Wedding at Highfield Hall in Falmouth

Kristin43

My fiance and I are 99% sure we're going to book Highfield Hall for our wedding ceremony and reception at the end of the summer.  Has anyone been married there before?  How did everything go?  Did the flow work out alright with moving from the house to the tent, then back to the house?  Would love to hear some advice and/or feedback about your Highfield experiences!

GardenBryd

Hey! My sister is looking at Highfield Hall as well--probably going with the Vineyard instead. However, I got married at the Lyman Estate and can't tell you how well it worked--and it's the same exact setup (mansion for cocktails, tent for dinner, house for dancing). In my opinion, it is so, so much better than being in one room for an entire evening--people raved about being able to wander around the house for cocktails, the drama of entering a totally separate dinner space, and then being inside for dancing. I think there is nothing I wanted to avoid more than that scene in most wedidngs of having a bunch of abandoned (and messy) tables with non-dancing people sort of awkwarding standing around a dance floor. Those who want to sit and talk have to sit at a huge table and yell over loud music. Those who are dancing feel sort of lost in a big room. Maybe I'm being dramatic, but really, I can't tell you how great the Highfield/Lyman scenario worked out: people who wanted to dance did--and there's something about having a separate and dedicated space for that that really gets the energy going (we kept having to extend--also due to our fantastic band)--for one, people feel less self-conscious-- AND people who don't want to dance can either talk in other rooms, have dessert, wander around, and pop here and there to sit and watch. For both dancers and non-dancers, it really works.

I think a wedding with separate spaces really feels more like a social event and less like a fundraiser or corporate event. Of course, I am surely biased!

GardenBryd

PS-And can I just add that Highfield is GORGEOUS? To me, it blows away other Falmouth options.

GardenBryd

PS-One thing I'd suggest is doing up a menu card--see photo. It helps people know when/where events will occur.
Photo Credit a Brilliant Photo

midgemoto

 Know it very well... It's just beautiful.   There are a few manageable issues, but it is so elegant and special anyway. 

First, the ceremony sites are beautiful ( especially the back porch areas...) but there is no rain plan other than the ballroom and that is pretty tight unless you have fewer than 100 guests.   

    But.. if you are the type book one of the beautiful local churches.   First Congregational is just down the hill and liberal and beautiful... ( or wing it. ) 

Saint Barnabus Episcopal church is this fabulous stone church and was actually built by the same family that built Highfield Hall... the Bebe Family. 

    

    One thing i love about the Hall is it has an amazing kitchen and the whole place smells like home cooking when it gets fired up...So a long savory cocktail hour is  really nice.... one great idea is a signature drink set up on the big front porch to greet guests.  

    The tent sight is no problem at all.. They put down a brick patio this year so it is really quite lovley and nice.   good accoustics, easy access... beautiful light around sunset time.   

    dancing is really fun and they have an amazing piano there...Not so hot for a full band though because it gets a bit loud in the ballroom... a classy dj is a better choice. 

     Janet Totten and the house managers are easy and helpful to work with.   They have  lot of good caterers they work with.   I have tasted Jacquelines ( david Goldberg) and thy were the best.  Also Eat your heart out catering and  the Casual Gourmet are awesome.  ( not so convinced on Chef Roland though.. good, but a bit standard.) 

     

Kristin43

Great comments so far... thank you!  Would love some more inside tips from brides who got married at Highfield!  I'm feeling a bit on the fence... but don't know where else to look at this point.

GardenBryd

The other places that appealed to my sister in Falmouth and area:
-Woods Hole Golf Club (supposed to know a member, but I am pretty sure you can get around that)
-Willowbend

Falmouth Yacht club can be nice for a casual but smaller event--don't know their rules.

I think Highfield really is the best option. If your only hesitation is the split dinner and dancing space, forget it! Seriously, it's an advantage.

I do think it's in not the most beautiful part of Falmouth (why can't there be an amazing space in Woods Hole?) but it doesn't really matter.

midgemoto

Ballyemeade country club is beautiful too. all indoors ... but not as nice s Highfield.

Closest other thing would be Ocean edge in Brewster... but a lot longer travel time for all. 

 

If you do book Highfield you can book most of the family into the Palmer House Inn... which is a big old B and B with seveal outbuildings and the pretty much give you the run of the place.... More of the same feeling.... 

shoreshotz1

Woodshole Golf club is amazing! Beautful views for photos and the room is gorgeous as well as delicious food!

Kristin43

Thanks everyone - we booked Highfield Hall today!

midgemoto

And I applaude your choice!!!!  

If you get down to town before the wedding and have an extra hour be sure to take the walking path through Bebe woods and down to the punch Bowl ... so pretty and rated one of the top 10 "swimming holes" in Mass... 

A few romantic minutes with your to be ....

meghanf02460

Wondering if you ended up having your wedding at Highfield Hall and how it went? We are looking at it now for ours. Thanks so much!