7 Couples Share Why They Said “I Do” at This Waterfront Venue

Photos, tours, and tastings can only tell you so much about a wedding venue. But if you really want the wow factor for your big day, you need insight from the inside. These seven couples are sharing their stories about clutch wedding planners, delicious dinner choices, and absolutely everything they love about the Seaport Hotel.

“The service, accommodations, and stunning views exceeded all of our expectations.”

Kaitlyn Henry and Martin Gordon knew they wanted to get married in the city. For their June 2018 nuptials, they relied on Seaport Hotel’s comprehensive planning services. “Working with our wedding planner was one of the best experiences we could have asked for,” says Kaitlyn. “Every question, comment, or concern was addressed thoughtfully and with urgency. They had existing relationships with all of our vendors including the band, florist, and photographer, and coordinated all of the day of details to perfection.”

For a personal touch, the bar served up Kaitlyn and Martin’s signature drink “The Maverick,” named after their French bulldog. The refreshing vodka and soda with grapefruit garnish was met with rave reviews, especially from Martin’s fellow firefighters from the North End firehouse. The band and hotel staff also helped maid of honor Alexis coordinate a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rap for her reception toast.

“We are forever grateful to have chosen such a perfect venue for our wedding,” says Kaitlyn. “The service, accommodations, and stunning views at the Seaport Hotel exceeded all of our expectations. They also allowed us to actually enjoy the wedding planning process!”

“The ceremony and reception were both 100-percent us.”

Choosing the Seaport Hotel felt like fate for Liz Greeley and Nick Maggio. “Our first date was at Nick’s senior formal in the Plaza Ballroom,” says Liz. “We attended my senior formal there the next year. We had fallen in love with each other as well as the location and vowed to each other that one day we would marry in that same room.”

A Seaport Hotel wedding package includes a dedicated in-house wedding planner, a priceless perk for Liz and Nick when they were paired with planner Kelcee Moore. “We joked that Kelcee was going to be our fairy godmother and she far exceeded that title,” says Liz. “She was there for us every step of the way. When nerves started to kick in, Kelcee made sure there was nothing for us to worry about. On the day of the wedding, she even made sure that we ate our dinner!” And the dinner was too good to miss out on, featuring a local Maine crab and chilled noodle salad appetizer and roasted filet of beef with duck fat potatoes or grilled chicken breast, pan-seared diver scallops, and BLT potatoes for the main course selections.

The wedding day paid homage to their individual love story. “When we went to Nick’s senior formal, we took pictures at night outside the bridge and we were able to recreate those pictures on our wedding day all those years later,” says Liz. “The ceremony and receptions were both 100-percent us and we couldn’t have been happier about that.”

“I knew that was where I was meant to exchange my vows and marry the man of my dreams.”

Massachusetts natives Aly Chadbourne and Mike Galvin wanted their New Year’s wedding ceremony and reception in the same location, but couldn’t envision themselves getting married in a ballroom. “When we first toured the Seaport Hotel, one of the location we were shown was the Wintergarden Atrium,” says Aly. “I instantly fell in love with that space and knew that was where I was meant to exchange my vows and marry the man of my dreams.”

Aly and Mike were paired with Seaport Hotel planner Michelle Fabiano. “I quickly learned how much time and energy goes into planning a wedding, and it was so helpful to have Michelle there,” says Aly. “We had a large wedding party and she had no trouble taking charge and getting everyone to be where they needed to be. Michelle was so attentive and able to answer any questions we had.”

Officiated by a family friend, the ceremony went off without a hitch and the reception was just as spectacular with the help of their awesome DJ and customized menu of pretzel-coated chicken, eggplant involtini, and chicken ravioli. “We loved everything about the entire day from start to finish, and it was a day we’ll treasure forever,” says Aly. “Every detail was executed to perfection and I’ll always remember walking down the aisle in the Wintergarden and seeing my soon-to-be husband standing in front of the extraordinary Christmas tree. We wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

“We knew we wanted our wedding to embody the love we have for Boston.”

Lynn McConachie and Brian Blaney wanted to impart their hometown appreciation on guests. “Knowing many of our friends and family would be traveling from out of town, we knew we wanted our wedding to embody the love we have for Boston,” says Lynn. “We narrowed our venue search to three personal priorities: being in Boston proper, having an outdoor element, and working with a team we felt would deliver on our vision.”

The two worked with Kelcee to establish a timeline of decisions. “Having this structure and frequent check-ins allowed us to stay on track and execute plans without being overwhelmed,” says Lynn. “We were free to enjoy the day ourselves while she and her team worked behind the scenes to make it happen.”

Self-proclaimed foodies, Lynn and Brian say it was especially important to highlight the local flavors of Boston. “Seafood needed to be the star,” says Lynn, selecting fish tacos and tuna tartare to pair with the couple’s favorite local craft beers and wines. Another addition to the menu was the Seaport’s signature cocktail “The Bee’s Knees,” which features honey from the Seaport’s own bee colony. “From cocktail hour through dessert, our guests said the food and drinks across the board were some of the best they’ve ever had at a wedding.”

“Walking into the ballroom for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. was a moment we will never forget.”

Prior to their engagement, Carolyn Begley and Steven Munchbach had stayed at the Seaport Hotel and experienced the beautiful setting and friendly staff. “It was the first and only venue we looked at,” says Carolyn. “We wanted to be on the water for our summer wedding. Once we saw the wall of windows in the Harborview Ballroom, we knew this was exactly where we wanted to get married.”

Carolyn and Steven trusted their coordinator Michelle, from initial planning to the day of the wedding. “Michelle contacted all vendors to coordinate everything,” says Carolyn. “I didn’t have to worry about any of this as I knew she would make sure everything was done correctly and on time.” Michelle also accompanied the couple to their food tasting and explained all their choices, and helped them select a burrattini cheese, pepper medley, and olive mix for an appetizer and filet of beef and Chilean sea bass for dinner. “The food was absolutely delicious and everything came out cooked to perfection,” says Carolyn. “We had two bars set up for the reception since our wedding was about 230 guests. The bartending service was amazing; there was never a line for a drink!”

The couple showed up to the wedding in style with an old Rolls Royce, kicking off the most memorable day of their lives. “Our wedding reception was everything we had hoped for and more,” says Carolyn. “Walking into the ballroom for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. was a moment we’ll never forget. When the doors opened for us to walk in, we truly felt like we were in a fairy tale.”

“The day was just perfect.”

Ali Shea and Justin Bertolami were paired with Michelle for the planning process, starting six months out from the wedding and leading up to the big day. “Michelle was awesome,” says Ali. “She was always checking in and reaching out, asking all of the questions that we didn’t think of. From of all our conversations, she knew what we wanted and made sure the day went perfectly. In terms of execution, she was a lifesaver!”

The menu had all the fixings for a proper New England celebration. “A summer wedding in Boston has to include seafood,” says Ali. “The jumbo shrimp cocktail at happy hour was a huge hit. An even bigger hit was the lobster salad. Everyone loved the food.”

The 200-person guest list could have proven tricky, but the Seaport team of experts made everything run smoothly. “The day was just perfect,” says Ali. “Our family and friends still talk about how good the food was, how beautiful the ballroom was, and how much fun they had dancing the night away. We joke that it was a good thing the dance floor was as big as it was because all 200 people were on it at once.”

“Planning our wedding was a personalized experience that we wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere.”

Accommodating many out-of-town guests, Jenna Levine and Matt Captline needed a large venue with close proximity to the airport. The Seaport Hotel was the obvious best choice for those reasons and more. “We chose the Seaport because we knew Kelcee and the team were willing to go above and beyond to make our wedding day a dream come true,” says Jenna.

The couple says Kelcee was able to make wedding planning a team effort. “The process was collaborative,” Jenna says. “As the vision of our wedding came to life, she learned what was important to us and prioritized those wishes.”

Jenna advises other brides and grooms to consider choosing the same venue for the gorgeous location and dedicated staff. “Planning our wedding was a personalized experience that we wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere,” she says. “There is no other venue in the city that will check off as many boxes as the Seaport Hotel.”

For more information about planning your wedding with the Seaport Hotel, visit seaportboston.com/weddings.

This is a paid partnership between Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center and Boston Magazine