15 Boston Wedding Venues You'll Fall in Love With
When it comes to choosing a Boston wedding venue, the possibilities are practically boundless. Upscale hotels with beautiful ballrooms are numerous in the city, but the Boston area has plenty of museums, art galleries and special event venues flair too. Plus, between venues for those envisioning a fairytale fete or for couples who relish landmarks with a sense of history, there's certainly no shortage variety within the area. And while winter weather in New England can sometimes make wedding planning a bit more logistically tricky, in Boston you'll find distinctive beauty in all four seasons, whether the city is dusted with snow or blooming with cherry blossoms. Here are 15 of the best Boston wedding venues to tie the knot in style. Looking for even more options? Check out The Knot Vendor Marketplace and read reviews of venues near you.
9OFS in Boston, Massachusetts
If you're looking for a modern venue with an undeniable urban vibe, 9OFS might be the spot for you. The sleek, minimalist event space sits atop a skyscraper in downtown Boston. It also, however, connects to a sprawling outdoor space that you wouldn't expect to see right in the center of the city, complete with a manicured lawn and reflecting pool overlooking the Financial District. The indoor-outdoor nature of the venue allows couples the best of both worlds when planning their ceremony and wedding reception.
Alden Castle in Brookline, Massachusetts
Ready to experience a modern-day fairytale? Alden Castle, a 1920s brick building with a Tudor-style facade and elegant interiors, is just the setting for you. The venue, located 5 miles from downtown Boston, includes two distinct settings. There's the 2,880-square-foot Vintage Ballroom with white chandeliers, high ceilings, tall windows, mirrored wall decor and a mezzanine that looks over all the action. There's also the 2,445-square-foot Modern Club which features gold-leaf-adorned ceilings, wood pillars, gold chandeliers and a balcony.
Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Boston, Massachusetts
Artists for Humanity EpiCenter, located on the South Boston Waterfront, is a sleek, sunny industrial venue that gives back to the community. By choosing the non-profit to host your wedding your rental fee will go contribute to the arts organization's efforts to provide more than 300 inner-city Boston teens with jobs in the arts. The LEED Platinum building encompasses a 5,000-square-foot event space with 18-foot ceilings, south-facing windows and a 1,200-square-foot mezzanine with railings decked out with repurposed car windshields. Artists for Humanity also has a courtyard, accessible to the event space through a glass garage door, as well as a 3,200-square-foot art gallery.
The Boston Park Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Park Plaza is the exemplary spot for a grand affair in Boston's Back Bay. The hotel, which opened in 1927 and later entertained guests like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, sits right near the Boston Public Garden (one of the city's best spots for photos). The hotel wedding venue can provide a variety of event spaces for your soiree, but the 13,215-square-foot Grand Ballroom is certainly the showstopper with its 30-foot-tall ceilings, soaring windows, gilded balconies and Baccarat crystal chandeliers.
The Boston Public Library in Boston, Massachusetts
For a grand, regal affair in a historical setting, check out The Boston Public Library. The iconic Boston wedding venue opened in 1895, and now offers several spaces that can accommodate your big day. Perhaps the most iconic spot is the library's courtyard, modeled after the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome, where you can host your wedding ceremony surrounded by white marble, greenery and a magnificent pool with a fountain. The library also also boasts a variety of reception spaces, including the Guastavino Room with vaulted and tiled ceilings and 3,120 square feet of space for dinner and dancing. The McKim Lobby and grand staircase also provide the perfect backdrop for photos with elegant murals and abundant marble.
Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts
This Back Bay venue boasts a wide array of event spaces, each one just as elegant as the next. The Grand Ballroom in particular rivals that of any European castle with 6,090 square feet filled with balconies, gold leaf details, crystal chandeliers, mirrors and gilded, 30-foot ceilings. But for smaller affairs, the Oval Room, a 3,828-square-foot space with a blue sky mural on the ceiling and chandeliers, as well as the 2,068-square-foot Venetian room with its gold chandeliers and mirrors, provides just as much opulence. Planning a smaller affair? The venue also has micro-wedding packages.
Hotel Commonwealth Boston in Boston, Massachusetts
For a Boston wedding venue that truly celebrates all that Beantown has to offer, look no further than the Hotel Commonwealth. There are several outdoor and indoor event spaces where you can ceelbrate with up to 220 of your closest loved ones. For Sox fans, there's an outdoor terrace with Fenway Park as your backdrop. Indoor spaces offer ample natural light and unique decor. You'll love that this venue is all-inclusive, providing catering, cake and more, and that your guests can stay on site for the ultimate convenience.
Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts
You don't have to be a lover of science to get married at the Museum of Science. In fact, this venue offers panoramic Charles River views from its Washburn Pavilion, creating an incredible backdrop for your Boston nuptials. As an added bonus, you and up to 250 of your nearest and dearest will have access to the museum's exhibits and other features to make your event that much more unique. Says one recent bride: "From the second we met with the staff of the Museum of Science and toured the venue we fell in love with the idea of having our wedding there. We were so excited to have the opportunity of an outdoor wedding under a veranda with the city of Boston in the background. It gave us the opportunity to have such fantastic photos that we will cherish for the rest of our lives."
Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Massachusetts
Between its stunning galleries and prime location right on the Boston Harbor, beautiful sights are in no short supply at the Seaport's Institute of Contemporary Art, a venue operated by the Catered Affair. Hold your ceremony and cocktail hour on the museum's 3,500-square-foot outdoor plaza with unparalleled waterfront views as your backdrop. For your reception, lead guests into the museum's glass-walled, 350-seat theater which looks out at the city and harbor. With those jaw-dropping sites, the event space doesn't need much dressing up, but if lighting and florals are your thing the theater is a blank canvas that can be decorated to your heart's desire.
The Lenox Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts
The Lenox Hotel, located on Boylston Street, has a whole lot to offer for couples looking for a hotel wedding within the city. The Dome Room, a classic ballroom venue with plenty of wow-factor, is the most popular spot for wedding ceremonies and receptions at the Lenox, in no small part because of its gorgeous gilded dome. The venue also has a micro-wedding package for those looking to throw a smaller but still memorable affair. Lastly, pro tip: on your wedding day, don't forget to make time for photos on the hotel's rooftop overlooking Copley Square.
The Liberty Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts
The Liberty Hotel in Beacon Hill is one of the city's most in-demand hotels for visitors, and it's a pretty stunning Boston wedding venue too. The National Historic Landmark was built in 1851 as the Charles Street Jail before eventually being reimagined as The Liberty Hotel. Swap vows in the Yard, the hotel's lush private courtyard, and then host your reception inside the 3,000-square-foot Liberty Ballroom, which features floor-to-ceiling windows. Finally, end the night with a stay in a suite with views of the Charles River, complimentary on the evening of your nuptials.
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts
An event at this Boston wedding venue is anything but cookie-cutter. We love the slightly offbeat vibes of this Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge, where you can host your ceremony at nearby Lechmere Canal Park and your cocktail hour in the courtyard, which features a Steampunk-inspired sculpture. You and your photographer will love the amazing photo ops with the Boston skyline and the Charles River as your backdrop. Couples also rave about the accommodating staff. Says one recent bride: " Everything was well organized, communication was great, and they made the day extremely special."
Omni Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts
Omni Parker House is conveniently located in Downtown Boston, making it the ideal home base for out-of-town guests. Not to mention the hotel's kitchen is the birthplace of both Boston cream pie and Parker House rolls. The historic venue has several ceremony, cocktail hour and reception spots that can be used for your special day, including the indoor rooftop ballroom. Located on the 15th floor, the space features a tall, arched ceiling, crystal chandeliers and wow-worthy views of Boston. Neighboring the ballroom is the Wheatley Terrace, the perfect outdoor space for cocktail hour.
The Ritz-Carlton in Boston, Massachusetts
The Ritz-Carlton represents the height of luxury for couples planning a Boston wedding. The downtown venue offers views over the Boston Common and a variety of ceremony and reception spaces for parties of almost any size. The 3,300-square-foot ballroom is perhaps the most stunning of these options, with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing prime views of the Common, a silver-leaf ceiling, silk wall coverings and sleek light fixtures. Other benefits you can enjoy at the Ritz include next-day town car service to the airport and a complimentary stay and dinner for two in the hotel's restaurant upon your anniversary.
State Room in Boston, Massachusetts
For dazzling views of the city, look to the State Room. Located within a downtown high-rise, the towering Boston wedding venue offers 270-degree views, allowing guests to gaze as far out as the Boston Harbor. The showpiece of the sprawling venue is the Great Room, a 9,386-square-foot space with 21-foot ceilings, walls of glass, mahogany floors and a floating staircase leading up to the mezzanine.