Author Archives: Elissa

Vendor Spotlight: The Catered Affair

If you’ve ever had the honor to be a guest at one of The Catered Affair’s events, you are a very lucky person indeed! If you know, you know! But, if you are someone who is yet to find out just how spectacular The Catered Affair’s events are, please keep reading to find out!

And, better yet, The Catered Affair hosts a huge variety of events; meaning, if you’re looking to plan an intimate or extravagant corporate party, a massive gala, a birthday party, Mitzvah or even a wedding, you’ll be in good hands, and will end up having not just a party, but an immersive experience!

Celebrate In Style!

The Catered Affair designs and facilitates truly immersive experiences for life’s most marvelous occasions. So, if you’ve ever imagined hosting a celebration at an iconic cultural institution or exclusive private residence/destination, you might want to do a deep dive into The Catered Affair’s incredible event offerings. After all, they are considered by many to be New England’s premiere event designer/caterer!

And, you can trust us! Because, one of the bonuses of being part of Beat Train Productions, is that we get to be a part of a LOT of parties! So, we understand firsthand the importance of hosting a memorable celebration, and The Catered Affair’s events are some of the most memorable celebrations we’ve attended!

You’re In Good Hands!

When planning an event with The Catered Affair, you will benefit from the over 44 years of hospitality experience their incredible team has on their resumes. Their team has truly perfected the art of translating your vision into a peak party experience, and are experts at leveraging their large networks of industry professionals, to ensure you and your guests have the party of a lifetime!

Exceptional Cuisine!

Creative, ingenious, gorgeous and impossibly delicious culinary experiences are the center of every event The Catered Affair is a part of. Their award-winning chefs, including Executive Chef Mark Richardon, their state-of-the-art commissary, and their talented event teams, allow them to perfectly serve every unique dish, decadent dessert, and bespoke craft cocktail with flair and excellence.

Executive Chef Mark Richardson – a Kentucky Native – is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, has had the honor of training and working with some of the culinary industry’s most celebrated chefs, and has worked all across the Country, as well as Paris, France!

“We’re creating a beautiful, immersive experience with food at the heart of it all.” – Chef Mark Richardson

Want to host your party at a Truly Iconic location? Here’s a short list of some of the spectacular venues The Catered Affair has access to:

Boston Public Library
The Harvard Art Museums
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Boston Athenæum
Newport Partners, including Rosecliff, Marble House, The Elms, Greenvale Vineyard, Eisenhower House, Redwood Library and Athenaeum and Sweet Berry Farms
Greater Boston Partners, including, The Wang Theatre at the Boch Center, The Cyclorama, 9OFS, The Speedway, The Roadrunner Boston, The Garden at Elm Bank, Flynn Cruiseport Boston, and Leader Bank Pavilion
An extensive and exclusive list of private residences and estates, country wide!

Vendor Spotlight: Refined Rentals LLC

If you’re looking for ‘next-level’ event rentals in New England, we highly suggest that you see what Refined Rentals has to offer!

Refined Rentals was founded by high-school sweethearts Hannah and Justin Davis, and the two of them met and started their love story at track and field practice! The two of them fell in love and have been absolutely inseparable ever since.

Continuing on in their story… After finishing college they began renovating homes, which led them to develop a deep passion for esthetics and design. This early experience, along with the planning of their own wedding, kindled a dream to start their own event rental business!

While planning their own big day, the two of them realized that there was a large demand and genuine need for unique rentals in the wedding industry, and that is how Refined Rentals LLC was born! And, today Refined Rentals can accommodate bespoke events of up to 200 guests, and service all of New England!

Also, recognizing the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship, Refined Rentals LLC has pledged to plant a tree for every handmade item they create!

“We pride ourselves on the carefully crafted custom pieces in our inventory, helping to make your designs come to life! We wouldn’t be here without the help of our amazing team of moves, woodworkers, designers, and our families” – Hannah & Justin Davis

What’s On Offer:

Tables

Offering handmade farmhouse tables, of differing shapes and sizes, folding tables, cocktail tables, wine barrels (for unique cocktail tables) and dressers (perfect for your card table, or guest book table)

Chairs

Offering multiple choices of ceremony chairs, benches, love seats, bar stools and even those gorgeous and entirely photographable peacock chairs

Lounge Seating

Offering gorgeous couches in multiple styles, you’re sure to find the vibe you’re going for, whether you’re going for Victorian sensibility, classic contemporary or sleek and modern. The also offer and incredible assortment of lounge chairs, ottomans and poufs

Arbors and Arches

Offering numerous styles of ceremony arbors and arches, as well as a Chuppah, you’re sure to find a style perfect for saying “I do!”

Tabletop

Offering a wide variety of plates, glassware, chargers, utensils and linens, you’re sure to find your vibe from amongst their varied inventory

Walls

Offering hedge walls, dessert & dessert shelf walls, display walls, champagne/prosecco walls, shiplap walls, room dividers, and even grid and hook walls, they’re definitely going to have what you’re looking for

Bars and Bar Carts

Offering blackboard bars, shiplap bars, barrel bars, half and full circle bars, gold and glass bar carts, as well as shelves and bar backs, you’ll be well served by their choice of inventory in this category

Coffee Tables, Rugs and Pillows

Offering a vast selection of coffee and side tables, along with a huge variety of decorative accents like pillows and rugs in numerous colors, style and vibes, you’ll be able to design the wedding decor of your dreams

Event Design

So far we’ve only talked about their rental inventory, but Refined Rentals also offers stellar event design services, meaning they can help you put together a detailed event design based on some conversations with you, and a few pictures for inspiration! They will help you bring your dream wedding or event to life!

Venue Spotlight: Lucerne Inn

Very few hotels capture the spirit, charm, history and romance of New England quite like The Lucerne Inn, located roughly halfway in between Bangor and Ellsworth, Maine.

The Lucerne Inn is a quaint, 200-year-old inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. The Lucerne Inn is tucked beautifully into the scenic hills near the Maine coast, which boasts views of Phillips Lake and spectacular natural scenery all year round. Though, from our personal experience, fall weddings at Lucerne Inn are next level stunning, as the woodlands surrounding the Inn change to a vibrant mix of deep yellow, orange and crimson.

The History of The Lucerne Inn

The Inn’s story begins when one of Dedham’s early settlers, Nathan Phillips, established a traveler’s lodging house near this site in 1810. Then under the auspices of his son the property grew to assume its present dimensions, and was known, at the time, as the “Lake House.”

Continuing from there, the Inn’s Main House was built in 1818, but has changed with the march of time and progress. To that end, the Main House has been repeatedly enlarged and renovated, to serve travelers and guests needs.

Then, in the 1920’s The Inn was the centerpiece of an effort to develop a resort on nearby Phillips Lake that intended to cater to the nation’s wealthy. So, in 1925 this property, as well as all of the land surrounding Phillips Lake, was sold to New York investor Harold Saddlemire, to build a resort called “Lucerne-in-Maine”.

To facilitate the construction of the proposed resort, The Lake House was moved a short way to its present location and given a Colonial Revival restyling, with the intent that it would serve as a clubhouse for the resort facilities. A series of roads and house lots were laid out, a golf club was established, and a log lodge was built for the exclusive use of resort members.

But, even though the resort had the support of a large portion of the state’s political and business elite, the venture was largely unsuccessful, due to the mismanagement of the resort’s funds, combined with the disastrous economic effects of the Great Depression.

The Lodge Today

Arriving at the Inn today, you are greeted by a palpable sense of timelessness along with tranquil seclusion and peace. And, the current owners and innkeepers David and Jayne Silverman are adept at perfectly balancing warm hospitality with an easygoing style that allows you to relax and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

The 18th century ambiance is genuine and unmistakable, complete with unique period furniture and artwork throughout. Yet as you and your guests will soon find out, the amenities have been upgraded to account for the sensibilities of today!

Lucerne Inn Weddings

Though the venue is historic, Lucerne Inn wedding celebrations receive unparalleled personalized attention from their in-house Event Coordinators, event staff and catering team. Offering privacy and exclusivity, one of the Inn’s event spaces is located in a separate building, across from the Main Inn, and boasts four beautiful recessed chandeliers, a decorative fireplace, an area for a dance floor, and a quaint viewing alcove facing Bald Mountain and Phillips Lake. This event space can hold up to 120 guests, for a sitdown dinner and dancing.

Also available is the gorgeous pre-lit patio/tent event space, attached to the Main Inn. The patio/tent space offers a lovely brick patio that boasts a beautiful view of Phillips Lake and Bald Mountain. The patio/tent offers plenty of room for dancing the night away, and can hold up to 180 guests for a sit down dinner and dancing.

Venue Spotlight: Omni Boston at the Seaport

Are you and your fiance dreaming of getting married surrounded by the sights, sounds, and culture of Boston’s Seaport District? If so, you could really do no better than the Omni Boston! Imagine custom walnut slats and multi-layered illuminated ceilings that bring both depth and texture, while custom curated artwork and sculptures are showcased as focal points in the east and west lobby. Marble floors, brushed brass, and dark bronze also line the space. The Omni Boston was awarded Travel + Leisure Readers’ 10 Favorite Hotels in Boston of 2023! It will truly blow your wedding guests away!

The Hotel

The Omni Boston is a gorgeous and massive new hotel located right in the heart of the bustling Seaport District, and it is a testament to the charming and ever-evolving city of Boston, MA. The hotel is conveniently located near South Station, Boston Harbor, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and is fewer than three miles from Logan International Airport (BOS), which will be incredibly convenient to your out of town guests.

The hotel’s boast a AAA, Four Diamond rating, and offers 1,054 well-appointed and stylish guest rooms, with impressive floor-to-ceiling windows with unrivaled city and harbor views.

And, everywhere you look, there is art! From the stunning lobby to the guest room hallways, all of the hotel’s artwork was carefully curated to reflect Boston’s rich heritage, including homages to academia and the visual and performing arts!

The Event Spaces

The Omni boasts over 100,000 square-feet of flexible function space, spread out over 4 floors, meaning that this Boston hotel is an ideal venue for weddings of all sizes, from small and intimate, to a huge gala style wedding for 1000+ guests! There is also a gorgeous 3,000-square foot outdoor Balcony, called elevate, that could make an incredible space for an al fresco wedding ceremony!

And, don’t forget about your rehearsal dinner! The incredibly lavish restaurant Coquette, which offers cuisine inspired by the Basque region of Spain and Southern France would be a perfect spot! Coquette embraces psychedelic Art Nouveau in a big way! So much so, that the walls of the restaurant boast Art Nouveau murals that practically burst from the walls in a riot of color, as well as featuring stunning ruby red chandeliers that dangle dramatically from above! It really has to be seen to be appreciated! Coquette was, in fact, named Best Hotel Restaurant in Boston Magazine’s Best of Dining 2022 Awards!

Event Management

Easing your wedding planning stress, the Omni Boston at Seaport offers in-house event management services, and offers:

A unique, complimentary reservation Link for your guests to reserve their rooms
Mobile Check-In for your guests
Rooming list reports showing which of your guests have reserved rooms and when they plan to arrive
Coordination of additional events you may choose to host at the hotel
A curated collection of linens, tables, and chairs to perfect the room set-up for your special day
Creation, coordination and completion of your reception menu
Coordination with outside vendors to ensure seamless delivery on your big day
In-house AV equipment (including screens, projectors and microphones) and technicians to operate them
A custom dance floor or stage, tailored for your event

5 Big Reasons Not To DIY Your Wedding Photobooth

We know that with all the small details that go into planning your big day, weddings can be pretty darn expensive! We also know the appeal of freeing up a little space in your event budget, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of hiring a professional photo booth! In the grand scheme of things, hiring a photo booth is only a small fraction of your budget, but that small expense will make a BIG difference at your party! So, keep reading, and let us show you why it’s a good idea to hire a professional photo booth company.

You Won’t Save That Much! Really!

Once you buy or make a backdrop, buy or make some props, figure out proper lighting and decide which camera/tripod to use, your savings will be negligible. And, honestly, buying all of that could cost considerably more! Meanwhile, a professional photo booth company will already have all of the necessary gear on hand, and will likely have the commercial/professional versions of all of it. Because quality, reliable gear is important! But, it’s not just about the gear. Professionals will also have plenty of experience using their gear, so your photo booth attendant won’t be trying to trouble-shoot problems at your event when they could be entertaining guests.

Sorry… But It Won’t Even Be Half As Good

No offense intended or implied! Just stating the facts! Most people start their DIY photo booth plans with the best of intentions, but quickly find out that sourcing all the materials they are going to require is expensive and time consuming. There’s a reason that professional gear costs more, and that reason is quality! Why go to all that effort and expense to end up with an experience that doesn’t satisfy you and your guests? Your money is better spent hiring a professional company and leaving the logistics, including set-up, take-down and operation up to them.

What, No Photo Prints?

With a DIY photo booth, you’re unlikely to be able to offer your guests prints to take home, and in our experience, people LOVE taking home photo booth prints. Then if you decide to go with polaroid cameras so that your guests can take home prints, you won’t be left with any prints yourself! And, no digital files to reprint either! And, with photo booths, It’s really all about the prints for some guests! Many guests leave with enough photo booth prints to cover their entire fridge, or enough to tuck into every book as a bookmark! So, save yourself the hassle, and hire a professional company that offers prints, as well as digital files for you and your sweetheart!

Guests Are All About The Props

People LOVE photo booth props! They’re fun! They’re bright! They’re a great ice-breaker for guests who might feel a little shy about being the center of attention, and they can help unleash your guests’ creativity, and get them into party mode… all of which are very good things! But, we know that good props and high quality props are expensive! But, a professional photo booth company will have already invested in high quality props and signs, in many different kinds and themes. If you were to go buy a comparable amount of props it would end up being a big expense! Why go to that trouble? Let a professional help!

Less Pressure On You, And Your Guests!

You already have enough to think about in the days leading up to your wedding, and on the day itself! The set-up and running of the photo booth shouldn’t be occupying your thoughts! It also shouldn’t be the responsibility of one of your guests! Everyone should be free to enjoy the party! You and all your nearest and dearest have memories to make, songs to dance to, pictures to take, and people to spend time with!! Hire a professional photo booth company and they’ll take care of all of the photo booth work for you! They’ll show up at their scheduled time, set-up the booth, run the booth, engage with your guests and make sure your booth experience runs flawlessly, all without you lifting a finger! Perfect! After all…It is their job to make sure you and your guests have a great experience!

So, If you’re looking to add a photo booth to your New York or Boston Area Wedding, don’t hesitate to get in touch and see what Beat Train Productions can offer you!

Your DJ Is One Of Your Most Important Wedding Vendors, Really!

newlywed couple on the beat train dance floor We know that choosing vendors can be one of the most stressful parts about planning your big day. Even if you and your fiance use the services of a wedding planner, there are so many decisions you’ll need to make. Prioritizing all of those choices can make the decision process easier. I know we’re biased, but we believe that the vendor that has the biggest impact on your wedding and reception would have to be the Wedding DJ!

After all, they provide so much more to the wedding than simply playing music. They are, in fact, an integral part of the ceremony and reception, and of the overall atmosphere of your celebration. Many DJ/Entertainment services provide much more than what you may expect from a DJ service.

Adaptability

There are so many things that a good DJ can do for your wedding that extend well beyond the DJ booth. To start, many venues do not provide sound systems or a way to amplify voices during the wedding ceremony. A good DJ service can provide a sound system for both the ceremony and reception. This is a much better option than paying out of pocket or booking a separate vendor to handle your ceremony sound. And, with the audio comes the visual, meaning that DJ’s can often also provide lighting options as well as projections. This can help you decorate your venue without having to go through too many vendors, and it is a great way to decorate and light your space with less clean up afterward.

Structure

Weddings can be confusing. They are especially confusing on the day of since there are so many moving parts and so many people involved! DJ’s can help provide an outline of events so that guests will know what is happening and when, and they can help facilitate the big moments of your wedding so everyone’s eye is drawn to you.

Planning Help

Venues tend to have preferred vendors that they recommend to their customers, and talking with a DJ first – maybe even before you book your venue – can help you make venue and vendor decisions based on their extensive experience being a part of weddings in your local area. Because while this may be only the first – and likely – only wedding you’ll plan, your DJ has most likely been to dozens, if not hundreds, of weddings, and can make recommendations based on those experiences. The last thing anyone wants on the day of their wedding is unnecessary drama. So, your DJ can confirm whether or not your vendors of choice will be reliable, tol give you peace of mind on your big day!

Entertainment

It goes without saying, that the thing DJs are best known for is definitely the entertainment of your guests! They know how to keep everything from your grand entrance to your sparkler exit running smoothly and how to keep everyone interested and invested. They can be the make or break of if your wedding will end up being fun. That being said, all DJ services and all DJ’s are different. Some prefer to keep the party going hard while others offer a more subtle and classy style. So, when choosing a DJ, it is important to book with a DJ service that will listen to your needs and wants! Because this celebration is about you and your sweetheart, the love you share, and the new family you are building together! The best DJ services – wink, wink – will know how to give you exactly what you are looking for.

Book Early

Hiring a DJ might not be the first call you make while planning your wedding, but we recommend that you treat your wedding entertainment as a priority, instead of an afterthought!

DJs do tend to get booked many months to sometimes years in advance for weddings, so if you have a DJ service in mind, do not hesitate to book them as far in advance as possible. They are a truly essential part to every wedding so make sure to make them a priority.

Venue Spotlight: The TWA Hotel

When you start thinking about planning your wedding, an airport hotel probably isn’t near the top of your list, but you just might make an exception, for the truly extraordinary and unique TWA Hotel! Think gorgeous and immaculate mid-century modern vibes everywhere you look! It’s honestly one of the unique hotels and event venues in NYC, and maybe even the most unique hotel in America! Truly! Keep reading to find out more!

The History

The TWA hotel is contained within Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport! Neat! And, as Mike Thornton, a curator for the New-York Historical Society, says: “The Saarinen terminal is a monument to the optimism and vision of the Jet Age.”

And, the TWA Hotel makes history come alive with a large collection of exhibits including:

flight attendant’s logs detailing five years of airborne adventures
vintage furniture from the TWA headquarters
a display of all 37 uniforms worn by flight staff from 1945-2001
In-flight amenities including gilded playing cards and silver serving ware from a bygone era or air travel.
The recreated offices of Eero Saarinen and Howard Hughes, complete with period-perfect details, which invite guests to imagine themselves at Saarinen’s drafting table or behind Hughes’s desk.

These are just some of the items showcased at the TWA Hotel, and The New-York Historical Society actually curated the exhibits, which are located in various spots throughout the former TWA terminal, as well as in their event center and in the areas that connect our hotel flight tubes to JetBlue’s Terminal 5, the exhibits will allow you and your guests to explore and experience the Jet Age through authentic artifacts, interactive displays and personally recorded narratives.

The Transformation

For three years, Turner Construction oversaw more than 400 incredibly skilled tradespeople every weekday, no matter the weather, to construct two gorgeous new hotel wings, install penny tile, gingerly replace all of the one-of-a-kind windows on site and coat their beloved landmark in a fresh coat (or five) of paint! Incredible!

The Event Spaces

The TWA Hotel offers over 50,000 square feet of mid-century modern-inspired event spaces, including outdoor terraces, a rooftop pool and an observation deck, and a fully restored Connie N8083H Jetstream Airplane!

‘The Connie’ was Commissioned in 1939 by TWA’s owner, Howard Hughes, and at the time the Lockheed Constellation “Connie” broke the era’s transcontinental speed record on a flight from Burbank, California, to New York in 1946. The plane also served as Air Force One (top) for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s! Incredible!

The TWA Hotel has spaces that will work beautifully for both small and large gatherings! The Hotel in fact boasts 45 distinct event rooms and five hospitality suites can host up to 1,600 people, and when you and your guest are ready to call it a night, you can retire to one of the hotel’s 512 ultra-quiet guestrooms. Trust us when we say it’s a venue like no other! There are simply too many details to include in this article! You’ll have to see it for yourself!

Venue Spotlight: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem, MA

Maybe a Museum venue isn’t your first idea when it comes to planning your dream wedding, but we’re here to tell you that there are many incredible features to getting married, or hosting your reception in a museum, and more specifically, hosting your wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Massachusetts!

The Museum – Its History

Talk about history! The roots of the Peabody Essex Museum date back to the 1799 founding of the East India Marine Society. Which is an organization of Salem captains who had sailed beyond either the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, and who’s charter even included a provision for the establishment of a “cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities,” which is what we would call a museum today.

The Society members brought a diverse collection of objects from the northwest coast of America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, India and elsewhere, to Salem, and by 1825, the society moved into its own building, The East India Marine Hall. And, one last interesting fact, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) has the honorable distinction of being the oldest continuously operating and collecting museum in the United States, and far from a typical museum, it is more a collection of collections.

The Museum – Its Current Mission

The Peabody Essex Museum continues its mission today as an educational resource with profound dimensions. The PEM is a museum, library, and archive, which is committed to art, science, nature, and human achievement! This is the kind of important work you will be supporting by hosting your wedding at the Museum! And, this is a direct quote from the Executive Director and CEO, Lynda Roscoe Hartigan:

“This is your museum! Welcome. Museums offer us an environment in which people, ideas, life experiences, and feelings can come together across time, place, and cultures. We seek out art and creative expression to feel grounded, to feel awe, and, yes, to question and understand who we are and who we can become through our shared humanity.”

The Venue Spaces

The museum has many different venue spaces within its walls, and is capable of hosting events – from casual cocktails to large seated gala like affairs – for groups as small as 50, and all the way up to 400 guests!

Imagine hosting a seated reception for 300 in the Main Atrium, Located in the heart of the museum. The atrium is a gorgeous light-filled space that boasts an arched glass roof soaring dramatically overhead and offers generous space for dinner and dancing!

Or imagine hosting a more intimate reception for 150 in the East India Marine Hall! The Hall is a traditional New England-style ballroom which has been formally designated as a National Historic Landmark. The hall is an elegant space featuring arched floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows, two stunning chandeliers, polished hardwood floors and maritime art.

Or imagine an even more intimate affair for up to 70 guests in either the Forbes or Copeland Galleries. In these intimate venue spaces you and your guests can enjoy a seated or standing dinner reception in the Crosby Forbes Gallery, which features a commissioned installation by artist Vanessa Platacis, or guests can mingle over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Pamela Cunningham Copeland Gallery which, as a bonus, is located adjacent to an outdoor patio and garden.

The Museum’s Exclusive Catering Partnership

Deciding to host your reception at the PEM is a delicious idea, and will take the pressure off finding an amazing caterer for your big day! That is because the museum has an exclusive partnership with Gourmet Caterers, who are renowned for creating unforgettable events with innovative chefs, impeccable service and a willingness to accommodate all of your guests’ needs and dietary restrictions. Gourmet Caterers were also chosen as the prestigious Caterer of the Year at the Massachusetts Wedding Awards, in 2020!

Tips For Planning The LGBTQ+ Wedding Of Your Dreams

At Beat Train we believe that love is love, and that love is a human right! Period. End. of. Discussion. And, in an increasingly polarized world, we believe that queer love shouldn’t just be accepted, or tolerated. We believe it should be celebrated, and lucky for all of you that we just happen to be in the celebration business!

So, in honor of Pride Month, and the badass history of Pride Month’s origins, we’ve compiled a few tips and suggestions, to help make your beautiful queer wedding the celebration you deserve and have been dreaming of!

Finding The Best Vendors

We’d be lying if we said we hadn’t heard a few horror stories from LGBTQ+ couples who were refused service by wedding vendors. So, when you and your sweetheart are searching for vendors–we recommend looking for professionals in your area who showcase diversity in their portfolios, or use a resource like PrideZilla, which lists local LGBTQ+ friendly vendors by location and category.

However, we also know that there are plenty of amazing wedding vendors who simply haven’t had the opportunity to work with LGBTQ+ couples yet, but would honestly love to do so. So, when reaching out to a vendor whose portfolio doesn’t necessarily represent who you both are you as a couple, keep these things in mind:

You’re the ones in control, as such, don’t let anyone make you feel less than. You’re willing to pay for a service and if a business owner feels it’s in their best interest to refuse you service, they’re not the kind of vendors who deserve to work with anyway.
Finding the right vendors for you is like finding a new friend. High expectations are good, and you might want to prepare to meet a few before you find that spark with “the one”
If you have an unpleasant experience with a vendor, don’t be afraid to leave a public review. That way you can let other couples–LGBTQ+ or otherwise– know about the poor customer service or discrimination you received. By leaving an honest, but not overly inflammatory, review of what happened, you can help keep other couples from going through the same thing.

Your Wedding Party

We think that mixed-gender, and gender fluid wedding parties are awesome, so don’t fret over separating your friends and family by gender or gender norms on either side of the aisle. Simply think about who has truly supported you in your lives and your relationship up to this point. Spend some time thinking about that, and you’ll know which close friends are meant to stand by your side as you tie the knot. But, if you’re not into the idea of a wedding party, you are welcome to ditch the idea completely. Wedding planning is about making your celebration reflect you and doing what feels right for you as a couple.

Your Guest List

Speaking of including the people who support you, your guest list should ONLY include those who will be over the moon about your special day! We don’t believe that getting married means you have to throw a huge party just for the sake of it, so please invite friends and family that have supported your love from the very beginning. Your guests should be elated for you! Full. Stop. This tip will also help you avoid unwanted and unnecessary drama on your wedding day, because this day is for joy not drama and nonsense!

CHARMING COASTAL WEDDING VENUES NEAR BOSTON, PART 3

Today we will be featuring two more absolutely stunning wedding venues to complete our 3 part series, on Coastal Wedding Venues close to Boston! If you haven’t checked out Part 1 and Part 2, I urge you to do that now, before completing the series.

With that being said, if you and your fiance are planning a wedding in the Boston area, but keep finding yourself dreaming of a sweet and quiet coastal celebration, you might want to hop in the car with your sweetie and head to the stunning southern coast of Maine!

Whether you happen to be thinking and dreaming of an iconic cliffside resort, a small family owned in, or an exclusive private club on the beach, you’ll find a truly wow-worthy coastal wedding venue, where you’ll be happy to start your forever! And, the best part is that all of these stunning venues are within a 2-hour drive from Boston! Incredible!

So, without further ado, here’s two more amazing venues for part 3 in our 3 part series on Coastal Wedding Venues near Boston!

The ViewPoint, York, ME

Our first stop this week is The ViewPoint, located just a stone’s throw from the ocean in York Maine, which happens to be just over a 1 hour drive from Boston, MA! The ViewPoint is a gorgeous boutique hotel property, with a gorgeous 45′ x 85′ sailcloth reception tent on site! The tend also boasts charming wood grain poles, as well as other elegant nautical elements, and is capable of hosting groups of up to 150 guests. The tent rental also comes with a large separate catering tent w/ power and lighting, exclusive use of the entire property on Saturday ensuring privacy for you and your guests. Your rental also includes Studio use on Saturday with complimentary champagne, so you and your bridal party can get ready in style!

And, as for accommodations for your guests and out of town visitors, The ViewPoint has plenty of rooms and suites available on site, as well as additional accommodations at their nearby Sister Properties (228 Nubble, Stones Throw and The Nevada). You and your closest friends and family will stay and enjoy some of the best views that coastal Maine has to offer!

Imagine exchanging your vows with beautiful views of the Nubble Lighthouse & crashing waves as the soundtrack for the most important day of your lives! As a note, receptions have an end time of 9:30pm to comply with community noise restrictions, but there are plenty of options for hosting an after party, if you prefer to dance the night away!

The Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport, ME

Our next stop on our tour of coastal wedding venues is The Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport Maine, which is just a quick one and a half hour drive from Boston proper! And, if history and getting married in a historic venue is important to you, The Colony Hotel might fit the bill! For starters, the current hotel was designed and opened in 1914, and is considered one of the Historic Hotels of America, by the National Trust For Historic Preservation. When the hotel opened, the room and meals rate was only $5.-10. per day, depending on your preferred view and whether or not you wanted a private bath.

So… you could say that times have changed a little from the Hotel’s inaugural season!

The Hotel overlooks the rugged Atlantic Ocean, the Kennebunk River as well as its own private beach, and is a picturesque getaway with 110 guest rooms that is more than capable of hosting weddings of up to 200 guests! So, there’s no need to keep your guest list short! The guest accommodations are housed in five separate buildings on site, which will give your guests an opportunity to spread out. Also, each building boasts its own distinctive style, and every room/suite comes with either an ocean, river, or garden view, so you and your guests will have plenty of choice when picking their accommodations. The hotel is also pet friendly if you or your guests are planning to bring their furry little friends!

This concludes our tour around Coastal Wedding Venues Near Boston! We hope you’ve enjoyed discovering some charming coastal venues, all within a 2 hour drive from Boston! If you haven’t yet enjoyed Part 1 and Part 2 in this series, I encourage you to do that now!