Wedding Venues in Block Island, Rhode Island
Tie the knot on island time with a laid-back wedding weekend by the sea.
Sullivan House. / Courtesy Photo
The “Bermuda of the north” lies just 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, beckoning brides and grooms with ocean views, hiking trails, untouched beaches, and a Jimmy Buffett vibe. “It turns your wedding day into a vacation,” says local planner Lauren Manchester, of Summer Sisters. “It can last for more than just five hours. You can almost make it three days.”
The island boasts plenty of hidden-gem venues, one of the most popular being Sullivan House, set atop a hill on a 26-acre peninsula with panoramic water views. The dining room and wraparound porch are ideal for smaller fetes, while larger celebrations require a tent—stunning sunsets free of charge.
For a more-intimate affair in May, June, September, or October, host your guests at the Mansion Beach House for the entire week and say “I do” on its bucolic grounds. The private Victorian home, which sleeps 10, offers beach access and a deck overlooking the ocean.
The newest location on the island, the Block Island Maritime Institute, sits on the edge of Great Salt Pond, within walking distance of town. Safeguard against fickle weather with an indoor reception that includes most nuptial necessities, or embrace the outdoors under a tent bordering the harbor.
Whichever venue you choose, you’ll want to consider the island’s noise ordinances: Outdoor weddings must end by 9 p.m., indoor events by 10. After-parties are a must, usually at a local bar. Or better yet, toast your marriage Block Island style with a roaring bonfire on the beach.
Sullivan House
Head Count Up to 350 seated
Price Starting at $4,000
The Mansion Beach House
Head Count Up to 175 seated
Price Starting at $8,000 (for the week)
Block Island Maritime Institute
Head Count Up to 300 seated
Price Starting at $1,500
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“All of the island-based vendors work together to make weddings happen. The relationships out here are second to none.”
Katie McGuire, Summer Sisters
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Block Island Bonfires. / Courtesy Photo
Prewedding Adventure
Hire Block Island Bonfires to set the stage for some pre- or post-wedding revelry. Well versed in the island’s rules and regulations, the company can safely construct a roaring fire to keep the party blazing well into the night.
Hotel Manisses. / Photograph by RB Herrlin/Above The Fray Aerials
Guest Digs
Located steps from the ferry landing, the 17 boutique rooms at the Victorian-era Hotel Manisses were recently renovated and all have air conditioning—a luxury on the island.
Rehearsal Dinner
Perched high up on a hill, the Atlantic Inn’s lawn and veranda offer vistas of Old Harbor and the ocean beyond. Settle in at the acclaimed Restaurant 1879 for an upscale meal made with ingredients from the on-site garden.
Unique Vendor
What’s an island wedding without seafood? Treat guests to a lobster bake or shrimp boil from Kimberly’s Catering, or hire Block Island Oyster Company to shuck briny bivalves at a customized raw bar.
Local Favor
Artist Eben Horton, of the Glass Station, hides hundreds of glass orbs for visitors to discover along the island’s trails, fields, and beaches as part of his Glass Float Project—and also crafts easier-to-find mementos for a couple’s special day, embossing delicate spheres with their name and wedding date.
1661 Inn. / Courtesy Photo
Consider the Mini-Moon
A haven for outdoorsy types, the Block offers brides and grooms plenty of ways to connect with nature: Hike the bluff-bordering Clay Head Trail, strike a pose at a private beach session with Block Island Yoga, or sunset-paddleboard with Block Island Ocean Adventures.
Less athletically inclined couples can rent mopeds in town and explore the island’s shops and restaurants without working up a sweat—don’t miss the ahi tuna nachos at Eli’s.
Or just spend the entire day basking in the sun on the private deck of the 1661 Inn’s plush new Mitchell Cottage, featuring a fireplace, jetted spa tub, and, naturally, breathtaking sea views.
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