Dreaming of an idyllic New England wedding at one of the region's best wedding venues? Great news — we’ve hand-picked them for you. Below you’ll find eight of our wedding planners’ favorite New England wedding venues (plus a bonus idea!), each with its own quintessential regional charm. With any luck, you’ll be tossing back oyster shooters and cheersing with lobster rolls faster than you can say “I do!”

Chatham Bars Inn

If you’re looking for a Cape Cod wedding venue, Chatham Bars Inn should be at the top of your list. Located directly on the ocean in the town with which it shares a name, the Chatham Bars Inn was originally built in 1914 to accommodate affluent vacationers from Boston. Since then, the now-renovated Inn has collected a number of prestigious accolades, including Boston Magazine’s 2021 “Best Hotel on Cape Cod.”

The Inn is perfect for a luxurious and elegant wedding from 15 to 300+ guests. Try the Wedding Lawn for a beachside ceremony, followed by a tented oceanfront reception on the South Lawn.

Or maybe you’d rather get your feet wet (literally) as you say your vows on the Inn’s private beach — one of the only New England beach wedding venues on Cape Cod! What’s more, the Inn only hosts one wedding a day, so your celebration is sure to be the talk of the town.

Pro Tip: This venue is right on the ocean in Chatham, arguably one of the best spots to be in Cape Cod. If you’d love a New England outdoor wedding venue with an ocean view—it’s the dream!

The Mount

For a grand, classic, historic New England wedding, we immediately think of Edith Wharton’s the Mount, a beautiful mansion wedding venue. Designed and built by Wharton herself in 1902, the Mount is a charming, picture-perfect estate in the heart of the Berkshires, complete with an elegant historic house and sprawling formal gardens.

For a truly memorable event, host your ceremony in the Versailles-inspired French Flower Garden (or the smaller Italian Garden, for the more intimate wedding) then plan a unique tented outdoor reception.

As for capacity, the Mount can accommodate weddings of varying sizes, and is happy to make adjustments based on your needs.

The Wauwinet

Photos by Stephanie Vegliante

A list of New England wedding venues wouldn’t be complete without a spot on everyone’s favorite island, Nantucket. For the perfect blend of, as they describe it, “historic charm and modern coastal elegance,” try the luxurious Wauwinet hotel, a longtime island mainstay for good reason.

In business since 1875, the Wauwinet gives couples the ultimate picturesque nuptials backdrop. For an intimate indoor reception, try the easily-transformed Topper’s Deck. Too small, or not your speed? Move things to the Bayview Lawn for a spectacular outdoor celebration that can accommodate up to 150 guests.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

There’s nothing like Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to really paint a picture for your guests. This modern museum wedding venue is ideal for city-lovers with a penchant for the finer things (both art and dining). Any wedding at the MFA is most certainly one to remember—and not only because you could comfortably invite hundreds of guests.

Consider walking down the aisle surrounded by 16th and 17th-century European masterpieces with a ceremony in the William I.Koch Gallery. Then transport your guests back to this day and age with a classy reception in the dramatic Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard, with its incredible 63-foot-high ceilings and perfect acoustics.

Lakefalls Lodge

Photos by Henry & Mac

Want your wedding to feel like the ultimate New England summer camp experience? Nestled among the tranquil woods of Munsonville, New Hampshire, Lakefalls Lodge is a picturesque retreat offering a blend of rustic charm and modern luxury. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, the lodge boasts stunning views of the lake and lush forest, providing a serene backdrop for weddings and events. The lodge's cozy accommodations and inviting atmosphere create a warm and welcoming environment for guests to relax and unwind.

With over 250 acres of land, the venue offers a variety of beautiful locations for any and all celebrations. Ceremony by the waterfall, lakeside cocktail hour, followed by a tented reception within the stunning walled garden? We can’t think of anything better! Their newly renovated barn also provides a beautiful year-round setting for any indoor gathering— up to 200 guests for a welcome party or 150 for a reception-style dinner.

House Island

More of a private getaway kind of couple? Try House Island in Maine’s Casco Bay, just a hop, skip, and a six-minute private ferry ride away from lively Portland, ME, where guests can stay and play before your celebration begins.

This private island wedding venue offers couples 4,000 feet of shoreline, unobstructed bay views, overnight guest accommodations, strong cellular and wifi reception, a full staff, security, and over 7 ceremony sites to choose from, among other noteworthy amenities. You can transform the island however you’d like, and even celebrate your honeymoon there, too. It’s the perfect unexpected wedding getaway!

Pro Tip: We’ll arrange a private ferry to the island for guests for the evening of your wedding. It’s such a fun, unique experience.

Find out more about our Maine wedding planners

French's Point

Tucked away in Stockton Springs, Maine, French’s Point is perfect for the couple that’s looking to pare down their guestlist (or that’s planning an intimate one to begin with). With a standard reservation size of just 150 people or fewer — that maximum drops to 100 in the summer months — this seaside retreat is an entire-estate experience, meaning friends and family can easily spend a fun long weekend celebrating with you.

Included in every weekend reservation is a retreat house, a farmhouse, and a beach house that can fit 28-60 of your closest guests. And from May to October, French’s Point offers a sailcloth tent on-site. It’s the ideal spot for the couple that values privacy, comfort, and, of course, all things New England.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning a destination wedding in New England with an intimate guest list, French’s Point would be a perfect venue for you!

Find out more about our Maine wedding planning services.

Bonus: How about a private property?

While each of these New England wedding venues has a lot to offer, one of our favorite locations for a wedding is anywhere there has never been a wedding before— Think private estates, family farms, exclusive coastal islands, and meaningful family properties.

New England tented wedding venue — *Jen and Tylan’s private New England wedding was held on their farm. Planned by Brilliant Event Planning, photo by Arielle Doneson.*

Any unique location you love can absolutely host your most special day. The New England wedding planners here at Brilliant Event Planning have years of experience planning tented outdoor weddings on private property. Contact us today for more information about what’s possible.

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