Fresh Fetes
Waterfront wedding or a barn bash? These new (or newly renovated) local spots offer plenty of options, no matter your style.
LABELLE WINERY
Head Count: Up to 200 Seated
This New Hampshire vineyard opened its doors to couples tying the knot in October 2012, offering the ultimate in, ahem, vintage weddings. Ceremonies and cocktail hours can take place on the terrace or in the wine cellar—complete with sleek stainless steel tanks—after which guests are welcomed into the ballroom for a seasonally inspired meal from Fireside Catering. Because it’s a winery, couples can choose two signature cocktails made with La Belle offerings—think: cranberry-wine cosmos or apple-wine sangria. Stumped on favors? Order bottles with custom labels.
From $75 per person, 345 Rte. 101, Amherst, NH, 603-421-6300, labellewineryevents.com.
THE BARN AT MOUNTAIN TOP INN & RESORT
Head Count: Up to 250 Seated
This spacious, rustic-chic space opened on the Mountain Top Resort’s grounds in January 2013, with a simple layout that lets the stunning backdrop—Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest—shine. And because the resort is part of the Vermont Fresh Network, executive chef Shawn Casey uses local produce and native cheeses whenever possible for his multi-course meals and buffets. Friends and family will appreciate the Mountain Top’s various guest-room configurations, from cabins and recently rebuilt cottages to traditional rooms and chalets, as well as on-site seasonal activities like kayaking and beach volleyball.
From $65 per person (site rental starts at $2,500), 195 Mountain Top Rd., Chittenden, VT, 802-483-2311, mountaintopinnweddings.com.
PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Head Count: Up to 200 Seated (Grand Hall)
Bookish types will find plenty to love inside Providence’s circa-1900 bibliothèque, which opened as an event venue in December 2012. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the regal space was modeled after Italian Renaissance palaces, with sweeping stairways, high archways, and Corinthian pillars perfect for dramatic wedding portraits. The most popular reception area in the library—which works exclusively with renowned Rhode Island caterer Russell Morin—is the majestic Grand Hall.
Site rental starts at $3,500 for the Grand Hall, 150 Empire St., Providence, RI, 401-455-8000, provlib.org.
LOEWS BOSTON HOTEL
Head Count: Up to 72 Seated (Harrison Room)
This Loews property—formerly Boston Police headquarters and most recently home to the Back Bay Hotel—now hosts intimate weddings in the heart of the city. The newly renovated Harrison Room (named after Dorothy Harrison, the city’s first female African-American detective) features floor-to-ceiling windows, earth-tone walls, and neutral drapery, making it a lovely canvas for couples looking to get creative with flowers and lighting. Catering comes courtesy of in-house chef Olivier Senoussaoui, who crafts passed appetizers and three-course meals for wedding guests. Bonus: The downtown location, on the border of the Back Bay and the Theater District and in close proximity to shows, the Common, and Chinatown, is ideal for out-of-towners.
From $140 per person, 350 Stuart St., Boston, 617-266-7200, loewshotels.com.
BOSTON CHOPS
Head Count: Up to 130 Seated
With soaring ceilings, a glass-encased wine room, and tufted chocolate-brown banquettes, this South End restaurant—housed in the restored historical Penny Savings Bank—oozes clubby chic. Menus include steaks, funky sides (think: poutine-stuffed baked potatoes), and raw-bar towers, all customized by noted chef Chris Coombs, who also helms the acclaimed Deuxave, in the Back Bay. Executive pastry chef Olivier Maillard, who trained under Alain Ducasse and Joël Robuchon, turns out stunning desserts and wedding cakes.
Buyouts start at $17,500 (Saturday-night weddings available for a premium), 1375 Washington St., Boston, 617-227-5011, bostonchops.com.
DREAMLAND
Head Count: Up to 200 Seated (125-Person Minimum)
This century-old ballroom in downtown Oak Bluffs went through several incarnations—roller-skating rink, arcade, garage—before reopening as a live-music venue and private-event space in the summer of 2012. And it’s truly a dream, with a 5,300-square-foot restored hall that’s modern in all the right ways: It boasts state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and a music license that lets revelers strut their stuff on the dance floor until 12:45 a.m., a rarity on MV. The award-winning Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company, located on-site, keeps the island theme going with menu items like grilled fish and a mouthwatering raw bar.
From $115 per person (site rental starts at $3,500), 9 Oak Bluffs Ave., Martha’s Vineyard, 508-560-1932, dreamlandmv.com.
THE BOATHOUSE WATERFRONT HOTEL
Head Count: Up to 100 Seated
This new hotel from the Kennebunkport Resort Collection (the team behind Hidden Pond and other luxe Maine properties) overlooks Kennebunkport Harbor and is mere steps from the town’s lovely Dock Square, making it a storybook spot for a waterfront wedding with New England charm. Chef David Turin embraces the beach-casual vibe with his specialty: a three-dimensional pizza bar (he’s also partial to handcut fries in paper cones).
$10,000–$25,000 food and beverage minimum, depending on the season ($3,000 site rental), 21 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, ME, 207-967-8223, boathouseme.com.
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