My 10 Favorite Wedding Venues in the Boston Area

Now that you’ve narrowed down your wedding location to the Boston area, it’s time for one of the first and most important wedding planning steps: choosing a venue! Using my experience photographing dozens of weddings, I’ve put together this list of my 10 favorite wedding venues in the Boston area to inspire you. Whichever of these sites is right for you, rest assured it will make for one-of-a-kind wedding photos.

1. The Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library doesn’t even need justification for making this list—it’s absolutely magnificent. As a wedding venue, this site offers historic architecture and a magical setting right in the heart of the city. There are a few different spots on the grounds you can rent for your special day: party it up in the Boylston Street Building, celebrate in the grand McKim Bates Hall, rent the tea room and lounge, or take over the lovely courtyard.

2. The Museum of Science 

This is my all-time favorite Boston area wedding venue. It’s hard to beat the Museum of Science’s riverfront location, which makes you feel like you have the city completely to yourselves. You can choose from indoor and outdoor event spaces here, but the best part of a Museum of Science wedding is being able to take photos inside the museum after hours!

3. New England Aquarium 

If you’re looking for a truly unique Boston area wedding venue, consider the New England Aquarium. You get the run of the place, which means an indoor ceremony and private viewings of all the marine life. The aquarium plays music inside after hours, so dancing penguins may just crash your wedding photos!

4. Hotel Commonwealth Boston 

There’s no Boston monument more iconic than Fenway Park, and at the Hotel Commonwealth Boston you can celebrate right next door. You can rent out the Fenway Terrace, a grand ballroom, or the light and airy Commonwealth Room for your celebration. This whole hotel gives off a modern chic vibe, which makes for cool and stylish pictures.

5. The Red Lion Inn and Barn 

If you look up the term “rustic charm,” a photo of The Red Lion Inn and Barn should appear. (That’s not actually how search algorithms work, but you get the point!) While not in Boston proper, this inn gives you a real New England feel, complete with a historic hotel, high-ceilinged barn, and picturesque grounds.

6. Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge 

I’d argue that the rooftop of the Hyatt Regency offers the very best views of the Boston skyline. Plus, the brutalist architecture indoors make for unique and edgy wedding photos. The hotel offers over 25,000 feet of event space, plus has 450 rooms to accommodate all your guests! 

7. The Langham, Boston 

If your wedding style is modern luxury, check out The Langham Hotel in Boston. Take your pick of receptions areas—the hotel offers a ballroom and a number of grand halls. As an added bonus, The Langham has a full wedding planning team on staff to help you put together the perfect day.

8. Boston Marriott Long Wharf 

Hotel weddings are that much easier for everyone involved—there is no extra transportation needed, and guests can retire to their rooms for a rest whenever they want to! This particular hotel is in an ideal location for wedding photography, since it overlooks the quay and provides easy access to Christopher Columbus Park, The Greenway, and the New England Aquarium.

9. The Crane Estate 

Make your mansion wedding dream come true at The Crane Estate. Here in Ipswich (not exactly Boston, but not too far either), you get some of the best East Coast scenery. Plus, the  grand property gives you the feeling of a Newport, Rhode Island wedding while being closer to Boston. Put together a wedding worthy of a fairytale at the manor itself, in the barn, or overlooking the water at Steep Hill Beach.

10. Tupper Manor

Tupper Manor in Beverly is another favorite elegant property on the North Shore. Tie the knot on the grounds or inside the manor, and take photos by the water fountain, in the courtyard, or on the beach. This relic of the 1900s is all about “relaxed elegance,” meaning it suits both casual festivities and fancy bashes.

Other Boston Area Venues I’m Excited About 

To give you some more inspiration for your Boston area wedding, here are a few wedding venues I haven’t had the pleasure of working in but would love to shoot at! (Hint, hint, nudge nudge.) 

• Athenaeum. This is probably my second-favorite venue after the Museum of Science–it’s completely magical, right down to the address: 10 AND A HALF Beacon Street. This library has been around since 1807, and offers several possible wedding sites within its hallowed halls.
• JFK Library. My experience doing an engagement photoshoot here has made me SO EXCITED about potentially shooting a wedding at the JFK Library. The modernist building designed by I.M. Pei makes for fascinating visuals. 
• State Room: A Longwood Venue. This Boston wedding venue is another one at the top of my bucket list! Photos of the interesting architectural elements and city views make this urban chic venue stand out. 
• MFA Boston. As a frequent visitor and Museum of Fine Arts admirer, I can only imagine how cool it must be to have a wedding inside this place. According to their website, the venue offers options for weddings of all sizes, so there’s something for everyone here. 
• SoWa Power Station. This South End venue embodies industrial-chic and can accommodate up to 500 guests.
• Peabody Essex Museum. This museum, complete with clean lines and a modern atrium, is sure to make any wedding look elegant and stylish. 
• Boston Children’s Museum. Just one word: FUN!

Do any of these Boston area wedding venues catch your eye? Feel free to reach out with more questions, or to start talking about your wedding photography.