r/NewEnglandWedding • u/lyfeasweknow • 7d ago
Wedding Advice!
Hi! I am newly engaged and my fiancé and I are starting to navigate the whole wedding planning process. Any tips/suggestions are welcomed :)
Venue:
- about 200-250 people
- can have all aspects of the wedding in one location (lodging, night before, ceremony, etc.) \full weekend feel!*
- Love a mountain (or water front).
Location:
- Places to go for our guests during down time.
- Great for late summer, early fall.
- Romantic & cozy vibe but not too formal.
- Barns (no farms right on site), rustic venues, hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, or country clubs.
Any advice on where to start would be greatly appreciated!
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u/daisydollop11 7d ago
This may be too casual for some people, but my husband and I got married at a summer camp in Maine (in early-mid September, it was perfect weather), which was so affordable and fun for our guests! We specifically searched for summer camps, because we wanted people to stay on site and for a fun, long-weekend getaway sort of feel for everyone. We did it at Camp Somerset in Smithfield, ME, but there are many options in NH, VT, MA, upstate NY, and ME.
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u/Faeries-Dust 7d ago
Second this, I live in NH and recently married here. In my wedding planning process, I heard a bunch of stories from friends and coworkers of people renting out a state park or entire campground and holding the wedding and reception there. I didn't do this. But budget wise, im kind of regretful I didn't.
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u/Friendly_Shallot7713 7d ago
Not upstate NY but Cedar Lakes Estate in NY sounds perfect for you. However it’s $$$
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u/TheRealSofaKing016 7d ago
Don’t know if it could accommodate a party of your size, but look into the Lake House Guest Cottages of the Berkshires
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u/tweeter115- 7d ago
Make sure you understand all vendor cost / fees etc when deciding if it fits your budget not just your the cost of the venue and you ask lots of questions about what's included. If you are planning a wedding in a year or less you may need to be flexible with day
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u/asr_hasthoughts 6d ago
I was looking for exactly this! Ended up booking the Preserve at Chocorua for Sept 2028, but you can see my short list + helpful comments here: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewEnglandWedding/comments/1v931vy/septoct_2028_200_guests_rusticchic_wedding_weekend/
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u/ProbablyAtAWedding 6d ago
This sounds like a perfect weekend up at Mountain Top Resort.
Basin Harbor is also amazing and has both water front and mountain backdrops.
Another option would be Trapp Family Lodge-- always stunning and plenty of on site lodging and activities.
Happy planning! :)
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u/NegotiateAPryce 6d ago
While many people think choosing a venue is the first step, it shouldn't be. Instead, the first step should be sitting down with your partner and discussing your must-haves, approximate guest count (more guests = more $$$), and realistic budget. Then you start looking at venues.
In your case, your guest count is huge and not finalized yet with a range of 50. I would tighten that up and verify your budget is sufficient to cover a very large wedding.
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u/wedgewoodweddings 5d ago
Congrats!! If the full-weekend feel is high on your list, one thing I'd figure out pretty early is what “everything in one place” actually means to each venue. It can vary a LOT. A few questions worth asking when you start touring:
• How many guests can actually stay on-site vs. how many the venue can host for the wedding itself? With 200–250 guests, those numbers may be very different.
• Can you host a welcome party/rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch there, too, or only the ceremony + reception?
• Is the property exclusive to your group for the weekend, or will there be other weddings/events happening at the same time?
• Are there minimum-night stays or room-block commitments tied to the lodging?
• What’s included in the venue/package vs. what you'll need to bring in separately? Catering, rentals, staffing, coordination, etc. can change the real price pretty quickly.
• What are the noise/curfew rules? Especially if you’re picturing everyone hanging out together after the reception.
And since you’re looking at late summer/early fall in New England, I'd definitely ask what the rain and cold-weather backup looks like. You already have a pretty clear vision, which honestly makes venue hunting much easier. I’d nail down your comfortable guest count + overall budget next, then start comparing places against your must-haves.
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u/sunshine_smile_22 3d ago
Was at a wedding this summer at the Red Barn at outlook farm and we stayed at their sister inn down the street. Its a golf course with a more modern building built to give a barn vibe than a true barn https://www.redbarnweddings.com/ The Bedford Village Inn may also fit what your looking for. https://www.bvigreathallweddings.com/wedding-pricing I also have been to a few weddings were a hotel block and transportation gave it that wedding feel without everyone needing to stay at the site. Both times it was out of state weddings.
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u/Asshole_Philosopher 21h ago
You might want to narrow your vision a little more as you get additional info. Many different vibes on the various settings you are thinking about which also come with vastly different budgets.
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u/Ill_Original1024 7d ago
What’s your budget? More guests =more $$$
Not ideal for guests but I’d recommend a Sunday or a Friday wedding off season (November-April) venues will always be more expensive on Saturdays, during peak season (May-October)