Wedding Venues in Central Massachusetts / Worcester County
While this isn't an exhaustive list, below are some of the more well known wedding venues in Central Massachusetts. The underlined venues are linked to examples of that venue further down in this same blog.
Arrowhead Acres
Asa Waters Mansion
Barn at Gibbet Hill Groton
Beechwood Hotel
Blissful Meadows Golf Club
Boxboro Regency
Bull Mansion Event Space
Friendlys Crossways Retreat Center
Fruitland Museum
Grand View
Harrington Farm
Hartman's Herb Farm
Higgins Armory
Mechanics Hall
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (previously called Tower Hill Botanic Gardens)
Oakholm Farm Estate
Pine Ridge Golf Club
Salem Cross Inn
The 228 in Sterling
The Barn at Blackstone National
The Farm at SummitWynds
The Haven Country Club
The Herb Lyceum
The Publick House
The White Room
Wedgewood Pines Country Club
Worcester Art Museum
While I haven't visited, or photographed, all of these venues, here are some of the ones I have with photos to pair with them to get a sense of what they might be like for your wedding day!
AC Hotel Wedding
The AC Hotel is a wedding venue in Worcester, Massachusetts. You have access to the Wachusett Ballroom and/or Pavillion Tent for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Having your wedding in a hotel is quite convenient for guests as they can stay right in the hotel after the wedding so no transportation is required. This is a great option for a couple who would like to be married in the winter since guests don't have to go outside at any point. Aside from the ballroom and tent, the lobby of the hotel is visually interesting for photos like in front of the fireplace, some art installations, or the hallway near the ball with cool vertical patterned lights. However, if you're looking to have some photos outdoors, the Worcester City Hall Commons is right down the street.
Chocksett Inn Wedding
The Chocksett Inn is a wedding venue in Sterling, Massachusetts. This is another venue where it's awesome for guests to stay the night as it's connected to an Inn! There's a large, separate, two-story suite for getting ready which is nice since it's larger and nicer than a typical hotel room. The ceremony is in a beautifully landscaped garden, with the reception in a ballroom with classy chandeliers. There's a gorgeous natural light foyer at the entrance to the ballroom that is my favorite for photos! During the pandemic they transformed the back deck behind the inn into a tented reception space, but I'm not sure if that is something they'll continue to offer.
Coachmen's Lodge Wedding
Coachmen's Lodge is a wedding venue in Bellingham, Massachusetts. There are multiple outdoor areas for a ceremony that are equally beautiful, private, and surrounded by lush wooded areas and a pond. Super pretty for a fall wedding! They have an outdoor patio cocktail space and the indoor event space with a grand fireplace as the sweetheart table backdrop. Note that the reception area is attached to a public restaurant and bar. There are no overnight accommodations at this venue.
Harding Allen Estate Wedding
The Harding Allen Estate is a wedding venue in Barre, Massachusetts. The grounds, which include the pergola and walled gardens, are beautifully landscaped to host the ceremony any cocktail hour. The interior of the mansion has tons of bedrooms on two sides of the house so you don't have to be worried about running into your bride / groom while getting ready. The inside of the mansion is sort of eclectic and old school. The reception is held in ballroom with a vaulted tent ceiling that opens up to the garden balcony. The Estate operates as a bed and breakfast with six bedrooms to offer accommodation to the wedding party if they'd like to stay on the premises. There are also two cottages nearby with more bedrooms should you wish to have guests stay on site or if you want a detached room for getting ready.
Inn on Boltwood
The Inn on Boltwood is a wedding venue in Amherst, Massachusetts. This super cute Inn is in downtown Amherst but still feels removed from the hustle and bustle. There are so many different event spaces within the venue depending on what your wedding vision is; the Dickinson and Webster Ballrooms, Garden Tent, Rooftop Terrace, and Greenhouse Room. And again, since this venue is part of the Inn, it's great for your guests to crash right there on site!
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill Wedding (previously Tower Hill Botanic Gardens
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a wedding venue in Boylston, Massachusetts. It's stunning architecture and natural light make this a popular venue not only with couples, but with photographers as well. A unique space with good light is a dream!!! There are so many different choices for where you can have your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception to truly make your wedding customized. Your ceremony can be in the Secret Garden, Lawn Garden, or Limonaia Conservatory (indoor plan B option - which we love). Your cocktail hour can be in the Winter Garden or Great Hall. And your reception will be held in the beautiful eighteenth-century-style glass conservatory, the Orangerie (on season only). Not only are all of the sites stunning, but the additional property on the venue is equally as amazing- from trails through lush green woods to the view of Mount Wachusett!
The Limonaia Conservatory
The Orangerie
The Secret Garden
The Barn at Wight Farm Wedding
The Barn at Wight Farm is a wedding venue in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. There are multiple event spaces at this venue; The Barn and Winthrop room are rustic barns for your wedding reception while the Alpheus Room is an indoor ceremony area equipped with twinkle lights. There are also two bridal suites, one room is in the basement of the Barn and the other newly renovated detached natural-light suite. Located on the main road in Sturbridge, it's easy to get to since it's a quick jump off the highway, which makes transportation convenient since there's no on-site accommodation for guests.
The Red Barn
Alpheus Room
Winthrop Room
Tuckerman Hall Wedding
Tuckerman Hall is a wedding and concert venue that is sure to be a showstopper if you're looking for a unique wedding venue in Worcester! While guests aren't allowed on the balcony during the ceremony, it sure makes for a unique point of view whether you're saying your 'I do's' or spinning during your first dance with your partner. This grand space can fit 200 and is conveniently located right across from the Worcester Art Museum. Tuckerman hall has spacious getting ready suits for both partners (which is rare!!) and tons of beautiful spaces both indoors and outdoors for your wedding portraits. Plus, there is an entirely separate cocktail hour area so your ceremony space can flip into the reception space without guest eyes on it.
Union Station Wedding
Union Station is tucked into the Heart of the Commonwealth, in downtown Worcester at a roundabout at the end of busy Front street. Although Union Station is a major transportation hub for Central Massachusetts, Maxwell Luciano's Banquet and Conference Center manages events and weddings in the Grand Hall. Aside from the website sharing they can host up to 600 guests, there is not much more information regarding the amenities and services offered.
The below images were taken during an elopement in which we simply entered Union Station and took photos on a day they weren't busy. You'll enter into the Grand Hall, where I believe they host both wedding ceremonies and receptions. The ceremony would be squared off and surrounded by drapes for privacy from any travelers. The subsequent photos were taken both in the terminal (trains are accessible from the top of the stairs) and on the connected parking garage rooftop.
Worcester City Hall Wedding
Located in the Heart of the Commonwealth, Worcester City Hall is located on Main street in downtown Worcester. Worcester City Hall was built in 1898 from pink granite, and the grand clock tower was modeled after the city hall in Florence, Italy.
The two curved staircases you can see in the photo below lead to a covered balcony and through those doors, you'll find the oval room where elopement ceremonies take place. In the next room you'll find the grand staircase leading to stunning architecture everywhere you look, from the lion-head banister and the arched ceiling and columns that line the halls to the grandiose curved painted ceiling donned with lightbulbs. Behind City Hall is the common that is a small grass area with paved sidewalks and benches. In the winter there is a temporary skating rink! City Hall is a perfect place for an elopement if you want something quick and affordable to tie the knot before going out in Worcester to celebrate at one of the many local breweries.
Zukas Hilltop Barn Wedding
Zukas Hilltop Barn is a wedding venue in Spencer, Massachusetts. It's property is absolutely stunning and has many beautiful photo locations everywhere you turn. It feel extremely secluded as the venue is at the end of a long, winding driveway that provides enough elevation for you to have a stunning, sweeping view of the hills beyond.
There is a house on the property that acts as a bridal suite, equipped with a spa area on the first floor should you choose to have in-house hair and makeup services, or even a pedicure! The other partner gets ready in a room inside the main venue building. The outdoor ceremony space is on a sweeping lawn with a gazebo backdrop for the couple. The cocktail hour is inside their gorgeous banquet room which includes a striking large fieldstone fireplace to separate the seating area from the full bar area. The reception space is under the large tent net to the garden area that is decorated with twinkle lights and a black and white checkered dance floor!
I really love Zukas for how much they care for not only the couple and their guests, but the vendors as well!! I'm never treated better than when I visit Zukas. They take great care for all allergies (of which I have a bunch!) and since they only host one event per day, you can ensure you are their main focus.
Why choose Worcester Massachusetts?
Worcester is the second most populated city in Massachusetts, behind Boston. While it's about an hour drive on I-90 to get to Central MA from the coast, the heart of the commonwealth has so much to offer!! Worcester offers a great mix of history, culture, outdoor activities, and entertainment, making it a fantastic destination for visitors. Here are a few reasons Worcester is a great place to visit:
Art and culture: Worcester is home to many cultural institutions, including the Worcester Art Museum, the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, and the Mechanics Hall. There are also many galleries, public art displays, and POW! WOW! murals throughout the city.
Food scene: Worcester has a diverse and vibrant food scene, with options ranging from traditional New England seafood to international cuisine. The city is particularly known for its pizza, which is surprisingly considered some of the best in the country.
Outdoor activities: Worcester is surrounded by beautiful parks and natural areas, including the Quinsigamond State Park and Lake, the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, and the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sports: Worcester is home to the Worcester Red Sox, a minor league baseball team, and the Worcester Railers, a minor league hockey team. Visitors can also catch college sports games at one of the many local colleges and universities!!
What is Considered a Worcester County Wedding?
Worcester County includes all cities and towns east of the Quabbin reservoir to I-495 from the Connecticut border and tapers on the northern, New Hampshire Border.
The recognizable cities and towns included in Worcester County include:
Athol, Royalston, Winchendon, Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Garder, Templeton, Westminster, Leominster, Harvard, Petersham, Nichewaug, Barre, Princeton, Sterling, Lancaster, Clinton, Hardwick, Rutland, Holden, Paxton, West Boylston, Northborough, Shrewsbuy, Westborough, Worcester, Leicester, Spencer, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Charlton, Oxford, Sutton, Millbury, Auburn, Sutton, Milford, Mendon, Uxbridge, Douglas, Webster, Southbride, and Sturbridge. Framingham is just outside of Worcester County.
Worcester, Massachusetts wedding photographer
Hey, I'm Tammy - your Worcester Massachusetts wedding and elopement photographer! I love documenting the in-between, unprompted moments and getting to know my couples on a personal level! I photograph weddings + elopements in Massachusetts and all over New England!
Contact me and let's start planning your elopement!
xx,
Tam
Tamara Merri Photography
www.tamaramerriphotography.com
hello@tamaramerriphotography.com
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