The Last of the Wedding Venues: Part 2

Hi all, sorry it's been so long since the last post but things have been crazy. Here is the last batch of wedding venues that I will post until I do the review for my wedding venue! Hope you find these last few useful and always, message me if you want more info.

The Fells Historic Estate: The Fells is a nice garden and estate wedding venue located in Newbury, NH. It can hold 175 guests with up to 200 if special accommodations are made. They usually hold events from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm because they are open to the public from dawn to dusk 365 days/year. They usually have tented events but you also have access to the main house. The rental fee is based on the number of guests you estimate on having with a maximum rental fee of $4,500. This would be a good venue for a bride who would like to have outdoor wedding and reception in a beautiful garden setting.


Mountain Top Inn & Resort : This inn is has great views of the surrounding VT countryside. It's selling point is that you can get married on the top of mountain that overlooks the Green Mountain National Forest. They have a newly renovated barn for a wedding reception space, but you can also have it in a tent on the grounds. They have accommodations for up to 90 people and are only 11 miles from Killington where more hotels are available. The rental fee various based on time of year and location of your reception but the highest rental fee is $6,500 for the barn during prime season. The barn can hold up to 250 guests. I think this would be a good venue for a bride who wants a country or rustic style wedding and has a large guest list.

The Essex Resort and Spa: The Essex is located in Essex, VT and is a resort that features two difference spaces for receptions and ceremonies. The two spaces are not located on the same property but are about 30 minutes away from each other. The main resort is where most people choose to have their weddings and they can have up to 300 people in the ballroom. The other venue is the Ponds at Bolton Valley. This site can accommodate up to 200 people. I wasn't overly impressed with the main resort venue because the reception space was a little outdated for my taste. I think that the outside ceremony space is really pretty though. This would be a good venue for a bride who needs a space that can accommodate a large party in northern VT.

The Topsfield Commons 1854: This was our second choice in wedding venue. It is a great place to hold your reception but might be a little tight for the ceremony. We were going to have our ceremony in a chapel and Andover, MA then go to the commons for our reception. This place is elegant and historic with the nicest people to help you out. They have a space one the first floor for cocktails and upstairs is a ballroom with a stage and balcony. The upstairs space is open and clean and the stage is great for a band or DJ. They allow you to supply your own alcohol but do the catering themselves. The prices were reasonable but they do require guest mins of 125 people on a Saturday and they also require you to hire a police officer for the entire time of your ceremony. Overall, I think this is a great venue that any bride on the north shore would like. It would be great for a bride with a medium size party to meet the minimums and who wants an elegant feel.

Gedney Farm and Mepal Manor: This is a rustic chic venue located in New Marlborough, MA. It is a farm and inn with a nice barn for the reception space. It is a little pricey and does require guest minimums for certain times of the year. Rental fees can top $5,000 with menu prices ranging from $95-$125 per person. The admin fees are 20% which really adds to the cost. They have space for people to stay but I not sure how many. I think this would be a good option for a bride who wants a country or rustic wedding but has money to spend.

Bar Harbor Resorts: The Bar Harbor Resorts are made up of two wedding venues. The first is Harborside Hotel and Spa. This has three reception location holding up to 290 guests. They are all ballroom style rooms with differing decor and size. The second venue is the Bar Harbor Regency Oceanfront Resort. It can hold up to 500 people in some of it's rooms. No pricing information was provided with the initial e-mail so I am unsure of what costs would be. I would assume on the higher end because of the location (right on the ocean) and because it is a nice resort. I think this would be a good option for a bride who wants to get married on the ocean and needs a venue for a large party.

Asking all the right questions....

For the last 3 months I have been posting reviews about all of the venues that I looked at until I found "the one". I though that in addition to posting reviews I would also post questions that I think are important to ask when you go on venue tours. When I started out touring venues I expected them just to tell me everything but as I went on more tours I realized you really have to be up front in asking the questions to get the information you want. Listed below are a few categories and some related questions that should help you get a better idea about the venue you are looking at.

The Rental Space - it is important to know as much as you can about the physical space you are going to rent and what that requires. Here are a few key questions.

1. What is the venue rental fee? What space does it include?
2. Can I have my ceremony here? Is there an additional fee?
3. How long is the rental? Does this include the ceremony time (if applicable)? Can I purchase overtime and a what rate?
4. What is the maximum number of guests you can accommodate?
5. What is the rain plan? (for either reception or ceremony)
6. Are there limitations on decorations for the space?

The Food and Booze - The food and alcohol is important and usually the biggest cost associated with your reception. There are a million different ways venues handle, or don't, the food.

1. Does your facility provide the food and alcohol? If not, are there restrictions on who can cater the event?
2. What is the price per person for all of your food packages? What is the price per person for your open bar? What are included in the menu packages?
3. Is there a price guarantee on my package pricing? Is there a maximum increase limit to the price?
4. What alcohol options do we have? Open bar, cash bar, consumption based pricing? What variations of these can be done during the rental time?
5. Is there a hard end time for alcohol service?

The General Stuff - This is the little stuff that can often slip through the cracks but is just as important to consider.

1. Are there any additional fees (taxes, admin or service fee, cake cutting fee) that will be applied to my final bill? If so, what are they? Is gratuity included?
2. Is there a day of coordinator and who will they be? What will their job be on the day of the wedding?
3. Are there overnight accommodations for guests at the venue? If not, how close by are they and at what price points?
4. Are there off season/day/time discounts? What is required to hold a date?
5. Do you plan on doing any renovations near or before the time of the wedding? Will the be completed in time or will the facility look as you see it then?
6. Are there any additional or unusual rules or guidelines we must follow during the rental? 

This is a short and general list but more complete lists can be found and the following links below.

New England Bride Function Organizer

Real Simple Magazine's Q's

Glamour Magazine's Take on Venue Q's

VT Wedding Venue: Stowe Mountain Lodge

The Stowe Mountain Lodge is part of the Stowe Mountain Resort, which is a very upscale and luxurious ski and golf resort in northern VT. They have wedding year round, held in their Lodge which has spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and is great in any season. The resort can best be described as rustic chic, with natural wood and nature decor but still elegant. They have all of the basic resort amenities and a lot of outdoor activities for you and your guests in any season. They offer complete wedding packages ranging from $160-$220 per person, with space for up to 200 people. Included in the packages are the facility fee, a 5 hour reception time and all the basics such as tables, linens, cake cutting, etc. For an additional $1,500 you can hold your ceremony outside on the stone terrace which is very pretty and has great views. There were some details missing from the packet I received, such as the alcohol information, overtime fees and what the extra cost for tax and admin fees were. We chose not to go with this venue mostly due to the price but it was also pretty far away for us and would have made planning a little difficult. I think that this would be a great venue for a bride who loves to do outdoor activities and wants her wedding to be a weekend experience for all her guests. A big budget would also be helpful, although they do have small wedding packages (all inclusive for $13k and under) for parties of 40 or less. Details below!

Information		Comments
The Venue: Stowe Mountain Lodge		Part of the Stowe ski resort.
Location: Stowe, VT		Stowe is a cute VT town located near Burlington.
Rental Season: Not specified.		They might not have an off season because they are resort that has both summer and winter activities.
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, outdoors or inside.		Most people get married on the stone terrace outside or overlooking the fairway for smaller parties.
Capacity: The Lodge can hold up to 200.
Guest Min Required? 50-100 ppl		You will be charged $100-$250 for being under the  min
Bridal/Groom Rooms? Yes, they are rooms you rent.		They comp your room in the wedding package.
Function Rental Fee: Included in package.		You have a 5 hr rental with packages.
Overtime Fee: Not specified.
Ceremony Fee: $1,500
Catering: Resort does the food. Packages range from $160-$220/person.
Alcohol: Not specified.		I'm sure they have open, cash and consumption bar options. The prices just weren't included in the initial packet.
Food/Beverage Min? No		Food and beverage mins come from the guest minimums.
Bar Fee: Not specified.
Extra Fees: Not specified. Assume at least state tax.		Parking fee of $8/car for non-hotel guests attending the wedding.
Accommodations: 312 rooms. They are pretty expensive, b/c they bill themselves as a luxury resort.
Venue Contact: Calais Van Horn		cvanhorn@destinationhotels.com

   

VT Wedding Venue: The Woodstock Inn

The Woodstock Inn is a really great resort located in the idyllic Woodstock, VT. This town is a touristy location but it cater's to everyone stereotypical ideas about a chic Vermont town without being too obnoxious. There are a ton of cute shops and old churches in town and it is a lot of fun to walk around. We visited the inn and I really loved the feel right when you walk in. There is a large wood burning fireplace that burns small trees instead of logs due to its' size. Everything is decorated country chic and the staff is attentive right as you walk through the door. They have multiple outdoor ceremony spaces, one in the front of the inn and one in the back. I like the back space more because it was more secluded but both were pretty. They have some off site locations for receptions of smaller parties, but I look at the two large onsite indoor spaces. One is the Rockafeller room which is on the first floor and has great large floor to ceiling windows and can hold 160 but less with a dance floor. I liked the room but it was laid out weird and guests of the inn will walk right by your cocktail hour as it is outside the room. I didn't get a feeling of privacy  even though they assured me they would rope it off so people didn't actually walk into the cocktail hour there still wouldn't be a visual barrier. Downstairs is the ballroom which opens out into the courtyard for cocktail hour, which was great but the ballroom has no windows and a low ceiling. It was clean and nice but just so typical and stuffy. The hall outside the ballroom has great stonework and it gorgeous but the ballroom failed to impress me. We chose not to go with The Woodstock Inn because we didn't really love any of the indoor spaces and didn't want to compromise for the price we were going to pay. I would suggest this venue for someone who loved the rustic chic feeling and either has a smaller party (125 or less) or doesn't mind a typical ballroom in a very pretty Vermont town. Details below and happy hunting!

Information					Comments
The Venue: Woodstock Inn					A very upscale inn, 4 diamond resort with two amazing restaurants and full spa.
Location: Woodstock, VT					Super cute and chic Vermont town.
Prime Season: May-October
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, indoors or outdoors.					Two outdoor spaces, one in the front of the inn and one in the courtyard.
Capacity: The facility can hold up to 200 in the ballroom.					There are other smaller rooms for smaller parties. Up to 3 different locations.
Guest Min Required? No
Bridal/Groom Rooms? Yes. It is a room you rent there.					The bride and groom's room is one of their big suites. It is very nice and spacious.
Function Rental Fee: Prime: Sat $8,500, Fri&Sun $7,5000, Weekday $6,500. Off season: $6,000					One wedding a day. You choose the 6 hr period  Events must end by 10 pm.
Overtime Fee: Not specified					You only have a 5 hour period.
Ceremony Fee: Included in rental fee.
Catering: All food provided by resort. Packages range from $85-$100 per person.					A cake is included in all of the packages.
Alcohol: Open bar ranges from $51-$41/p for 5 hrs to $15/p for 1 hr.					You can also have a consumption or cash bar.
Food/Beverage Min? No
Bar Fee: $50/bartender for the first 2 hr, then $30/bartender or 20% of your bill which ever is greater.
Extra Fees: 9% state tax, 20% gratuity
Accommodations: 142 rooms.					Rooms range from $200-$600 a night.
Venue Contact: Devon Harrison					dah@woodstockinn.com

Ballroom

Rockefeller Room

VT Wedding Venue: The Middlebury Inn

The Middlebury Inn is an inn located in northern VT. It is a rustic old inn that has a very 1800's feel to it. My MIL visited the inn for us and took the pictures below. I didn't get the feeling that it was modern enough for what we were looking for. People who like the true Vermont old inn style will like the Middlebury Inn and it can hold a lot more people than most traditional inns. It has too building for people to stay in, the main inn and a building across the parking lot. Many people choose to get married in a church across the street which is very cute as well. The price for the packages is reasonably priced especially for large parties. I would suggest this venue for brides who want a cross between a ballroom wedding and a traditional VT inn experience. Details below!

Information					Comments
The Venue: The Middlebury Inn					A very typical Vermont Inn.
Location: Middlebury, VT					Middlebury is located in northern VT, near Lake Champlain.
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, indoors or outdoors.					Indoor is mostly for rain alternatives.
Capacity: 170 is the max for the inside which is spread over the three rooms.					Founder's Room: 110, Founder's Room, Stewart Library and the Willard Room: 170
Guest Min Required? 50 people min.
Bridal/Groom Rooms? Yes. A room at the inn.					The bride and groom accommodation is included in the packages.
Function Rental Fee (no prime/off season): Included in packages/not specified.					5-6 hour rental, must end by 11 pm.
Overtime Fee: Not specified.
Ceremony Fee: None listed
Catering: All food provided by inn. They list per person prices to be $75-$95.					They have a restaurant on site so you can go a try out some of the food :)
Food & Beverage Min Required? No
Alcohol: Some open bar included in packages to varying degrees.					No additional pricing information is given for beyond the packages.
Bar Fee: Not listed
Extra Fees: 20% service charge and 10% tax for room rentals.
Accommodations: They have 71 guest rooms.
Venue Contact: Erin O'Shaughnessy					erin@middleburyinn.com

   

VT Wedding Venue: The Equinox Resort

The Equinox Resort is a very luxurious VT resort, nestled in the hub of Manchester, VT. Manchester is a touristy town for people who want a more chic VT experience. It has a very cute but upscale hotels, boutiques and restaurants. I love the area because it is close to where my fiance grew up so it was my first introduction to VT. The Equinox is the crown jewel of elegance for Manchester. It is a very beautiful and upscale place to get married but carries the subsequent price tag. The most common space at the Equinox is the Colonnade which to me doesn't strike me as very Vermont. It is a very typical ballroom which seems a shame because I think if you were to get married in VT you would want to take full advantage of the beautiful surroundings. We did not choose this as our venue because of the price. They have very high admin fees and taxes which really brings up the price on everything. We got a quote for 100 people with average options and after taxes it came out to around $27,000. I would recommend this venue for brides with a big budget.

Information		Comments
The Venue: The Equinox Resort
Location: Manchester, VT		A very pretty town that is the hub of that area.
Rental Season: Prime Season (Mid-May-Oct)		Off season is all other times of the year.
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, outdoors or inside.		There are two outdoor locations.
Capacity: 10-250 depending on the reception location.		There are five reception locations to choose from.
Guest Min Required? No
Bridal/Groom Rooms? 1 night included if you spend at least $10,000. Two night min required.		They have very nice accommodations.
Function Rental Fee (prime season): Sat: $3,000-$10,000, Fri/Sun: $5,000 (for main ballroom only)		The rental gets you 6 hours include the ceremony.
Overtime Fee: Not specified.		Events must by 2 AM.
Ceremony Fee: None
Catering: Done by the resort. Apps are priced by piece, min of 25. Plated meals $48-76 pp.		Includes salad/soup, entrée and dessert.
Alcohol: Prices start at $60 for 5 hrs of open bar and go down from there.		I thought this was expensive.
Food/Beverage Min? No		They make up for it with room and alcohol charges.
Bar Fee: None
Extra Fees: 24% service charge and 10% tax on food and alcohol, 10% tax on room rental		The service charge and tax is insane.
Accommodations: 195 rooms. They offer 9 room blocks.		2 night stay is required. Prices are pretty expensive.
Venue Contact: Lauren Hartwyk		lhartwyk@heihotels.com

    

VT Wedding Venue: Lake Morey Resort

The Lake Morey Resort is located in Fairlee, Vermont which is off I-91 on the VT, NH boarder. It is a golf resort that is on the Connecticut River. This is a resort in every sense of the word; it has golf, a spa, a hotel and a host of outdoor activities to take part in. When I e-mailed them I got a prompt response but had to wait for an actual mailing to arrive at my house before I got any pricing or packaging information. It looks like a nice place where you could hold a wedding for a large group on a budget. It offers some of the lowest prices I have seen for venues. I think this is due to one of two things, the first being location. VT is awesome in the respect that you are away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You can relax and enjoy yourself, in a more remote area. As a result things are just cheaper. The second reason, and the one which made me decide not to even visit, was that it looked dated. The website and materials I received in the mail were decent but the pictures tell the story. The ballroom is generic white with a low, dropped ceiling, the hotel rooms have wallpaper (not in a good way) and it just wasn't the feel we were going for. That being said, I don't think that it is a total loss and I never visited so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I think for large weddings on a budget this would be a viable option. Details below.

Information					Comments
The Venue: The Lake Morey Resort
Location: Fairlee, VT					Right on the CT river, which is very nice.
Off Season: None listed.					VT doesn't have an off season, it's amazing year round!
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, indoors or outdoors.					Outdoor ceremonies require a $2/chair set-up fee + 6% tax.
Capacity: Up to 250 in either a ballroom or outside lawn.					They have room for smaller weddings too (60-75 ppl).
Bridal/Groom Rooms? Yes. They have deluxe suites that you rent for overnight.
Function Rental Fee (no prime/off season): Ranges from $150-$1000					Crazy cheap! A 250 person ballroom for $1000! Subject to 9% VT tax. All events must end by 11 pm.
Overtime Fee: $100					Again, crazy cheap.
Ceremony Fee: None listed
Catering: All food provided by resort. Entrees range from $26-$36 pp for salad, entrée and coffee, plated. Buffet is $30-$36 pp.					Apps for cocktail hour are priced separate $160-$190 per app but no limit on pieces.
Alcohol: Full bar, 5 hours $24 pp and goes down from there.					They give pricing for kegs. Sort of awesome.
Bar Fee: $150
Extra Fees: 19% service charge and 10% tax on food and alcohol.
Accomodations: They have 130 guest rooms. 2 night min required.					They offer you discounted blocks of rooms for your guests.
Venue Contact: Christine Cecchetti					christine@lakemoreyresort.com

VT Wedding Venue: The Pitcher Inn

The Pitcher Inn is a great little inn in Warren, VT. I must say Vermont is one of my favorite places. It could be because it was the place that gave me my fiance or because it mirrors my own New Hampshire upbringing or the fact that the Fall there is to die for, I could go on an on. Anyway, The Pitcher Inn is very chic Vermont. My fiance and I did not go and visit the site so I can only tell you my opinion based on the e-mail exchange with the wedding coordinator and what I saw on the website. I think it would be great for a small wedding (80 ppl) if you want an indoor reception but it can hold 120 outside in a tent. The information provided to me in the e-mail was somewhat limited. There was pricing information for the rental of the venue and food but not alcohol or details about time limits, restrictions, end times, etc. This is my only gripe, there was poor initial communication about all the specifics. This might not bother other people but I'm detail oriented. I'm sure they would be more than happy to provide all the detailed information if you inquired more but we ruled it out to size so I never made it that far. Here are all my details and comments. As always comment if you want me to pass on any of the info I received.

Information					Comments
The Venue: The Pitcher Inn					One of my favorites!
Location: Warren, VT					VT is amazing with an abundance of natural beauty. Warren is idillic and the inn is close to Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski resorts.
Ceremony Onsite: Yes, indoors or outdoors.					Indoor cermonies are really only for rain backup.
Capacity: 120 outside in tent, 80 seated inside or 120 inside for a buffet station spread over three rooms.					Brook Room: 30ppl, Tracks and Terrace: 50 ppl, Dining Room: 50 ppl
Bridal/Groom Rooms? Yes. There is a space for the bride and groom to get ready onsite.					The bridal suites are most likely rooms at the inn that you would rent while there.
Function Rental Fee (no prime/off season): Rental of all rooms: $6,600 Rental of three main rooms/day: $3,500, Use of Tracks Room: $1,500, Use of Brook Room: $1,500					There was no time range specified for the rentals but I would assume the typical 5hr peroid.
Overtime Fee: Not specified.					No end time specified in intial documentation.
Ceremony Fee: None listed
Catering: All food provided by inn. They list per person prices to be $75-$110. Cake is $15 pp.					They have a restaurant on site so you can go a try out some of the food :)
Alcohol: No information given.					From my e-mail it sounds like the alcohol is done by the inn but no prices given.
Bar Fee: Not listed
Extra Fees: 13% service charge and 9% tax for room rentals.
Accomodations: They have 11 guest rooms.					From the pictures on the website the rooms look like very Vermont chic. I love it!
Venue Contact: Belinda Norris					belinda@madriver.com

Wedding Planning Stage 2: The Venue

The venue. It is the space that sets the tone for your whole wedding. It is a way to express your style as a couple and one of the most important (and most expensive) parts of your big day. This blog was started because of my desire to have a place to go where all types of venues are  listed. For the next couple of entries I will review the places I visited and include information on the places I didn't. They will be in no particular order and I will post the most recent cost information I have for all of them. 

I am at the venue search stage in my wedding planning. I have given thought to all the other aspects but until you find your venue it is hard to work those things out. To date I have contacted about 50 or so venues in ME, NH, VT and MA. After factoring in cost, capacity and requirements I cut the list to about 20 that were contenders. The things that were important to me were the feel of the space, exclusivity and cost. We wanted to keep our reception at around $13,000 for 100 people. I also wanted a space that wasn't a cookie cutter ballroom but had a nice outside space for cocktails, pictures and a ceremony. I wanted a modern venue inside with clean lines and updated, but a homey feel at the same time. I knew I didn't want a tent or a barn. Finally, I didn't want to share my wedding space with another bridal party. I didn't even really like the idea of having my wedding at a place where they held one earlier in the day. So after cutting the list of 50 down to 20, we have visited 12 venues with about 5 more planned. The next post will feature The Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA. One that was very high on my list, until cost knocked it down a few pegs (but not off completely!).