Massachusetts-Boston

Need recommendations for venues and wedding planner.

Hello ladies,
I am hesitating between using an all-inclusive venue and doing everything from scratch at a banquet/function hall which would need a planner.
Can you recommend:
a) a venue that allows your own catering/planning under $3,000; we are willing to travel up to 30min North/West of Boston or 40min South of Boston
b) a wedding planner you have used or whose work you have seen and think is exceptional.

Thanks!
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Re: Need recommendations for venues and wedding planner.

  • edited December 2011
    I'm probably going to be no help with the venues, but I worked with Alexis Eliopoulis-O'Mara of Unique Weddings by Alexis. She was an amazing wedding planner and took care of *everything*.  Highly, highly recommended.
  • MmeSterlingMmeSterling member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thank you for responding! I will definitely check her out!
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  • RoyalOrientRoyalOrient member
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    edited December 2011
    I am no help for venues as my wedding is in Newport, R.I but because I am having a cultural wedding with both a western and traditional wedding and outside catering, I definitely needed a DOC. I really love Gracie Lou Events and Mikado Weddings. I think they are both fairly reasonable in terms of pricing and are very impressive. I am having a tough time choosing between the two. Both are known to handle very large scale weddings.
  • edited December 2011
    I used Gracie Lou Events for my huge portuguese wedding and although a few things went wrong, I never noticed a thing. They went above and beyond all day long. They even sewed my bustle up at the reception because the bridal salon messed it up! I have to say, it was the best decision I made hiring them. They're personable, kind and extremely hardworking.
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  • edited December 2011
    If you find a full service planner and have the budget for that, he or she might be able to take you around to venues they are familiar with a lot of them. Hotels will be a great option if you have a lot of OOT guests. Are you looking for a standard-fare country club or something more unique like the Cyclorama art space or Springstep?
    Irish *wife* on Nantucket, lovin' the island life with the love of my life! image
  • edited December 2011
    My daughter had her wedding at the Commander's Mansion in Watertown.  I cannot recommend it more highly.  Tammy was an absolute delight to work with and the venue is beautiful.  My daughter got married outside, used the mansion for the cocktail hour and then had the reception under a tent.  The rental was $3000 I believe but you get a discount if you know someone who lives or works in Watertown.  Call Tammy - she can give you the highlights.  You won't be disappointed.
  • MmeSterlingMmeSterling member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thank you so much for your recommendations ladies!
    NanticketIrish, I am actually open to unique and out of the ordinary venues. I hadn't thought about hotels because I figured it would be too expensive. Thanks for the suggestion!
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  • edited December 2011
    I am using www.therareaffair.com. Meeting with Jennifer completely put me at ease.  I am having my reception and possibly my ceremony if it's not a nice day, at the Nathaniel Silsbee historic house in Salem, MA.  It is located in the Knights of Columbus right across from Salem Commons.  The venue is 750 for the whole day, which includes the ceremony room, bridal suite and function hall.  The bartender and things are extra.  But in the commons across the street, we have rented the gazebo ($50 if you live in Salem, $100 if you don't) for our ceremony if we have nice weather.

    Knowing that I have Jennifer to help me figure it all out and take care of everything makes me not even worry!

    Good luck :-)
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