Weddingbee Blog

Since my last venue post, I’ve had a few seacoast brides asking for more venue information - and y’know what? You have to give the people what they want! So here goes!

When I got engaged (gosh, it was like, almost a year ago now), the very very very first thing I bought was the 2007 edition of Seacost Bride:

I felt soooo special that they made a whooole magazine just for us wacky brides wanting to get married in the seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. And the best part is, it’s just CHOCK full of local vendors.

That said, I used that magazine and this wonderful thing called the “interwebs” to conduct a fairly thorough search - and here is what I found:

Venues I Loved But Could Not Have:

Bedford Village Inn - I have not visited the Bedford Village Inn, but the pictures on their website make me weak in the knees. I’ve also heard from several coworkers that this place is ni-ice. They accommodate up to 225 in their ballroom but were slightly out of my price range.

Flag Hill Winery - If you’re looking to have a winery wedding on the Seacoast, this is pretty much your one option. I totally dig the winery wedding vibe, but alas, their wedding season begins in June, and Mr. BG had his little heart set on May.

Searles Castle - This was the first venue I fell in love with - back when I had yet to get quoted costs from anyone. Definitely on the pricier side (I believe the rental for the grounds alone will set you back $6k), but my god - who wouldn’t love to get married at a castle??

Tower Hill Botanical Gardens - Okay, I confess, this is not the seacoast, it’s Massachusetts. But I had to throw it in there. This is right near where I grew up, and since my mid-teens, my mother has insisted that I consider this venue for my wedding. And talk about beautiful - you can literally have your ceremony on the center field amid the botanical gardens and then host your reception in one of the coolest rooms I’ve ever seen, the Orangerie. I think they have fairly tight time constraints, which is why we ruled it out, but definitely worth checking out.

Venues We Visited AND Loved:

The Governor’s Inn - Definitely a recommendation here… in fact, this was one of our final two choices. I first heard about the Governor’s Inn when I attended a company party here a couple years ago. And it was fun!! Some of the strong points: 1. There’s a bricked patio area right outside the ballroom that can be used for a very pretty cocktail hour. 2. If you’re looking for an on-site ceremony, the ceremony area is GORGEOUS. There’s a very tasteful gazebo enclosed in a wooded garden area. 3. The Inn has an adjacent building that you can rent out in full - perfect for an after-party! 4. Affordable!!

The Phoenix Room - I know I’ve written about this place quite a few times now, but I can’t help it - my heart belongs to the Phoenix Room. I just love the atmosphere that you get in this room - beautiful windows, brick walls, warm lights - I LOVE IT. Plus, their menu choices are very unique and look suuuper tastey. But in case you missed my previous rants, this place is not handicap accessible. However, if that’s not a concern for you - definitely check it out.

Three Chimneys Inn - So, I’ve only been here for an off-site meeting at work, but can I just say that I’ve never had better coffee? I mean, ever?!? And that right there is what it’s really all about, no? This was not a place I was considering for our wedding because it’s a little on the smaller side, but if you want a smaller event, a New Hampshire feel, and some awesome coffee - look no further.

So there you have it! We did look at some other places that weren’t hugely successful at impressing us, but - let’s just focus on the positives for today.