--one of which is right on the grounds.

Also in that area is the Eolia Mansion http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325196

Both are beautiful waterfront locations in Connecticut for smaller weddings.

Newport Rhode Island has some mansions that do weddings. Also Mystic Aquarium in CT.

The John Edwards Winery in CT is also lovely, but very very expensive.

Tyrone Farm in CT also does weddings, but only so many per year as they don't want to be considered a wedding venue.
http://tyronefarm.com/

And since you have a lot of travelling guests, Lord Thompson Manor in CT does a weekend wedding package, a lot of your guests can stay on the property and you get the whole weekend to lounge around and enjoy the services they offer.
http://www.lordthompsonmanor.com/

Those are mostly all on the Rhode Island/Mass side of CT, so not terribly inconvenient for New England travelers.

There are so many beautiful places around New England, you should have absolutely no problem finding somewhere great! Good luck!!

 

[ruby59]

http://www.newport-discovery-guide.com/newport-ri-wedding.html

As a Rhode Islander, the first thought that came to me was Newport, Rhode Island. Beautiful historic mansions, wonderful beaches, and great places to dine. Also, an excellent nightlife to keep your guests entertained.

 

[Narwhal]

Thanks for the links, Prana and Ruby. They led me to some good options!

I did lots of searching tonight and sent lots of emails. We will see what tomorrow brings for return emails. I'm hoping for something special (like a water garden with koi/goldfish) in the 128 loop range of MA for ease of guests, or the most amazing, perfect location farther away that is worth the travel- like Mystic Aq or Atlantis Marine World.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Tupper Hall at Endicott College is very pretty and on the water. DH and my's first date was to a black tie event there and it was lovely!

 

[Kismet]

We had our reception at the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham. It's not on the water but the house and grounds were lovely. We had exactly 100 people and I think that was pretty much the max.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

When D and I were married (in 2007), the first place we looked at was the Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. We were looking for something homey and not a typical venue. I really loved it, though ultimately we decided MV was a bit too far for our out-of-town guests to travel. Anyway, I still think it's a great option in a great location.

We didn't spend much time at all looking for venues and ended up just renting an estate on the water for our wedding and reception (plus family could stay with us the weekend of the wedding). There was another venue in the town where we rented the estate, though. It's in Cohasset and it's called the Red Lion Inn. It's very cute and rustic (wood ceiling and beams) and I thought it would be a great place to host a reception.

Another option we looked into briefly was renting the grounds at a lighthouse. I seem to remember looking into the Portsmouth Lighthouse, but can't remember if we ever got any information about it.

 

[SB621]

Try the bedford village inn in bedford, NH (about 25 minutes from MA). It is a 5 star inn that is just gorgeous!

 

[ruby59]

http://www.ihweddings.com/

Looks absolutely gorgeous. Got good ratings from "The Knot." 2010 Brides' choice.

 

[Selkie]

I love your username! We also love the ocean and sealife, so were looking for similar venues. Mystic Seaport hosts weddings, and can do both indoor and outdoor venues. http://www.mysticseaport.org/index....e&page_id=5176174E-65B8-D398-71E4158DB4DF905E

Our wedding was on a sailboat in Gloucester, the Thomas E. Lannon: http://schooner.org/tel/wedding.htm. It only holds 45 people, but there are larger charters available in Boston. There's also the Friendship sloop in Salem, which does not sail, but allows you to host aboard the ship dockside: http://www.salemweb.com/frndship/

Newburyport on the North Shore has some amazing venues, including the Custom House Maritime Musem: http://www.mywedding.com/customhouseweddings/index.html

Have fun planning!

 

[zoebartlett]

I've been to the Bedford Village Inn many, many times for weddings, and they always do a great job. It's beautiful, inside and out. We were considering having our wedding there but we ultimately chose the southern Maine coast. Here's the BVI's website: http://www.bedfordvillageinn.com/,, and here's info. on weddings: http://www.bedfordvillageinn.com/new-hampshire-weddings/index.cfm

 

[zoebartlett]

Another great venue is the Exeter Inn, in Exeter, NH. I don't know if it's too far out of the way, but it's in southern NH. Downtown Exeter is a great little area of town, with shops and restaurants, and the Inn is very nice. Here's a link: http://www.theexeterinn.com/index.cfm..

 

[swimmer]

Go Sachems!

What about the commons? A white tent there in the spring, you could even use it cheap right before prom! I kid! Though on that island by the library...

BVI is fabulous, I have been in two weddings there and the wedding planners were great, did so much work, good food, the wedding principals stay the night, a local hotel had vans, it was just perfect for inside or outside in the garden.

The Martha and Mary Chapel is very nice too for your size, it is non-denominational -named after Henry Ford's daughters- and the other ladies have made great suggestions.

Oh, local photog legend is http://www.lexiphotography.com/ and if you are looking for live music these guys bring down the house http://www.swingingjohnsons.com/pages/weddings.htm they are regulars at The Burren.

 

[Narwhal]

Sorry for not being more active. We went up to MA for Thanksgiving and my grandmother died right before the holiday. So that took over the trip a little bit.

But thanks for all the suggestions! I am still looking but more for back ups in case this one place my mom/his mom are checking out this weekend doesn't pan out.

We did get a chance to look at the Bradley Estate in Canton http://www.thetrustees.org/bradley-estate-functions/. It was a beautiful location that we never knew about. The garden and outdoor areas were just what I imagined from the pictures but also the inside was very broken up like depicted on the map. I rather try to get dancing and all tables in the same room. I loved the idea of sheep and llamas hanging out at cocktail hour!

My mom and his mom are going to check out the most excited about place this weekend. I have high hopes. But don't want to get too excited. I will report more after their inspection They plan on taking a ton of pics.

Keep the suggestions coming though! You guys definitely are coming up with places I haven't come across on my own.

 

[Narwhal]

So the parents looked at http://www.historicnewengland.org/h...tals/codman-estate-gardens-and-carriage-house today and liked it enough that we have a hold on a date and the contract in the mail next week to look over. So nothing official, but could be official.

The price is great and I love the fish/ lily pond. Just so nervous actually making the decision. I was hoping for a better plan b for rain than in the tent or carriage house. But anything that fits the bill is much farther away and more expensive. Such as http://www.towerhillbg.org/thwebwed.html.So we need to just hope for great weather Sept 1 2012.

I have been stalking other brides wedding blogs and love them all. And we get to bring our own alcohol, which the FI is happy about as he is a homebrewer.

There are only two single bathrooms in the carriage house. The moms worried that might not be enough for 80-100 people. How do you ladies feel? And no A/C, only fans. But hoping evening in Sept, it will be nice but not too cold, not too hot.

Thoughts, concerns, anything over looked, other better options?

Thanks!

 

[ruby59]

Just some thoughts - No air conditioning for a September 1st wedding. That would make me a little nervous. We are experiencing one of the warmest falls and winters here in southeastern New England. Fine if you are in a summer dress or short. Would you and your guests be comfortable in formal attire if you hit a particularly warm or humid evening?

Also 2 bathrooms for 100 people imo is not nearly enough. You do not want your guests standing in line waiting to use the rest room.

But the place itself is beautiful.

 

[DearBuddha]

I'm from Newburyport, MA, and when my husband and I got married (200, we looked at a lot of venues in the area.

This was one of my earlier choices:
http://www.harborsidecatering.com/content/phoenix.html

I also loved the idea of the Peabody Essex museum:
http://www.pem.org/visit/event_rentals

Brooksby Farm, in the Smith barn, is a gorgeous venue:
http://www.peabodyhistorical.org/wedding_facilities.asp

My BIL and his fiancé are getting married here in August:
http://fostersclambake.com/Special-Event-Clambakes/wedding-photo-gallery.html

My friend just got married here:
http://www.zorvino.com/

Hope this helps! Congrats on your engagement and best wishes in your wedding planning!