Off The Beaten Path


With so many wedding venues to choose from, it can be an incredibly overwhelming decision to make. While Boston with all its incredible history and charm has some of the best wedding venues around, it may not always be the right choice for you. You also may not want a fancy hotel or a country club but instead you're hoping to find a location that has a unique style or just suits your personalities and vision in a way that will make your wedding special. So let's take a look at some of the hidden gems you can find outside of the city.


The Barn at Gibbet Hill

Groton, MA


We know barn weddings are very popular, especially in New England (we even got married in a barn!) but this venue is definitely one of a kind. Not only does Gibbet Hill have an incredible property but their farm provides the freshest, most delicious ingredients for the award-winning food that's prepared right on site. You also have the options of having your ceremony outside in the field, inside the restored historic barn, or even on top of the hill among the rustic ruins of a castle! There are not many venues in the region or even the country that can offer such a unique variety of spaces coupled with a top tier staff and a menu that competes with any five-star restaurant.

Connors Center

Dover, MA


Before we worked at the Connors Center, we had never heard of this venue but we were more than pleasantly surprised and it is still one of our favorite locations. Located south of Boston in Dover, MA it is a property owned by Boston College but you don't have to be an alumnus to have your wedding here. With 80 acres of space it has incredible outdoor options and the estate itself is impressive both inside and out. With stone terraces, manicured gardens and ornate event spaces, there are endless photo opportunities which is one of the many reasons we always jump at the chance to work here.

Fruitlands museum

Harvard, MA


This venue is set in a small town in central Massachusetts but the expansive views of the Nashua River Valley and Wachusett Mountain makes it feel like an exclusive estate. With over 210 acres of grounds, an historic farmhouse and wooded trails, the Fruitlands Museum definitely checks all the boxes for portraits and a dream outdoor wedding. There's a large lawn area for cocktail hour alongside a tented brick patio that can accommodate almost 200 guests. Having a ceremony overlooking the valley and mountains will make for such a memorable day and the photos will capture all those beautiful moments.

Herb Lyceum

Groton, MA


If you are looking for the most hidden of hidden gems, the Herb Lyceum may be the best wedding venue in the category. Set off the main road in town, it is not showy or extravagant and you might not even know it was there. But once you step on to the property you can see right away why it's such a terrific choice for your wedding. The surrounding gardens shine in Spring, Summer or Fall and the soft light of converted greenhouse is a gorgeous setting. They offer a true farm to table experience using fresh ingredients from their farm so you and your guests can enjoy an incredible meal while surrounded by nature.

Turner Hill

Ipswich, MA


We know we mentioned fancy country clubs wouldn't be a part of this list, but Turner Hill is the exception - this place is so impressive you might not even notice there is a golf course there. The stunning Elizabethan Mansion on 300 acres of rolling hills is located just north of Boston in Ipswich, MA. Completed in the early 1900's, the estate is full of exquisite details such as hand-plastered ceilings, beautiful oak floors and artistically carved doors and stairways. The mansion gives you the feel of living in the world of The Great Gatsby, especially when the architecture is paired with the ornate geometric gardens with stone walls and climbing vines. It's the type of rare venue that has almost too many great photo backdrops, but that variety also enables every couple to have a truly one of a kind wedding experience.  

The Garden at Elm Bank

Wellesley, MA


Imagine exchanging vows in a stunning Italianate garden surrounded by 15-foot hedges and beautiful manicured landscaping. The singular name of this venue is a bit of a misnomer as the 36-acre property boasts several unique gardens, all meticulously maintained by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society since 1829. If you love the outdoors Elm Bank is difficult to top, and in addition to the beautiful grounds there is a historic carriage house as well as an attached three-season tent which together can accommodate up to 230 guests. The photo opportunities here are second to none and the relaxed feel of the environment belies the elegance of one of the best wedding venues you can choose.