Here in Massachusetts, we are lucky enough to have an incredible array of historical wedding venues. Glittering hotels, stately mansions, and breathtaking gardens all appear here, ready for you to celebrate your wedding in a glow of Old World charm. I’ve rounded up a range of some of the best and brightest historical wedding venues for you to consider as you embark on the adventure of getting married in Massachusetts.
9 Incredible Historical Wedding Venues in Massachusetts
- The Great House at The Crane Estate
- Fairmont Copley Plaza
- The Lyman Estate
- Misselwood Events at Endicott College
- Alden Castle
- The Endicott Estate
- The Stevens Estate
- Plimoth Plantation
- The Bradley Estate
The Great House at The Crane Estate, Ipswich MA
The Crane Estate is one of the most stunning historical wedding venues on the North Shore, with lush green gardens that offer gorgeous rolling views down to the sea.
Features of The Great House at The Crane Estate
- 59 room hilltop mansion designed by David Adler
- Up to 250 guests
- Stunning views of the ocean
- Miles of barrier beach
- Ceremony held on the outdoor terrace overlooking the half mile Grand Allée running down to the sea
- Cocktail hour in the main floor of the mansion
- Reception in a high-peaked tent just off the ballroom
Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston MA
One of the most glamorous historical wedding venues in Massachusetts, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is a beacon of luxury and elegance.
Features of Fairmont Copley Plaza
- Up to 800 guests for a ceremony, and up to 600 for a seated reception
- Over 100 years of history serving society’s brightest
- The most stunning Grand Ballroom – gold paneling, ornate balconies, and a cloud-painted mural ceiling
- Vast amounts of freedom to make your dream a reality
- Elegant stone facade
- An atmosphere of total grandeur
- Options for honeymoon suites and lodging for your guests onsite
- Incredible in-house catering
The Lyman Estate, Waltman MA
The Lyman Estate, also known as “The Vale”, is one of the oldest historical wedding venues on this list. It was built in 1793!
Features of The Lyman Estate
- Up to 150 guests for a seated dinner, 225 for a tented event
- Eighteenth-century English naturalistic design
- 37 acres of beautiful grounds
- Historic gardens and glass greenhouses
- Central air conditioning
- Dining on the beautiful veranda
- Striking Victorian library (great for photos!)
- Magnificent ballroom with crystal chandeliers and marble fireplace
- Little Women (2019) filmed some scenes here!
Misselwood Events at Endicott College, Beverly MA
If you’re looking for historic wedding venues overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you have to consider Misselwood.
Features of Misselwood Events at Endicott College
- Up to 200 guests
- Historic red-brick house covered in ivy
- Access to three private beaches
- Ceremony on an oceanfront lawn
- 20 miles north of Boston
- Beautiful views in every direction
- Climate-controlled tent with chandeliers and wall sconces – available June through October
- Historic courtyard
Alden Castle, Brookline MA
Alden Castle was built in the Tudor style. It combines older inspiration with a modern edge. So, if you’re looking for historical wedding venues that evoke a more distant time, this could be a great one to consider.
Features of Alden Castle
- Up to 350 guests for a cocktail party, 250 for ceremony
- Dramatic vintage ballroom with Tudor-style detailing
- Grand club room with traditional wood panelling
- Bold and modern mezzanine library
- Tudor facade
- Gourmet food and artisanal cocktails in-house – led by David Blessing
- Incredible location in the heart of Boston
The Endicott Estate, Dedham MA
Next, the Endicott Estate is over a hundred years old. It’s one of those historical wedding venues that has been so thoughtfully restored over the years that it still holds its original atmosphere of elegance and charm. If you’re looking for historical wedding venues for a classic New England wedding, this place is perfect.
Features of The Endicott Estate
- Up to 150 guests for a seated reception or 200 for a cocktail reception
- 18 acres of lush garden
- Lots of flexibility for planning your ceremony – in the mansion, portico, or garden
- On the National Register of Historic Places
- A romantic gazebo in the garden
- Weeping willow ceremony site
- Colonial Revival style architecture with Georgian influences
- Period furniture and art
- Marble fireplaces
- And intimate and elegant atmosphere
The Stevens Estate, North Andover MA
The Stevens Estate is one of the only Victorian historical wedding venues in Massachusetts, with beautiful gardens and historic features.
Features of The Stevens Estate
- Up to 250 guests at a garden wedding and up to 100 guests in the mansion
- 143-acre estate grounds
- Red brick Victorian-style mansion in the countryside
- On the National Register of Historic Places
- A team of wedding-planning professionals
- Lovely rooms suites for the bride and groom to get ready in
- Choice of peaked tent on the grounds or more intimate celebration indoors
- Terrace overlooking gardens
- Sophisticated period decor throughout
Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth MA
Finally, Plimoth Plantation has so many incredible features. It includes a model village and a full-size reproduction of the Mayflower. However, in terms of historical wedding venues, it’s something of a hidden gem.
Features of Plimoth Plantation
- Sweeping grounds
- Highly experienced and accommodating wedding planning team
- Delicious and flexible catering
- Many options for ceremony and reception sites, including:
- Elegant historical sunken gardens
- Barn space with gorgeous vaulted ceiling
- Gainsboro Hall overlooking the Cape Cod Bay
- Pavilions with views of the water
The Bradley Estate, Canton MA
The elegant Bradley Estate is among the historical wedding venues that really capture our East Coast charm.
Features of the Bradley Estate
- Up to 80 guests for a house wedding, or up to 180 guests for a tent wedding
- Incredibly stately, Colonial-style mansion on gorgeous grounds.
- Beautiful walled garden and parterre garden
- Greenhouse, fountains, and swathes of green lawn
- Cocktail hours and socializing in the gardens, terrace, and first floor of the mansion
- Intimate weddings can take place in the house, larger ones in a peaked tent with access to the house
Finding The Perfect Historical Wedding Venues for You
Hopefully, you’ve found some wedding venues that excite you here on this list! It is so important, especially with older, historical wedding venues that are more likely to have quirks and individualities than a modern design, to actually go and tour your wedding venues. With properties like these, that’s not going to be a chore! Make some appointments and start touring!
For more inspiration about what a gorgeous New England wedding in a historical venue could look like, check out my portfolio!
Xoxo, Marcela
