Wedding Venues in Boston

JFK presidential library and MUSEUM. / Photograph by person + killian

There’s an old saying that engaged couples need something old and something new. Why not make it your wedding venue? This season, brides- and grooms-to-be are on the hunt for “fresh looks” at classic Boston locales, says event planner Linda Matzkin, founder and president of Hopple Popple. “It’s like taking an old dress and making it feel fun and new by adding a detail or two.”

Take, for example, the Ames Boston Hotel. Built into one of the city’s first skyscrapers, it recently unveiled an intimate second-floor event space with large windows overlooking downtown Boston. The hotel’s culinary offerings have also gotten a serious upgrade, with a catering menu overseen by star chef Mary Dumont, of The Next Iron Chef fame.

For a view of the sea instead of the skyline, consider the Battery Wharf Hotel’s new waterfront ballroom on the edge of the North End, where you can sip cocktails on the patio or sneak away to the balcony off the ballroom for al fresco photo ops. No worries if there’s a chill in the air: The space’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer glorious harbor panoramas.

Speaking of city and harbor views, the I.M. Pei–designed John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is now hosting weddings in its dramatic nine-story glass pavilion along the Dorchester waterfront. With exhibit access for revelers who prefer a dose of history with their partying, it’s the ultimate blend of old and new.

Ames Boston Hotel
head count Up to 80 seated
price Starting at $1,100, plus food and drink

Battery Wharf Hotel
head count Up to 130 seated
price Starting at $2,500, plus food and drink

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
head count Up to 300 seated
price $20,000, plus food and drink

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“Hotels welcome the opportunity to explore new options, so don’t hesitate to ask questions! They are benefiting from unique and creative uses of their spaces; it’s a win/win for everyone.”

Linda Matzkin, Hopple Popple

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Guest Digs

Fire pits, a secret garden, and a restaurant from former West Bridge chef Matthew Gaudet make Cambridge’s new Freepoint Hotel an on-trend choice for out-of-towners. Bonus: Rooms stocked with science-forward products from Kendall-based beauty brand Living Proof practically guarantee zero hair mishaps on the big day.

Prewedding Adventure

You might be old enough to get hitched, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relive your childhood at A4cade, a restaurant/game room from the teams behind Area Four and Roxy’s Grilled Cheese. Play retro arcade games, pinball, and shuffleboard while sipping shareable tiki drinks.

Unique Vendor

Move over, Instagram: Artist Vesna Longton will paint your special day—live—in acrylic, oil, or pastel. Watch her work during the party, then take home a frame-worthy souvenir.

Local Favor

At Newton’s Hopsters, you can whip up a custom batch of beer for guests to take home, complete with personalized labels. IPAs, stouts, Belgian ales—with 30 craft recipes to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding a brew that perfectly matches your taste—and your personality.

Photograph by eric jacobs

Rehearsal Dinner

At the Charles Hotel’s Benedetto, the latest from Giulia talent Michael Pagliarini, guests can tuck into handmade pasta and creamy gelato in a private room perched above Harvard Square.

Photograph Courtesy of Taj boston

Consider the Mini-Moon

Book a room at the opulent Taj Boston and enjoy a private, customized dinner for two on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Public Garden, followed by an overnight in a luxury suite with champagne and strawberries.

Photograph by sarah storrer

Go highbrow with formal tea service at the Taj the following afternoon, then stroll to the opposite end of the neighborhood for a laid-back show at B3; the southern restaurant features live music every night from Berklee College of Music performers, plus art exhibits.

Photograph by Emily Hagen

Cap off the whirlwind weekend across the river with Parisian gnocchi and French 75s at the new Les Sablons, a romantic European bistro right here in the Hub.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings' guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.