New England is filled with its own rich history, including historic Boston wedding venues that exude the old-world enchantment. In the guide below, you’ll find detailed information to help you plan your wedding at 10 different historic wedding venues in Boston. From former estate homes to mansions, museums, and venues located in the heart of downtown Salem. Each venue listed includes specifics such as capacity, expected cost, whether or not the venue offers exclusive use, and the experience you can expect to enjoy on the day of your wedding.
1. Floriana, Ipswich MA
Floriana Ipswich is just one of many Boston wedding venues with a rich history to its name. Originally constructed in 1903, Floriana is a centuries-old Georgian-style mansion. Nestled just 25 miles north of Boston, the estate-style venue is stretched across the sprawling grounds that run alongside the Ipswich River. A Floriana Ipswich wedding is one filled with classic elegance. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor experiences, with wedding ceremonies taking place in the sculpted gardens and reception celebrations indoors through their old-world ballroom, or outdoors, protected from the elements under their sailcloth tent. The architecture of Floriana Ipswich, MA, sets the tone for an unforgettable event with historic details and elegant touches throughout.
Total Capacity of Floriana Ipswich
Indoor wedding ceremonies can host a total of up to 140 guests. For wedding ceremonies with more than 140 guests in attendance (during the months of May through October), the venue offers a tented wedding ceremony experience.
A wedding reception with a seated dinner and dancefloor in the ballroom has the ability to accommodate up to 200 guests. Tented wedding receptions, which include a seated dinner (with or without a dancefloor), can accommodate up to 235 guests.If you wish to host a flowing cocktail reception, a Floriana Ipswich wedding can host a maximum of 235 guests in the ballroom or tented.
Venue Cost Associated with a Floriana Ipswich MA Wedding
The total costs listed below are venue fees only and not yet inclusive of your food and beverage service.
Ceremony
The total fee for hosting a Floriana wedding ceremony is $1750
May Through October
- $4,000 – Weekday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $5,500 – Sunday weddings with a minimum of 100 guests
- $6500 – Sunday Holiday weddings with a minimum of 100 guests
- $6500 – Friday weddings with a minimum of 125 guests
- $8500 – Saturday weddings with a minimum of 140 guests
November, December, April
- $2000 – Weekday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $3500 – Sunday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $4000 – Friday weddings with a minimum of 100 guests
- $5000 – Saturday weddings with a minimum of 125 guests
January Through March
- $850 – Weekday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $1000 – Sunday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $1500 – Friday weddings with a minimum of 80 guests
- $2000 – Saturday weddings with a minimum of 100 guests
Is Floriana Ipswich an exclusive-use wedding venue? – Yes.
Step inside this Floriana wedding featuring organic details and classic elegance.
2. Willowdale Estate, Topsfield
Along the quiet waters of the Ipswich River lies over 720 acres known as Willowdale Estate. In fact, much of the pristine woodlands surrounding Willowdale Estate make up Bradley Palmer State Park. Many Boston wedding venues are teeming with history, and Willowdale Estate is no exception. The venue is an elegant Tudor Revival stone mansion, with early construction dating back to the early 1900s. But the experience of a Willowdale Estate wedding is nothing short of enchanting, with every modern amenity needed for a memorable wedding.
A Willowdale Estate wedding is an all-inclusive experience with packages for your ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and your catering and bar services. Willowdale Estate weddings offer both indoor and outdoor experiences and are held in accordance with the time of year your wedding is planned. Outdoor experiences are available on the grounds of the venue throughout the months of May through October. The colder months are considered Mansion season, and ceremonies and receptions take place indoors.
Expected Willowdale Estate Wedding Cost
May Through October
Willowdale Estate weddings held from May through October have the ability to host anywhere from 120 to 240 guests. Below are the venue fees, along with minimum required spends, based on the day of the week your wedding is held.
Friday
- $11,000 Venue Fee
- $2500 Ceremony Fee
- $21,000 Event Minimum
Saturday
- $13,000 Venue Fee
- $2500 Ceremony Fee
- $25,500 Event Minimum
Sunday
- $9000 Venue Fee
- $2500 Ceremony Fee
- $18,000 Event Minimum
November, December, April
If your Willowdale wedding will take place in November, December, or April, there will be a minimum required spend. Additionally, weddings taking place during these months typically average 70-125 guests.
Friday
- $7000 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $11,520 Event Minimum
Saturday
- $8000 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $14,400 Event Minimum
Sunday
- $6000 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $11,520 Event Minimum
January, February, March
Weddings held in January, February, and March are considered Mansion season. During these months, Willowdale Estate has the ability to host 70-125 guests for your wedding. The total cost of your Willowdale Estate wedding during these months is as follows.
Friday
- $2000 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $11,520 Event Minimum
Saturday
- $3000 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $14,400 Event Minimum
Sunday
- $1500 Venue Fee
- $2000 Ceremony Fee
- $10,080 Event Minimum
Is Willowdale Estate in Topsfield an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes.
See more of Kristal and Taylor’s romantic garden-inspired Willowdale Estate wedding.
3. Misselwood Events at Endicott College, Beverly
Directly overlooking Massachusetts Bay, Misselwood lies over four acres with spectacular ocean views and a sprawling lawn. The estate wedding venue is located at Endicott College, with original build dates as far back as 1845. If you’re searching for historic estate Boston wedding venues, Misselwood offers memorable experiences, helping you create an exquisite wedding day for you and your guests. The all-inclusive wedding venue hosts ceremonies on the lawn, perched just above the bay, with the soft sounds of the sea in the backdrop. Reception celebrations are also offered outdoors through a tented experience, completely protected from the elements. The catering experience for your wedding is not directly offered through Misselwood Events, but rather through their preferred vendor list, which you can find at this link. As a Boston Wedding photographer, I am also honored to be considered one of the preferred photographers for capturing weddings at Misselwood.
Capacity of a Misselwood Wedding
In total, Misselwood has the ability to accommodate up to 200 guests for your wedding day.
Total Misselwood Wedding Cost
There are several caveats that comprise a Misselwood wedding cost. This includes the venue and ceremony fees listed below, along with the hosted bar requirements and minimum guest counts required.
May Through October
For weddings hosted from May through October, Misselwood offers a tented experience on its expansive grounds. A tented reception can accommodate up to 210 guests for a seated dinner along with a dance floor.
- $5500 – Weekday weddings taking place Monday-Wednesday. A weekday wedding requires a beer & wine hosted bar, or your choice of a full open bar, and a minimum of 100 guests.
- $7500 – Thursday weddings. Weddings taking place on a Thursday require a beer & wine hosted bar, or your choice of a full open bar, with a minimum of 100 guests.
- $10,000 – Weddings held on a Friday or Sunday holiday. Your wedding will also require a full-liquor hosted bar and a minimum of 120 guests.
- $11,000 – Saturday weddings. Your Saturday wedding will require a fully hosted bar and a minimum of 130 guests.
- $9000 – Sunday weddings. A Sunday wedding will require a beer & wine hosted bar, or your choice of a full open bar, and a minimum of 100 guests.
- $1750 – Ceremony fee to host your vows at Misselwood.
Is Misselwood an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes
Peek inside Emily and Ryan’s fall Misselwood Wedding, filled with lush florals.
4. The Commons 1854, Topsfield
Timeless and romantic, The Commons 1854 exudes charm in every way. When it comes to historic Boston wedding venues, The Commons 1854 offers a sophisticated wedding day experience through its blank space venue. Wedding ceremonies at The Commons 1854 are offered in the idyllic garden, with a white wooden pergola accenting the space and lush topiaries lining either side of the aisle. Wedding receptions at The Commons 1854 are held in their all-white ballroom featuring hardwood floors and glittering Swarovski crystal chandeliers. This space can be brought to life through your own unique wedding day vision, whether you dream of filling it with vibrant florals or hosting a black tie affair.
The Commons 1854 Wedding Capacity
The venue can host a total of up to 200 guests for a plated dinner reception and a dance floor.
The Commons 1854 Wedding Cost
Below, you’ll find details on The Commons 1854 Wedding Cost for hosting a wedding in 2027, based on the month and day you wish to host your wedding.
Ceremony Fee
An on-site wedding ceremony at The Commons 1854 comes at a total cost of $1500.
January through May
Friday Weddings
- $2000 Venue Fee
- $8500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday & Sunday Holiday Weddings
- $2500 Venue Fee
- $9500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $2000 Venue Fee
- $8500 Food & Beverage Minimum
End of May through the end of August, November & December
Friday Weddings
- $2500 Venue Fee
- $10,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday & Sunday Holiday Weddings
- $3500 Venue Fee
- $12,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $2500 Venue Fee
- $10,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
End of August to End of October, December 31st, January 1st, and all Holidays
Friday Weddings
- $3500 Venue Fee
- $12,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday & Sunday Holiday Weddings
- $5900 Venue Fee
- $15,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $3000 Venue Fee
- $12,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Is The Commons 1854 an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes
5. Briar Barn Inn, Rowley
Briar Barn Inn in Rowley, MA, offers weddings with a distinct air of rustic charm. The boutique-style wedding venue just outside of Boston, MA, offers intimate wedding day experiences with the onsite guest accommodations and a restorative spa. During the months of May through October, Briar Barn Inn wedding ceremonies take place on their beautifully landscaped lawn, overlooking the nearby forested grounds. From the months of November through April, Briar Barn Inn provides space indoors to host your wedding ceremony. Epic wedding day celebrations take place in their post and beam barn featuring vaulted ceilings, a private bar, and beautiful amounts of natural light blanketing your best day ever.
Briar Barn Inn Wedding Cost
Below are details on the total cost of a wedding at Briar Barn Inn in Rowley, MA. The venue has three fees: an event minimum, which must be met, a ceremony fee, and a site fee.
May through October
Weddings taking place during these months average 60-100 guests.
Friday Weddings
- $6000 Venue Fee
- $1800 Ceremony Fee
- $11,200 Event Minimum
Saturday Weddings
- $7000 Venue Fee
- $1800 Ceremony Fee
- $11,200 Event Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $4500 Venue Fee
- $1800 Ceremony Fee
- $9800 Event Minimum
November, December, April
Weddings taking place during these months average 50-100 guests.
Friday Weddings
- $4000 Venue Fee
- $1500 Ceremony Fee
- $9220 Event Minimum
Saturday Weddings
- $4000 Venue Fee
- $1500 Ceremony Fee
- $9520 Event Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $3000 Venue Fee
- $1500 Ceremony Fee
- $8160 Event Minimum
January Through March
Weddings taking place during these months average 50-100 guests
Friday Weddings
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $1400 Ceremony Fee
- $8160 Event minimum
Saturday Weddings
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $1500 Ceremony Fee
- $9520 Event Minimum
Sunday weddings
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $1500 Ceremony Fee
- $8160 Event Minimum
Is The Briar Barn Inn an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes
6. Hawthorne Hotel, Salem
Perhaps better known for spooky season, Salem, MA has a charming elegance entirely its own. If you’re dreaming of a wedding in historic Salem, MA, Hawthorne Hotel is an elegant ballroom setting that creates wedding celebrations to complement your unique taste and creative wedding day style. The venue’s two-story ballroom features exquisite Palladian windows, allowing you a direct view overlooking Salem Commons on the day of your wedding. In addition to a remarkable wedding day experience, Hawthorne Hotel in Salem has overnight accommodations, allowing you to provide a seamless wedding day experience to your out-of-town guests. When it comes to Historic Boston wedding venues in Salem, Hawthorne Hotel is deserving of a second look.
Hawthorne Hotel Wedding Cost
The total cost of your Hawthorne Hotel wedding will be determined by the menu you’ve selected, along with venue and administrative fees. You can find more details on the four wedding packages offered by the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem at this link.
Is Hawthorne Hotel Salem an exclusive-use wedding venue? No. The venue offers a variety of spaces, and there is a chance another event may be occurring at the same time as your wedding.
7. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
At the very heart of downtown Salem, you’ll also find the Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continuously operating museum in the country. This remarkable piece of history doubles as a wedding venue, offering the ability to host a Peabody Essex Museum wedding with completely customizable spaces. All in all, giving you the freedom to transform your chosen space to suit your wedding day vision. The spaces available to host a Peabody Essex Museum wedding range in size from garden micro weddings to grand celebrations in the atrium. Peabody Essex Museum weddings are held indoors with ceremonies in the East India Marine Hall and receptions in the space that best fits your unique needs.
Total Capacity of a Peabody Essex Museum Wedding
The Main Atrium can accommodate up to 300 guests for a flowing cocktail reception, up to 275 guests for a seated dinner, or up to 250 guests for a seated dinner with dancing.
East India Marine Hall can accommodate up to 150 seated guests for your wedding ceremony.
The Garden Atrium has the ability to host up to 70 seated guests for your wedding ceremony, 50 guests for a seated dinner, or up to 200 guests for a flowing cocktail reception.
Is Peabody Essex Museum an exclusive-use wedding venue? No. There are several spaces within the museum to host a wedding ceremony and reception, and there is a chance there another event may be occurring at the same time as your wedding.
8. The Evermore at Peirce Farm Estate, Topsfield
Historic charm and modern sophistication collide at The Evdermore at Peirce Farm Estate. Tucked away in the countryside, Evermore at Peirce Farm offers tranquil wedding days with the farm’s residents making an appearance for your wedding photos. The Victorian-style estate hosts wedding ceremonies outdoors in its English-inspired hidden garden and celebrations indoors in its completely refurbished historic barn. The dedicated executive chef on site prepares wedding day menus with your needs and personal preferences at the forefront of all that is created. Additionally, while an Evermore wedding does come with a list of preferred vendors who have experience at the venue, you are free to work with any vendor of your choosing for florals, photography, planning, and entertainment.
Total Capacity of an Evermore Wedding
An Evermore wedding has the ability to host up to 150 guests. Depending on the day and month your wedding is scheduled, the venue does have seasonal minimum requirements ranging from 50 to 110 guests.
Is The Evermore at Peirce Farm Estate an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes.
9. The Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill, North Andover
Established in 1886, Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill in North Andover is a historic estate home spanning over 140 acres. The wedding venue is listed among the National Register of Historic Places, honoring the home’s original red-brick and riverstone facades. A Stevens Estate wedding is an all-inclusive experience with wedding ceremonies and receptions offered both indoors and outdoors, to coincide with the time of year your wedding is planned. Weddings at this Boston area wedding venue are filled with the charm of the past, a dash of elegance, and the beauty of the fine art depicted throughout the venue. Catering at Stevens Estate is offered exclusively through Fireseed Catering, with all of your food and beverage needs carefully attended to for every touch point of your wedding day.
Total Capacity of a Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill Wedding
There are two distinct wedding day experiences at Stevens Estate: indoor weddings and outdoor tented weddings.
An indoor Stevens Estate wedding can accommodate up to 100 seated guests for a formal sit-down dining experience and 180 guests for an informal dinner.
Outdoor tented weddings at Stevens Estate are hosted under their sailcloth tent with room for up to 250 seated guests for a formal sit-down dining experience and up to 300 guests for an informal reception.
Stevens Estate Wedding Cost
The total cost of a wedding at Stevens Estate is driven by the day of the week and the month your wedding is planned. Stevens Estate offers reduced fees for weddings during the winter months, including a waived venue fee. Find more detailed pricing through the information below.
$750 – Wedding Ceremonies any time of year
May Through Late October
Weddings Monday – Thursday
- $500 Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Friday Weddings
- $3500 Venue Fee
- $12,500 Food & Beverage Minimum
Weddings Saturday During the Day (10 am – 2:30 pm)
- $1500 Venue Fee
- $8000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday Evening Weddings
- $6000 Venue Fee
- $20,000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $2500 Venue Fee
- $9000 Food & Beverage Minimum
April – May & Late October – Early November
Weddings Monday – Thursday
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Friday Weddings
- $1500 Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Weddings Saturday During the Day (10 am – 2:30 pm)
- $500 Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday Evening Weddings
- $2500 Venue Fee
- $8000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- $1000 Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
January through Early April, Mid-November to Late December
Weddings Monday – Thursday
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Friday Weddings
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Weddings Saturday During the Day (10 am – 2:30 pm)
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Saturday Evening Weddings
- Waived – Venue fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Sunday Weddings
- Waived – Venue Fee
- $5000 Food & Beverage Minimum
Is Stevens Estate an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes.
10. Castle Hill on Crane Estate, Ipswich
Dating back to the early 1900s, Crane Estate Castle Hill is set on an awe-inspiring landscape, featuring a 59-room Stuart-style mansion designed by renowned architect David Adler. Today, Crane Estate Castle Hill is considered a National Historical Landmark, opening its doors to couples who wish to plan a refined wedding day filled with the elegance of the past. Castle Hill Crane Estate wedding ceremonies are offered on the lawn of The Great House directly facing the half-mile-long Grand Allée, with oceanic views in the backdrop. Cocktail hours can be held in the Allée Terrace, with reception celebrations taking place in a peaked tent, adjacent to the East Terrace.
Castle Hill Wedding Capacity
In total, The Great House can accommodate a seated dining experience of up to 250 guests.
Castle Hill On The Crane Estate Wedding Cost
Crane Estate Castle Hill weddings carry food and beverage minimums, venue fees, and a ceremony fee. These are determined by the chosen wedding date. For more details on pricing as it pertains to your preferred wedding date, reach out to the venue directly for a detailed quote.
Is Castle Hill on Crane Estate an exclusive-use wedding venue? Yes
Take a look inside engagement photos captured at Crane Estate Castle Hill at this link.
Your Next Step: Finding Wedding Photographers in MA
Without a doubt, there is no shortage of Boston wedding venues that exude charm, historical architecture, and have a story to tell that is all their own. Choosing to get married at a historic venue, in a sense, is a way of carving out a piece of history, side by side with your own story.
Once you’ve selected your venue, the next step in your planning process may be to begin searching for wedding photographers in MA. As a Boston wedding photographer, capturing your story is about so much more than the venue you’ve selected.
It’s about documenting the emotion-filled moments every step of the way. From getting-ready, to your wedding vows, and the portraits on the cobblestone streets. I will be there each step of the way, creating images befitting of your story. All in all, it allows you to relive every detail of your wedding day again for years to come. You can find more details on the photography experience I offer at historic Boston wedding venues and beyond when you follow this link.
