Eataly
You know you're close to Eataly's tempting cheese counter when you spot the larger-than-your-face wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano—and catch a whiff of formaggi in its many forms. Wait in line to sample and buy a wide variety of cheese domestic (Vermont blue) and international (Sicilian ragusano), or pull a wedge from the prewrapped selection. Either way, you won't want to leave without catching a glimpse of the fresh-mozzarella station. 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, eataly.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
Morning begins with coffee on the mansion's water-view terrace, a round of golf, or perhaps a massage at the brand-new spa. For the afternoon, it's standup paddleboarding along the private bay beach. Evening brings cranberry mojitos and painterly sunsets over the Brewster Flats at the recently opened beach bar. All of this without ever leaving your resort? If that doesn't sound like a blissful getaway close to home, we don't know what does. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 2631, oceanedge.com.
Wilson Farm
Whether you crave fresh bell peppers or a fat little Christmas tree strapped to your car with a smile, Wilson Farm satisfies. It's pastoral—think fall hay mazes and an unspoiled barnyard area with roving animals—but modern enough for the harried shopper: To-go items, including chicken potpie and strawberry shortcake, have salvaged many a dinner. Maybe that's because Alsatian chef Raymond Ost—you might remember him from Sandrine's Bistro—heads up the farm store's kitchen. 10 Pleasant St., Lexington, MA 2421, wilsonfarm.com.
Station Eight
A place where you can linger over a cocktail and a steak on date night, and sate the kids with flatbreads and burgers on a busy weeknight: Marshfield's new hot spot is exactly what this end of the South Shore has been missing. Co-owned by four local couples, it offers live music Wednesday through Sunday, local beer on draft, and a cozy, welcoming vibe. 1899 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA 2050, stationeight-marshfield.com.
Shred
Boston's fitness studios offer just about every workout under the sun. But to take SurfSet—a boot-camp-style class held on mock surfboards that simulates the feeling of being on water—you have to visit this three-year-old spot in Quincy. Once you finish blasting your core on the boards, head back to solid land for Shred's Spinning, reformer Pilates, and mat Pilates classes. 453 Washington St., Quincy, MA 2169, shredbody.com.
CinemaSalem
This indie movie theater has been a community favorite for years, with live music, film festivals, and art shows bolstering its new and classic big-screen offerings. While it's homegrown, it's hardly old-fashioned, with a coffee bar on offer from the beloved Atomic Café. Meanwhile, four screens mean a flick for (virtually) everyone—go ahead and put the kids in something animated while you hit the latest action movie. One East India Sq., Salem, MA 1970, cinemasalem.com.
Cider Hill
Getting fresh at Cider Hill's three-season farm stand. / Photograph by Toan Trinh, styling by Taylor Greeley With a commitment to sustainability in the form of its own wind turbines, a long-running compost program, and a robust pick-your-own schedule for kids and wannabe farmers, Cider Hill gives back to the community it feeds. Its care of craft also shows up in the three-season farm stand, where you'll find Cider Hill's own produce haul, pasture-raised eggs, and honey made by bees on-site, along with those namesake cider doughnuts, baked fresh every day. 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury, MA 1913, ciderhill.com.
Fenway Park
For baseball fans, it's the ultimate only-in-Boston venue. Get married behind third base in Section 32 before moving your celebration to one of 14 reception options: For Green Monster vistas, you can't beat the Dell EMC Club; for a skyline tableau, the State Street Pavilion or the right-field roof deck hit it out of the park. 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215, redsox.mlb.com.
Dani Wagener, DW Beauty
Ever wonder how celebrities achieve that flawless red-carpet glow? It's all about the airbrush—makeup, that is. Boston beauty expert Dani Wagener, who's worked with Jenny McCarthy and Emily Deschanel, specializes in this technique. Armed with false eyelashes and the perfect lip color, she'll arrive at your prep site and promptly get about the business of making you look like a star. 326 A St., Boston, MA 02210, daniwagenerbeauty.com.
Hive & Colony
Originally launched as a roving custom clothier in Manhattan (think: a food truck, but for made-to-measure menswear), Hive & Colony is now outfitting Boston's most fashionable grooms from its first brick-and-mortar, in Copley Place. The boutique, equipped with a measurement-capturing 3-D body scanner and a handsome bar, offers hundreds of fabric options for customizable suits and tuxes: Choose a lapel, add sharp buttons, and stitch your wedding date into the lining for a truly memorable getup. Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116, hiveandcolony.com.
L'élite Bridal Boutique
Some brides take longer than others to pinpoint their wedding-day style. If you already know that "timeless" and "sophisticated" top your list of gown criteria, skip the soul-searching and make an appointment at L'élite. The elegant boutique impresses us time and again with an unrivaled selection of traditional yet fashion-forward gowns from top designers including Amsale, Reem Acra, and Jenny Packham. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, lelite.com.
Lisa Rigby Photography
Every wedding has its own unique story. And Lisa Rigby, with backgrounds in professional writing and art history, knows just how to tell it. Her work has a cinematic quality that transcends traditional documentary-style photography, capturing expressions full of emotion and maximizing the scenery, whether it's your parents' lush backyard or the Museum of Fine Arts at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve. lisarigbyphotography.com.
Long’s Jewelers
For high-end bling you won’t find anywhere—or on anyone—else, look to Long’s treasure trove of vintage and estate baubles. The venerable jeweler has been collecting unique necklaces, earrings, pins, and more for 135-plus years, with new pieces continually added to its diverse catalog. And if you decide later that you’re more art deco than art nouveau, it even offers a 30-day grace period for your purchase. Multiple locations. 100 Summer St., Boston, MA 02110, longsjewelers.com.
Yolqueria
Whatever your mark of a great brunch is—gooey cinnamon rolls, killer libations, or an outstanding eggs Benny—this Commercial Street gem delivers. With a background in sourcing organic ingredients for Whole Foods, chef-owner Brandon Quesnell brings the same fresh-and-local commitment to Yolqueria’s menu. The food is worth the wait and the patio is worthy of a cocktail. Paloma picantes and cowboy carnitas, anyone? yolqueria.com.
Yellow Door Taqueria
NINA GALLANT. STYLING BY ELLE SIMONE The ingredient combos here are a bit, shall we say, extra: On one recent visit, campechano tacos, a street-food staple, featured Tecate-beer-marinated steak; chorizo, red corn, and bacon hash; cranberry-onion jam; herb goat cheese; and toasted pepitas. Yet the flavors don’t fight, they play—and how!—when loaded onto delicately doughy, house-made tortillas. 2297 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA yellowdoortaqueria.com.