The Best Outdoor Wedding Venues in New England
Congratulations! You or perhaps someone close to you is engaged and you’re most likely here because you’re looking for the perfect venue for your nature loving friends. New England has a plethora of beautiful wedding venues so the choices can sometimes feel overwhelming. I compiled a list of my favorite venues as a fellow outdoors woman and nature lover to hopefully make your choice a little easier, or save you some time! This is based on actually photographing weddings at those venues and my own personal assessment of the venue based on multiple factors. Venues did not pay me to be featured on this blog post! Whether you’re looking for a farm venue, forested venue, or the wedding venues with the best views I have you covered! So in no particular order… here we go!
The Meadow at Red Ridge Farm
Salisbury, Massachusetts (North Shore)
I love how DIY friendly this venue is, while still maintaining practicality. You pick your own caterer to bring in, but all of the big things like the tent, benches for the ceremony, tables, chairs, and bar/bartender are taken care of for you. That means that you can do your own thing, but also have a sense of sanity and a few less moving parts as the big day approaches. It’s in Salisbury, Massachusetts making it a quick drive from Boston. Let’s get to the reason why I really love this venue though…Can you believe a farm with old growth forests exists this close to a heavily populated urban area? You get to spend the day watching the adorable cows wandering the meadow, stroll through the forest paths, and while I got a rainy day as a photographer here, I can imagine the sunsets are stunning with how open the area is.
Miraval Berkshires
Lenox, Massachusetts
Miraval might have been one of the best venues I have ever photographed at. For starts, I love the location in the heart of Berkshire county, Massachusetts. The historic gilded age mansion was kept original in design high on a hilltop overlooking the nearby mountains. And EVERYTHING happens in a very close circle around the mansion. Cocktail hour on the back deck, guest rooms and bridal suite in the mansion, ceremony on the back lawn, and a gorgeous high ceiling ballroom with a deck overlooking the expansive property and golf course. The gardens are also next level and meticulously maintained. This is definitely a luxury wedding venue providing every convenience with onsite catering/bar along with an incredible staff tending to every detail.
Smolak Farms
North Andover, Massachusetts
I’m quite simply obsessed with this orchard and dying to do a wedding here during apple blossom season in May! My favorite part of this venue is how thoughtful the staff is towards each and every wedding. I love the reception tent buried among the old growth pine forest and the ceremony site nestled in the orchard. This property is sprawling and you are also welcome to take photos throughout the entire farm during the wedding which not every venue gives that sort of access.
Colby Hill Inn
Henniker, New Hampshire
The Colby Hill Inn is a perfect venue for both an intimate wedding or larger event which makes it so versatile, This venue is ideal for the couple that loves to be outside, has a love of historic farms, and wants to have nearly everything done in house. The onsite restaurant provides full incredible plated meals along with dessert and wine pairings. They also do all florals on site! This is truly a one stop wedding shop.
The Rock’s Estate
Bethlehem, New Hampshire
This sprawling 1,400 acre property is operated by The Forest Society of New Hampshire and conservation land. It’s a Christmas tree farm with incredible views of the White Mountains and Presidential Range in the distance. You can book the venue for just the ceremony, ceremony and reception, a whole weekend, or just a reception as well. My favorite part of this venue is how versatile it is.
Loon Mountain Resort
Lincoln, New Hampshire
Both times I have photographed weddings at Loon I was overwhelmingly impressed by how tight of a ship the events team here runs. Although the summit is open to the public during the wedding, they always make sure the ceremony space is private while a ceremony occurs. Beyond that who wouldn’t love getting married at the summit of one of New England’s best ski resorts as an adventure loving couple! Every one of your guests gets to ride the scenic gondola to the beautiful ceremony space at the summit. After you get the run of the mountain to take the dreamiest photos.
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
Whitefield, New Hampshire
This insanely gorgeous grand hotel located in Northern NH has some of the best views an adventure lover could ask for in New England. In addition the rooms have some of the best lighting creating a great space for getting ready. My favorite part of this hotel is the convenience. EVERYTHING is on site from the spa for hair and makeup, catering, variety of reception options, an indoor ceremony backup space for bad weather, and plenty of rooms to accommodate all of your guests.
The Sunset Hill House
Sugar Hill, New Hampshire
The Sunset Hill House is located on Sunset Hill Road in Sugar Hill. In other words if you get married here early to mid-June you are almost guaranteed to run into the most gorgeous field of lupines for your portraits right next door. What I love most is the expansive property with a variety of different scenes which they allow couples the full run of.
The Mansion at Bald Hill
Woodstock, Connecticut
The first thing I noticed about this venue as I was driving up the road through the forest to the mansion, is how utterly peaceful it is. Minus the wedding party the only thing I could hear was a light breeze and buzzing bee. I love the gardens surrounding the mansion and big open fields perfect for portraits. In addition there is great open shade for daytime portraits and posed family portraits making this spot photographically ideal.
The Mayflower Inn & Spa
Washington, Connecticut
I could go on forever about how beautiful the interior spaces are here, but the gardens and easily accessible conservation land less that 5 minutes from the property actually makes this hotel super special. And perhaps it was the magical winter wonderland I experienced while here, but I can imagine this being an ideal setting for any wedding or elopement any time of year.
Mountain Top Resort
Chittenden, Vermont
These might be the best views from a hotel in all of Vermont! I stayed here with family when I was a little kid and thought I was in a winter wonderland. Years later when I shot a wedding here I was in awe all over again at the beautiful scenery of the resort, the delicious in house restaurant, and elegant, but rustic feeling reception space. This massive property is still one of my favorite venues to this day.
Isham Family Farm
Williston, Vermont
This farm is as low key for a more casual, but still beautiful, wedding experience. We love the ability the farm has to transport guests up the hill across the street for great views of Camel’s Hump in the distance. That’s one of Vermont’s highest peaks! The barn has a stage for a live band and the nearby city of Burlington makes it easy for guests to find a place to stay and tons to do for an entire wedding weekend.
