Hawthorne Hotel on the Common

c and convenient venue

solid option for their price range. Make sure you double check all appointments and details leading up to the wedding as there were some missed opportunities here. I wouldn't say any personal emotional connections were made with any of the staff, but you will walk away with the day you were always hoping for, family and friends raving about how nice it all was, and all at an affordable price range versus other wedding venue options.

hoice. All the staff, including Karen and Christine, were very key in helping us prepare for our wedding party. The day of the event, all staff, including the wait staff. were just incredible. They were very attentive to all our needs, very pleasant, helpful and frankly superb. The food was incredibly delicious! Everything was just to die for. Susan, who worked with us the day of, was incredible! She made sure we were at ease and she was in control of everything. We couldn't have asked for a better party, a better day, a better spot. People are still talking about the event, particularly the food and the service provided. Everything was all that we wished for and more. Absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you so much to you and your staff for the hospitality and making our event a memorable one. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

nue up in Maine, near where my husband grew up. We didn’t have any ties to Salem, but my mom had suggested we check it out. The hotel looked beautiful on the website and we hadn’t been to Salem in years, so we thought, ‘Why not!?’ When we left our appointment at the Hawthorne, I was ready to sign the dotted line. It all started with our planner, June. She is so warm, welcoming and sharp to boot. She never made us feel like we had to rush to make a decision and took the time during our appointment getting to know us, teaching us about the hotel and showing us the entire space. We instantly connected with her and after having the opportunity to compare our first impression there with a few others, we loved feeling like we weren’t “just another couple” – June made us feel like she and the staff genuinely wanted us to celebrate our special day there. And the thought of starting new memories in such a charming, distinct New England town excited us. Within the two days following our appointment, June’s responsiveness and patience answering all our questions definitely helped us finalize our decision to book there. The phenomenal service, care and attention to detail continued through the entire year of our planning process. Ryan was extremely helpful and patient when it came to all the room bookings and crazy last-minute changes and Christine was always super responsive and detailed when it came to all the transactions and setting up the menu. I’d be remiss if I didn’t speak to the menu! My husband has a gluten allergy and there were another 10 or so guests with allergies so the chef cooked our entire menu gluten free! It was comforting to know we wouldn’t have to worry about our guests feeling sick due to any cross-contamination. And the food is fabulous. We had a blast doing the tasting and the chef’s cooking is restaurant quality, not “just” wedding food, if that makes sense! My husband and I are so thrilled we chose the Hawthorne Hotel for our wedding. The staff made the planning process easy and joyful, and the gorgeous details and character within the hotel speaks for itself. Plus, Salem is an awesome town for guests to spend the weekend exploring and feeling like they are having their own mini-getaway. You will not go wrong getting married at the Hawthorne, and I can’t thank June and the staff enough for helping to make our wedding as beautiful, seamless and special as we always hoped it would be.

let things unfold around us.

June made all the time leading up to our wedding stress free. She answered all of our questions quickly and throrougly, I felt comfortable trusting her with the most important day of our lives. The suite was beautiful for getting ready in the day of and downtown Salem and the commons are beautiful for photographs on the day of. The food is delicious and the ballroom is so classy. I would recommend the Hawthorne Hotel to any couples looking for a gorgeous venue that includes everything in one place.

our guests with the Salem experience during Halloween. Nothing can beat the pictures of our wedding party in the beautiful fall foliage on the common (even though it was raining!) that is just steps outside of the hotel. To add, the fact that every event during our wedding weekend was within walking distance of each other could not be more convenient for us and our guests (rehearsal dinner @ Finz, ceremony at Immaculate Conception Parish, reception at Hawthorne Hotel, and Salem downtown attractions). The very first decision I made when I got engaged and began the planning process was that I was going to wear my 108 year old family heirloom wedding dress and I knew I wanted the venue to portray the elegance of this dress with a classic, vintage, and elegant setting. I had toured a few other locations in Boston, but knew I had found the perfect place the minute I walked into the Hawthorne Hotel and met with Karen O'Kane. The quaint historic building makes you feel like you stepped back in time with original furnishings and architecture that truly can't be replicated anywhere else combined with the extraordinary service the staff provided. Karen was super friendly and made the entire planning process more fun than stressful like I was anticipating. Overall, I along with all of our guests had an incredible wedding weekend at the Hawthorne Hotel and I could not have asked for a more memorable experience that I will cherish forever! I can't wait to visit again for our 1 year anniversary celebration at the hotel this Fall! Thank you Hawthorne Hotel for a wonderful wedding experience!

ion and kept me informed of what I should be doing and what still needed to be done. We meet 3 times before the big day and we are from out of town so they worked around our crazy schedule. They gave us suggestions when needed and a list of referred vendors which we used the limo and bakery which were amazing as well. On the day, everything ran completely smoothly and stress-free. The staff was friendly, flexible and able to accommodate any needs that arose. We couldn’t be happier with the decision to hold our wedding reception at the Hawthorne Hotel. During the wedding I loved the fact you could throw the bouquet from the second story window into the ballroom and it made it very memorable. The large park next door added a beautiful view out ballroom windows and provided the perfect place for group photos. In addition, the coordinator was always there guiding us if needed and keeping the evening flowing perfectly. The Hawthorne is a great place for a wedding because of how beautiful and historic the hotel is but also because the city of Salem sparks with personality. Relatives from out of town loved it because they had stuff to do during the day and were not too far from Boston. Friends and family were able to walk nearby for lunches and dinners while staying in Salem for the weekend. Salem has a diverse bar scene, ample museums and other points of interest that made the whole weekend a joy for friends and family even in the middle of February.

on the lodging side. The rehearsal dinner in Sophia’s room was top notch, and Laura was completely organized and professional throughout the experience. We were very happy with the experience.

laned this wedding months in advance when we walked in everything was so beautiful and set up so perfectly i couldn't ask for a better day. they were very attentive, very nice and accommodating! i was so glad we had our wedding here! it turned out amazing. i would recommend this place to any bride this is the best hotel.

ause of the quality of service you recieve. The staff at the Hawthorne were so accomadating and quickly answered any questions we had along the way. Laura Abraham-Long was especially helpful along the entire process, she was well organized, prepared for any questions we had, and reassuring with any concerns or decisions we had to make. Saying Laura was the best is simply an understatement! Jennifer Kelly was very helpful with our room block, and worked very hard to make sure we were able to accomadate our closest guests at the Hawthorne during its busiest time. Our Function Coordinator Liz Dube was an angel the day of our Wedding. She made us feel so comfortable and STRESS FREE THE DAY OF and made sure everything went exactly how we wished. The entire staff made the whole wedding planning process stress free and they also allowed us to feel comfortable monatarily as well. Planning a wedding obviously can be very expensive and the people at the Hawtorne worked hard for us to meet our goals while not going too crazy in our budget, which is a very nice touch to a market that makes you feel like they only care about your cash! All in all we highly recomend you book your wedding at The Hawthorne Hotel. I know everyone says their wedding was perfect and the place they had it was perfect, but the hawthorne goes so much beyond just the wedding day. They make you feel like a celebrity the entire process and truley make your special day amazing. Every one of our guests were blown away at how well they coordinated the wedding and the services they provide. Thank you so much to everyone at the Hawthorne, again especially Laura, Jennifer & Liz. You guys were amazing and we couldn't have pictured a better experience. Thank you!

diately impressed with her professionalism and expertise. She was always quick to respond to emails and always willing to answer the multitude of questions I would throw her way throughout the planning process. She was just the best. They are a bit pricey, but truthfully worth every penny. The food was absolutely incredible (when can you ever say that about wedding food??)...our guests were raving about every hors d'oeuvre , appetizer, and dish. The serving staff and bartenders were incredibly friendly and hospitable. We had Liz overseeing our reception, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for the calming effect she had on me throughout the evening. I knew right off the bat that we were in good hands with her there. She was consistently checking on us to make sure everything was going well throughout the evening, which made such a difference in our abilities to enjoy every moment and not worry about a thing. She even helped bustle my dress, talk about going above and beyond! Overall, top notch. We are so grateful for everything they did for us on our special day.

thorne through to our breakfast brunch, all of our questions were answered immediately and with such kindness and understanding for our budgetary limitations. Karen executed our vision perfectly - she answered all questions and spent a lot of time making sure we were happy with our decisions. She was so organized and made the process much easier than it would've been elsewhere. Their list of recommended vendors was also incredibly helpful. We were blown away by the atmosphere Hawthorne provided and the impeccable service. The night before our wedding we had a rehearsal and we still had a lot of decisions to make regarding the ceremony and reception. June helped us work through these important decisions with such patience, we were really grateful for that. The day of our wedding, June was very easy to communicate with and coordinated everything beautifully. We and our guests were so thrilled with our accommodations at the hotel as well. The food was incredible and everything went seamlessly. Thank you Hawthorne for such a wonderful experience!

ents on what a great wedding it was. Laura and Liz are so great to work with, I didn't have to worry or think of any logistics all day which allowed me to relax and enjoy the wedding. I can't recommend a wedding at the Hawthorne enough!

ay ‘yes!’ to it. Laura (our Wedding Coordinator) was an absolute dream to work with. Her insights and suggestions were invaluable to getting the best value for our wedding, and her careful guidance kept us focused on what we needed to do (which wasn’t much – the Hawthorne takes care of a lot!). When it came to the wedding day, Liz kept everyone moving, focused, and on task. The wait and beverage staff took exceptional care of us and all our guests; hors d’oevres and drinks were constantly being rotated out amongst the guests during cocktail hour. Dinner service was exceptionally delicious, and our food was expertly prepared and delicious. Our wedding day was truly perfect from start to finish and it absolutely would not have been as wonderful and memorable if we did not have it at the Hawthorne.

she took in planning the event.

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l day attended to every detail. I would highly recommend the Hawthorne if you want an elegant experience.

ng with two brides is double the challenge!! Our emails and calls were always returned immediately and any concerns we had work quickly put to rest. On the morning of the wedding we had planned to have our ceremony outdoors away from the hotel. We woke up and it was raining out. Laura called my bridal suite on her day off from work first thing in the morning to ask me if we wanted to move our ceremony inside. We didn't even think this was an option such last minute. She truly saved the day. Laura and our coordinator for the day, Liz, worked tirelessly and within less than a two hour timeframe were able to magically pull off moving our entire ceremony inside. Including all of the personal extra touches that we had planned for our outdoor ceremony and made sure that everything went seamlessly. Our guests were amazed. Our room was exquisite and all of our decor was pulled together perfectly by Liz. She ran around for us all day attending to any need that we could possibly have. We truly had no worries on the day of our wedding and everything was taken care of for us before we even could think about it. Our wedding was truly vintage glam and whimsical. It looked like a photo from the inside of a magazine. We were flooded with compliments throughout the entire day from friends and family. This day could not have been more perfect. Thank you Laura and Liz and the Hawthorne Hotel. Love the newly weds, Karen & Elisa

efinitely would recommend!

o many wonderful people that work at the hotel. Laura Abraham Long was our catering manager and overall superwoman! I can not say enough wonderful things about Laura. She is extremely knowledgeable about what she does. She has great ideas and suggestions. I took all of her suggestions and could not have been happier. She even helped pick out our table linens and colors. She went above and beyond what I was expecting to get from a catering manager, I trusted her completely and she helped make our wedding and the months leading up to it a smooth ride. Liz Dube was our day of coordinator and she is just as fabulous as Laura! She was always right there asking if we needed anything. Liz even went to find a pair of pliers during our wedding to fix the bustle on my dress- without me even asking! Everything went exactly as wewanted because of the wonderful staff at the Hawthorne. The food was delicious, and coming from a family of chefs we can be a little hard to please. The food at the farewell breakfast was awesome too! The staff was always attentive and we had a great time. Everyone that stayed at the hotel loved it! We have zero regrets in using the Hawthorne Hotel and I highly recommend them to everyone! You will not be disappointed.

he the staff and their suggestions for flowers and music is the way to go. However, none of this would have come to fruition with the amazing Laura Abraham Long Senior catering manager. Laura was my constant go to for ten months. Laura walked me through every step with grace and professionalism. She answered every question and email promptly and without judgement. (I had some pretty crazy mother of the bride questions) never once did Laura make me feel as though I was a bother. If you are fortunate enough to choose The Hawthorne and work with Laura, I guarantee you will have your dream wedding. I have a friend for life.

d the ballroom without a hitch! My guests LOVED the convenience, and the delicious food of course! The staff was phenomenal as a whole, but I have to specifically mention how amazing it was to work with Laura Abraham Long. Laura made myself and my family feel as though we were her only clients. She was available to answer all the crazy questions we had, and never once made us feel like we couldn't go to her for guidance. She is just fabulous, and if you can work with her and the other amazing staff members at the Hawthorne, consider yourself blessed. She truly made my wedding extra special.

t above and beyond to make our day perfect. We continue to receive compliments from family and friends on how wonderful this venue and staff was. Thank you to all we made our day unforgettable!

England area. Quick background on our wedding: my wife and I decided to have a fairly traditional wedding ceremony and an 80's themed reception. Laura, our coordinator at the Hawthorne, loved the idea and was so enthusiastic in helping us make the most of it. We had a lot of specific plans for decorations, music, the cake, etc., and Laura recommended the perfect vendors to meet our needs. She also kept us on the ball when it came to deadlines in the months leading up to the big day. The day before the wedding, Laura and our day-of coordinator, Liz, helped us with a very thorough run-through of all the details, and Liz was there the next day to make sure everything ran smoothly. The waitstaff, bartenders, front desk staff, etc. were all very helpful and friendly as well. Our ceremony took place in the large, beautiful ballroom, and then the guests were brought upstairs to a spacious lounge area for cocktails while the ballroom was flipped for the reception. This all went so smoothly, and it was great having it all happen in one place – no need for shuttles or any between-venue logistics. Even the after party was in the Tavern accessible through the main lobby. Another huge plus was that so many things were covered in the wedding package. This limited the number of vendors we had to deal with and allowed us to spend time focusing on nailing the 80's themed party and not worrying about all the small details. Also, the food – prepared by the Hawthorne catering staff – was delicious! I really can't say enough about the Hawthorne. Of course, this day was going to be unforgettable for us no matter what, but the fact that the venue was so great and the staff was so helpful made it that much more special.

ooms for guests worked out great!

same room and it couldn't have gone better. Beautiful, elegant venue. I would highly recommend.

ing to each of our guests. They made our ideas a reality. The food was delicious and they even heated up the leftovers later that evening when we were still hungry. I cannot express how happy we are that we chose the Hawthorne for our wedding ceremony and reception. We held both in the smaller function room call Sophia's, which had just been renovated and was the perfect backdrop to our navy, blush and rose gold decorations. The hotel provides a dedicated wedding coordinator for your special day to handle all the details so you can focus on each other. My husband and I got ready together in a little room that the hotel provided. It was so nice to have some time together to talk and relax before all the excitement began.

ing of 150 guests). Before the wedding we coordinated with Karen and Christine, and then Liz led the way on our wedding day. Liz was fantastic at getting us through the day -- very organized and always with a smile on her face. Everything ran seamlessly. The service staff were all great, especially to the bride and groom but also to every guest. We got a lot of compliments on the food, which was delicious from the appetizers to the entree. The ballroom was an elegant venue for our celebration, and the complimentary guest suite for the bride and groom the night of the wedding (which I also paid for the night before so I could get ready with my bridal party there) made us feel special.

d even with minimal decoration, the ballroom was spectacular.

ful. They run a very organized wedding program without it feeling like we were part of a "wedding machine." The entire staff was SO lovely and helpful, from the front desk, to the catering staff, to the maintenance staff. We really appreciated everyone's thoughtfulness and efficiency. There are great options for wedding packages which helped us out a lot - we were quite overwhelmed by all the choices that come with a wedding and the Hawthorne package really helped us narrow down our list of decisions to the options included in their package which was a huge relief for us. We went with the recommended vendors and were so impressed by all of them. The Hawthorne is a relatively affordable option (for the greater Boston area) without ever feeling like it. The hotel has so much charm and all our guests enjoyed their stay. The wedding food was delicious. There are so many beautiful photo opportunities in and around the hotel. Also, a huge bonus for us was that the hotel is pet friendly. We had several guests bring their dogs with them to stay and we were very lucky to have our own dog visit us after the reception. It was such a treat! We don't plan to get married again but if we do, we wouldn't change a thing about having it at the Hawthorne!

ul!! We received one night in a suite, which came with the package. We then wanted to stay an additional two nights. We asked for just a standard queen sized bed. They were nice enough to upgrade the room to a double queen bed for the cost of one. When we went to check-in, we found out they upgraded us a second time to staying in the suite for all three nights for the cost of one queen bed!!! I was so blown away, all I could do was stand there and thank the person at the front desk. The food was amazing! We had pork with a cranberry glaze, red bliss potatoes, and winter vegetables. The pork was moist and the glaze tasted just like cranberry sauce. Everyone was extremely helpful and super nice. The woman who worked that evening came up to us throughout the night to make sure things were happening the way we anted them to. I would definitely use the hotel again for other get-togethers!!!!

and they coordinated impeccably with the museum. All of our guests comments on how amazing the food was. We tried a number of venues whose pricing was similar but the food wasn't up to par. I highly recommend their catering services. Also, we were able to meet the chef in advance and she was wonderful with answering our questions. The fish in particular is mouth watering. Also, as a separate note, the hotel itself is really nice. The rooms are a little small but there is a lot of character and the staff is excellent. We hung out in the bar one night and the waiter learned we were getting married in the next few days and gave our party a free bottle of champagne. It was completely unplanned but a nice touch.

hing the day of the wedding. She even helped to save the day when the aisle runner got stuck halfway down the aisle. Our experience with the Hawthorne was amazing from start to finish. I highly recommend them! They are very professional and helpful!

tle higher, but the package is a GREAT deal. Center pieces and cake included in package, as well as a ton of other stuff! Food- Awesome. Great choices, cocktail hour food choices is extensive! Decor: I chose a winter wedding. Hotel was FABULOUS! Decked out for the holidays with poinsettia tree and Christmas trees, and white lights and huge wreaths outside. Killed it! Staff: Easy, friendly, knowledgeable, and go out of their way to make you happy. Cool add ons: Super old hotel with that cool charming feel, not a "hotel ballroom" feel. Cocktail hour space is awesome with fun couches and decor, and above ballroom there is a cute little window to look down on reception space--GREAT for pics! I don't know what else to say, other than this place was magical. They MADE my wedding day. We cannot wait to stay another weekend next year for our anniversary.

everything was taken care of and all of the staff was helpful. The chef made sure to make a meal for me without all of the random things I was allergic to, the front desk staff helped us find all of the things I left behind, and everything was just perfect! Such a great price and incredible value!

night prime time (summer months) package included so many things - centerpieces for tables, the cake, a limo (although we just took the $$ credit for that), open bar during cocktail hour (key!) and a lot more. Alaina was our coordinator and she was fabulous - answered all of our emails and questions promptly and provided informative timelines for when we needed to get stuff done. Liz was our day-of coordinator and she was wonderful as well! We had multiple meetings with Alaina throughout the process, but I met with Alaina and Liz a week ahead of time and gave them all of our "stuff" (decor, escort cards, card box etc) and outlined my vision with them. They definitely pulled it off! We received so many compliments on how lovely the Hawthorne was, how beautiful the ballroom (with those gorgeous tall ceilings!) was, and how professional and pulled together it all seemed. There are so many perks to using the Hawthorne, but one of them is the tasting dinner they provided. The bride & groom + two guests can attend a dinner with other couples getting married soon and they go all out - a full buffet of almost everything you can request for the wedding, passed hor d'ourves, cocktails. The tables are all done in different styles with different centerpieces for inspiration, and your coordinator is there to answer any questions and guide you through their selections. The tasting was a wonderful night in and of itself! I would recommend the Hawthorne to anyone. Compared to other Boston-area venues it is very reasonably priced, and so much is included in the package. It is a beautiful historic hotel and the town of Salem provides an amazing backdrop for pictures. Our guests loved spending a long weekend in Salem!

g. The package includes flowers, limo service, dinner, drinks, a guest book, linens and table settings, ... pretty much everything. It made the planning so much easier than if it was all done through separate vendors. They day of, I had a girl on-site directing everything and everyone. She was just amazing. If you don't want to pull your hair out wedding planning, the Hawthorne is perfect. (Note: I did totally still do some hair-pulling-out... planning a wedding is stressful no matter how amazing the Hawthorne is). I definitely recommend the Hawthorne for a gorgeous, big reception setting!

atering we were able to block rooms at the hotel which was very convenient. The food was fantastic, linens were great, staff was so very friendly and helpful. My only concern is that even the week of the wedding when we gave our final numbers they were not able to quote us an accurate amount of what would be owed. After the wedding we had to pay extra as they forgot to calculate something in. Also they were suppose to send us strawberries and champagne on our wedding night and they got sent to the wrong room.

he weekend before Halloween, which is a very busy season in Salem! We met with Sara Norris and she was amazing from minute one. She was professional and courteous and understood my needs and I felt immediate relief and booked my wedding with them. Over the next few months I had tens of emails and few meetings and all along she was so patient and I always felt that I can depend on her and everyone at hawthorne to execute my vision. The wedding day went flawlessly and with the help of Liz, who was weeding coordinator. She was exactly that I needed that day, Firm and Calm! Our wedding food was delicious, all of our guests loved it. We rented two halls, Sophia's and Essex and the atmosphere was amazing and glamorous, just what I wanted :) Even after the wedding, Sara did help me a lot, when we lost our cutting cake set and mailed it to us!

cake, ballroom, accommodations....everything was fantastic. Liz is a ROCKSTAR! She and the staff went out of their way to make it a memorable evening for us. They took care of every detail and we never once worried about anything. Many, many thanks to the Hawthorne for a night we'll never forget!

anager Alaina Ferriero whom I worked close with through out the entire year planning made everything so easy for me. My husband was so busy working full time and going to school to receive his masters that I needed as much help as possible, and Alaina stepped right in and made my dream wedding come true. She was so easy to work with and talk with that I barely ever had any questions. She is so amazing at what she does and I couldn't of been more pleased! I would recommend the Hawthorne to every bride not only because it's a beautiful historic hotel, but because they have staff like Alaina that will make you feel so at ease throughout your adventures of wedding planning. As we all know how stressful it can be!

illing to answer all our questions and put us at ease, she was great. On the day of the wedding we had Liz as our coordinator and I can't tell you enough how amazing she is! She is SO good at what she does. She was so organized. You can tell she truly cares about what she does. Our wedding day ran so smoothly because the Hawthorne is truly an expert at weddings. I can't recommend the Hawthorne enough!!

ood was incredible, the catering manager I worked with was extremely helpful and was very detail-oriented in our meetings, and seemed to want to get to know us more with each visit. We had a wedding coordinator for the day of the wedding that was so helpful for all five hours we were there, from when we first arrived, were introduced, throughout dinner and dancing, up until when we were leaving to retire to our wedding suite for the night. She assured us that all our gifts and things from the reception would be safe and secure, whether in our room or behind the front desk. It was a little on the pricey side, but worth every penny. And our catering manager never pushed us to add anything- she even helped us get into our budget by deducting an appetizer. I highly recommend the Hawthorne as a location for your wedding ceremony and/or reception.

tiful. Karen, our catering manager, was terrific and gave us lots of options to fit within our budget. She was also very calm and helped us through the planning process. Liz, our event coordinator, was the best. She managed our rehearsal and wedding ceremony and reception. After meeting her the night of the rehearsal, I wasn't nervous at all about the wedding. She kept everything running smoothly and seemed to just magically appear whenever we needed her! All the staff at the Hawthorne were professional and helpful. In my mind we had the perfect wedding!

position, we weren't even sure if we wanted to go through planning another wedding. However living in Salem I had always admired the hotel when passing by so I decided to look into it. I saw there were some winter and early spring special opportunity dates so sent an email inquiry. To my surprise I received an immediate response and had an appointment with the catering sales manager Alaina that week. When we met with Alaina late fall, it was clear that the venue as well as the staff were warm and inviting. Given the great special, we quickly booked our day for March. Alaina was very empathetic to our situation and went out of her way to make planning a wedding in just 4 months feel extremely easy. The entire staff was great to work with throughout the process as well-from attending a wonderful complimentary tasting with the very personable and talented chef Ken to coordinating hotel rooms for our guests. When the big day finally came, nothing could have been better. Guests complimented the food, the service and the beautiful ambiance of the ballroom. Our day of coordinator Liz made me feel so comfortable on that day. She coordinated all logistics that day so that I had nothing to worry about. She coordinated with our band, fed our vendors, helped to set up our photo booth and created the most beautiful display with the cupcakes I had ordered. Any time she needed to pull me away for my first dance or to toss the bouquet she was very calm and professional which allowed me to truly relax and enjoy the day. The next day the staff was very helpful in helping us to pack up all of our belongings and the final bill was within $100 of the estimate Alaina had provided me--there were no hidden expenses. I couldn't be more grateful to everyone at the Hawthorne for allowing us to have such a wonderful experience from start to finish.

by the entire management team, combined with the cozy atmosphere at the hotel, made for a day that we and our guests will never forget. The management team we’ve worked with included Alaina as the catering manager, Liz as the event coordinator, and Jessica for room bookings. In terms of catering, Alaina worked closely with us to make sure that we had everything we wanted. We were also able to remove and add some items from the wedding package to best meet our budget. She worked with some of my family members as well to make sure that wedding favors and room gifts are dispersed properly to our guests. On the day of the occasion, Liz was a highly effective coordinator. She met with the DJ, the staff, the limo driver and the florists and everything was handled flawlessly. And lastly, in terms of bookings, it was obviously a complex process working with all our guests staying at the hotel the night of the event. Jessica worked closely with us to make sure that both our in-town and out-of-town guests had rooms and no one was missed. The hotel online booking management system was also an added perk. Overall - we loved our wedding at the Hawthorne and will without a doubt recommend it!

l in all aspects of planning and we ended up with a more perfect wedding than we could have hoped for! On the day of the event Jessica and the rest of her staff were fantastic! Guests have not stopped raving about how delicious the food was! Really, thank you all so much for everything!

ions, never got inpatient with all of them, and was always pleasant. I did not get to meet Liz until the final meeting prior to the rehearsal. She is so organized and was able to keep people on track so well!!! I absolutely loved having my wedding here and would highly recommend the Hawthorne (and their AMAZING staff). Literally, EVERY staff at the hotel (waiters, front desk, etc) were polite, so helpful, and were prompt at all times. I could not have asked for a better wedding--gigantic THANK YOU to everyone there!!!!

r needs, and answering any questions we had. The food was delicious...the multiple courses provided an extra level of elegance to the evening, and our guests continue to rave about how the food was not typical "wedding food." Head waiter Mike was so attentive to us as the bride and groom throughout the evening. The vendors included in the Hawthorne's wedding package were wonderful, they truly offer everything! The wedding package does all the hard work for you (selecting vendors, negotiating pricing, finding availability, etc.), but allows you to make your wedding unique. It doesn't limit you into cookie cutter choices. We were so happy with the Hawthorne, and can only hope we get invited to a wedding there soon!

when requested resulting in an overcharge of $284. Second: The Hawthorne Hotel wedding coordinator told the DJ to end the event while we were not in the room, causing us to MISS our last dance and have to substitute another one while our guests were wondering what was on earth was going on. Third: The Hawthorne Hotel staff skipped the entire wedding party during the wine pour. Fourth: The Hawthorne Hotel staff ignored the mother of the bride during dinner, took her order and never returned. Fifth: During the majority of the wedding day cocktail hour, the bar only provided white zinfandel to the guests, replying "they ran out of white and red." Only to replenish the supply at the very end of the cocktail hour. Sixth: The following morning at 8 AM, we were awoken by workers and cleaning staff on our floor. Several other guests have commented to us regarding the unacceptable level of noise prior to check out as well. And finally: Montilio's (the cake maker) dropped our wedding cake sometime in the morning. I realized this is not the Hawthorne Hotel's fault, but the hotel's wedding coordinator intentionally kept us in the dark ALL DAY. It wasn't until 5 minutes before we were supposed to be introduced into our reception did the coordinator pull us aside for what was supposed to be our "first look" when my wife stated "Hey That's Not My Cake!" Pretty ridiculous. And if that wasn't enough. The hotel's response was: Thank you for emailing us and speaking to us about your wedding. We regret the trouble you had with Montilio's and we are very glad that George Montilio has been in contact with you. As you dealt with Montilio's separately from the Hawthorne Hotel for your cake, it is appropriate for the two of you to come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement. I wanted to address your request for compensation from the hotel. While this was a situation entirely outside of our control, and which caused us additional work, i am pleased that my staff did so much on your behalf, and worked so hard to try to make things as pleasant as possible for you and your guests. According to our files, you received, with our compliments: International Coffee station Viennese Pastry table Room rental extra 1/2 hour The 25% discount you referred to in your email would come to approximately $___. We feel that since Montilio's was the source of the problems the night of your wedding, and has claimed responsibility for those problems, the Hawthorne Hotel has provided you with adequate compensation already. We know how stressful a wedding can be and pride ourselves on our fantastic reputation in the wedding industry in Massachusetts on the North Shore. Our staff handled the situation according to how the events unfolded. The Hawthorne Hotel feels, as the provision of the aforementioned complimentary stations attest, that we did much to ameliorate your distress at this event. We are sorry for the inconvenience Montilio's caused you, but consider this matter resolved. Since that letter, they have not responded to my emails to address these outstanding issues I mentioned above. I would consider a 25% discount more than fair in addition to the coffee and cookies.

in Sophia's which is a pretty room behind Nathaniel's restaurant. The bartender there, Peter was so accomodating to the guests that they requested him for the wedding. Unfortunately he was not scheduled in the ballroom that evening but he did make a guest appearance to say hello. The only downside of Sophia's is that you have to awkwardly walk through Nathaniel's restaurant while other people are dining. The wedding took place in the ballroom which is absolutely beautiful and needs no extra decorations or embellishments. I honestly think you could do without flower centerpieces the room is that beautiful. The wedding coordinator Liz did a fabulous job in keeping everything moving throughout the night. She even held my bouquet for me and bustled my dress when the bridesmaids were not around. Certain packages at the Hawthorne can be pricey but they do have reasonable prices available. I had a fabulous wedding thanks to the Hawthorne and am so glad to have beautiful pictures and memories from my special day!

catering team prior to the wedding, but it all came together expertly the day of. We also had our rehearsal dinner and brunch at the hotel and service and food quality was amazing. Our guests loved the hotel and had a great time at our wedding. The staff also worked very well with our other vendors too.

ting makes it even more spectacular. It's a little expensive, but worth every penny.

ssional, pleasant and accommodating. We worked closely with Lindsay, Christine, and Liz. The ball room is gorgeous, the food is amazing, and the hotel provides a perfect backdrop for photos! If you are considering the Hawthorne, don't hesitate to book! This was a very organized process and I did not have to worry about a thing on our wedding day.

he seating arrangements to the menu selection, everything was perfect and they made the entire planning process stress-free (god bless them). Leading up to the actual day Lindsay continued to check-in and ensure we had everything we wanted. If we forgot something, she was right there to lend a hand. Finally, when the day came we felt like there were ZERO moments of uncertainty. Lindsay and Natalia were there the entire time helping make what should have been an extremely hectic evening, relaxing and stress-free. Thanks to their excellent event management skills we were able to enjoy our wedding day. We will be forever thankful to the Hawthorne and Peabody Essex Museum for making our day picture perfect. PS. I almost forgot to talk about the food. We opted for a Chilean Sea Bass with Lobster Risotto and the Hawthorne Chicken. Now, I don't know how they pulled this off, but they cooked meals for 150+ people and I heard back from numerous guests that their meal tasted like it was cooked just for them. We agreed completely. Our fish was cooked to perfection and they even managed to keep the green beans crispy. How do you do that when you're cooking for such a large crowd??? Well, I don't know, but they pulled it off. To this day people still tell us how good the food was at our wedding. If you are considering the Hawthorne for your wedding, you can not go wrong. The only difficult decision will be what amazing meal to offer for dinner! We LOVE the Hawthorne!

nd changes made without a hitch, suggestions when needed. Food was FABULOUS and served warm and timely. Staff was so professional we didn't even know they were there. The whole evening was perfect from the coctail hour through dinner and dancing. Our guests were all very impressed. We would highly recommend Hawthorne Catering and PEM for any formal event. They were both terrific.

nators were top notch and helped our bridal party stay calm and relaxed! From getting ready at the hotel until the morning we checked out, they were consistently on top of things and making our night go as smooth as possible. The food was AMAZING. Most people don't expect a five star meal at a wedding, but the Hawthorne proved that wrong and my guests still can't stop talking about how high quality and tasty the food was (that goes for the beef, chicken, and stuffed mushroom!). We came back to the hotel with a surprise card, chocolate covered strawberries, and a bottle of champagne! It was a wonderful way to end the night and was unexpected. I highly reccomend the Hawthorne for whatever event you are planning!

many people without being huge. The Hawthorne Hotel is well-known for their ballroom weddings -- which are gorgeous! -- but we didn't have nor want 150-200 people at our wedding. The Hawthorne also books wedding receptions in their Nathanial's and Sophia's rooms (the restaurant area) which can hold up to 90 people. It was perfect for us: a 1920s hotel in a cozy but spacious venue with rich colors and crystal chandeliers! The food was amazing, and from hor d'oeurves to dessert no detail in the presentation was overlooked. The package we booked included the flowers, cake, and a few other odds and ends. Peter Barter Florist provided the table flowers, and everyone raved about them. Montilio's made our cake -- people loved it so much they took home pieces. Everyone on the staff amazed us, planners, day-of coordinators, wait staff, bartenders. My husband and I live 2 hours away from Salem currently, and because of my work and travel schedule, most of the correspondence was through email, and when I could get into town the were completely understanding of my hectic schedule. Everything was efficient and friendly, they are quite the professionals, and the entire affair was easy. Everyone wondered why I was so calm through the entire wedding planning process (I was finishing grad school, teaching a course, and planning a wedding), and it was due to the incredible staff at the Hawthorne and their vendors. So many people have said that this was the best wedding -- and the best party -- they have ever been to, and I would have to enthusiasticaly agree!

and exceeded all of our expectations. They even added extra decoration, to our surprise, that looked amazing. I wouldn't change anything about our wedding day, it was amazing. We have the Hawthorne Hotel staff to thank for that.

and there. From the moment we met L. Otis we knew it would be perfect. We were very upfront and told them our budget and time constraints and we were told, " no problem, we can help you and work in your budget". How often have you heard those words when planning a wedding. They kept to their promise and our wedding was perfect and within our budget. Katelyn wanted different. Fall elements with crystal trees. Pictures beforehand called first look. Purple and orange for colors. Lindsay gave me the list of vendors. Darlene was magnificent from Flowers by Darlene. She had to work via email and meetings and it was great. She did trees and we had 25 crystals hanging off of them with alternating tables with fall decorations in pumpkins. Everyone raved over them. David LaChappell the photographer did every picture the bride and groom wanted. He was creative, kind, professional and the pics are more than we hoped for. The Hawthorne Hotel itself was incredible. Our guest were from across the country. They were wonderful with all the accomadation needs. But the wedding is where they excelled. Liz told me not to worry on the day of the wedding and I didn't. Everything was in place. everything went as planned. There is not ONE thing they could have done better. The food was so incredible and plentiful. When was the last time you went to an event and walked away shaking your head going WOW well that is what our guests did. It is now three weeks later and people are still sending us notes raving about the event. Most of our nieces and nephews have been married within the last 10 years. Even their parents have been moved by our wedding. If you are reading this and have any questions my email is at the end. Feel free to use it and ask me anything. My advice, stay true to yourselves and your budget. Work it out before you go so they can work with you. We did not have one surprise charge as I hear some people do. They keep you up to date, you pay over time in the months beforehand and the stress is just not there. Weddings should be once in a lifetime. Hawthorne Hotel made our daughters dream a reality and I am sure they can do it for you as well. Congrats on your upcoming event. Cheryl cheryl.baxter3@gmail.com

went without flaw. The entire catering/wait staff was exceptional the day of the wedding. They all had a great eye for detail and were very accommodating. The entire staff seemed very cohesive, and all our guests loved the hall, food and drink. My husband and I felt at ease working with the Hawthorne knowing we wouldn't have to worry about anything but enjoying ourselves - which we did!

n't offer, but Lindsay worked with the chef to make it happen and they were fabulous.) The service from the staff was outstanding, and the food itself was presented well and delicious. We would have no reservations recommending the Hawthorne Hotel for catering. They played a critical role in our special day, and didn't let us down in the least.

be the one working our event. Also, the food we got on the night of the wedding didn't even compare to what we got at the tasting. We had the baked haddock with a beure blanc sauce and lobster risotto. The sauce had turned pink, and the fish had no flavor (very unlike our tasting). However, the stuffed chicken and steak combo dish got rave reviews from our guests. Overall our experience with the Hawthorne was okay.

was great in helping us plan leading up to the event, and during the reception I had a staff member just to me! I did not worry about a thing the entire night and could just enjoy every moment. I highly recommend this venue, for the service, price, elegance, and location. I loved knowing that our out of town guests were within walking distance to great attractions, restaurants, and bars to make a weekend of their stay coming for our wedding. I have had nothing but great feedback from all our guests!

ackage make planning so easy because the food, cake, limo, flowers were all included. We had a lot of stress the day before the wedding with our photographer & DJ dropping out, and our day off coordinator (Alaina) was so calming and helped make everything turn out perfect. The food was incredible and the ballroom was beautiful. I love the Hawthorne Hotel.

epresents a lot of the history from where we both grew up. The high ceilings, chandeliers, and huge windows are stunning. The food was awesome and the service was outstanding- people commented that they felt they were being served dinner at a nice restaurant, not at a typical wedding. The staff at the Hawthorne was so helpful during the planning process and were always ready to answer our questions. We heard great reviews about the Hawthorne before choosing it and now we know why there are so many positive reviews!