Choosing a venue

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Knowing that the venue will set the stage for our wedding day and account for roughly half of our budget, this was both the most important and difficult choice in the planning process.  Fortunately, we knew what we wanted and were able to find the perfect location for our big day.

We wanted a venue that:
Is budget friendly
Has ocean views or a foliage landscape for pictures
Serves delicious food
Is a barn, historic site, restaurant or museum
Has close (or on-site) accommodations for out of town guests
Can accommodate both the ceremony and reception
Has indoor and outdoor options
Is rustic, elegant, intimate and classy with a New England feel

We did not want:
An overwhelmingly large ballroom
A tented reception
A venue with high food and beverage minimums
A hotel or golf course wedding

Here is where we looked:

The Great House on Castle Hill

This was where Jake proposed, so of course we had to look into getting married there.  The Great House is a mansion on top of a hill overlooking Crane Beach and Crane Wildlife Refuge.

Pros:
Breathtaking landscaping
Sentimental significance

Cons:
The flow of the indoor layout was not ideal
Way over our budget

Ocean View Inn and Resort

The Ocean View Inn and Resort’s Manor restaurant is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean and features a cozy fireplace and whimsical billiard room.

Pros:
The ceremony is held right on the ocean in good weather and the views are spectacular
On-site accommodations for guests
Their chef is Le Cordon Bleu trained, so the food is sure to be good

Cons:
There are a lot of concerning reviews from other brides complaining of poor service and rooms in unacceptable condition

The Steven’s Estate

The Steven’s Estate was built in 1886 and features oak and mahogany paneling, leaded stained glass windows and marble fireplaces.

Pros:
The seasonal décor was beautiful, so additional decorating wouldn’t be necessary

Cons:
The room where we would have the reception was added on more recently and had an industrial feel compared to the historic appeal of the rest of the house
Catering is not included

The Villa

The Villa at Ridder Country Club is the newest venue owned by the Sapphire Event Group with two ballrooms that are both rustic and modern.

Pros:
The Madera Ballroom is exactly what I had in mind
There is no room rental fee

Cons:
The food and beverage minimums are high
Remote location

Salon du Mistral

One of Boston’s top rated French restaurants has a private event space with a capacity up to 60 guests for dinner

Pros:
The food is delicious and all the tables, chairs, linens, etc. are included
Mistral is located in Boston’s Back Bay, so we would not have to travel far and there are plenty of hotels close by

Cons:
There would be no room for a dance floor with 60-75 guests
We could not have the ceremony on-site

And the winner is…

The Hampshire House

Located in the heart of Beacon Hill, the Hampshire House is an historic mansion designed and built in 1910.  Both our ceremony and reception will be held in the Library, with magnificent views of Boston’s Public Garden, floor to ceiling bookshelves and a marble fireplace as the backdrop.

Jake and I attended a Valentine’s Day dinner dance at this venue, so we know that the service and food are both incredible.  All of my emails have been returned promptly, and we negotiated a great deal on the price.  I am so excited to have found a gorgeous historic venue in Boston where I can celebrate my wedding on a Saturday in the Fall, one week after the anniversary of when Jake and I started dating!

A wedding blog is born…

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It’s official, Jackie and I are getting married on November 10, 2012. While we go through the process of planning we’ll try to keep this site updated as much as possible.

As of today we’ve settled the venue and we’re getting married on November 10, 2012 at the Hampshire House, on the edge of Boston’s beautiful Public Gardens.