Wedding Venue Spotlight: Peabody Essex Museum

Courtesy photo

When Hollywood lovelies Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway roamed the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) for a scene in the 2009 comedy Bride Wars, they were carrying around some serious stress.

When you host your wedding at this beloved museum in Salem, you won’t have a care in the world. Your big day will be the biggest.

Considered one of the country’s oldest continuously operating museums, this location is not only home to an unrivaled collection of New England and maritime art and architecture, as well as mind-blowing revolving exhibits (who could forget Future Beauty: Avant Garde Japanese Fashion or Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones), but it also sets the stage for gorgeous ceremonies and receptions on the North Shore.

The Atrium/Courtesy photo

The breathtaking Atrium is PEM’s heart and soul, with its arched glass roof soaring dramatically overhead as you sip cocktails and dine under the nighttime sky. Channeling the traditional New England village green, this gathering place is perfect for larger celebrations, hosting seated dinners of up to 300 people, or 270 guests with dancing.

East India Marine Hall/Courtesy photo

To immerse you and your guests in the world of art, PEM offers several gallery locations for your big day. The elegant octagonal Bartlett Gallery is a centerpiece site that is dedicated to the museum’s Chinese export porcelain collection, which can host a seated meal for up to 80 people or a standing reception of up to 200. Your guests might also mingle in the Copeland Gallery, an ideal location for cocktails or hors d’oeuvres prior. Moongate Patio in the Asian Garden is a lovely outdoor area adjacent to the galleries.

East India Marine Hall, the museum’s chosen filming location for Bride Wars, is a grand banquet hall erected for gatherings of the East India Marine Society, entrepreneurs who sailed beyond Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. Known for its artwork, polish-to-a-shine wooden floors, and maritime artwork, you’ll be among an illustrious list of past dignitaries who have visited this room, including John Quincy Adams (he actually dedicated the space back in 1825). The room offers space for up to 220 seated guests, or 200 with dancing.

The Atrium/Courtesy photo

The Peabody Essex Museum is located at 161 Essex Street in Salem.

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