Entertainment Specialists
The biggest sign that you’re hosting a successful wedding? People are hitting the dance floor with no signs of slowing down. But everyone knows it’s not just the tunes that ensure the ultimate party atmosphere — it’s the person behind the turntable. That’s where Entertainment Specialists comes in. Its roster of emcees delivers good-time vibes that can’t be beat, with perfect set lists and tons of energy and personality. entertainmentspecialists.com.
Newbury Tailoring Company
Back Bay residents have long entrusted the Rivas family with their most precious items of clothing — and with decades of experience under their collective belts hemming, mending, and stitching, it’s no wonder. Bonus: The second-floor atelier is open five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday, which means you can pop in for a quick lunch-hour button repair or come by for a longer weekend wedding-dress fitting — or have them come to you for an in-home appointment. 324B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, newburytailors.com.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Nothing kills a night faster than wearing the same outfit as another guest. The vast selection of eveningwear at Saks, however, makes it easy to avoid that social snafu. If your invite dictates cocktail attire, peruse the flirty styles from Delfi Collective and classic silhouettes from Diane von Furstenberg on the first floor. Dressing for a black-tie gala? Head to the designer boutiques upstairs and choose among Fendi, Valentino, and Prada. Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199, saksfifthavenue.com.
Boston Harbor Hotel
COURTESY PHOTO If heaven were a place on earth, it would be the Boston Harbor Hotel’s new John Adams Presidential Suite. Showcasing drop-dead-gorgeous waterfront views from its floor-to-ceiling windows and terrace, the 4,800-square-foot retreat is bolstered by a glass-domed ceiling, a freestanding soaking tub overlooking the harbor, and a private elevator (because if you’re paying $15,000 a night, why mix with the hoi polloi?). 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA bhh.com.
S.H. Videography
This Back Bay videographer understands that there are certain moments you’ll want to relive over and over. Thanks to nearly three decades of documenting couples’ special days, S.H. Videography knows exactly what to linger on: the sweet first look; the vows that made the whole crowd cry; the heartfelt, two-Jamesons-deep toast from Uncle Don; the ring bearer breaking it down on the dance floor. As S.H. puts it, “A photo captures a moment in time, but a video captures time in motion.” 162 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts 02116, shvideography.com.
House of Blues
A GA ticket to House of Blues means A) you’re seeing one of your favorite acts, and B) you’re about to move. We love House of Blues for the energy on the floor, whether you’re dropping it low with Lizzo, moshing with August Burns Red, or crying as you hold an iPhone in flashlight mode aloft with Jenny Lewis. Hey, however the music moves you is cool with us. 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA houseofblues.com/boston.
The Liberty Hotel
Built into the former Charles Street jail, the Liberty was designed to cleverly highlight the original building's mid-19th-century monumentality. Despite its jailhouse origins, the hotel's rooms are captivating (in a good way), with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of amenities. There's also complimentary yoga on Saturdays and bicycles for touring around Beacon Hill. Skipping either would be criminal. 215 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, libertyhotel.com.
Qingdao Garden
Boston reps several styles of Chinese cuisine well—we have fiery Sichuan specialists, Taiwanese soup-dumpling pros, and temples to luxurious Cantonese seafood in Chinatown. For the floury, dumpling-heavy cuisine of the north, we head straight to Qingdao. There you'll find plates of fragrant cumin-laced lamb, crispy pan-fried leek-stuffed pies, and, most important, a massive roster of house-made dumplings in varieties like pork-and-leek and vegetarian string bean. 2382 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, qingdaogarden.com.
Erik Howard (Will Charles Salon)
The finest hairstylist isn't always the best wedding hairstylist. Bridal coiffure requires someone with impeccable listening skills, loads of patience (for dealing with your, ahem, entourage), and a knack for creating breathtaking updos. That's where Erik Howard comes in. The Will Charles Salon co-owner knows big-day tresses should be durable enough to withstand iffy weather and the embraces of well-wishers — not to mention dance-floor revelry. 11 Newbury St. , Boston, MA 2116, willcharlessalon.com.
Party Favors
Between hitting the dance floor and hitting the bar, most wedding guests ignore the cake—or else pick halfheartedly at a slice that's too sweet on the outside, too dry on the inside. The veteran treat-makers at Party Favors will bake your choice of 10 kinds of batters (among them, carrot, almond, and lemon); pack it with moist fillings like cherries and cream, French mocha buttercream, and white chocolate-cinnamon mousse; and top it off with a just-right frosting. The result: a cake made to get, and keep, your guests' attention. 1356 Beacon St., Brookline, MA partyfavorsbrookline.com.
Paradise Rock Club
No venue in town outdoes the 'Dise, where stellar acoustics and a wide-open layout ensure that music lovers get both an earful and an eyeful from just about anywhere on the floor. National indie acts like Tapes 'n Tapes and the Kooks frequently pop up on the bill, alongside buzzy local bands such as Bon Savants and Aberdeen City. The fact that bona fide legends (Blondie, Tom Petty, the Pixies) have performed here certainly doesn't hurt the vintage-cool, never pretentious, vibe. 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA thedise.com.
Daedalus
Just a couple blocks from the Harvard T stop, this spot draws long lines for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. But it's not just the comfort-food eats we adore. Daedalus is equipped to serve your every need: Two bars on two floors are packed during happy hour; the upstairs dining room is intimate enough for a romantic meal; and the rooftop deck is ideal for summer-evening cocktails. 112 South St #5, Boston, MA 2111, .
Beacon Hill Chocolates
The truffle display alone, filled with row upon row of beautiful, handcrafted chocolates from the best confectioners in the world, is well worth the trip to this Charles Street boutique. Once we've chosen from the blood-orange fleur-de-lis and candied-bacon caramels, each dainty treat is wrapped individually—which we suppose is cool and all, but really just delays our tearing into them. 91 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, beaconhillchocolates.com.
Jerry's Custom Tailoring & Alterations
To find Jerry's, look for the door between Uno Chicago Grill's two patios. Push it open. Walk down the hall to the slide-gate elevator. Take it up to the fourth floor. There, you'll reach Jerry, who will hem, shrink, or overhaul your prized suits, dresses, and jeans until they fit like second skins. In exchange, he'll expect cash or a personal check, and a minimum of talk. 729 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Austen's
For bashful types, waxing rooms can seem like torture cells. Well, not here: Austen puts clients at ease with his affability, competence, and expertise. Bikini treatments are surprisingly painless, and eyebrows are executed with precision and finesse. The intimate, homey surroundings, accentuated with Japanese-style screens, rustic furniture, and guest slippers, are equally comforting and put the second-floor Newbury setting in a league of its own. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA .