Those who live in New England already know how beautiful winters can be. Though often we are sick of the ridiculous amounts of snow and the irritations caused by it (think shoveling the six foot drifts and warming our cars), we New Englanders take advantage of it when we can. A winter wedding is made extra special by the natural snow and ice laden backdrops available in this part of the country.
Options for winter wedding venues are limitless in Western Massachusetts. Whether it be in a 200 year old colonial home, or one of the many museums, or even an expansive park vista; your wedding is sure to be fun, memorable, and above all, unique.
Do check into these local venues to see if they are a fit for your wedding day. Contact information is available as well as websites, if applicable.
Carriage House at the Barney Estate
200 Trafton Rd
Springfield, MA 01108
(413)-787-7733
When locals are asked for their favored wedding venues in Springfield, The Carriage House at the Barney Estate is one of the first mentioned. The Carriage House is located within the city of Springfield’s Forest Park grounds, a 735 acre sprawling reserve on the banks of the Connecticut River. The Carriage House is centrally located within the park, and the calming effect of the natural beauty ensures a stress free day for you and your guests.
Weddings can be hosted within the house itself, or outdoors within the year round gardens. Massive tents can be erected if outdoors suits your theme best. Early winter would be best for an outdoors reception, and can be easily moved inside if weather turns. Ceremony and reception may be hosted here. There are no caterers onsite, but the Carriage House does have listings of wedding contractors available. A call to confirm booking prices was not returned, but local word is that the carriage House provides a romantic setting for a budget price. This will be updated when more information is available.
Elegant Affairs Glass Room
1380 Main Street
Springfield MA
413-734-9267
In an article I recently wrote titled “Planning an Eco-Friendly Wedding” , I mentioned the idea of maximizing natural light sources as a way to reduce energy use during your event. The Glass Room, run by Elegant Affairs, seems to personify this idea. The name of the venue is literal, with windowed walls allowing a daytime affair to be flooded with sunlight.
Elegant Affairs is a widely known, longtime catering company located in the heart of Springfield. Their wedding planning is done professionally, and all aspects of the event can be done in house. The Glass Room itself can accommodate up to 80 guests, but Elegant Affairs does manage other venues for larger parties, such as The carriage House at barney Estate- reviewed above. They also have planned events at Look Park in Northampton, and Worthington Pond Farms and Gardens in Somers, CT.
As each wedding is an individual event, with variables changing according to client, a comprehensive pricing list is not available. There is a deposit of 500.00 that is due at time of booking, but further pricing information can be requested when an appointment is made.
Springfield Museums at the Quad
21 Edwards St
Springfield MA 01103
Special Events Coordinator: (413) 263-6800 x 312
The Springfield Museum Quad is a romantic setting before even setting foot inside the museums themselves. The Dr. Seuss Sculpture Gardens are a must see on locals sightseeing lists, so hosting your winter wedding there seems a natural combination for long lasting impressions.
There are five museums that make up the complex, all flanking the sculpture gardens. The Springfield Science Museum, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, and the Museum of Springfield History. Tents can be set up within the quad itself for outdoor events, but for winter weddings, or any other seasonal event- receptions can be hosted inside the galleries themselves. In addition, the museum café is available to host smaller parties.
The Museum Events Coordinator is available at the number listed above, and they can help you plan all parts of your event, as well as point you to local resources if needed. Events at the Museum quad can be pricey, but expect that all will be handled professionally and ensuring a fantastic party.
Springfield Marriott
2 Boland Way
Springfield MA 01115
(413) 781-7111
The Springfield Marriott Hotel and Convention center is located directly in the business district of the city. It dominates the skyline and is situated at the foot of the Memorial Bridge. As part of a chain of well known hotels, one can expect the event planning and production at the Marriott to be top notch, especially as most, if not all parts of event planning are done for you.
The Marriott has the added benefit of being a location where extended events can easily be planned. A two day wedding is made stress free by having room package plans built into the wedding day events pricing. The rooms available are large, but can be made more intimate with the use of room dividers. Casual and formal events can be hosted here, and the rooms can accommodate even the largest of weddings. A detailed pricing guide is available, and more detailed requests can be addressed by calling the main hotel phone number and asking to speak with an event planner.
Delany House/Log Cabin
3 Country Club Road (Rt 5)
Holyoke MA 01040
413 532 1800
Not within the Springfield city limits itself, the Delaney House must still be included in a listing of best Winter Wedding venues in the area. The Delaney House/Log cabin is a local institution for event hosting, and the management has expanded their repertoire of resources to include nearby venues. The Wyckoff Country Club is a popular alternative locale that can be utilized by those who decide to use the Delaney House functions. The Delaney House has recently begun to offer catering off site, through the Rolling Log catering entity.
The Delaney House offers 13 themed rooms, as well as the gardens for your event. Pricing is dependent on menus and resources used, but menu estimations run between 50.00- 200.00 dollars per guest. This does not include facility use and rentals.
For further information on any of these venues, please contact them at the numbers given or the email addresses available. More information on Do it yourself winter wedding decorations and can be found in another of my articles, “DIY Winter Wedding Centerpieces.
