Fruitlands Museum

highly recommend this venue!!!

ere looking for- an absolutely gorgeous and functional space, the “wow” factor that would make an impact on our guests, delicious food, and attentive and helpful staff who helped us every step of the way. From our first meeting with Tim he addressed all of our questions and provided us with insight and ideas on things we hadn’t thought about or considered- he truly knows what he is doing and put our minds at ease! Tim also was in frequent contact with us in the months leading up to our wedding and made us feel like top priority, despite the many other couples he was helping that spring and summer! Tim was extremely responsive, organized, and helpful in the months leading up to our wedding. Our wedding day could not have gone smoother thanks to the amazing staff at Fruitlands and all of the services they provide! It’s been almost 6 months and friends and family are still talking about how wonderful the day was and how beautiful Fruitlands is. I cannot recommend Fruitlands enough!

e entire process. Tim was always responsive and helpful with every question we had, the event happened just how we planned it, and the beauty of the backdrop overlooking the trees and the hills during our ceremony were picture perfect. Seriously. Our pictures are perfect. The menu we chose from had so many fantastic options, we were so happy we could say the food was locally sourced, and every dish we chose received rave reviews from all of our guests. The day of our wedding I was genuinely not anxious about the day's schedule or details because I knew Tim and his team were on top of things -- all I had to do was focus on enjoying my day with my husband and our family and friends, which is really all I could ask for. This was such an incredible venue to work with from start to finish and I cannot recommend it more.

elmed with planning a wedding in under 6 months, but the Tim made it easy. Although they did not push them on us, we ended up using several of their suggested vendors and were very happy. On the day of our wedding, everything was perfect. The staff. the scenery, the food, and and venue were absolutely incredible. We know that the Fruitlands has lots of weddings, but they made us feel like ours really was special. Our guests all raved about the food and service. Several people told me that it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding. I cannot recommend the Fruitlands highly enough.

nd they did an amazing job making sure our wedding was exactly how we wanted it. Not a single complaint and all our guests loved it! Plus, we were able to have our dog as part of our day and that just made it even more perfect!

here the reception was held was beautiful, with chandeliers and string lights. Tim, the coordinator, is amazing, and he made the planning process insanely easy. He is very organized, and was consistently in touch with us throughout the process. The other staff on the day-of were also great, and a server brought us hors d'eouvres and drinks after the ceremony while we were taking advantage of the perfect sunset for pictures. The food is delicious (several people told me it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding) and there are so many options to choose from so you can really customize your day based on your budget. Speaking of budget, you get a lot of value for your money. The ceremony took place outside facing the valley with the reception under the tent. Given that we were having a mid-October wedding we were unsure of what the weather would be like, and we loved how adaptable the tent was. Do yourself a favor and email Tim now!

operty and saw the sweeping views we knew we wanted to get married there. The food (Fireside Catering) and wonderful staff are just added bonuses to the beauty that this venue offers.

others that we looked at is the staff. Tim Holmes is phenomenal. He made the process simple, comfortable, and fun! We had 100% confidence throughout the entire process that our wedding visions would be met, and they executed with perfection. The day off, the staff went above-and-beyond to add additional decorations and was extremely attentive throughout the course of the night. The catering company prides themselves on the quality and the presentation of their food, and they absolutely live up to their reputation. Thank you Fruitlands Museum for everything - it was a night we'll remember forever and will recommend to anyone in the future!

stressful- I would've been lost without him! The staff the day of was so great and attentive. We could not have asked for a more perfect day, thanks to the Fruitland's Museum and all of their staff!

e knew we would feel at ease with Tim and his team taking care of us that day. We were assigned designated wait staff who provided us drinks and snacks while we were taking pictures and helped us with anything that we needed. I would recommend the Fruitlands to any couple who are looking for a stunning backdrop for their big day!

d is even better. Everyone kept coming up to me during the entire reception asking how we found this place because it was so beautiful and people are still calling me saying how great the venue was and how awesome all the food was. We lucked out and had perfect weather so we were able to have the ceremony outside and it was perfect. Everything about our wedding day went so smoothly and it's all because of the staff at Fruitlands and nothing to do with us. Leading up to the wedding we worked with Tim who was so helpful and answered every question we had. He looked out for us and gave us tips and suggestions because we had no idea what we were doing. If you're thinking of having an outdoor wedding you should definitely check this place out. I hope I know someone else who gets married here just so I can go back!

were all wonderful, the food was delicious, and our guests all had a fabulous time. Even when some bugs came out (we were a day or two after a lot of rain so while they don't usually have bugs, we got some), they brought out bug spray for our guests. Our whole experience, from start to finish, was amazing here and definitely recommend Fruitlands to anyone!

, the practicality (the tent is always up! And it’s heated!) and the professionalism and skill that Tim Holmes and the staff of Fruitlands and Fireside Catering operated with. We had a million questions through the planning process, and Tim was always quick to get back to us with answers. He was organized, calm, upfront with costs, helpful, and overall a very pleasant and cheerful person to work with. The value of what you get at Fruitlands far exceeds most venues in the area. You don’t have to worry about renting chairs or linens, or other equipment, it’s all there. They food is amazing, from the appetizers (they bring you some after the ceremony while you’re taking pics btw so you DO get to enjoy them), to plates of veggies, dips and cheese, to the entrees. We also had two signature cocktails, and the guests loved them. They encourage you to go with some bakeries they have a relationship with, we went with the Bean Counter and it was a delicious and also artfully decorated cake. People told us it was the best wedding cake they had ever had! We also made our own centerpieces, and decor, and dropped things off in advance, and the staff was very skillful in setting everything up. Even though we were planning a wedding from 2,000 miles away, it was as easy as if we were down the street. I cannot recommend Fruitlands enough!

and knew it was the perfect place for us to to get married. It had the best mix of old, new, rustic, classic (the tent with string lights was incredible!!) and we could make it our own through decorations and flowers but didn’t need much. Fruitlands was so bright, peaceful, welcoming and very romantic ... it truly felt like a hidden gem up in the clouds. Tim Holmes was simply the best to work with. He was so organized, on top of it, helpful, kept us at ease, and you can tell he really loves his job. We felt like we were in such good hands with Tim - he was extremely attentive and thoughtful and no question was out of his realm of knowledge (and I asked a lot!). The food from Fireside Catering was the best food we have ever had at a wedding. While we are biased, we heard from many, many of our guests that it was some of their favorite and most delicious wedding food they have had at weddings. The food tasting ~6 months prior to our wedding was so much fun; we also went to Gibbet Hill (also uses Fireside Catering) with other family later to taste more dishes. All in all - if you’re looking for a gorgeous wedding venue that is romantic but not uptight, truly some of the best food you may ever have, and an awesome and knowledgeable Sales/Catering Director, we highly recommend Fruitlands Museum! We are so grateful we did.

Museum (We had our ceremony off-site but they offer that as well). There are many fantastic things about Fruitlands. 1. The view. The view is absolutely breathtaking. The scenery/view is what initially sold us on Fruitlands before learning about everything else. 2. SO much is included and provided. We had a friend get married elsewhere and they had to make arrangements for tables, chairs, silverware, etc, etc - this is ALL included within the reception package. They take care of EVERYTHING and are VERY accommodating to help you achieve the perfect day. 3. The Food - Fruitlands uses a catering service (Fireside) that provides their food. Months later, many of our guests have reminded us JUST how good the food was. The passed hors d'oeuvres especially fried mac and cheese bites, zucchini fritters, and more - they were a huge hit. Additionally, they use two separate bakeries to provide the cake. You just set up a cake tasting with both bakeries and decide which one you want to go with. Both bakeries were VERY nice and both delicious. We went with Bean Counter Bakery (who also provide a brand new cake topper on your one year anniversary - free of charge). 4. The Staff: 4A. The Planner - Tim Holmes - Director of Catering and Sales. We really can't say enough nice things about Tim Holmes. From the moment we first reached out to him about having our reception at Fruitlands, to the day of our wedding, he was incredibly accommodating, easy-going, quickly responsive to emails, very willing to work with us and have our wedding be as we've been dreaming. He showed us his folder of many, many other weddings he is currently involved in planning yet, among all of those weddings, he still made us feel special, unique, and that we were the most important wedding that he was planning. Now, I'm sure he made all of the couples feel that way - which just speaks to the true testament of the work Tim Holmes put in to make our day possible. 4B. The Day Of Staff - The days before the wedding, we dropped off various things - lawn games, table settings, pictures, etc. We showed the staff what we'd like one place setting to look at, and how the center piece should be set up. Then they took that information and set up the entire venue - perfectly. Everything looked amazing and they truly did a fantastic job. They were also very prompt and professional throughout the cocktail hour and reception. 5. Working with other vendors - Fruitlands seamlessly flowed with the other vendors we had coming onsite - photo/video/music etc - without any issue at all. As you can tell, I honestly feel like I could go on and on about how incredibly lucky we feel to have had our Wedding Reception at the Fruitlands Museum. I could have made that list much longer and touched on the finer details of the incredible work the staff did and how great the venue was - I didn't think I would hit the limit of the "3500 character limit" but here we are! We highly recommend visiting it when trying to make your choice. The pictures are amazing but do not truly do it justice. We can honestly say that the worst part of having our reception at the Fruitlands Museum was that it didn't go all night! (and that we wished we ate more hors d'oeuvres!)

t level of service, as well as the amazing, gourmet food, Fruitlands offers amazing value. And its recommended vendor list was a huge asset in helping us check off many of our to-dos. A month out from our wedding, our guests are STILL raving about it. I can't recommend this venue enough – especially if you want a stunning fall, New England setting and a wedding day where you can be present and stress-free.

f it had rained, though, we were really happy with the rain plan, and knew that it would be beautiful regardless. They have great space for getting ready and the indoor tent was perfect for the reception. Second, the staff. Tim, the on-site coordinator, is fantastic. He immediately puts you at ease and responds quickly to email. His guidance was invaluable and he made the entire planning process smooth and painless (for real!). He was very helpful on the day-of and knew exactly what was happening when. The rest of the staff were also incredibly helpful and polite. Third, the food. It was really delicious, and we've received many compliments on it since the wedding. I had been a bit nervous about choosing an inclusive package but it really was fantastic. You have plenty of options to customize the menu and work within whatever budget you want. Fourth - convenience and pricing. As I mentioned before, Tim was invaluable at making the wedding planning process as painless as possible. Having our ceremony and reception at one location kept logistics and travel time to a minimum. Our planning process was simpler and less stressful than some of our friends. We also found Fruitlands to be an excellent value. We had a very reasonable budget, but the wedding looked so elegant and so beautiful that you never would have guessed. If you are in the Boston area and looking for an amazing venue without the crazy Boston prices, this is a great choice!!

the staff at Fruitlands. We got married October 21st, 2016 and it was a day filled with on and off rain. They set up both the outdoor ceremony and a beautiful area inside the tent just in case it got rained out. Well, we ended up having a legitimate flash flood that night. The indoor ceremony went so beautifully and I can't believe how cool and pretty it all ended up being during a terrible rain & lightning storm. Tim and the staff were incredibly attentive and helpful, making sure we were better than alright, mopping the dance floors with towels so that we could all dance the night away. Fruitlands is an affordable, beautiful, magical venue and our guests went on and on about the delicious food, drinks and overall atmosphere of the place. It was a perfect night. Thanks Fruitlands Museum!

, and totally "got" the vibe of the party we were looking to throw. He's a straight-shooter and a joy to work with. I was a little bummed out when I found out Tim would not be there the day of our wedding, but our day-of-coordinator, Alex, knocked it out of the park. She kept everyone informed and on schedule, while being incredibly nice and easy to work with. The rest of the staff (servers, bartenders) were amazing. I highly recommend taking advantage of the bridal suite to get ready the day-of. While my bridesmaids, mom, and I got glammed up the cafe manager was constantly checking on us and bringing us fresh water, mimosas, and lunch. I have received so many compliments from our guests about the venue. It really is a hidden gem!

hanking everyone for such a wonderful job done. They deserve a 10 star rating!! our wedding was perfect and we would definitely refer anyone to go there!!!! food was fantastic sunset amazing and dance floor was the perfect size!!! thank you!!!!!

t visited & met with Tim Holmes who was welcoming, relaxed, kind, & knowledgeable from the start. Tim gave us a tour of the Fruitlands & despite the icy rain we fell in love. It was so foggy that we couldn’t even see the view (which is one of the best parts!) but even so, as we drove away we both agreed it was the perfect place for our wedding & didn’t feel like we had to look anywhere else. We loved the Fruitlands because it is unique (we wanted something different than the traditional church ceremony & ballroom reception), it is naturally, stunningly beautiful, the awesome tent is included, & we could customize it to our own tastes. I would have my wedding here over and over one million times. We also liked that Fireside Catering worked with the venue. We were happy that we didn’t have to find an outside company to handle the food, but more importantly it was absolutely DELICIOUS! The food tasting was like eating dinner at your favorite restaurant & knowing the food was such high quality gave us even more of a reason to look forward to our wedding day. We have consistently heard from our guests about how much they enjoyed the food. I only regret that I did not eat MORE of it! We visited the Fruitlands as the weather got warmer, confirming our original thought that the view would be spectacular once everything was in bloom. When I told our photographer that we were getting married at the Fruitlands, she responded that it was the best view in Eastern MA–& she was not wrong! All of our guests gathered outside of the tent along the hill to enjoy the amazing sunset on our wedding night. Everyone warned me that something would go wrong on my wedding day, but there were zero mishaps. Throughout the entire process, Tim was calm, organized, & super helpful. He responded quickly to our e-mails with thorough answers to all of our questions. I also felt like he got to know what type of people we were and cared about making our wedding day unique to us rather than just following a standard procedure. I loved how the space of the Fruitlands could be utilized–we had our ceremony, cocktail hour, & reception in different spots at the venue, which kept the entire night exciting. There is a ton of work that goes into planning a wedding, but Tim made the whole process seem easy & worked behind the scenes to ensure the day was flawless. My husband & I were able to enjoy every moment & most importantly had so much fun! The beautiful setting & seamless transitions thanks to the professional & proficient staff allowed us to focus on having a great time with our family & friends rather than worry about anything else. I don’t think I can accurately sum up in words just how amazing the Fruitlands was as a wedding venue. The views are stunning, the people, especially Tim, were knowledgeable, accommodating, friendly, & easy to work with, the food was delicious, & we found it affordable & worth every penny. I never doubted that our wedding day was going to be great, but it was better than I could have imagined from start to finish. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience at the Fruitlands Museum & I would highly recommend this venue. It is such a treasure & I wish we could go back and do it again!

of. He ensured that every last detail was the way we had discussed and professionally and courteously kept us on track throughout the day. The food was delicious and perfectly cooked. We would highly recommend Fruitlands to anyone considering it as a wedding venue

g food provided by Fireside Catering. We still go back and forth about our favorite appetizers (they have so many great options!). Not only was it a wonderful place for a wedding (the beautiful white tent is right on a hillside overlooking a valley), but the staff is amazing. During the planning process, Tim Holmes was a great help and I knew I could rely on his advice. He made the process of planning a reception at Fruitlands very straightforward and easy--which is no easy feat with 2 people working more-than-full-time jobs with just about 6 months to plan the big day (we were pretty excited about getting married!). Mo on the events team was just wonderful as well--when unexpected challenges came up the day-of, she and her team creatively found an amazing solution that was so perfect, hardly anyone knew there was any hiccup! True professionals who are incredibly warm and easy to work with. Like I said earlier, we, our family, and our friends absolutely loved our reception at Fruitlands Museum. I would recommend it to anyone (and in fact, have already referred acquaintances to check it out, as I know they will not be disappointed with the venue, the staff, the process or the amazing food! All around amazing experience.

gant. Tim was so incredibly helpful with the wedding planning process. He made everything as simple as it could be, and even worked around my crazy work schedule with the menu tasting and meetings. One of the best things about the Fruitlands Museum was that they do a lot of things for you. You don't have to bring in any extra items if you don't want to. The basic chairs are very nice, the table cloths are elegant, and the venue itself is so stunning that you don't need to do extra stuff to it. The wedding day itself was perfect -- despite it being very hot. There were refreshments for guests when they arrived and a big beautiful tree for them to stand under. Everyone kept commenting on how beautiful the Fruitlands was, and couldn't believe we found such an amazing venue. Also, everyone kept raving about the food! There wasn't one bad thing that was served. All in all, the day was perfect. We were so thankful to Tim and the entire Fruitlands staff for setting up the tent so perfectly, and making sure everything went off without a hitch. We are incredibly thankful that we found the perfect wedding venue.

uests and those in heels, but we understand they are paving the pathway soon. The tent was stunning and well heated. There really is no other location for a Fall wedding in New England if you're looking for a phenomenal view!

n-fussy, romantic and earthy, but still upscale and comfortable. And Fruitlands so perfectly fit this criteria. We also got to work with Tim and his staff, who are incredibly knowledgeable and responsive. Considering we planned the entire wedding from abroad and didn't have a real rehearsal (we did have a small run through beforehand without the whole wedding party, which I highly recommend), it was amazing how smoothly everything went the day of. The food was also really good and Fireside Catering was really helpful accommodating multiple allergies, which was important to us considering me (the bride), my mom, and multiple family members needed gluten-free food. And one thing I would recommend, considering the spectacular view at Fruitlands, is to capitalize on it by hiring a really great photographer. Because even now looking back at our wedding album, I'm struck by how beautiful Fruitlands looked in every photo :)

turned out to be the best part of the experience with Fruitlands was the service. Tim is fabulous to work with - responsive, patient, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. We enjoyed every part of working with Tim and the rest of the staff, from our first visit to the tasting, to the rehearsal to the wedding day. Everything went smoothly and we were much more relaxed on the wedding day than we ever thought we'd be! I highly recommend Fruitlands! Not only did we love the venue and whole experience, but we got so many compliments from our guests on every aspect of the venue - especially the amazing food and service from Fireside catering!

in sight. One of our deciding factors was also the wedding coordinator, Tim Holmes. He was so personable and extremely good at what he does. We knew with him everything would effortless and extrodinary, and that's exactly what it was. Even though it rained on our wedding day it was still SO beautiful and such an amazing day. The heated tent it was held under was gorgeous and you could still see the valley in the background due to the plastic windows. The staff, the FOOD (we had a buffet) and the day itself was phenomenal. I couldn't have imagined a more prefect special day.

he Director of Catering, Tim. Tim is the icing on the cake when it comes to Fruitlands. He is extremely personable and puts any stress to ease. He keeps everything organized and buttoned up while making sure each couple feels like they are getting their own unique experience. The food offered at Fruitlands is amazing and our guests loved the fall assortment. I would highly recommend this venue for any wedding.

the whole atmosphere there, you also get the absolutely best team supporting you. Tim Holmes is far and away the best venue director/wedding coordinator ever. From the moment we met him we “just knew” that he and Fruitlands were right for us. He is so organized, thorough and responsive; he makes the entire process easier. We also felt that he immediately built rapport with us, getting to really know us, so that he was able to put us at ease about so many things. And trust me; I am not put to ease easily! I am pretty OCD and let me tell you, I had all the trust in the world in Tim and his ability to execute. And that is exactly what he did. He was truly amazing and made the entire experience absolutely wonderful. We also had so much creative freedom to make the event feel “just like us,” it was exactly the wedding we wanted. This place honestly can’t be beat: the venue is gorgeous, view is like no other, food is delicious, team was fantastic, and Tim Holmes pulls it all together beautifully. Fruitlands will be forever in hearts.

together our wedding vision. Their flexibility and openness to our ideas was amazing and you could tell that they were committed to help us create the perfect event. On the day of the wedding, the staff did an incredible job. Everyone was amazingly friendly and attentive- we felt so well taken care of from the moment we arrived early in the day to take photos through to the very end of the night. Thank you Fruitlands for the most amazing wedding, all of our guests have commented on how beautiful the space was and what a unique location it was for a wedding. I would absolutely recommend working with them to anyone.

and the rest of the Fireside Catering staff were equally professional. The staff was all smiles and blended unobtrusively into our gathering of friends and family, and the food was fantastic. From start to finish, our ceremony and reception were joyful and worry-free, and this is largely due to their experience and competence. The site is beautiful, and despite rain from Hurricane Arthur, Fruitlands was the perfect venue for our wedding. The views on Prospect Hill are stunning, and under the tent with the rain outside, it was intimate and romantic. We have no second thoughts about choosing Fruitlands and Fireside for our wedding, and we look forward to visiting them for future anniversaries.

ood is some of the best I (and many of our guests) said they had ever had at a wedding. All farm to table and beautifully and seasonally prepared, you will not be disappointed. I really do not have any negatives to share about our wedding experience as it was all positive. Thank you, Fruitlands and Fireside!!!

the venue well! Tim Holmes, our event coordinator, arranged everything so beautifully for our day. He was a terrific communicator and solid point person. His patience and guidance were invaluable, particularly with regard to the pacing and event order. The entire staff executed our whole event flawlessly. As for food, that went hand in hand with our search for the perfect venue and the complements are still coming in - both from foodies AND non-foodies alike! (Though, let's face it, most of our friends are foodies and that's one of the many things we appreciate about them.) Also, A VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY BIG THANK YOU for packing up my meal to go AND for the two slices of each cake flavor! It really allowed for the extra gift of time that I wanted to spend with each of our dear guests (the reason why we chose a more intimate guest list to begin with.) And amongst the best advice that I got was from my sister who said that the best cake she ever had was her wedding cake in bed after her wedding. She was right. But more about cake in another review...

catering, and I cannot speak highly enough of everyone on the Fireside staff, from our coordinator to the waitstaff on the day of the event. The food itself was ridiculously delicious--hard to believe it was "wedding food"! They took care of everything, from the groom's significant food allergies to managing the vendors-- even when our florist was short a bridesmaid bouquet on the day of the wedding. The venue itself is jaw-droppingly gorgeous (rolling green hills, fountains, views of Wachusett and Monadnock, to name a few highlights) in addition to the tent which comfortably held 130ish guests. If you want an outdoor venue with traditional New England countryside flavor and a fantastic caterer, Fruitlands is a great choice. It wasn't a thrifty wedding, but I believe we got what we paid for--and I am very pleased with our choice.

t at night and ate our guests. People left way early because they were being bitten, and even mosquito-repellent wasn't working. unfortunately, they say is jokingly now, but after all the time and thought that went into our wedding, the bugs is what our guests most remember... also, the catering, though great quality, lacked appropriate amounts. we were told that with a kitchen onsite 'we'll never run out of food', but in fact they did run out of one dish (the best and most popular).