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I found The Knot magazine helpful because they listed venues according to towns in the back. Where in the Boston area are you looking specifically? North shore, South Shore, Metro west?
Good question - we haven't even figured it out yet, but location will likely be determined more by venue than the other way around.
I loved Sapphire Estates in Sharon (it was too small for us in the end) but it has a unique look to it- not cookie cutter at all
If you want something right in the city .. maybe The Catle @ BU?
I just picked my venue after 2 months of searching. I basically took down just about any place I saw and made a giant spreadsheet and then started x-ing them off based on some starting criteria - I used price. Make sure you take notes though or you'll find yourself revisting sites over and over again cause you forget why it got crossed off in the first place! g'luck!
Hi there! I'm also doing my search now for a venue in MA! I want something that will accomodate a smaller/more intimate wedding and has a lovely outdoor landscape...so far I LOVE the Codman Estate in Lincoln, MA and they are very friendly/helpful and the place is lovely both indoors and out :)
Some that might fit what you're looking for - the Hampshire House across from the Common, the Henderson House in Weston, the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, maybe the Harvard Club but I don't really know much about it. Check with the local colleges because they often have beautiful spaces for a bargain (comparitavely). Good luck and congratulations!
There are so, so many venue options in the Boston area- I felt completely overwhelmed too!
Start with a small list of priorities like, approx. size of wedding, if you want an outdoor area, do you want a view from the windows...
I just started emailing and calling places and made a big spreadsheet to keep track- the biggest thing to ask is about minimum requirements and what is/is not included. For example, if you have to think about chair/table/linen/place setting rentals, etc.
Do they have an on-site coordinator? Do you want buffet/plated dinner? Bar situation? Do you want a seperate space for cocktail hour? Do you want to have the ceremony on-site? What time of year are looking to get married in?
Take some time to enjoy being engaged and have fun looking!
Congrats on the engagement!!!
I went to a GORGEOUS wedding at the Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, and also have heard great things about the Red Lion Inn in Cohasset. I have also heard great things about the Salem Cross Inn, which is in the Worcester area....
Sorry so long -- more thoughts!
One thing I am learning slowly: ask for help from those you trust, but give them specific tasks to make it easier for everyone. We're doing this with our own money, with hands-off families, which at first I was so relieved about. But being completely alone and planning is terrible after awhile, and I finally broke down and asked my girlfriends, SIL, & mom to help. I added them to my googledocs, so they could see what I see, and can help me look for venues. This requires a backbone if other's get too helpful, but usually this is because they are enthusiastic and excited too, so just mediate and stand firm and stay friends. :)
I have a huge list of venues, most to all non-trad, which I can send you if you message me. Once we pick and secure our own, I will publish it to this board too. But one place I did like, close to the city, flexible with catering, nice indoor/outdoor, pricing good, etc, was the Griffin Photography Mueseum in Winchester (just north of Arlington/Medford). Their site fees are some of the most reasonable I've found, especially being so close to the city. And it is BEAUTIFUL!
http://www.griffinmuseum.org/private_parties.htm
If your guest list is really small -- around 40 or so -- there are a number of really nice and interesting restaraunts around Boston/Cambridge who can work with you, and many have private function rooms and great decor. Good luck!
I'm also going through this, just over a month in, and fight being overhwelmed every few days. :) It doesn't help that my FI was called out of state for work 2 weeks after we got engaged -- so I've been essentially on my own. Not fun.
The FIRST thing I would do, that I have found most useful, is to get a wedding-only email account. You will be spammed from now until forvever, so best be spammed in an account solely for wedding stuff, that you can see or avoid as needed. Make sure both you & your FI have access to it -- this wil cut down on confusion.
I got a gmail, and am so happy I did -- with him out of town, and busy MoH/family, I can do all my planning in GoogleDocs online. He can see and edit the same docs from out of state, we can set sharing privledges for loved ones to view/edit as we see fit, and no worries about what computer you are on. Its better than a binder!
Venues: Sit and write a list of what you want, and prioritize it (must have vs. wish), and do this with your FI, comparing notes. Then do the same for your guest list (Must invite, B group, C group). Pick 2-3 top items you are willing to spend more $ on (food, dress, photography, etc.), and how much (it helps to narrow down what is most important!). Then finalize the rest of your budget after these. With all of this information at hand, it will be easier for you to pick a venue & vendors, since you can dismiss things faster.
Things I'm learning to my dismay: Rustic & quirky & DIY do not always equal less expensive! :( We want offbeat, relaxed, casual too, but there are so many options. Being flexible is key, as long as you know your guest list/budget/top priorities. Every venue has their own rules, capacity & minimums.
I don't like The Knot -- they spam me daily, usually with just stuff to sell. I like this site & also http://www.offbeatbrides.com You can get lots of ideas from offbeat brides. Another great site with venue searches you may like is http://www.intimateweddings.com/
When I get overwhelmed, I stick to site that focus on simplicity, like http://www.nodramabrides.com/ & Real Simpe Weddings: http://browse.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/weddings/index.html I highly recommend Real Simple Weddings from the magazine rack -- the ONLY one I found worth spending the money on! No major advertizing, just clean design, calming checklists and helpful tips.
When all else fails, I go look at this guy. He makes my day!
http://offbeatbride.com/2010/06/wedding-card-box-nom-monster
I need a place in New Hampshire or north of Boston near a river or lake. Inside reception. I just moved to the area and this is just crazy! I want to be able to bring my own drinks/beer. Cater myself. (subway sandwitches) Simple and Beautiful.
I asked around a lot and then researched those places on the Internet! I worked retail when we got engaged, so I was constantly meeting new people every day who had some great insight. We found out about our venue from one of my regular customers who had been to a wedding there. It's a very vintage renovated barn that is absolutely beautiful, but I probably wouldn't have thought of it without advice from locals! :)
Our Budget is 4,000! Gibbett Hill is outrageously beautiful, but totally out of budget!
The Hoosic Club in Milton is a really great option. My Sister had her wedding there and it's a pretty blank slate, so you can decorate however you like and use any colro since the walls are neutral and the floors are hardwood.
You guys are all SO awesome - we were hiking in the White Mountains this weekend so I think this week we're going to get on starting to make decisions. I'm going to go back and enter ALL of your suggestions in a spreadsheet once I get some time today. I really, really appreciate it. I'll be back with more questions, I promise :-D
Thanks!!!!
@eimaj111683: You seem to want something scenic (lake or river location), so my suggestions might not be popular with you. But have you tried a VFW or Elks? That might be the best solution on your budget. What is your guest list size?
Update!
Now it looks like we are trying to find something on the ocean, outdoor ceremony site optional, for about 100 people. I've made a list of north shore venues like Oceanview Inn in Gloucester and Emerson Inn in Rockport. Any other suggestions are welcome :)
(I was wowed by the Crane Estate til I saw they charge $8000 for site rental!! holy moly!)
Thanks Bees!
If you are looking at Gloucester, look at the Elks Club up there. I am well aware of the stigma that Elks clubs have of being a little shabby and have animal heads everywhere. That is what I'm used to as well. The Elks club in Gloucester is amazing. Great view and inside is VERY NICE.
Also, I know someone suggested looking at colleges in the area. We are getting married at Regis College in Westin. Ceremony and Reception will be on campus. The prices ares ver reasonable for the area the the campus is absolutely beautiful. Best of luck
regiswedding.jpg (37.1 KB, 33 downloads) 1 year old 
I second the Gibbet Hill suggestion. We were married there and it's gorgeous and the food is TO.DIE.FOR. We had a church wedding so we didn't have our ceremony there but they have two options for outdoors ceremonies. You can either do it in the lawn (I've been to a wedding there where they did this and it was lovely) or you can do it up at an old stone structure they have on top of a hill on the property.
Misselwood in Beverly is Gorgeous,but also like 8500 just for the venue
I can't help much with ocean venues in MA (we focused on Maine, where I'm from), but I can suggest the Stage Neck Inn in York. It's just over the border in ME and is a beautiful location surrounded by water. The Meeting House is also in York, but the location isn't as nice. I have lots more, but they go further up the coast. I'm happy to share if you are interested.
@MissBoston: Do you want to keep it on the North Shore? There are many ocean view options on the Cape or even RI if want to go further south.
One of my fav's is willowdale estate in topsfield!
good luck!
Andy Sussman, Managing Director, TSG Weddings, Boston Wedding DJs & Lighting http://www.tsgweddings.com
Wow, thanks Bees! Sorry- WB never notified me people were replying so I just came on here now to check. We're going to check out some venues next weekend so I'll add these to the list. I don't think we want to head all the way to the cape, it'll be further and harder for OOT people to get to who fly into Logan. RI might be an option. We like the idea of Gloucester because there's fun stuff for people to do before and after the wedding (whale watches, etc), good restaurants, amenities, etc so it'll be comfortable for OOT guests (I am guessing about 80% of our list will be flying in).
Thanks everyone!
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Hi Boston bees!
I'm newly engaged and just making my way around to figure out where to start - I find weddingwire.com list of venues to be TOTALLY overwhelming!! We don't want a bit country club/hotel but rather something a bit smaller and off the beaten path. Where did you go to start doing research?
Thanks!