The Best Wedding Venues in Massachusetts
Wedding season!? Yikes! It’s right around the corner! With close to 40 weddings already booked this year, our team has been busy scouting locations to prep for our 2021 Big Days. This week, we hopped in Mike’s Equinox and headed north to scope out a few upcoming locations in Massachusetts. Each destination has its own appeal and charm, but our quick trip resurfaced memories of some of our favorite places to shoot. Here are our top three favorite venues in Massachusetts.
Lakeview Pavilion – Foxboro, MA
After arriving at our first stop: the newly renovated Lakeside venue, we’re treated to not one, but two grand ballrooms. Having been recently rebuilt nearly from the ground up, the team at Lakeview spared no expense when bringing their dream venue to life.
The expansive windows of the Lakeview & Lakeside ballrooms stretch from the ground 20’ up towards the vaulted ceiling, giving the guests a stunning, floor-to-ceiling view of the lake and surrounding woodlands. The dark, hardwoods artistically accent the brilliant white walls and uplighting in the ceiling. Both rooms center around a crescendo of crystals in a pair of jaw-dropping chandeliers.
We step outside to the serene scene of nothing but the quiet forest and lake as a beautiful gazebo sits elegantly at the water’s edge. A perfect place for a first look or even just a photo op, this quaint yet dazzling gazebo is the cherry on top for this perfect location!
Grand View – Mendon, MA
Situated on the scenic shores of Lake Nipmuc in Mendon, MA, Grand View boasts spectacular waterfront views with the privacy and elegance you’d only dream of on your wedding day. The 85-acre lake is dotted by maple and pine trees that reflect in the water creating the most charming New England setting. This single-event venue boasts multiple locations to celebrate on your wedding day.
With panoramic views of the lake, the cocktail room centers around a 35-foot oak table beneath oak shelves and decorative glassware, (and lots of liquor, too).
The lavish crystal chandeliers hang elegantly from the ceiling as you enter the contemporary Grand Ballroom. You can hear the echo as your soles tap across the beautiful hardwood dancefloor graced by the wall-to-wall views of stunning Lake Nipmuc. Oh and the 12-foot long (WOW!) fireplace really accents the room!
Stepping outside, there’s a couple choices for your outdoor ceremony. Walking down the steps from the ballroom, you’ll come across a beautiful stone patio much like one you’d see along the fine Italian shores of Lake Como. Aptly named Bella Vista, this stone patio hugs Lake Nipmuc’s shoreline where words can’t describe the beauty your guests will be subject to at the moment when you say your ‘I do’s’.
The last location at Grand View that we scoped out was the Terraza. This beautiful terrace adorned with Doric columns sits parallel to the lake where guests will be blessed with unrivaled views of the sparking waters. Guests will be graced with the beautiful view of the lake to their left while they watch you tie the knot under a sophisticated pergola.
The Barn at Gibbet Hill – Groton, MA
Continuing north, our next stop was the rustic Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, MA. This gorgeous property houses a few different options for wedding settings. First and foremost, there’s the barn, of course! With a 220-person capacity, this immense barn and property is more than suited for any sized gathering. Once you step inside this immense post-and-beam, turn-of-the-century barn your eyes are immediately drawn to the sophisticated chandeliers suspended from the ceiling artfully accented by a backdrop of antique exposed beams. This charming, but immense barn is the heart of the property but there’s much more to gawk at here at Gibbet Hill!
The lawn at Gibbet Hill is a sight to behold. At the height of wedding season, this pristine greenery rolls on for acres, dotted by the black Angus cattle roaming the hills. The blue sky, fresh air, and serene setting build a prime setting for a relaxed and intimate ceremony.
Topping off our list of locations at Gibbet Hill is the Top of the Hill. An exclusive, outdoor tented venue is just a few minutes’ shuttle ride from the Barn. Located at the summit of Gibbet hill sits the ivy-covered ruins of a stone hunting lodge built by General Bancroft in 1906. This unique setting are sure to offer one-of-a-kind experiences and it’s an especially amazing place to shoot!
But wait there’s more!
There’s hundreds of spectacular venues across the state and we couldn’t stop at these three. With just enough gas in the tank for one more stop, our team headed west towards Harrington Farm!
Harrington Farm - Princeton, MA
Harrington Farm, an expansive New England farm located in Princeton, MA was our last stop on the trip. The venue has a host of marvelous settings - spread across their sixty-acre property – whose antique charm meets modern design through stunning renovations. The farm is home to a beautiful barn (honestly, is it even a farm if there’s no barn??), a charming farmhouse, sprawling meadows, and a peaceful Goshen stone ceremony garden.
Stepping inside the barn at Harrington Hill, we are immediately hypnotized by the intricate woodwork of the hammer-beam trusses holding the massive, lofted roof high above our heads. The engineering that must have gone into the architecture of this venue is astounding. What’s more, a massive fireplace warms the room as its brilliant bluestone chimney clammers its way up the back wall of the barn. This picturesque beauty is sure to be a tough setting to turn away from!
The sixty-acre property has a plethora of stunning scenes that make the property perfect for tying the knot. The farm – which is situated on Wachusett mountain – faces west; gracing its guests to remarkable sunsets that dance across the golden meadows, no matter the time of year. From the outdoor fireplace patio where guests can enjoy a nice drink, to the Goshen Stone Patio garden, and the spanning meadows, Harrington’s outdoor spaces are second-to-none.
With wedding season heating up these are four venues our team at Neilan Media is pleased to recommend! If you are still searching for photography or video for your wedding day, we would love to talk! Fill out a contact form to get in touch :)
Paige + Will | 10.12.19 | Newport Beach House
It’s now been a year since Paige & Will got married in Newport, Rhode Island. (Happy Anniversary, you two!) What an awesome day filled with amazing events! We wanted to share a recap of their wedding day with you.
The newlyweds chose Neilan Media to document their Special Day with both photo and video highlighting the day’s events. From a production point-of-view, choosing us to shoot both the video and photos of their big day allowed us full creative control which enabled us to produce the top-notch content we delivered to them. Read on to get a glimpse into their stunning special day!
We started the day getting ready with Paige and her bridesmaids at the East Island Reserve in Newport. Champagne bubbles tickled the bridesmaids’ noses while they sipped and prepped for their extravagant afternoon. Will and his groomsmen suited up at Gurneys Hotel on Goat Island. Both locations were absolutely beautiful and provided a picturesque setting for great photos of everyone getting ready.
Paige & Will rolled around Newport in an antique Rolls Royce for their big bay. It was definitely a unique sight for us, and we loved it!
The couple said their “I do’s” at the iconic St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Broadway in Newport. Did you know? – St. Mary’s is the same church where Jackie and President John F. Kennedy got married back in 1953!
After being pronounced husband and wife we followed the newlyweds to Newport Beach House to take photos with the bridal party and family outside on the lawn. We had a lot of fun with the whole party and got through these photos very efficiently!
We had a 4:30 reservation at Ochre Court – a mansion on Bellevue Avenue – for photos with Paige & Will. This imposing historic mansion on Salve Regina University’s campus is often used for photography for weddings and engagement sessions. We were lucky enough to have a chance to shoot inside the mansion as well as across the entire grounds outside! We got some amazing photos with these two before heading back to their celebration!
Once we arrived back at Newport Beach House, Paige & Will got to enjoy cocktail hour and party the night away with their friends and family. We know 2020 hasn’t been the easiest year for most, but we hope it was filled with happiness and love for these two! Happy Anniversary!
Venue: Newport Beach House: A Longwood Venue
Photo/Video: Neilan Media
Makeup: Jennifer M. Viveiros
Hair: Styles By Stephani
DJ: Luke Rechnan Entertainment
Top 3 Wedding Venues in Rhode Island
There’s no shortage of amazing places to tie the knot here in Rhode Island! Between the ocean breeze, calm New England air, and scenic views, this state is primed to make choosing a wedding venue a difficult decision for any to-be newlyweds. Neilan Media has shot at over a hundred locations across southern New England, so we thought we’d share our top 3 favorite Rhode Island wedding venues. It was really hard to narrow down our list to just three! What do you think made our list? Let us know what YOUR favorite venues are in the comment section below!
Harbor Lights – Warwick, RI
Smack-dab in the middle of our tiny state we find the centralized city of Warwick. It’s an easy drive from any spot in the West Bay, and a quick jaunt over a few bridges for those far-flung East Bay and Massachusetts residents. Warwick is home to a plethora of great venues, but up there on our list is the popular location of Harbor Lights.
Harbor Lights isn’t just a great wedding venue. Its host to a marina, a 9-hole golf course, two restaurants, and a pool. It goes without saying that this may be one of the most distinctive venues for a multitude of events; not only weddings. But boy, when it comes to weddings, Harbor Lights does not disappoint. Here’s a video for a couple we were lucky to work with in the Summer of 2018.
Newport Naval Base Officers’ Club – Newport, RI
One of the most iconic seaside New England towns – Newport – is home to countless, stunning wedding venues. Heck! Everywhere you turn there’s another beautiful location. Between the beaches, the mansions, Cliffwalk, and downtown, Newport is crawling with captivating settings.
Nowhere are those scenes more sweetly soaked in than from the unparalleled views of the deck at the O’Club; the Officer’s Club on the Naval Station in Newport. Situated on the western edge of Aquidneck Island just north of the spectacular Newport Pell Bridge, the Newport Naval Station boasts amazing views of Narragansett Bay. With three rooms capable of holding 30-125 guests, plus the deck and yard that provide exceptional views, the O’Club can host almost any size wedding and is sure to highlight the true beauty of the bay accentuated by the immense 51-year old bridge.
Now there is a small caveat to this location; though its beautiful setting and glowing reviews can set you sailing toward your dream wedding, in order to get hitched here, you’ll need to be in the military, OR have a military sponsor to sign off for use of the venue.
Newport Beach House – Newport, RI
Wowing each guest who walks through those venue doors, the Newport Beach House boasts 180º views of the ocean and the wave-washed sands of the Rhode Island shoreline. With stunning coastline to the east, and the mansion-dotted cliffs to the west, Newport Beach House is centrally located in one of the most picturesque places in Rhode Island. We can’t say enough to highlight the natural and architectural beauty found at the Newport Beach House.
There you have it – our top three favorite venues in the Lil’ Rhody! Was your venue on our list? If we expanded the list, what other places would you suggest?
If you’re still searching for photo or video for your special day, we’d love to talk! Head to our contact page or leave a comment below!
Caroline + Mike | 9.28.19 | Old Sturbridge Village
We truly had a blast working with Caroline + Mike on their wedding day. The weather was great, the day ran smooth and we all enjoyed ourselves.
Caroline + Mike got ready at the Old Sturbridge Inn before heading to Old Sturbridge Village for their ceremony and reception. They did some family photos outside of the Tavern and then headed over in horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony. They read their vows, said I do, and the party began! Greg Bedard DJ + Entertainment kicked the party off and kept it going all night. Caroline had some desserts from a local bakery as well as some that she actually made herself, we tried a few and they were absolutely delicious! Caroline + Mike danced all night and really enjoyed their wedding. Check out their highlight video here and let us know what you think!
To inquire about your wedding date, email mywedding@mikeneilan.com! Thanks for reading!
Vendors
Venue: Old Sturbridge Village
Photo: Heather Fuller Photographer
Video: Mike Neilan Media
DJ: Greg Bedard DJ
Desserts: Francesco’s Bakery
Wedding Videos: What Happens After The Wedding
A wedding video can be 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 10, 20, 60, 120. You might get 1 videographer, you might get 2. Some companies even offer 3 videographers. You might need 6 hours of coverage, you might want 8, maybe 10? Some couples even just want 4 hours. You get the point; a wedding video can really vary depending where you go.
One thing you might not completely think of is just how much time is spent after the wedding to make your video. Whether it’s a short 5 minute video or a long 60 minute video, there’s a lot of work that happens behind the scenes to make your video come out the way it is. Here are a few samples.
I’ll spoil this article and tell you how many hours it takes now. Nah, maybe not. Keep reading.
So after the wedding is over, the first thing I do when I get home is take the memory cards and back up all the footage to a hard drive at my desk. All the videos, the audio, everything. Depending on how long the wedding day was and how much we shot, this takes about an hour. That night I might even back it up to a 2nd hard drive so I have it in two places. If I do that, it’s another half hour. Other times I’ll back it up again the next day instead of that night. Point is, I want to make sure all the media is safe and on my hard drives so I can clear my memory cards and have it stored properly. Now it’s ready to edit.
The next thing I do is sort through all the video. Every clip we shot gets looked at, every single one. We are usually at a wedding about 8-9 hours. Now, we aren’t recording every second of the day but we are shooting a lot, and we have multiple cameras, so there is a lot to go through. I go through all of it and pull out the best pieces of every clip. Some clips have nothing I see that I want to use, some have 3 or 4 good parts, it all varies. This process takes about 10-12 hours. Now I have gone through all the clips, found the best pieces and I know what I like. The next part is putting the ceremony and reception together.
We usually shoot the ceremony with 3 cameras, sometimes 4. We also have audio from wireless mics. This needs to get synchronized so we can easily switch between camera angles when we want, and see the ceremony all put together with each camera angle. Depending on how long the ceremony was and how many cameras we used, this takes an hour or two. Then there’s the reception. Now we don’t record the entire reception but we have the introductions, the formal dances, and the toasts that need to be synced up. Similar process to the ceremony so this takes another hour or two to organize that and get it put together. Now we’re at about 12-16 hours.
Now the footage is sorted through, ceremony and reception are organized. Time to find music! No joke, sometimes this takes me 30 seconds, sometimes it takes me 2 hours. I might find the song that sounds right the second I start looking, and I’ve also had times where I played through songs for almost 2 hours and didn’t find the right one. It’s one of the most important pieces.
Next up, edit the video! Now it’s time to take that music, and put some video over it. What I’ll do is listen through the vows and the toasts for the best pieces and I pull those aside so I know what I want to use. That takes about and hour or two. Then I start putting clips over the music, and I mostly go in order of the day. I’ll put in some clips of the bride getting ready, her bridesmaids, getting hair done, makeup, etc. Then I go through and put in pieces of the toasts and vows that match and make the most sense to me. I might show the actual footage from the ceremony or the reception of them speaking or I may keep it on them getting ready. Then I do the same thing for the groom. The way I edited my videos is basically two halves; I show the bride and groom getting ready, go into their first look if they have one, then to their ceremony, and that’s the first half. If you’ve never seen my videos, it might seem like the video is over at the end of the ceremony. But it’s just a short 2 second pause and then I go into the 2nd half of the video.
The 2nd half of the video is the reception; so I show some footage of decorations, the cake, the venue, then the introductions of the wedding party, and then the bride and groom getting introduced. Then some clips of them dancing, then their parent dances, the cake cutting, and then the video is finished off with a 2-3 minute montage of people dancing and having a blast at the reception. This whole part takes about 10 hours. Now the video is edited from start to finish.
Last but not least, similar to the icing on a cake, I do the color correction. Throughout the day of the wedding we are changing settings from indoor to outdoor, changing lighting settings, etc. So the footage might look off in color, or be dark in some areas, too light in other shots, things like that. Color correction is where that all gets fixed. We brighten up things that are too dark, tone down areas that are too bright, and fix colors that are just not set right. For a 5-10 minute highlight video, this takes about 1.5 hours. For a 20-40 minute video it takes close to 2-3 hours. Now the video is done! About 25-28 hours later, the video is ready to send to the couple.
(If I’m doing a longer video in addition to the highlight, it’s another 6-8 hours of editing. This is the time of adding more ceremony footage, removing certain parts and adding more in other areas, adding more to the reception.)
It’s quite the process. When I first started doing wedding videos, it actually took me 35-40 hours to edit the video. That’s a whole work week for most people, pretty crazy. But after many times of doing it, figuring out better ways to do things, getting more efficient, I got to where I am now.
I hope you enjoyed this article. This is a craft we as wedding videographers take our time to perfect and we really put our heart into it. At least speaking for myself, it’s something we do because we love it. Getting the reaction emails of “OMG this is amazing I cried! Thank you so much!” or “Thank you so much Mike, we are truly grateful we had you capture our day this is more than we could ask for” is something that really means a lot to me. It makes it all worth it and it truly brings me joy. I actually did a screen recording and voice over of me editing a wedding video once, if you would like to see it, go here. If you have any questions for me or if you are looking for a wedding videographer, reach out to me at mike@mikeneilan.com and check out my work on my wedding video section.
Thank you for reading.
Two Thousand Eighteen.
Well, I must say, 2018 was an incredible year. I started a new business with a partner called Focus Forward Media, where we focus on video production and advertising for businesses, I moved into Providence, and I shot a lot more weddings than I did in 2017. I also did a lot more photography for weddings than previous years and I really enjoyed that. I shot many weddings with Wendy Hewes out of Rhode Island and I got to really expand my portfolio and continue shooting more than I had in the past, which was awesome. Side note; if you are looking for a wedding photographer and I don’t seem to be your fit, check out Wendy’s work at WendyHewes.com, my company designed her website and we did some social media for her as well.
In 2018 I shot at various venues in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine. It was awesome getting to see new locations and experiment with places I’ve never been before, and of course with new faces!
To wrap this up, I want to share this video I put together. This is a highlight of all the wedding videos I did in 2018, I hope you enjoy it!
If you did, pass it on and leave a comment. Feedback is always appreciated.
If you or someone you know is getting married, or in need of a new headshot or portraits for their brand/social media, please feel free to reach out at mike@mikeneilan.com and view more of my work here on my website.
Thank you.