Peabody Essex Museum

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!!

ring the reception.

or 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!

out 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.

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!!!

gined. 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!

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!!

e. 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.

t 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!

d list, and some who were not) and helped make our night spectacular. It was totally seamless and it exceeded all expectations.

l 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.

al 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!

. 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.

n accomodating. I don't think I could have made it through the planning process without her.

t 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!!!

ed 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!

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!

nd 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.

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!

zing wedding thanks to her and the PEM!

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!

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!!

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!

e 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!!

d 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.

ou will not regret it.

ion. 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!

G! 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!

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!

useum 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 :)

g 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!

ion. Its also a great value and they work with terrific vendors. Highly recommend!

y. 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!

ing on the day of the ceremony wiping the newly fallen rain of the chairs that had just been set up. Natalia's calm and positive presence, and her effective collaboration with our other vendors, was a critical component to allowing us to simply enjoy the celebration.

pleasure to work with. Natalia was so approachable and helpful. She solved any issue we had in a prompt and professional manner, and the PEM and Hawthorne Catering staff together made our dream wedding a reality.

road. She was so knowledgeable about local vendors, and seamlessly brought our day together. I would recommend the PEM to anyone wanting an elegant wedding on the North Shore!

guests. Regarding the museum, we had multiple people remark on how it was the most amazing venue they have ever been in for a wedding - it also captured our personalities perfectly. We used East India Marine Hall for the ceremony, the spine for cocktail hour and the Atrium for our reception. Natalia worked very hard to accommodate our large number and in the end, it seemed a lot more spacious than we had anticipated, including the dance floor. We also worked with the electrician at the museum to make our lighting and projections perfect. Thanks Henry! The caterer/venue relationship was very noticeable because it was seamless. Communication with our photographer and DJ beforehand and during was amazing and helped the outcome to be as great as it was.

red to others like it. We have received so many compliments from our guests; We highly recommend it!

eeting was great and so helpful because they knew exactly what I wanted and planned it all perfectly. When I saw the East India Marine room done up for my wedding I was speechless. it was as though I had set it up myself because it was just as perfect as I wanted it to me. Natalia was so accommodating and helpful. I could go on and on but you just need to see the room to know how beautiful it is. My guests all raved about it that it was like being in a time warp and just not having to think about anything because there was so much to see and look at. I am still reliving the night and so happy!

traditional but still interesting look in East India Marine Hall for the Reception. We also took pictures in the Asian Garden which look fantastic. It's such a great venue in that it's sophisticated but not stuffy and there is lots for your guests to look at. Plus there are a number of hotels, b&bs and churches within walking distance. But even more importantly, their team is awesome. Natalia is so friendly, so organized and so helpful - I felt like I was in great hands from the start and she happily put up with my many post-it notes and directions for the day of the wedding. She was always quick to respond to my questions and coordinated everything perfectly the day of so I had nothing to worry about. Jen and the rest of her team also made sure everything ran smoothly all night and even noticed that I left my grandmother's pin on my bouquet and put it aside for me at the end of the night. Once we looked at PEM we knew it was the spot for us and we were thrilled with the way everything turned out!

e entire event. Despite MAJOR weather concerns (we're talking blizzard conditions, here!), the PEM was extraordinarily accommodating - Natalia even arranged for our guests to use parking lots normally off-limits to non-PEM employees! All of our guests commented that the venue was elegant and unique. I cannot recommend the PEM enough if you're considering having your wedding there!

h also allowed us to use the garden, which was absolutely beautiful. We did our rehearsal in the Atrium, which is large, bright and was great for the number of people with us. The catering was by the Hawthorne Hotel and let me tell you, this was one of the most delicious catering experiences I have ever had. The appetizers were so good I pretty much just filled up on them before the dinner. The catering and museum staff were friendly, helpful and overall wonderful to work with for our dinner. I would have an event here again in an instant and would not change anything about the experience. I can't speak more highly of how happy we all were with the Peabody Essex.

uests about our choice of venue. The ceremony, cocktail hour and reception were all in different rooms of the museum which allowed our guests to really feel as if they were exploring the venue and moving through to different rooms without actually having to physical change venues. We had the package with the Hawthorne for catering which I thought was reasonably priced. You really just pay a bit more for the museum and the membership. Natalie is the coordinator there and she was amazing to work with. Anything we needed or had questions on, she was ready and willing to help. I can't recommend this venue enough. It's so different from the typical country club and it's at an affordable price.

mented each other. The staff made the planing and process incredibly easy and Natalia was fantastic! she was attentive, friendly and paid close attention to our details. Our guest continue to compliment the venue choice. They were blown away at how beautiful everything looked when it was set up. The windows in the East India Marine Hall make the whole room light up and can really help with some beautiful pictures. I couldn't recommend this venue enough.

s beyond compare - absolutely of the highest standard. She was unfailingly supportive, never shrinking from any notion or idea, making creative suggestions of her own, all with good humor and good manners. She was quick to respond, efficient and with outstanding and constant attention to detail. She went out of her way to help our florist. I cannot recommend PEM highly enough to anyone considering any event there, but brides should know that they will be in very good hands indeed.

riendly and helpful. Highly recommended by an impressed bridesmaid.

at long-distance-planning would be very stressful, but thanks to the guidance of the PEM's functions manager, Natalia Laskaris, and her team, the process of planning our wedding was easy and enjoyable. First, a few words on the space itself: the museum is a beautiful and unusual venue. We decided to hold our secular, friend-officiated ceremony in East India Marine Hall; we loved that this "masthead room" was beautifully lit - especially at sunset - and that it had an air of solemnity about it. We held our cocktail hour and reception in the Atrium Spine and the Atrium, respectively. These spaces are really interesting architecturally, and we didn't feel that we needed to add much at all to the decor for it to feel glamorous - we had some simple uplighting, but that was it (though there is the option to project really interesting designs on the walls!). Second, and most importantly, Natalia and her team were incredible in coordinating our day. We hired a pretty wide array of vendors, some of whom had worked with Natalia and the PEM extensively, some of whom never had. Natalia worked with us and with all of them to ensure that everything was in place when it needed to be. Her taking primary responsibility for the coordination of the vendors lifted a huge load off of our shoulders and enabled me and my husband to really enjoy the day of our wedding, stress-free. We are immensely grateful. Two months after the wedding, we are still receiving compliments from our guests about how beautiful the venue was and how seamlessly the day's events unfolded. For that, we have to credit the PEM and especially Natalia.

India Marine hall that provided guests with an opportunity to enjoy the museum, and dinner and dancing at their well lit, spacious atrium. For warmer weather, they can also host cocktail garden in their charming Asian inspired Garden Restaurant. In addition to the tasteful, contemporary vibe of the museum, you will also have the pleasure of working with Natalia, the Manager of Private Functions at PEM who is a dream to work with. From start to finish, Natalia was kind, highly accommodating and patient as she answered all our questions and walked with us through the million details. For more a customized arrangement, Natalia is more than happy to propose different iterations to help meet your needs and vision for the big day. Highly recommend it!

visit at the Peabody Essex Museum. During the tour with Natalia, my fiance and I agreed that it was either going to be the PEM or city hall and a barbeque, because nothing could top the PEM. We did keep appointments to view a couple of other places but we could not get the PEM out of our minds. It had to be. Then the fun began. The process could not have been better, easier or more wonderful. We'd pop-in when we were in town just to see the spaces again and Natalia would drop whatever she was doing and listen to our flights of fancy. As the wedding got closer Natalia thought of every detail we would never have even thought of. Days before the wedding we had a sit-down with Natalia and our Hawthorne Hotel catering staff (who were also fabulous) to take care of every last minute need. Our venue run-through of the cermony, directed by Natalia, reminded us that not only had we made the right choice, but the PEM had it all under control, leaving us without worry. When the day arrived everything went off without a hitch. Photos were taken along the beautiful historic walk-ways of downtown Salem, in the garden at the PEM and in rooms filled with art and artifacts as the backdrop that would make a NYC artist envious. We danced the night away in the atrium. At the end of the night the staff from the PEM and Hawthorne Hotel collected all our belonging for us to take home, again allowing me my now-husband to say goodbye to guests and take it all in before it was over. We just finished our wedding album and the cover is a picture of us with the towering ceilings and architecture of the PEM behind us. It looks like it could have been a cathedral in Europe. But page after page is filled with images of the bridal party and guests flanked by the beauty of the PEM. If you want a wedding to remember, the Peabody Essex Museum is it.

many of our wedding guests chose to go to the museum on their own over the wedding weekend.) You can do the ceremony, cocktails, and reception in three different spaces, all welcoming in their own way. And then Natalia! Where to start. So many other reviews have spoken to this, but it's worth repeating: working with her was such a pleasure, and really took a lot of the stress out of the process. She is always positive, relaxed, incredibly knowledgeable, and a fun person. We totally trusted that she would tell us what we needed to know and help us make decisions, and she was very flexible when our guest count kept changing in the last few weeks. Plus, she coordinated a lot of details with our other vendors so that we didn't have to. We loved working with Natalia, and are confident you will too.

plaining the process and painting how a night will go. She was absolutely right, our day did not only go smoothly but it was also relaxed. All our guest are still talking about it. The pictures we took came out phenomenal. I will highly recommend if you are looking for relaxing and not cookie cutter venue.

had at a wedding! From the beginning, my now-husband and I knew that we weren't going to go the hotel ballroom/catering hall/country club route. We wanted something non-traditional. After visiting almost a dozen venues last winter, we were starting to think that a 2014 wedding wasn't in the cards. Last December, I made an appointment with Natalia, the manager of private functions and rentals, to tour the PEM, bracing myself for more disappointment. I was blown away as soon as I stepped into the Atrium of the museum, and was even more impressed when I met with Natalia. She was so sweet, calm and gracious. Even when the front desk called her to let her know that another couple was waiting for her, she didn’t rush us at all and made sure that all of our questions were answered. As Natalia gave us a tour of the gallery space where cocktail hour would be held and of East India Marine Hall, I knew that the PEM would be the one. And I was even more excited when Natalia told us that summer dates were still available due to a renovation that never took place as planned. I had just five months to plan the wedding, and couldn’t have asked for a better coordinator than Natalia. She was incredibly responsive to all my questions and requests throughout the planning process, working very well with our caterer, Capers, and my other vendors, including a live band, DJ and florist. My only critique is that the choice of PEM’s exclusive caterers is limited and it seems like most brides with reviews here have gone for Hawthorne (in-house catering), but if you are huge foodies like my husband and I, you can’t beat Capers’ food quality and farm-to-table emphasis. When my parents wanted to do a Chinese tea ceremony at the last minute, Natalia didn’t bat an eye and even asked if we needed a pillow for kneeling. One the day of the wedding, Natalia noticed that there was a rip in one of the layers of my dress right before I was supposed to walk down the aisle and ran to grab some scissors to cut it off so I didn’t trip. Thanks for making sure I didn’t wipe out, Natalia! We did have an unfortunate incident with our cake that Natalia reimbursed us for on behalf of the museum. Luckily, my husband and I didn't let this incident tarnish an otherwise beautiful night. Aside from our cake mishap, our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception went so well. Highly recommend the PEM (and Natalia) for an unforgettable wedding!

eum as their venue, as we had attended a wedding there a number of years ago and remembered it as a lovely place. Well, let me tell you, the venue was simply unbelievably beautiful. Our guests entered through the Chinese Gardens to a grouping of rooms that have spectacular showcases of art and were able to enjoy this fantastic setting during the entire cocktail period. However, that was only a prelude to the magnificent room, with 20 foot high floor to ceiling windows and beautiful carved mastheads (the carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships) that lined the walls, where the reception was held. The room has a very large hidden ceiling electronic screen, great acoustics and a floor plan with plenty of room for guests at their tables and for dancing. I also want to say how thankful we are to Natalia Laskari from the Peabody Essex who was without a doubt the most helpful person we worked during the wedding. Given her position she helped us immensely from recommendations to resolving issues with other vendors. She was literally there for us during the wedding reception and it was wonderful knowing that she was looking out for us and our guests. Finally, I have to tell you that nearly every one of our guests raved to us about the wedding and the spectacular venue as one of best they ever attended and believe me, most have been to a lot of weddings. Many of our guests also enjoyed this phenomenal museum over the wedding weekend.

wless. Truly a pain-free planning experience, and full cooperation on a variety of "extra" requests. Natalia Laskaris was wonderful to work with, and the East India Marine Hall was a fantastic room for the event. Highly recommended.

on would end. In addition, the staff provided a list of flower vendors, photographers and DJ's which helped to narrow down my choices. The museum's wedding coordinator (Natalia Laskaris) was very professional, helpful and organized. She was consistently available throughout the entire process whether I had to call or email her. The week of the wedding Natalia and the staff from the Hawthorne met with me two times to walk through the venue and to discuss the timeline of the reception. They made me feel very comfortable and less nervous!! I was taken away the night of the wedding in how beautiful the reception room (East India Marina Hall) was decorated. I would highly recommend this venue!!!

it.Natalia Laskaris is expectational, she was always on top of things and very responsive whenever we had questions. She made the process of planning a wedding very easy.She wanted our day to be perfect and stress free and its exactly how things turned out. Everything was perfect, every time I look at our wedding photos it brings a smile to my face. I recommend the PEM to soon to be brides all the time!!!

you're looking for a unique place with a lot of character and beauty, PEM is it. 2. Natalia is absolutely amazing. She is sweet, calm, and precise. We felt like she really genuinely cared about our wedding; we weren't just an event that she needed to coordinate. We love her! 3. Leading up to the wedding, PEM and Hawthorne Catering met with us whenever we wanted and always were enthusiastic and helpful. 4. On the wedding day, the entire team was on it. They were meticulous in their setting up, and the Hawthorne team was at my side when needed. 5. They were all understanding and flexible on when we came to pick up all of our stuff the next day. Overall, to us, our wedding was perfect. There is nothing that we would have wanted to go differently. A BIG thanks to everyone at PEM and Hawthorne Catering, especially Natalia and Lindsay! Wedding was 7/26/14

how I want it and is always available to meet or answer questions. The employees at the venue are always welcoming and nice when I visit. I can't wait for December! Thank you Natalia!

located right in the heart of Salem. As soon as I had a chance I reached out to the Manager of Private Functions & Rentals, Natalia; never expecting that I would be greeted by one of the kindest, most accommodating & thoughtful people I would have ever met. My husband and I both work in sales and marketing & customer service has always been extremely important to both of us. Natalia is not only extremely knowledgeable and competent in her role but she also helps to create a full experience for the bride and groom, making them always feel like they are the only couple she is working with. After the first few conversations with Natalia, she welcomed us to come into the museum for a tour. It took me about 30 steps (it’s a long entrance way) into the museum before I looked over at my dad, who was accompanying me for the tour, and nodded my head yes! The atrium was modern, sophisticated and really had Erica (me) written all over it. When we walked up the spiral staircase into the East India Marine Hall, I was blown away by the grandness of the room, the breathtaking arch windows & the old world feel. This room had my husband written all over it. I had truly found the perfect blend in this space for us. The cocktail hour space was the icing on the cake. It would be hosted in one of the museums beautiful art galleries which also led out into a vibrant garden. When I had originally reached out to Natalia, we had found out that the museum was going to be under construction during the time frame that we wanted to plan our wedding. As a result, we were not going to be able to have our ceremony in the East India Marine Hall. Since my husband and I were having an interfaith ceremony, a church or temple was not an option; so, we were determined to find another local ceremony space which would still allow us to have the rest of our wedding at the PEM. Natalia was there every step of the way with us. She was recommending spaces for us to look at, contacting us all of the time to check in and was emotionally supportive. Thankfully after about a month of searching, Natalia found out that the construction was being put on hold so we could have our ceremony at the museum! From that moment on, everything was seamless. I knew all of our guests were going to be blown away by the exquisite details of the museum, and they were. I cannot tell you how many guests told me that “this was by far the most beautiful wedding they had ever been too”. One guest said, “This is not just a wedding Ted and Erica, this is truly an event”. That evening and now even months later we still receive tons of compliments from our guests about how smoothly everything went to the amazing hospitality that they received from the museum staff. However, I cannot say that I have been completely surprised when I hear these compliments… because what our guests experienced that evening was exactly what my husband and I had been experiencing over the past year. Professionalism, impeccable customer service, incredible attention to detail, an amazing setting and by far the best wedding manger that we could have ever asked for!! We highly recommend the Peabody Essex Museum! We are beyond happy that we had our wedding there!!

d booked it right away. Natalia guided us throughout the process and made this a breeze. Their preferred vendors / dinner were great too. I had so much fun too! Some compliments from our guests ranged from "elegant" to "perfect". 5 stars

d exceeded our expectations. Natalia, the special events coordinator is an absolute dream to work with. From the first email I ever sent her to the minute I walked down the aisle she was available to answer all of my questions. Working with her made our wedding planning absolutely stress-free. The PEM is a spectacular wedding venue. If you are looking for some place unique, look no further. It will certainly be a wedding to remember!

is THE. BEST. She is so friendly, knowledgeable, reassuring, helpful, and competent. After meeting her, my then-fiance (who was rather anxious about the wedding) told me he felt a million times better, because he could tell that she knew what he was doing. Second, communication with the venue was so fast and easy. Any doubts and questions I had were answered immediately. Third, the venue is AMAZING. I had my ceremony in the East India Marine Hall and my reception in the Atrium. We got dozens of compliments after the wedding about how beautiful the museum was, and about how professional the staff were. By the way, I highly recommend booking the catering from Hawthorne Hotel if you choose this venue, as PEM and HH work together like a well oiled machine!! Oh, and book Ned Jackson photography too. :) I LOVE YOU PEM! Thank you for making my day perfect.

we could trust them for our wedding day. The rooms and staff were perfect on our wedding day. If i was planning my wedding again I would 100% still pick PEM.

al and coordinated a wedding reception which was beyond our expectations. She was very responsive to our planning questions and worked seamlessly with our vendors, including the Hawthorne Catering team (under Lindsay Otis and Liz) which provided fabulous service and delicious quality food and beverages. The Museum venue has that WOW factor which impressed our guests and provided unique photo opportunities and wonderful memories. Our cocktail reception was held in the dramatic Atrium room with dinner and dancing in the historic East India Marine Hall. The Museum is in close walking distance to the Hawthorne Hotel and Salem Waterfront Hotel which made for a wonderful wedding weekend experience with our guests. A constructive point of attention for future brides is that the Museum shuts down sharply at the end of the night. As such, if there is an interest in having an after-hour gathering with your guests, I would suggest meeting with local area bar/restaurant management in advance to confirm their ability to accommodate such a gathering. The Salem hotels have strict quiet policies and the local/hotel bars which we had understood would be open late were closed the night of our wedding. Overall, we were very happy with our wedding reception and our friends and family are still raving about the event several months later. We wish we could do it again!

y and I was left in a panic wondering if we would still be having a wedding. Natalia and Karen were so amazingly helpful in making the change in venues as painless as possible and we ended up having a more beautiful wedding reception than we could have ever imagined! From the space to the food to the service, everything was fantastic! We held the cocktail reception in the Bartlett & Copeland Galleries (which includes the Japanese Garden) and the main reception in the Atrium. Guests have not stopped raving about how beautiful and unique a space this is and how delicious the food was! I would highly, highly recommend having your wedding here!

very subtle and easygoing manner that made it feel as though all of the details that were in our wedding occurred organically, and naturally. From the table setting to the food, every detail was top notch. There were occasions where we felt as though we may have been in over our heads planning things. However, the staff, and more importantly Natalia offered plenty of solutions that worked for our special event. When you make a decision to have your wedding at the PEM, you have made a decision to put your trust in a beautiful venue that really produced the most perfect day! What is more exciting than the ease of planning, and all of the support was the event, and the reaction of the event to our family and friends. We have had so many compliments regarding the venue, the food, the ceremony, and all of that was made possible by Natalia and the illustrious staff of the PEM! Well done indeed!

aces - the atrium for the ceremony, the Bartlett and Copeland galleries for a cocktail hour, and East India Marine Hall for our reception. All of our guests couldn't stop talking about how the space was unlike any other wedding they had ever been to, and the PEM team made everything so easy for me and my husband. Couldn't recommend the place more.

of the reception. PEM and Hawthorne went above and beyond in accommodating us. After our final meeting (on the day before the wedding), I felt relaxed knowing that everything was going to be awesome. We were able to enjoy the rehearsal dinner and the whole wedding day without a worry. I knew that I could trust them and their expertise- and I am an event planner! Everything went off without a hitch, the evening was perfect. The only glitch in the wedding day was the fact that I had the most uncomfortable shoes. They were killing me, to the point where I could not walk. Natalia saw that I was uncomfortable, ran up to her desk and got me 2 pairs of her own sandals that she let me borrow for the evening. They were so cute and even went with my dress. She truly saved my day… I am not joking! Natalia is the best- I know that most people would not have done what she did, and it is something that I will always remember. The East India Marine Hall is so beautiful in itself that you don’t need to go crazy with a ton of your own decorations (which takes away a lot of unnecessary stress!) The PEM is THE most perfect spot to have a wedding reception; I have received so much great feedback from everyone who attended. It makes us both happy and confident that we chose the museum to celebrate with our 200 guests. It is a really neat place that people of all ages appreciate. I would highly recommend the museum, and I am still so thankful to have had such a great support team at the PEM and Hawthorne Catering. Also, they were so kind to our vendors, which is always helpful! No other wedding will ever compare to our own celebration at the PEM. I wish I could do it all over. Thank you!

We had our ceremony in the East India Marine Hall at 6pm, and we had the cocktail and reception in the Atrium of the Museum thereafter. Natalia the coordinator is unbelievably organized, attentive, and wonderful to work with. Such an easy experience for us to plan the wedding, and the day of celebrations were beautiful and memorable!

location. We had cocktails in the Bartlett-Copeland Gallery/Asian Garden, and dinner in the East India Marine Hall. The physical set-up of the rooms was stunning, and to the delight of our guests, the galleries adjacent to the spaces being used were open for viewing. The progress of the event was seamless, efficient, and professional. The catering, provided by the Hawthorne Hotel, was delicious and elegant. We cannot offer enough praise and thanks for Natalia Laskaris and her entire staff. She is patient, kind, calm, and truly the ultimate professional. With her constant assistance and communication, the months of planning were made simple, and culminated in a truly outstanding event.