just started planning- venue suggestions?

bdutra

Hi Everyone!

My fiance and I just started planning. We're hoping that some of you might be able to give us suggestions for venues in the Boston/Metro West area. If the venue requires outside catering, perhaps you could also suggest a caterer you've had a good experience with. :-)

We're trying to keep to a budget of $10K-12K for everything. We'd like to have a late afternoon ceremony in the end of May. If we can do it with our budget, we'd love to find a place with some nice outdoor space where people can hang out between the ceremony and dinner- perhaps have some lawn games to play (croquet, frisbee, etc). Then, we want a casual dinner and dancing in the evening. Approximately 80 people.

I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks!

junelley

Congratulations and welcome to the board! How many guests are you planning to invite?

EKobrenski

How many guest approx?  And how far out of Boston is ok for you?

soxgal12

You might try the Cambridge Marriott.  They have a great rooftop patio full of trees and flowers and even a gazebo if you wanted to have the ceremony there.  The prices are reasonable too for a Boston area hotel.  FI and I would have booked there, but they had a 150 person max for the roof deck, and we are expecting to have around 175-180, so we weren't going to be able to use it.  The coordinator there was extremely nice as well!!!  Good luck!

jkepros

No experience there, but I love the Larz Anderson Auto Museum & park for an unusual and beautiful wedding site.  The park is gorgeous: community gardens, pond with gazebo & bridge, private lawn space, and adjacent playground/baseball diamond.  You can do tents outside & work with a caterer or have it in the auto museum (a gorgeous 2 story converted carriage house with cars dating back to the 1880s).  It's in Brookline near the Fens/Route 9 area.  If you google it you can find more information.  I think you can reserve the park space through the Parks & Rec department and the museum directly through them.

Good luck and keep us updated with where you choose

abilifyme

Just remembering my sister's planning days, $10-$15K might be really tough in Boston or Cambridge.  If you are open to the metro west area, there is the Mass Horticultural place in Wellesley.  That came to mind first because they have outdoor ceremony option and guests can chill outside before going indoors for dinner.  My friend had her wedding there a couple of summers ago and everything was in full bloom - gorgeous.  Anyway, GL with your search.  I am all about the outdoors as well and would not want to be trapped in an indoor ballroom all day. ;o)

bdutra

To answer some questions, I updated my original post to say about 80 guests, and we're actually in the metro west area.

LoveAdopted

The Holiday Inn in Boxborough is beautiful- nothing like you might picture for a Holiday Inn. They have a really nice courtyard area that has lots of plants and water, and I've heard you feel like you are outside. Also, it is right off 495, so it's easy to get to. About 45 minutes west of Boston.

snoangel79

Hello and congratulations!
We are having our reception at Harrington Farm in Princeton Ma, you  can have a ceremony there too. Beautiful venue!!! right on top of Mt Wachusett.

Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston is gorgeous not sure of the fees for that.

Also when I was deciding on a venue I actually looked into this place called Fosters Clambakes it looked really cool and I don't think it's too expensive but their venue is in York, Maine (not sure if that's to far for you).

FYI, Mass Hort (elm bank)  is undergoing financial troubles so it may not be wise to book there.

antimony

Take a look at the Whitmore-Robbins house in Arlington, or the Pierce house in Lincoln?