Peabody Essex Museum

Our wedding day was absolutely magical beyond what we could've hoped for, and so much of it is thanks to the support and opportunities offered to use by Natalia and the team at large at the PEM. We had a wedding of 80-90 guests and held our ceremony in the Main Atrium, the cocktail hour by the Garden, and the reception in the East India Marine Hall, with every room more beautiful than the last. Full-support coordination made it so that we didn't even need to hire a wedding planner, the PEM team was so totally on the ball and there for us at every turn. Hiring the PEM as your venue is choosing an incredible venue at a beyond reasonable price, managed by kind, generous, supportive staff. If you are considering the PEM: Pick it. You won't regret it.

This venue is absolutely stunning. My wedding was here about 6 months ago and my guests still talk about how it was the best wedding they've ever been too. The museum wedding coordinators are also fantastic. 10/10 recommend

What an absolutely wonderful place to host our dream wedding!! The venue is spacious and beautiful (great for larger weddings of 200+), and everything ran so efficiently. One underrated component is how beautiful the lighting is in the evening in the West India Room where our ceremony was held. And Natalia was incredibly helpful in coordinating vendors and everything else.

PEM is such a unique and beautiful venue - we absolutely loved allowing our guests to be able to experience the beauty of the space during our wedding. Natalia was the best to work with - very professional and buttoned up, but also incredibly kind, empathetic, and flexible based on our needs. Overall, we would absolutely recommend PEM as a wedding venue. The only thing that was a bit challenging during our experience was the venue's caterer, which provided very high quality food that everyone loved but was also very expensive. It's a good idea to get a sense of the full scale of the cost of the caterer before committing to PEM.

We had our wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum in May 2023 and I couldn't have imagined a better venue. Working with Natalia was amazing - she was incredibly kind, knowledgeable and responsive and made sure everything was perfect for our day. We were surrounded by so much love and care from the Peabody Essex team! So many guests commented on how beautiful the venue was with all of the art and how delicious the food was. I would recommend the Peabody Essex Museum to anyone looking for a wedding venue in Massachusetts - Salem is such a cute area as well for guests to explore. Thank you so much to Natalia and the Peabody team for making everything run smoothly - it was the perfect day!

We cannot recommend the Peabody Essex Museum enough! My husband and I had the chance to celebrate our big day at the museum this past September, and the entire experience from start to finish was flawless. Natalia, the coordinator for the museum, was the epitome of professionalism and was on top of every single detail and deadline. She took our panicked calls with grace, and her vast experience helped immensely in ensuring a completely flawless execution on the day-of. We cannot thank Natalia and the rest of the staff at the museum enough! Also, while the pictures certainly showcase the beauty of the venue, it must be experienced in person. From the various galleries, halls, garden and atrium, this is truly a unique and beautiful venue unlike any other. Pair that with the perfect location in downtown Salem, with multiple hotels and restaurants within walking distance, makes for an incredibly convenient venue. Overall the Peabody Essex Museum is an amazing spot and we could not recommend it enough!

We had our wedding here in June 2023 and it was the most amazing time. The venue is so beautiful, we got wonderful first look photos right outside of the museum next to the trees that are painted blue. The ceremony went wonderfully in the East India Marine Hall and the reception in the Atrium was a blast. Natalia was always very communicative and happy to answer any and all of my questions and she made sure that there were enough high chairs for the toddlers who attended and she made sure that there was no problem with using the lighting selection I wanted. We loved this venue and we plan on visiting the museum every so often because it's just so wonderful.

The PEM was a fantastic venue. Natalia helped make our vision a reality and was very easy to work with. The whole team there was wonderful from start to finish!

Our wedding couldn't have been more perfect and we have Natalia and everyone at the PEM as well as Gourmet Caterers to thank. Prior to the wedding, Natalia and Ana were there to answer any and every question we had. We were also able to schedule multiple visits to go over wedding day logistics. We selected to have our ceremony in the main atrium, cocktails in the garden atrium and reception in the East India Hall. Our guests loved that they were able to view artwork as they walked through. They also commented on how wonderful the dinner service and waitstaff was. I wouldn't change one thing about our wedding and highly recommend the PEM as a venue for anyone looking for a unique experience for the wedding party and guests.

We had our wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum in December 2021 (after 2 reschedules during COVID). We chose PEM because it is a unique and beautiful location (not too stereotypically wedding-y) and also offers a pretty turn-key solution for weddings. We used all of the PEM suggested vendors which made planning relatively simple. Echoing many of the reviews here, Natalia is amazing to work with. She is responsive and patient and she is able to pull from years of experience to provide advice and vendor recommendations. She and the rest of the staff made our wedding night so fun and seamless. In the end, our guests all said they had a great time and a regular comment was how incredible the space was. 10/10 experience at PEM and I recommend it completely!

When our wedding night finally arrived after two-and-a-half years of planning, there were a lot of emotions -- happy tears from us and the staff who had been on this journey with us through the ups and downs. We were fully taken care of from the moment we stepped inside until the last guest left with Natalia (PEM) and Ann (Gourmet) helping with last-minute to-dos and tweaking the schedule throughout the night to ensure that my husband and I, and all of our guests, had everything we needed to fully enjoy the night without any stress. The venue itself is gorgeous and offers guests an added experience with surprise reveals throughout the space, the food is the highest quality with wide-ranging options, and the staff was both extremely professional and also really fun! Here's our quick story about the absolute gem that is PEM: While it was admittedly not what we were initially looking for, we immediately knew it was right on our first visit: a unique blend of modern and quite literally historic, which impresses each time you turn a corner from one space to the next. The staff, Natalia in particular, gave us the no-pressure tour and walked us through the whole experience. When we went back to sign the contract, I decided to flip everything on its head to make sure our white-tie wedding was exactly how I envisioned it. They worked with us on every detail and we were all set for our 2020 winter wedding until Covid shut it all down. Natalia worked with us to rebook for NYE (even more exciting) the following year without any issues. Then another round of Covid restrictions. Natalia and their catering partner Gourmet jumped on dozens of calls helping us workshop logistics and backup plans, and in the end, they made us extremely comfortable with whatever direction we ended up taking. Ultimately we pulled the plug for a second time just a week before and immediately rescheduled to Memorial Day Weekend 2022. We worked with Natalia and Ann (from Gourmet) to redesign the winter wedding of our dreams into a summer version. We tweaked the menu, played with the flow of the space, and in the end, we pulled off the perfect night. We're smiling from ear to ear in every photo, and the PEM staff was a big part of that. The way PEM and Gourmet treated us through really difficult times showed their true character to be genuinely invested in their clients' experience. If you're looking for a venue that feels both impressive but intimate, fancy but not overstated, and unique, at least go take a tour. I feel like the options to personalize it are endless and the backdrops for photos throughout the museum are an added bonus.

Having our wedding at a museum was such an experience for us and our guests, but especially more so at the PEM. We couldn't get over how beautiful PEM is, and all our guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves, especially in the Chamber of Light and Shadows room. We worked with an amazing team, and Natalia and her team are top tiered - they're all kind, responsive, and are so willing to help make your vision for your dream wedding come true. Definitely recommend them!

We had the most amazing experience working with Natalia and the rest of the team at PEM. Natalia made planning our wedding an absolutely stress-free and joyful process. Our day came together so perfectly, and it was more than anything we could have imagined. Our guests had the most incredible time, and we would get married there all over again if we could!

After Natalia helped work out availability for an evening proposal to end 2020, we knew we wanted to plan our wedding at the PEM as well. Although the pandemic threw a number of challenges our way, Natalia kept every step of planning stress-free. Our wedding was exactly what we wanted, thanks to Natalia's expertise and her team's professionalism. We are so glad that the Peabody Essex Museum is part of our story!

Not only is the venue a gorgeous and romantic spot for a wedding and reception, it was an absolute pleasure and a joy to work with the Event Director, Natalia Laskaris. We had the misfortune of having to postpone my daughter’s wedding twice because of Covid. Natalia could not have been more kind and accommodating. We had to pivot many times, and the museum made it as stress-free for us as possible. I would enthusiastically recommend the museum for a lovely and memorable event.

The Peabody Essex museum is as close to divinity a wedding can be. You are surrounded by art that is captivating or strikes you with beauty. My wedding photos are truly unique. I am so happy to have gotten married at a museum for many other reasons, like I can go back and visit the rooms I got married in!! The staff was on point and did everything with precision. Natasha, the lady in charge, is so kind and helpful. She made the whole process so smooth! 5 well deserved stars.

Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine planning a wedding would be so stress-free, but Natalia at the Peabody Essex Museum knew exactly what we needed before we did. She was a delight to work with, always available to answer our questions or offer her advice. She is both very professional and organized ... as well as sweet and fun. The venue itself ... I mean what can be said?! It's a beautiful museum and so you are surrounded by art and architecture that is breathtaking. The main atrium is the perfect spot for a reception, the East India Marine Hall is open and bright and makes a perfect ceremony location, and the Garden Atrium lends itself to a perfect relaxed cocktail hour. The photos we got at this venue are spectacular and can't be beat!! Book here if you want a gorgeous and stress-free wedding!!

If you are looking for a beautiful, open concept, unique, easy to work with venue - look no further! From the moment we met Natalia (the event coordinator) we knew Peabody Essex Museum was going to be the right fit for our wedding. Natalia was fun to work with and her knowledge and vendor recommendations helped make the planning process as easy as can be. The wedding weekend itself was made extra special by the tucked away cozy feel of Salem which has plenty to offer guests in the hours leading up to the wedding. We were happy to be able to hold the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all within different rooms of the Peabody Essex Museum which led to an enchanting and uninterrupted experience for all. This is a magical venue and highly recommended.

The Peabody Essex Museum is a HIDDEN GEM tucked within the cobblestone streets of Salem! And, it’s the PERFECT VENUE for a wedding! Not only is it a unique venue, but the staff is incredibly kind and knowledgeable, especially Natalia Laskaris (Director of Events). My husband and I were absolutely blown away by Natalia’s composure, professionalism and talent throughout every step of the planning process. We were most notably grateful for some advice she shared in the home-stretch; it truly helped us enjoy every moment of the wedding we worked so hard to plan. We couldn’t have picked a better venue for such an important occasion — mainly because of Natalia!

Our wedding at PEM was absolutely perfect thanks largely in part to Natalia and the PEM team. Even though we had to reschedule our wedding due to COVID, Natalia helped to make the entire experience completely stress free. We are so thankful to have had such an accommodating and genuine coordinator at such a beautiful and unique venue. The reception went flawlessly, which is a testament to the great leadership and coordination of the PEM staff.

I can't recommend PEM enough! Natalia was amazing to work with from Day 1. We wanted a unique wedding venue and PEM truly offers it all -- a beautiful outdoor garden, a romantic, windowed ballroom for the ceremony, and a spacious atrium that can transformed into almost any theme imaginable. Plus amazing backdrops for your wedding photos! Our original wedding date was Aug. 1 and while we ended up having to reschedule & then ultimately cancel, Natalia was so supportive from start to finish. For those who want a high-quality venue but also a truly empathetic coordinator, look no further than PEM!

We booked with the PEM in the fall of 2019 for a May 2020 wedding date, ultimately we didn't have our wedding here due to COVID-19, but we had such a great experience with PEM & Natalia so we wanted to leave a review. We searched 10+ venues in MA but after touring the PEM, we knew a wedding here would be amazing, pretty much for all the reasons described in the reviews about the space. Natalia was so upfront about everything, she comes up with creative ideas and was not only pleasant to work with on day 1 but all through the planning process, pandemic and multiple reschedules. She was so responsive and was always willing to work through the multiple challenges that stood between us and our perfect day. Part of us feels like we actually had our wedding at PEM because of all the planning and dreaming and we're so happy to say that we still have good memories of this place despite the pandemic. I would highly recommend this venue to a couple or anyone planning a special event!

Natalia and The PEM staff should most definitely be in the running for providing a superior wedding experience! When a family begins the process of planning a wedding, and I'm sure that I can speak for most, It's overwhelming! From day one, Natalia's confidence in the PEM venue, staff , and caterers came through as a reassurance for us that this experience would be all we imagined. They did not disappoint! In fact, it was above and beyond what we had imagined. The recommendations for all services such as flowers, musics, cakes, were spot on with respect to quality, and suited our needs and tastes, as you quickly assessed. In addition, the schedule proposed for us for to help the evening flow, was gently and respectfully prompted by Natalia herself, and the friendly and professional staff on hand that evening. I was grateful and somewhat relieved to have some time to speak with Natalia the day before as the wedding. I was a little nervous in wanting to fulfill my responsibilities as a hostess. Her reassurance that day and during the reception was most helpful in helping me work through my feelings. I had such fun in the end!. We felt so special to be the first wedding to be held after the opening of the new wing, that very day. More credit to Natalia, Gourmet Caterers , and your staff for accommodating the 6000 visitors that day, and then setting up for our magical experience in the new wing and main dining room. I will remember this day as one of the most special of my life!. With Appreciation, June Kazes, MOB

My husband and I held our wedding ceremony in East India Marine Hall and our reception in the Atrium, it was just perfect. We stayed in downtown Salem (such a cute town) and walked to the museum. People cheered as we walked to the museum and we felt like everyone was wishing us well. It felt amazing. Once we got to the museum we didn’t have to worry about a thing, Natalia & her team had it covered. The rooms looked beautiful and everything was as we expected, if not better. We used Gourmet Catering and the food was delicious. My friends and family keep telling me it was the best wedding they’ve been to – that says it all.

We knew we didn't want our wedding in a hotel or typical wedding venue, and the moment we walked into the Peabody Essex Museum, I knew it was the one! The Atrium has a modern elegance about it with sky-high ceilings and is just so magical at night when the sun sets. We had our ceremony in East India Marine Hall, which was perfect for our larger guest count and then our reception in the Atrium. When our guests walked into the Atrium, they were all in awe and I was so proud that we were able to celebrate our wedding here. Natalia was amazing from start to finish and she really is such a calming force. I also loved the fact that our wedding turned into a "destination wedding" as all guests stayed in Salem for the weekend and our guests commented at how great it was to just be able to walk to everything. Perfect perfect perfect from start to finish and I only wish I could relive it over again!

This past Summer I got married, and my wife and I selected the Peabody Essex Museum as or reception space. We honestly never looked at another venue. After visiting the PEM, meeting with Natalia, and Henry, we were sold. Throughout the initial conversation, we could really tell how much Natalia cared about delivering our vision. She was present and focused throughout every conversation we had, and always made herself available for questions. Whether it was our first meeting, planning meetings along the way, final meetings a few weeks before, and the night of the event, Natalia was there every time with a smile on, ready to do everything she could to make our wedding perfect. The space is breathtaking already, but working with Henry to tweak the lighting was fantastic. We really can’t say enough about how perfect our day was, and how working with the PEM and their amazing staff made that possible. Everything was truly flawless thanks in part to Natalia, Henry, and the PEM team.

The Space: The Peabody Essex Museum is a wonderful blank canvas that you have unlimited design options to play with. Whatever theme or look you’re going for; the museum will take it to the next level. I had my doubts on how this very white and “clean” space would be able to transform into a magical and romantic space but as soon as the sun starts setting and the way the lights illuminate the high ceilings and sails…it will take your breath away. Words can’t describe what only photos can show! AND it was a cool feeling being able to party surrounded by history and art. You can take really interesting wedding portraits in different areas of the museum as well so if you’re feeling artistic, edgy or classy; there’s a space that will let you express that! Let your imagination run wild and let the museum be your design canvas! The team: Natalia and her team are the most gracious, accommodating and friendliest people you’ll ever work with! They will literally work their butts off to make your special day a truly unique experience. They were always transparent, honest and great with communication throughout the planning process. On the day of the wedding, Natalia was always around to make sure my husband and I were well hydrated or fed, she made sure my family and guests were all doing okay throughout the night. When we were thirsty, she gave us water and drinks IN PAPER STRAWS. WE LOVE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS ORGANIZATION AND ITS COORDINATOR! It made me love her even more, she is the best! This attention to detail only goes to show how much she cares for you, the place and your event so I highly recommend this as one of the most unique and creative venues you’ll ever look at.

We had our wedding at PEM in late August and could not imagine planning anything better. Salem is the perfect wedding town for guests to visit somewhere unique and fall in love with. Small enough to run into your guests all over town, but large enough to have great restaurants and things to do. The museum is beautiful and we couldn't ask for a better venue for an unforgettable ceremony and party. Natalia allowed us to execute our vision while supplying her expertise to ensure we didn't go wrong in any decision making. Our family and friends have not stopped talking about our wedding and how special it was. Thank you Natalia and PEM!

We had our wedding at the PEM in September and we were BLOWN away with the venue. When we first booked in the winter we could only use our imagination for what the end results would be. The event coordinator Natalia was by far the easiest person to work with. She had genuine interest in our choices and set up leading to the big event. She cares so much for the venue and does her best at guiding you to make the best choices and puts no pressure on anything. Her responsiveness was extremely fast which made planning so easy. I cannot express enough how beautiful the space was and the crew at PEM was extremely professional. All of our friends and family were amazed with how extravagant the ceremony and reception looked. I love PEM!

We had the most wonderful wedding reception at the PEM. It's a gorgeous space and offered a unique experience for our guests. Natalia Laskaris is incredibly professional and wonderful to work with. She and her team made wedding planning so much easier. We were lucky to have the cocktail hour in the brand new Garden Atrium, which coincidentally had their grand opening the same day as our wedding. PEM pulled off the events seamlessly! I highly recommend this location!

While the museum space speaks for itself with beauty and elegance, the PEM staff matches with their level or professionalism and assistance. Natalia took our vision and made it become reality in a gorgeous way. I can't recommend working with Natalia and everyone at PEM to make for a wedding that is exactly matched to your dream. We absolutely loved every minute of our wedding day because it was exactly what we wanted and the space wows every single time.

Everything was great - food etc! Natalia was so sweet and we love the museum. It felt more comfortable than the other venues we visited which were more like wedding factories and would focus on spending time gushing over ring, engagement etc (so not us!) Natalia kept it real and we felt much more comfortable with her.

When my husband and I got engaged and began discussing locations for our wedding, the Peabody Essex Museum was top of the list from the start. The transformation of the Atrium from a museum gathering place to cocktail and wedding reception space is like no other. Working with Natalia left us with full assurance that when we and our guests entered the venue everything would be perfect, and it was. Henry was also amazing, taking care of all our lighting requests and even offering his own suggestions, which we loved. From the light projection on the wall and dancefloor, to collaborating with the catering company, greeting us at the front door, and ensuring that we got to take pictures in all the best spots around the museum. We truly could not have asked for a more beautiful location, and an amazing team of staff. It is because of Natalia and her team being so strong, that we were able to simply enjoy the wedding with no worries, and for that we are truly grateful. Our guests were all astounded with the venue, and we knew they would be!

The Peabody Essex Museum is an absolute dream venue!! I cannot recommend it more highly. My husband and I got married there in January 2019 and are so pleased that we picked this special and gorgeous venue. We worked closely with Natalia on the details of the wedding and she was so kind, warm, and calm that there is no way you can be anything but relaxed on your wedding day! She was patient with our questions, helped us figure out the best on-site location for our ceremony, and was so helpful day of (she even helped my sister figure out how to bustle my dress!). She really cares about ensuring that your wedding is special and flawless. We loved working with her! Gourmet Caterers is the exclusive caterer for the venue and they are also outstanding. Natalia and the Gourmet specialists (we worked with Jeanne and Courtney who are amazing!) work so well together and were awesome at helping deal with all the details for the big day and making sure that we didn't miss anything. It made things so easy! Plus it doesn't hurt that the food is unbelievably good :) Again, I can't recommend the PEM enough!!!

We got married at the Peabody Essex Museum in the summer 2018 and it was just perfect!! Not only was the museum the perfect location for our reception but Salem was such a fun city to host all our out-of-state guests!! The hotels were walking distance to our ceremony at Old Town Hall then we all walked to the museum. We had such a great time at our reception at the museum! Natalia had everything set just like we planned so we didn't have to worry about anything! The venue was beautiful!!! At night the Atrium is breathtaking and once you see it set with all the little details you worked so hard on it's perfect!! We had a blast at our reception at the museum - I would definitely recommend it!!

We had a lovely wedding reception at the PEM! The space could not have been more beautiful, we were taken care of when we arrived early for pictures, and our guests absolutely loved that they could take a reprieve and check out the exhibits during the reception.

To say we had the most perfect wedding reception at the Peabody Essex Museum would be an understatement. From the first day that we saw the venue, Natalia was super responsive, accommodating, sweet, and flexible with us and what we envisioned for our wedding day. She eased our minds during every step of the way and not only made the planning process easy but enjoyable. When our wedding day arrived, she took care of everything and we were in awe when we walked into the cocktail hour/reception. Everything looked absolutely beautiful and was laid out exactly how we wanted it to be. They did a phenomenal job transforming the space into a stunning room that all of our guests were extremely impressed by. Even three months after the wedding, we are still receiving compliments about how beautiful the venue was and surpassed everyone’s expectations. We are so thankful for everyone at the PEM and highly recommend it!

We got married in June 2018 at P.E.M., and it was WONDERFUL!!! I cannot think of a single thing that Natalia and her crew could have done better. Her many years of experience were SO reassuring, as she helped us navigate the many decisions about music, food, flowers, and other vendors. The space itself is stunning (as one can see in the photos), and the acoustics were great for both chamber music before the ceremony and full-tilt rock n' roll after dinner. We found the time available for our Saturday wedding to be somewhat limited (the Museum cannot open the space until 7 p.m. and it has to close at midnight), and so if that feels like a tight limit, I would suggest holding the ceremony off-site at the Old Town Hall in Salem. We chose not to do that because we had some elderly guests and we thought it might be difficult to move people from one place to the next. But, in retrospect, maybe we would have chosen differently. That said, whether you start at Town Hall, or instead hold the entire event at P.E.M. (which is what we did), you will be very happy with the ambiance, staff support, and beautiful space at P.E.M.

We got married in July 2018, and we couldn't be more thrilled with our PEM wedding! The Atrium itself is absolutely stunning and photographs beautifully. Our guests were all very impressed! More importantly, we had an amazing experience working with Natalia. She is incredibly sweet, responsive, attentive and reassuring - especially towards the end when the stress of wedding planning really kicked in! She truly cared about making our day perfect, and always made us feel like she was as excited as we were for the big day. Our wedding was exactly what we wanted (and more!), and we owe that to Natalia for her attention to detail and for going above and beyond to make the planning process as easy as possible for us. We can't say thank you enough!!!

My husband and I celebrated our wedding at PEM this past May and it was incredible! We loved the Atrium space from our first visit, but when we saw it decorated and designed for our special day, it was more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. Natalia and the team at PEM kept us so relaxed throughout the entire planning process, and were so kind to us all along. From answering our small questions to helping us lay out our special day, we couldn’t have asked for more. We wholeheartedly recommend this venue for a wedding, and are still receiving comments from happy guests as well!

Natalia and her staff are amazing! We had our daughters wedding in the atrium in September and from the start of planning to the day of the reception Natalia was extremely helpful and responsive and so easy to work with. The coordination with the Hawthorne Hotel was also seamless! Everyone knew what to do and when to do it which allowed us all to relax and have a great time! The atrium was more beautiful than I could have imagined! Our guest felt as if they were at an elegant "gala"!! Thank you PEM for wonderful wedding!!

From the very beginning, Natalia made us feel comfortable and offered her help in any way we needed. Natalia was always there when we needed her and her advice was right on point. I can't say enough about Natalia and the PEM as a wedding venue. Natalie made my daughter's vision come true, and I can truly say that is not an easy task. She listened to exactly what we wanted, and made my daughter's wedding day memorable. I can truly say Natalia is number one in her field, and she deserves a five star rating for patience, her kindness, and most of all her professional and personal touch to every wedding. Thank you PEM and Natalia.

I can't say enough about how happy we were to have chosen the Peabody Essex to host our wedding reception. From the start, Natalia was so easy to work with, and put my mind at ease many times throughout the process. Natalia and her team are just amazing. The atrium is just stunning, and we still have guests raving to us about what a fantastic venue it was. If we could do it all over again, we wouldn't change a thing!

Sophisticated but not stuffy is the best way to describe this venue. Our wedding was very elegant but fun and the venue set the exact right tone. Natalia is a pro and worked well with all of the vendors (some of who were on the PEM recommended list, and some who were not) and helped make our night spectacular. It was totally seamless and it exceeded all expectations.

We couldn't be happier about how our wedding reception at the PEM turned out. The space was beautiful, and Natalia and the staff were extremely helpful in making it a beautiful event. The Atruim has a well earned reputation for being a beautiful event space, but until you're in there with the lights down and everything set up, it's hard to fully comprehend how amazing it really is. From our the earliest days of our planning, Natalia helped us stay on track so that by the day of the event, our vendors knew what to do and we just got to focus on our guests. We didn't need a separate wedding planner because the PEM does such a good job with day of coordination. As soon as we arrived at the PEM on the day of, they made sure we ate, and the took us into the museum for pictures which was such a cool experience. And for the rest of the event they handled the schedule of things like the first dances and cake cutting, so that all we had to do was have fun. We highly recommend the PEM and Natalia for your wedding reception (or any event). It was white glove service from start to finish and a spectacular way to celebrate with our friends and family.

The Peabody Essex Museum is a phenomenal venue for many reasons: (1) The atrium is a gorgeous, dramatic, unique space that looks stunning in person and in photos. The architecture is amazing, with high ceilings and windows but it is also neutral so you truly make it your own and you have a lot of options and flexibility for how to decorate. (2) Natalia is fantastic to work with. She has great knowledge of the industry and vendors and gave us really good advice throughout the process. She was also very flexible and accommodated our many requests and vendors despite the added complexity. Everything was perfectly executed on the day of despite some of the complicated logistics involved, and it was in no small part due to Natalia’s level of organization and dedication. (3) Having the wedding in the Museum was really special because we were able to take photos in the museum galleries (though galleries are closed to guests during the reception for good reason) and were able to give our guests museum passes in the welcome bags, and everyone really loved being able to explore the museum during the weekend. (4) The PEM is in a great location where guests can stay at one of the many hotels that are in walking distance of the venue and take advantage of the great restaurants and things to do in the area throughout the weekend. It made everything very easy from a logistical standpoint. All in all, I highly recommend the PEM for all of the reasons outlined above. It will make for a truly special venue to celebrate your wedding!

My partner and I just hosted our reception at the Peabody Essex Museum, and she and could not be happier with our experience. It was stellar! Working with Natalia was an absolute pleasure, and the space was a stunning setting for our reception. We had quite a few of our guests (many of whom work in the arts, as we do) comment on how wonderful the museum's atrium setting was, and, they were thankful for the opportunity to be in Salem for the day and take advantage of the museum as well. We used the Hawthorne for a caterer and the planning integration between them and the museum was seamless. Moreover, we wanted to have a masquerade reception, it being October, and Natalia worked with us to make that happen. Finally, Natalia worked with our photographer to get us into a few beautiful gallery spaces for photos after hours. If you are looking for elegance and the arts, all with the beauty and quirkiness of Salem as an environment, look no further than the Peabody Essex Museum.

I cannot not say enough nice things about Natalia Laskaris and the Peabody Essex Museum. The venue has such a high-end, modern feel in the middle of quaint, old New England Salem. It is absolutely gorgeous! Natalia is kind, helpful and more than accomodating. I don't think I could have made it through the planning process without her.

My husband and I had the best time working with Natalia Laskaris and the Peabody Essex Museum while planning our reception in August. We were looking at museums for our reception, and the PEM was a location that was stunning and unique without needing a lot of extra decoration. Natalia was kind, personable, professional, knowledgeable, and really fun to work with. Any time my husband and I had questions, Natalia responded in a timely manner by phone or email. The reception went off without a hitch, so much of it to do with the hard work Natalia and her staff put in prior to and on the wedding day. We and our guests had an amazing time at the PEM, and we cannot recommend Natalia and the PEM highly enough. Thank you!!!

My husband and I got married at the Peabody Essex Museum this August in the Atrium. We were over the moon with the location when we first saw it and it lived up to its first impression. We've heard from many family and friends how much they loved the venue and enjoyed the evening. Not only is the location lovely on its own, but Natalia and her team, as well as Hawthorne Catering, were such an amazing team to work with. Natalia proved us with much insight when we probed her with multiple questions and was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. The PEM team was there every step of the way included the night of, where not only did we have a day of coordinator from PEM, but from Hawthorne catering. We had all hands on deck and the night was successful! We are so grateful for the beautiful location and amazing team and would not change a thing about our big day!

My daughter's wedding reception was held at the PEM and it was an incredible evening. The museum's wedding coordinator (Natalia) was very professional, helpful and organized. She was always available throughout the entire planning process and coordinated efficiently with all of the vendors. Her thoroughness was so reassuring. The venue is very striking and spacious allowing for lots of dancing. We were so happy that we chose the the PEM!

I cannot imagine my wedding reception anywhere other than the Peabody Essex Museum. If you are looking for a gorgeous venue, protected from the elements and flexible for a bigger or smaller crowd, amazing people to work with (Natalia and Liz) and a space that is just totally unique both inside and outside, this is the place. We had our cocktail hour and reception in the Atrium (cocktail hour in the Atrium spine and reception in the main Atrium). Words do not do it justice – go look at the photos online and I will update when I receive my professional ones. The soaring ceilings catch the early evening light and then light up the beautiful sails once it’s dark. The balconies make for amazing photos and my husband and I had fun looking over the cocktail hour while we took a few photos up above – we felt like we were still part of the party. Then you can do your entrance by walking across the balcony and waving down at the whole reception – just awesome! We also took some large group photos with the group on the dance floor looking up at the photographer shooting from the balcony. The space held 230 people very comfortably (we invited 315) and felt like one big party (no separate rooms or partitions). Natalia was amazing from start to finish – she’s super responsive and willing to work with you. We had a kid’s table and she suggested using a table the museum had in their Discovery Center and she even used all blue chairs to match our colors! As we got closer to the wedding, Natalia went over each and every detail with us, entertaining questions from both of us and both of our parents. The day-of, Liz was with us and she was on top of everything. Although there are a few options for food, we went with Hawthorne, who does the museum’s regular catering as well. Separate review on them (they were awesome, food was amazing), but just to say they work seamlessly with Natalia and the museum, it really feels like one team that is working with you. They are completely in sync. My husband and I loved Peabody Essex Museum for our wedding day and we also think it is really special that it is a place we will go back and visit for years to come.

We had our wedding reception on May 27 2017 at PEM. Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Natalia was great to work with, responsive to questions and receptive to any alternate ideas we had. The venue itself is totally transformed from what it looks like during museum hours to a marvelous open area with spacious room for tables and large dance/band floor. Our reception was at night, so the twilight sky followed by the perfect uplighting made the space absolutely stunning. We went with Hawthorne Catering, and the food and service were outstanding. We were also lucky enough to get some great pictures in the East India room. I have to say, when we started looking for wedding venues, we checked out countless hotels with ballrooms. Guess what? Nobody remembers the ballroom weddings. Everyone will remember our wedding in the Peabody Essex Museum!

Our reception at the Peabody Essex Museum was incredible-the atrium makes a for a beautiful and unique space for a wedding reception. Natalia was so helpful through the entire planning process and took care of every detail for us. We had an amazing wedding thanks to her and the PEM!

My daughter and her husband had their wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum in January of 2016. Although the weather outside was dreadful, the wedding and reception went without a hitch! Natalia Laskaris and her team went above and beyond their duties to have a perfectly coordinated event! The venue is spectacular to the point that it almost doesn’t need any decorations. It elevates any reception to the highest level The couple only had special lighting as decor and the place looked sophisticated and classy. The dancing space is plentiful. I highly recommend the Peabody Essex Museum to any couple looking for their perfect place!

My husband and I had our reception at the PEM in December 2016, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the entire experience. From the moment we toured the facility, through every planning meeting, email and phone call, it was clear that we were in excellent hands throughout the planning process. Natalia was simply incredible in helping us prepare for our big day. She couldn't be more pleasant, calming, and knowledgeable with all aspects of planning and execution. The reception went off without a hitch, and we owe that largely in part to Natalia's amazing efforts and expertise as well as her staff's incomparable level of hospitality. Our guests were absolutely floored with the venue and the compliments haven't stopped! The atrium of the museum offers an unforgettable, unique atmosphere that promises to impress. In addition, it’s located conveniently in downtown Salem which offers a wide array of restaurants, shops, and tourist activities for your guests! This place simply cannot be beat!!

My husband Dave and I got married at the Peabody Essex Museum in July, and we are still hearing feedback from our guests about how stunning it was! We are confident that the beautiful museum played the biggest role in how highly our family and friends regarded the experience! We took about 15 months to plan our wedding, and Natalia was with us the whole way. She made it a seamless, special and personal experience from our first conversation, allowing us to share my vision and helping us see it to fruition. The staff was very accommodating, friendly, and supportive. We wouldn't change a thing!

The BEST! The event coordinator, Natalia, could not have made the process more organized, accomadating, and fun. Such a gorgeous, unique venue for our October wedding!

My wife and I got married this past August and had our reception at PEM. I want to start by saying working Natalia was an absolute pleasure ! She is truly a professional and made me and my wife very comfortable from the start. We couldn't have been happier with the service. PEM itself is the perfect place for a wedding, it's truly one of a kind. All of our guests were blown away. Not to mention the service and food was incredible!!

The Peabody Essex Museum was the first venue my hushand and I looked at and nothing else compared. The venue itself is stunning and coordinator Natalia Laskaris is amazing! Thank you Natalia and PEM staff for making my dream wedding come true!

The venue is stunning and the staff is exceptional. My wedding was what dreams are made of.

We got married at the PEM last December and I have nothing but the most wonderful things to say about the entire experience. The wedding venue was an absolute highlight for our guests -- especially those from out of town. I couldn't have asked for a more capable, kind, and thorough contact in Natalia. We chose to host the cocktail reception in the East India Marine Hall and the dinner and dancing in the Atrium. It was spectacular. For some background, I work in national and international event production and I knew going into the process of planning a wedding that I would want the absolute best and demand perfection. That is exactly what I got with the PEM and Natalia and I give them 5 stars... 10 if I could... believe me, you won't be disappointed on one of the most memorable days of your life.

Natalia and her staff at the PEM are amazing. Not only was it absolutely stress-free, we felt like VIPs. We have had many guests tell us it was one of the best, most fun weddings they have ever been to. If you are considering the PEM, do it - you will not regret it.

Natalia Laskaris, Manager of Private Functions & Rentals at the Peabody Essex Museum is a class act and was a pleasure to work with. She has the wisdom and imagination to make any event perfect.

My husband and I had our cocktail hour in the atrium spine and our reception in the atrium. The Museum is the first place we looked at and were immediately in love with it. It makes for such a unique venue and all of our guests loved the location. Natalia Laskaris is the event coordinator and she is simply amazing, wonderful, and a delight to work with. Natalia is extremely kind and very responsive. She will spend as much time with you as you need. We used the Hawthorne as our caterer and they really work seamlessly together. Natalia and Laura from the Hawthorne were always one step ahead of me and did everything to make sure our day was just how we wanted it. I highly recommend the Peabody Essex Museum to anyone looking for a unique wedding venue in an awesome location!

My husband and I held our cocktail hour and reception at the Peabody Essex museum. It was so amazing! Natalia was so easy to work with and she did a great job making sure everything was how we imagined and discussed! The venue itself is STUNNING! Talk about a serious wow factor, and you can have as much fun as you'd like with the up lighting! The charm of Salem combined with the unique atrium of the museum, you will definitely leave your guests with a lasting impression! Amazing, amazing! We will be suggesting the Peabody Essex Museum to friends/family members that are getting married on the North Shore, hands down. Love it!

My husband and I couldn’t be more pleased with our decision to have our wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum! We checked out a few different venues but upon walking into the museum, I knew instantly that this was the place - just a very unique space, with great lighting, and a lot of character. And then we met Natalia (who manages private functions for the museum) and she is just one of the most delightful people I have ever met. I honestly can’t say enough great things about her. Planning and figuring out all the details was not my forte but she was super helpful – answering emails promptly at all hours of the day, putting me at ease, and just there for anything I needed. I told my husband that if she wasn’t already going to be there, I would have wanted to invite her to our wedding! As for the actual wedding day, the museum looked amazing. The lighting in the Atrium was awesome and the dance floor was spacious. So many guests came up to us and commented on how incredible our venue was. We also had access to the Intersections Room and Spiral Staircase for pictures which was just an amazing backdrop and provided us some unique and breath-taking pictures. It was simply perfect! We just loved our wedding! Thanks again to Natalia and PEM!

We don’t even know where to begin when explaining just how amazing the museum and Natalia were throughout the planning process, ending in what could only be described as our picture perfect wedding day. From the moment we first stepped in the museum at our initial visit, we knew it was the spot for our June reception. Once we met Natalia, any possible doubts were erased. Natalia is one of those amazing types of people who just set you at ease the minute you meet her, and our appreciation of Natalia only grew as time went on. She is a calming presence, and always made us feel like we were her top priority; even with all the couples she works with throughout the year! We had boxes upon boxes of reception details (not that they were needed with the beautiful backdrop of the museum!) and Natalia and team made sure it all went off without a hitch. Every single detail was carried out to perfection, which meant a lot to this detail-oriented perfectionist bride! From the rooms (East India for cocktail, atrium for dinner and dancing), to the lighting, to the staff, everything was just amazing. Natalia even made sure to extend our cocktail hour so we could get some amazing photos in the museum. Our guests raved about the unique venue, and we will always have such wonderful memories of our wedding night. We also have to extend a shout out to Jenn, who stuck around for the whole reception and made sure everything continued to run smoothly; she was organized, professional, and so much fun! If you are considering PEM for your wedding, or just poking around for a unique venue, don’t hesitate! Email Natalia, schedule a visit, and we are sure you will fall in love just as we did! We would not change a thing about our day, and Natalia and everyone at PEM are a huge reason for that. Thank you ALL again for everything, it was a night we will never forget! And a special thank you to Natalia for always being so graceful when working with my opinionated family :)

We looked as several museums and libraries in the greater Boston area, but when we walked into the Peabody Essex Museum, my fiance and I looked at each other and said YES at the same time. Not only is the PEM a beautiful space and an amazing musuem, but their wedding coordinator, Natalia, and her PEM colleagues were immensely helpful. We felt that our thoughts were heard, ideas were offered, communication was easy, and the PEM made it easier for us to create our special day. Enter our wedding day - it could not have been more perfect. We were married in the East India Marine Hall, cocktail hour was in the atrium spine, and our reception was in the atrium. Every detail had been mapped out to maximize flow of people and attention, and time for food, dancing, visiting, and special moments. Our guests had a wonderful time because the PEM took such great care to make it awesome - and everyone commented that the wedding was so "us". We used the Hawthorne Hotel Caterers who worked seamlessly with the PEM, and the food was fabulous. What an amazing staff they have, too! I cannot recommend this venue enough - for both ceremony and reception. The best part is that when you have a wedding at the PEM, you have to become a member ($100 well spent!). We've already attended special events as members, and since the wedding we've been recognized and congratulated by several of the PEM staff. It feels like "our" museum in a way, in that we created a wonderful set of memories and get to walk back through them together every time we visit. You can't go wrong with the PEM. Love you guys!

Hosted a fabulous event at the PEM and had a great experience working with Natalia. It’s an amazingly unique venue and the staff made planning our event so easy. Our guests raved about the location and every detail that was handled to perfection. Its also a great value and they work with terrific vendors. Highly recommend!

When searching for a wedding venue, my (now) husband and I knew we wanted a location that was unique. We had visited Salem previously and loved the city. It was not too far away from Boston, and provided out of town guests a nice weekend away. Also, we were both huge art fans, having got engaged at another art museum. Holding our wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum was a no brainer. The venue is truly stunning. We had our ceremony, cocktails, and reception all the museum. The ceremony was in the Atrium, cocktails in the Bartlett & Copeland galleries, and the reception in the East India Marine Hall. Each space flowed very well into the other. In addition to the beautiful location, the staff at the Peabody Essex Museum were fantastic. Natalia was great to work with. She was always available for questions, as well as multiple site visits with various family members. Also, we worked with the in-house caterer, Hawthorne Catering. Working with both the Hawthorne and the Peabody Essex Museum, made planning effortless. These two team up so well together, as the bride, I didn’t have to worry about the details. They are a class A act. Thank you to Natalia and the Peabody Essex Museum, for making our wedding a truly memorable amazing event. I couldn’t of dreamed of anything better!