After celebrating your engagement, it’s time to get planning. Finding a venue will help with so many other decisions, but to make the right choice, you’ll want to know the best wedding venues in Massachusetts. Luckily, you have a lot of choices throughout the state, whether you need a small wedding venue, a rustic option or something over-the-top.
We’ve gathered some of the best wedding venues in Massachusetts to help you plan your big day. In this guide, you’ll find suggestions for venues in various regions and cities to locate the perfect venue in the perfect place, so you can check one thing off your wedding to-do list.
Best Wedding Venues in Boston
Your options for Boston wedding venues are some of the best in the state. To have a stunning city wedding, consider the following options:
1. Hampshire House
Hampshire House is among one of the most charming Boston wedding venues. It features touches of class, from marble fireplaces and dark wood paneling to bookshelves and high ceilings. This location is also one of the smaller wedding venues in Massachusetts, hosting up to 130 guests for an intimate wedding. Customize your celebration with Hampshire House’s wide array of wedding package options to personalize your special day.
2. Museum of Science
Maybe science and education are important to you and your partner, or maybe you shared your first date at the museum. No matter your connection to this location, the Museum of Science in Boston makes an excellent choice for your wedding day.
The Museum of Science offers an array of indoor and outdoor wedding venues in Massachusetts, all at their riverfront location. In their wedding package, they offer:
- Tables and chairs
- Setup and breakdown of seating
- On-site parking
- Tickets to the museum for the weekend of your reception
You’ll even get to work with an on-site event manager to help make sure your wedding day runs smoothly. Reception spaces can hold anywhere between 100 to 250 guests — perfect, whether you have a smaller wedding or something grand.
3. New England Aquarium
Looking for another interactive venue on the waterfront? The New England Aquarium houses a variety of event venues, with some among the aquatic exhibits to make for a unique reception. Select the West Wing Gallery, complete with touch tanks for guests to visit, if you’re looking for small wedding venues in Massachusetts. If you need something larger, the Main Exhibit Gallery can seat 375 guests and features a large ocean exhibit tank as its centerpiece.
The New England Aquarium also has more traditional venues, some right on the harborfront, that can seat an array of guests. With a location in the heart of downtown, your guests have easy access to hotels in the area, perfect for family and friends visiting from far away.
Salem, Massachusetts Wedding Venues
Historic Salem is the perfect location for anything from charming and rustic weddings to elegant evenings of celebration. Consider some of these wedding venues in Salem as you plan your perfect reception or ceremony:
1. The House of the Seven Gables
If you’re searching for rustic wedding venues, look for something on the historical side with the House of the Seven Gables. The mansion was built in the mid-1600s along the shore, giving your wedding amazing seaside views in a charming location.
The site offers parking and flexible catering options among their selection of on-site venues. Host an intimate celebration in the Hooper-Hathaway House, which seats about 30 guests, or something grander on the Seaside Lawn, which can seat 200 and includes a dance floor for a fun celebration.
2. The Peabody Essex Museum
If you liked the idea of museum venues, but aren’t planning your wedding in the city, you’re in luck. Salem is home to the Peabody Essex Museum, which features the stunning Atrium venue. This breathtaking event space features a high glass ceiling that gives the room unmatched elegance. The Atrium can fit 300 seated guests or 270 with space for dancing.
The Peabody Essex Museum also features other event spaces, such as the Garden Atrium with an outdoor garden area and seating for about 50 guests. The East India Marine Hall has a traditional feel as a ballroom that seats 150 guests or 120 with room for dancing.
3. Colonial Hall at Rockafellas
Host the reception of your special day in the elegant ballroom at Colonial Hall at Rockafellas. With vaulted ceilings, amazing architecture and a grand chandelier, this event space has everything to make your reception a sophisticated event.
Make your entrance as a married couple down the grand staircase that leads to the middle of the room. Then you and your guests can enjoy the customized menu that Colonial Hall at Rockafellas has created for you. Host anything from a small wedding to a grand event at this Essex Street location.
Other Wedding Venues in North Shore, Massachusetts
Other than Salem, you’ll find stunning wedding venues throughout North Shore, Massachusetts. From Essex to Gloucester and more, these locations have plenty to offer couples planning a wedding. Consider some of these wedding venues in North Shore:
1. Hammond Castle Museum
In need of some more rustic wedding venues to consider? The Hammond Castle Museum is a European castle built along the shore in the late 1920s. Located in Gloucester, this wedding venue in North Shore can host up to 120 guests for your ceremony and reception. Choose between an indoor or outdoor ceremony and reception to make your special day everything you want.
2. Glen Magna Farms
Among the outdoor wedding venues in Massachusetts is Glen Magna Farms. These historical gardens in North Shore surround a mansion that dates back to the 1800s. Surround yourself and your guests with historical architecture and landscaped gardens at this venue in Danvers, Massachusetts.
The site offers a seasonal tent that seats 200 guests around a variety of tables for your reception. With your rental, you get access to the grounds, which feature a lovely garden for photo opportunities, and various rooms indoors for more pictures and getting ready before the ceremony.
If your ceremony is within the allotted rental time, you won’t need to pay extra fees. Glen Magna Farms includes tables and chairs with rental fees and offers catering and bar services to make your reception perfect.
3. The Essex Room
The sophisticated yet casual venues at the Essex Room are perfect for couples looking for something subtle but still beautiful for their wedding day. Located in Essex, this venue features various spaces to help you create your perfect ceremony or reception.
Choose the Salt Marsh Tent for a rustic wedding venue in the outdoors or take your ceremony to the lawn for another outdoor celebration option. The Essex Room space can host up to 250 guests and features customizable catering options by the location’s award-winning chef.
Wedding Venues in Plymouth, Massachusetts
This historical and coastal town offers a lot for couples with a rustic wedding in mind, but you’ll find plenty more in this town, as well. Consider these wedding venues in Plymouth, Massachusetts:
1. 1620 Winery & Wine Bar
The historic Winery at Cordage Park has the rustic feel of barn wedding venues in Massachusetts with a unique twist. The historic brickwork and high ceilings create an elegant yet rustic backdrop for your wedding ceremony and reception. With an events coordinator and professional mixologists, the team at 1620 Winery & Wine Bar is ready to make your special day a reality.
1620 Winery & Wine Bar is the perfect choice for a couple who wants to celebrate their special day with amazing wines and a wonderful atmosphere. The Winery at Cordage Park can host up to 200 guests in its stunning rustic venue. Find this location not far from Cape Cod Bay.
2. Plimoth Plantation
For more outdoor wedding venues in Massachusetts, consider Hornblower Garden at Plimoth Plantation. The charming outdoor space makes a beautiful backdrop for your wedding day, and your guests will love the natural, rustic feel. After the ceremony, take the celebration to one of these event spaces at Plimoth Plantation:
- Gainsborough Hall
- The Peabody Pavilion
- The Accomack Room
Enjoy catering that you select from one of three wedding packages, which include a three or four-course meal or a less traditional station reception.
3. White Cliffs Country Club
Couples with a variety of tastes will find something perfect at White Cliffs Country Club that sits at the top of a 175-foot cliff and overlooks the water. Have an intimate reception in the Bay Dining Room, which hosts up to 80 guests and features wonderful views of Cape Cod Bay, or consider the other event spaces.
If you have more guests, consider a garden tent reception between May to October that gets you even closer to the outdoors and amazing views of the bay. The double-peaked tent is perfect for an outdoor reception that welcomes 200 guests.
White Cliffs Country Club also offers an indoor reception space that fits 200 guests. Complete with a bar and cozy fireplace, the Cliff Room features walls of windows to make your friends and family feel like they’re outside enjoying the view. This space is great for weddings from November through April, so plan accordingly if you’d like to celebrate in this chic space.
Other Wedding Venues in South Shore, Massachusetts
Head outside of Plymouth to find even more wedding venues in South Shore, Massachusetts. Intimate and historical event spaces are located throughout this region, so consider:
1. The Red Lion Inn
This location is an excellent choice for couples looking for barn wedding venues in Massachusetts. The Red Lion Inn, which has been around since the early 1700s, gives a historical touch to Cohasset Village. Get the charm of a coastal village with the vintage elegance of a rustic barn venue.
The natural wood floors and beams of the barn space contrast beautifully with the elegant chandeliers that give the venue a soft glow. Guests can head up the stairs to a balcony area for a view of the celebration below. The Red Lion Inn also offers other venue spaces like the Salon, a charming spot for an intimate reception, and private rooms to celebrate with your wedding party or close friends and family before your big day.
2. Historic Winslow House
Another charming barn wedding venue, the Historic Winslow House also offers some versatility. Choose from a tree-lined meadow or New England farmhouse to create your perfect day. Winslow House is located in Marshfield, not far from the coast, giving you opportunities to take photos by the water or explore the property to find the perfect spot.
Winslow House was built in 1699, making it a lovely venue for couples fascinated with history or simply looking for a charming location for their special day. The site has a bar area attached to the reception space to serve your guests as they celebrate. While Winslow House doesn’t offer catering, they do have a kitchen where your caterers can store prepared food to keep it warm or cold before your reception.
3. The Winsor House Inn
Couples looking for small wedding venues in Massachusetts may enjoy the offerings at the Winsor House Inn. The charming setting has everything from cozy private dining options to spaces that combine the indoors and outdoors. Consider one of these for your small wedding:
- The Carriage House and patio seat between 25 to 50 guests.
- The Salt Meadow Room seats 16 for a smaller event or celebration.
- The Bluefish Room seats up to 25 guests or acts as additional seating with the Main Dining Room.
- The Main Dining Room seats up to 80 guests for larger but still intimate receptions.
These rooms offer a rustic style and a traditional feel that make for a classic and charming wedding reception.
Wedding Venues in Western Massachusetts
If you’re saying “I do” away from the shore, consider the wedding venues in Western Massachusetts. From rustic barns to traditional ballrooms, you’ll find these and more with these Western Massachusetts wedding venues:
1. Gedney Farm
Located in New Marlborough, Gedney Farm is home to a renovated barn, perfect for events. The Event Barn has three floors that are all open to each other. On the first floor, sliding glass doors open the venue into the garden to combine an outdoor wedding venue with the cozy, rustic indoors. Gedney Farm can host 250 event guests with room for a band and dancing.
Gedney Farm has thought of just about everything for your special day. Hold the ceremony outside or stay cozy in the barn, which has both air conditioning and heating, so you can celebrate any time of year. Your guests can even stay in the 16 guest rooms and suites in the Lodging Barn across the courtyard from the event venue.
2. Inn at Boltwood
The Inn at Boltwood in Amherst offers classic event spaces indoors and outside. The Dickinson Ballroom is their largest space, but it can be divided into two areas perfect for smaller weddings. Enjoy the view of Amherst College, along with plenty of natural light and brass chandeliers that make the room more elegant.
For an outdoor wedding, overlook the Frost Gardens in the Inn at Boltwood’s Garden Tent. Brick flooring and elegant chandeliers bring the elegant touches of the indoors outside for wedding receptions between April and October.
The Rooftop Terrace also provides a wonderful space for a ceremony or cocktail hour, complete with sweeping views and a cozy fireplace. Right next to the terrace is the Greenhouse Room with large windows and a skylight. The Greenhouse Room is also attached to the Wine Room with even more cozy ambiance for your guests.
3. Hotel Northampton
This final venue in Northampton feels like the quintessential wedding venue. High ceilings and arched windows help give the Grand Ballroom its name, while the Junior Ballroom is just as elegant but suited for a smaller reception of 80 guests or your ceremony.
Hotel Northampton offers catering packages and luxurious accommodations for guests traveling from out of town to this Western Massachusetts wedding venue. Your guests can explore boutiques and shops in the area during their stay, thanks to Hotel Northampton’s convenient location.
Find Your Wedding Dress at Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique
Now that you have ideas for wedding venues in Massachusetts, don’t forget to cross a stunning wedding dress off your list. At Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique, we have the largest collection of designer wedding dresses in New England, including gowns by Stella York, Essense of Australia and more. We also offer plus size gowns by Allure Bridal and other designers, so you’re sure to find the perfect dress in your size.
Make your appointment today to find your dream dress at Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique, and enjoy our dedication to an exciting experience as you discover the perfect dress.