The Venue at Portwalk Place

for the price that was given. Portsmouth Harbor Events package suited all of our needs and some! Lauren was amazing to work with! She was so accommodating and helpful throughout the entire process. When we had some family emergencies the week before our date, Lauren and staff worked with us to make sure there were no complications. The venue was gorgeous and far exceeded out expectations. And the food was beyond delicious. Our guests keep telling us how good the food was. There wasn't one complaint. From start to finish, this place knew how to execute a great wedding and we can't thank them enough for making our day more than we even imagined!

dled every little detail we could think of and always made us feel that everything was under control. All our guests raved about the venue and said the food was the best they've ever had at a wedding! Lauren and the PHECC team made our wedding seamless!

dding rehearsal, outstanding food (steak and lobster), a delicious and gorgeous cake, 2 free nights at the hotel across the street and all the people that came to the wedding got a discount off their room at the hotel. It was so incredibly easy that I sometimes worried because I wasn't doing anything! It was a magical night and there was nothing that I had to worry about.

ng planners in the entire state. They made the wedding planning process a breeze by quickly responding to email questions and accommodating every request we made. They were so knowledgeable and professional, and I completely trusted that our wedding day would go smoothly thanks to them. I also want to give a shout out to the amazing chef at PHEC - we got so many compliments on the food, and are grateful he was able to customize some dishes for us! Our guests also said that the bartenders and servers were super nice, and they felt like they were at a five star restaurant the whole night! I am so grateful for everyone at PHEC - the entire team was awesome and all contributed to making our day wonderful. I cannot thank Lauren and Stevanie enough, and if you want to get married at a beautiful place in downtown Portsmouth and not have to worry about a thing, choose PHEC!

erns she was right there and responded right away. Our family and friends still talk about how great the food was. We did our rehearsal dinner with them as well and even the buffet was amazing! I have nothing but great things to say. The staff really knows what they are doing and they make it less stressful for the bride! Thank you Lauren!!

ally made our wedding perfect!

tress about anything knowing that Lauren and her wonderful staff would take care of it all. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.

to transform into whatever your vision is. The food was DELICIOUS and Lauren was a joy to work with from beginning to end. Lauren ensured that every detail was perfectly executed and took all of the stress and worry off of me. I would highly recommend Portsmouth Harbor Events & Conference Center for anyone's wedding reception!

Meagan let us lock in the 2015 prices, which was great for us. Lauren became our coordinator, and did a wonderful job keeping us in the loop and sending reminders throughout the planning process. The food tasting was a private meal for 6, and it was impossible to choose our favorites because everything was so amazing. Lauren was able to build a wedding package for us that included only the items we wanted and not those we didn't so we wouldn't have to overpay. And she was very flexible with us when we changed that package around several times in the last few weeks! The wedding itself was wonderful, with all of our guests commenting on the great food and atmosphere. All around a great choice, and would definitely choose it again.

e looked at) & they allowed us to customize our package to fit our needs and budget- while still including an open bar all night and a raw bar! Second, the food is amazing- above and beyond your typical wedding food. Guests were stopping us all night to tell us how great their meals were. They also blew us away with the whole experience of the food tasting where we could invite 4 guests- after that we knew for sure that we were in good hands. Most importantly though, it was our wedding coordinators that impressed us the most. Meagan and Lauren are so amazing and skilled at what they do- I'll never be able to say enough nice things about them. They answered every tiny question I had throughout the planning process, contacted us at the appropriate times for whatever they needed from us so we were never behind schedule, provided detailed information and estimates that were consistent and easy to understand, and were always friendly, upbeat, and so easy to work with. The reception was perfect- they arranged all of the décor exactly as I had pictured and everything went according to plan. I never had to worry about a single thing regarding the reception- and I think that's probably rare when it comes to weddings! If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a single thing. I would (and will) recommend PHE to anyone getting married in the future. They made our wedding planning an amazing and stress free experience- always stepping in to help when we needed them. This venue far surpasses what a regular wedding venue should be. Clearly the level that they hold themselves to is set very high and they met it at every step of the way.

ren as we planned everything and then on the day of. They were very responsive and always took care of everything we needed, from our first visit to the day after the wedding. Everything was so easy and smooth. The event staff took great care of us and our guests all night and the food was delicious! We highly recommend Portsmouth Harbor Events!

d twist of planning from Colorado. From our very first contact with Meagan she was responsive and supportive in our long distance planning. Every interaction we had with Meagan and her team was professional and productive. Portsmouth Harbor Event Center makes a couple feel special in every step of the preparation process. We were again impressed during our tasting which was an intimate dinner with our loved ones and amazing food. Our rehearsal was detailed but efficient - organized by Meagan who very clearly knows what she is doing! With very little direction, the Portsmouth Harbor Event Center had the reception ballroom set up exactly as we had imagined and it looked gorgeous. Our day went smoothly and we didn't have to worry about a thing which meant we had more time to spend with our friends and family. We were immensely impressed and so happy we chose this space for our wedding!

ad about 85 guests at our reception, but the venue seemed like it could have held twice that number without a problem. The main room has both a quaint New England and a modern feel to it and the neutral color scheme gives plenty of freedom in choosing wedding colors. My guests made good use of the outdoor patio, too, especially during the cocktail hour. The location also couldn’t be more convenient. We were married at the nearby North Church. It was a quick and easy walk for our guests from the church to the reception. We were given a room block at our choice of one of three hotels, all just steps from the venue. Even with the discounted hotel rate, however, the rooms were pricey. Discounts were also only available to guests staying at least two nights. However, for those guests staying outside of the downtown area, the venue offered valet parking. Parking was available a couple of hours before the reception, too, which was great because it allowed our guests to park at the venue and walk over to the church so that they didn’t have to move their cars after the ceremony. The Portsmouth Harbor staff did a great job of setting up my tables beautifully, just as I had envisioned. And I cannot say enough good things about the food. The raw bar at the cocktail hour was particularly popular with our guests, but all of the h’ordeuvres were wonderful. We chose the filet mignon, grilled salmon, stuffed chicken and vegetarian napoleon for our entrees – all of which were delicious. Our only complaint regarding dinner was that the wine selection was extremely limited. My mom is somewhat picky when it comes to wine so she ended up having to purchase bottles of wine at exorbitant, marked-up prices. Megan and the rest of the Portsmouth Harbor staff were friendly and very responsive to my emails. They made planning my New Hampshire wedding from New York very easy. Again, I highly recommend this venue for its simple, elegant feel, great location, and exceptional food.

nely wanted to make sure our wedding day was amazing. They were extremely helpful and accommodating throughout the entire planning process. Meagan was so quick to answer all my emails and offer advice. Once we chose this to be our venue they offered an amazing food tasting where the chef came out to sit down with us and talk about everything we tried. My parents were especially impressed with the amount of time he spent with us, answering any questions we had. Our reception then went off without a hitch. Meagan and Lauren made sure there was not one thing for me to stress about. We had a wedding of about 180 people and the room was the perfect size. We also cannot say enough good things about the staff that work at the events center. They were all so nice and fun throughout the evening. My guests have not stopped raving about how good the food was and how organized the entire night was. This place is definitely top notch!!!

asy to say the least. Meagan was incredible! Easy to communicate with, answered all of our questions in a timely manner, and all with a stellar attitude! The day of the wedding a few of my vendors were dropping the ball, Meagan made sure everything was perfect, even driving 30 minutes to pick up table cloths the morning of the wedding. As a bride, I wanted my family to relax, especially the mother of the bride who tends to want everything perfect. We had a lot of DIY things that the MOB wanted in specific places. Meagan eased her mind, and set up everything just perfectly. The staff on the wedding day was absolutely perfect. They were respectful and on top of it! Also, the FOOD. As a bride, of course I didn't eat much of it. But I have not stopped getting compliments on how wonderful all the food was. I honestly can not say enough amazing things about this venue and the people who work there. If you're looking for a high-class Portsmouth venue with amazing staff and food, this is your place! Do not hesitate!

recommended wedding vendors with her personal recommendations), responsive to questions, and well-organized. The final planning call a few months out was very detailed and ensured that we had everything planned out and covered for the big day. Meagan, Lauren, and team made sure that the ballroom looked beautiful on the big day and was set up well for the flow of the evening. We had 130 people and had plenty of space for dancing, mingling, a photo booth, etc. The food was also delicious. Additionally, it was very convenient working with the same team to organize a hotel room block (there are three hotels surrounding the venue to choose from) and a goodbye brunch the next day. Can't say enough good things about PHEC and their wonderful team!

r than i had expected, which my expectations were already high. We had never been to a wedding there and the modern charm appealed to me which was what had made me want to have our wedding there. it was hard planning everything not knowing how it would turn out, but man when i walked down that aisle and the wedding began i was so amazed at how beautiful and perfect everything was. Meagan and Lauren are so easy and fun to work with, they help with anything and answer all the million questions i asked some that were stupid to ask to begin with. they were always there to help with anything and everything. and never once did i feel that i was just some other bride. i loved working with them and they made me feel special and important as a bride and i liked that because it can be stressful at times planning a wedding, but i would say they definitely took that away for me. i would so recommend this venue as its perfect for the whole wedding start to finish and has access and connected to hotels right there for your guests as well as being in a beautiful location in my favorite city, Portsmouth!

was the best value for such a nice/new venue! If you are a bride searching for venues in the NH Seacoast (especially ones that are in downtown Portsmouth or near the ocean) you will quickly learn there are very limited options. Most are smaller venues that only hold 75 people or tent venues and the reception has to end by 8:45/9 due to sound ordinances. When you start researching ballrooms/banquet rooms/golf courses/functions rooms you will see that many of them are very dated or pricey for what you get. PHEC was by far the best option. It was the best blend of having your guests close to the seacoast, yet downtown where the action is, and in a clean/classy space. There are 3 hotel options for your guests right next to the venue too (they are a bit pricey in the summer months). We were able to eliminate any “banquet room” feel by adding personal decorations to the tables and curtains that separated the room for cocktail hour and were tied by after cocktail hour to add some personality to the room. In addition, the food was delicious!! We LOVED our private tasting had with our parents and so many people have commented to us after the wedding what good food it was. The venue even has a separate “VIP room” that they let the bridal party into before everyone else. They stock the room with drinks and cocktail hour food so you have a chance to taste your own food and grab a drink before you have to enter the cocktail room! There is a small outdoor space with several cocktail tables and lounge couches that our guests all said they loved and found charming. If it is a nice afternoon, most of your cocktail hour people will hang out there. But the very best part of PHEC was working with Meagan, their event coordinator! She was absolutely amazing. She is your main point of contact, the one that coordinates everything, that you email questions to constantly, that works with all your vendors the weeks prior to the wedding, and makes sure you have everything you need the day of the wedding. She was the easiest person to work with, very organized and on top of things, and helps you stay on top of things. She always had just the right amount of advice/input without being pushy and always making sure we were getting what we wanted. She worked with us to modify a few menu items and drinks we wanted and helped cater our package. I HIGHLY recommend this venue, especially because of the wonderful event coordinators that comes with it!

ing. We picked PHE for a couple reasons: number one being the organization and flexibility it offered. We didn't want to have to worry about the details on our wedding day, we wanted to celebrate with our guests. After a few details meetings, everything we wanted or wished for, Meagan & Lauren made it happen. We got to live in the moment with our guests on our wedding day, knowing that everything was going to be perfect. Guest count, not an issue has this is a very large space. They host one wedding per day, so you are not competing for space with other weddings. It was truly wonderful. We were able to keep the airways open during cocktail hour, offering plenty of space for guests to sit or socialize. Everyone raved about the outdoor patio space. People are still telling us how wonderful the food and service was. Long story short... if you love the small town feel of Portsmouth and the atmosphere it has to offer, but are looking for a place to accommodate a large wedding in an elegant, social space... Portsmouth Harbor Events is right choice for you.

felt like I could relax because they had it covered. We had some last minute requests/changes and they did everything they could to accommodate us.

holidays with trees, poinsettias, wreaths, and more. A perfect setting. The food was also top notch -- not your average banquet center. I got a lot of feedback after the event about how incredible the food was. The staff was wonderful as well. They handled everything from set-up to tear-down, and they made sure that the entire evening went smoothly. The packages they offer at the PHEC are wonderful - they cover it all! They also have a wedding coordinator who worked very closely with me to plan the event. She was SO helpful, attentive, and detail-oriented which made the process very easy! She also has staff to help pull all of the details together. Not only is the staff good at what they do, but they are incredible at dealing with the unexpected. I had a cocktail spilled down my dress during the cocktail hour -- Meagan and her team came to the rescue and "dabbed" it all out. It was as if it never happened. I went on to enjoy the rest of the night with no signs of the spill! So thankful that we found this place!

4th. When we walked in we both knew it was "the one", we were stumbling over our words because we were both overwhelm how beautiful it was. Meagan came in half way through our planning and had been nothing but nice to us. She made the process smooth and we finally got to meet her in September a month before our wedding, I had no worries as to how the room was going to look. I actually said to her "let's leave it up to your discretion," because I knew she would make the room even more beautiful! I couldn't been happier with PHECC, their service, quality of food and overall ease made for a perfect wedding reception!

nature drinks, wine service during dinner, late night snacks, etc. 3 - High quality....the drinks and food were amazing! Everyone commented on how awesome the food was. One guest said it was the best pork chop he ever had! 4 - Top-knotch staff. Everyone was so nice and accommodating....an absolute pleasure to work with. They made everything so easy and stress free for us! 5 - I don't have any complaints based on my experiences and neither did my guests!!!

r us at the end of the reception, their staff provided a level of service that is all too rare. Throughout the planning phases Christina Breen (Catering Manager) was responsive, pleasant, exceptionally accommodating, helpful, and kind. She ceaselessly responded to inquiries with answers that were informed by experience, talent, and respect for our budget. She is a problem solver and consummate professional. Christina and the staff’s priority was to make our wedding reception the classic, warm, beautiful event we hoped it would be. The space is beautiful, clean, well maintained, and well designed. The staff was extremely professional and worked effortlessly to provide the wedding party and guests with great service. My wife and I were frequently checked on by many different staff members, making sure we had everything we needed. They were kind and accommodating. All the guests enjoyed excellent service during the cocktail reception, at the bar service, and at their seats while the meals were plated. As for the food, we were astounded that meals of their quality could be plated for as many people as they did (approximately 145 guests). Every single product that came from the cook’s kitchen was delicious and immaculately prepared. We have received many, many comments from our guests about the food. It was delicious, beautiful, and plentiful. We can’t say enough about the quality that we experienced from our first tasting through our reception. In fact, we were so impressed that we had our rehearsal dinner on site (Hilton Garden Inn), as the chef’s buffet options were also delicious and affordable. Choosing to host our rehearsal dinner and reception with Portsmouth Harbor Events/Colwen Hotels was the best decision we made (outside of getting married!).

were top notch. They were not pushy, and were there to help when needed. The food was excellent, and all of our guests have given us rave reviews! Cocktail hour with a signature cocktail waiting for our guests was fabulous. Excellent day of event staff, excellent wait staff! The room was a terrific size, we had about 150 guests. This is a modern venue and lived up to everything we wanted and more! We couldn't have asked for a better day!

and she made everything so easy and actually cared about our wedding. I'm pretty sure I bombarded her with e-mails with wedding questions and she kindly responded to them all with the answers and then some. Christina and everyone at the PHEC made sure the day was about us and that we didn't have to do anything the day of the wedding. They set up everything! I even had extra decor, some DIY uplighting, and flowers that I didn't know where to put and they made it all look great. We actually had our ceremony here as well and they were very accommodating with the backdrop that my dad had made and let him come in early to set it up. I think they even steamed the wrinkles our of the aisle runner to make it look great! They also put food and drinks for the bridal party in the holding room so we could spend a few minutes alone after the ceremony. We were originally expecting more guests than we had and PHEC was able to make the large room not look so empty by adding extra touches. The waitstaff, the bartender, and the manager all made our wedding day feel special. Even when I walked by the bar, the bartender said that she "had a drink with my name on it" and handed me the sangria signature drink, which everyone loved! :) I would highly recommend having a wedding at Portsmouth Harbor Event Center, they really make an effort to make your day special!

. We had many special requests for decor and setup which were all executed just as we had envisioned. The food was amazing, and we have been receiving so many compliments from our guests about how good it was. The whole day went so flawlessly. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone considering it for their wedding reception.

well as myself, which is a challenge! Before our wedding she left PHE for another wedding venue. The ball was dropped on communication between then and when they hired a new coordinator and the new coordinator was not nearly as warm. The highlight of PHE was by FAR the food. Which was EXCELLENT. No one could stop talking about how delicious everything was. The servers, bartenders and food manager were also great. The space is amazing as well. The location in downtown portsmouth is ideal once they finish the construction directly across the street. which I'm pretty sure they knew about before we booked but did not tell us. The only downfall was really the poor communication within the management and the new coordinator who did not make us feel very special. Everyone else went out of their way to do that for us.

ave ever experienced, and our guests have all said the very same. The wedding planners were very put together and made this a stress free experience for my daughter (who has a very busy life with a full time career, new home, and an infant). They made everything so special for her and helped with all the details and made everything as painless as possible. The experienced wedding planners were extremely helpful and had tasteful suggestions to compliment her big day, without being pushy or upselling the event. They go the extra mile and have that extra special touch when it comes to visualizing and executing a very classy event. Nothing was not thought of or anticipated, and the event was truly flawless. PHE is highly recommended!

as. The room is just stunning and unlike most wedding factories it is YOUR special day- you will not see any other brides or wedding groups on YOUR big day! The wedding planners were amazing to work with from the very start, and they do not try to upsell- they will help you stay within your budget and can guide you with the accompaniments that will add the most to your big day if you are working on a dime. For example, we opted for passed "signature drinks" during the cocktail hour and wine service, to stay within our budget, rather than a full open bar, and it was never pushed. They allowed us to offer three buffet entrees for the same price as one or two options, in theory because people will just eat smaller portions given a variety of choices. My big day was truly PERFECT. If you are looking for your fairy tale wedding this is the place to go. We are still getting rave reviews of our wedding and especially for the food, from our guests (who I will note, are not easy to please- some have special diets etc.). You usually get one in the crowd that did not like what you were serving or griped about something, but we have not heard one complaint and only heard about how wonderful everything was. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (and had our rehearsal there- highly recommend the "Southern Comfort" buffet!) and had our ceremony at Moffatt Ladd house and garden- it's pretty much like a secret garden! It was stunning and in full bloom during the summer months with peonies, roses, garden flowers etc., there is also a great hall where you can take some amazing shots with your bridal party, and when you are done the guests can just walk right over to the reception at Portsmouth Harbor Events, where the party REALLY begins!!! I only have GREAT things to say and VERY highly recommend this amazing venue. The staff was great to work with and was also very thoughtful and even placed champagne and strawberries in our overnight room to surprise us when we ventured back to our suite after our big day. They also even placed us in a room overlooking the garden where we were married which was just such an amazing touch. Book this place now, and you will NOT be disappointed!!!!!

service was exceptional. We would recommend PHE to anyone who's looking to have a wedding in the Portsmouth area.

ssional and great to work with. She coordinated the entire event and helped us choose a florist, photographer, DJ and the hotel accommodations for our guests. All we had to do was give her a few thoughts about the colors and overall feeling we wanted for the day, and she took care of all the details were perfect. Whenever we ran into one of the inevitable glitches along the way, Trish was able to make contact with the vendor and within hours (or sometimes minutes) the issue would be resolved. The room was large and accommodated our 130 guests very well, and once everything was set up for the weeding it was beautiful. The food was absolutely amazing and several guests have said it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding (and we agree)! The steak was cooked perfectly and not too well done, and the chicken was moist. Each course was well presented and overall amazing. Our experience at Portsmouth Harbor was outstanding. Trish made everything so easy for us and was always such a calming presence even on the day of the wedding. Her contacts and experience in the industry made everything easy for us and allowed the day to come together with no problems. I would highly recommend this venue to any bride looking to get married in the Portsmouth area.

couldnt have chosen a more perfect place!

the whole place all to yourself. The staff were all super friendly, and Trish was so super helpful, you really feel like they care about you and you're not just another wedding. :) The food was delicious, and they are full of creative touches. The prices were really reasonable for the area as well. And all the packages include a cake from Jacques Pastries! Definitely worth checking out!