It’s no secret that weddings are a big deal — and big business — in the Berkshires. If you’re a resident, you’ve caught glimpses of the happy couples and their retinues most weekends from May to October. And if you were one of those couples who made the Berkshires your wedding destination, chances are you’re glad you did, because the region has developed a great reputation for hosting wonderful weddings of all kinds.
The COVID pandemic forced couples to curtail their wedding plans in 2020, but we are counting on limits being lifted by mid-2021, and we want you to be ready to move as soon as the coast seems clear. More than 60 venues in the Berkshires are experienced hosts, ranging from the intimate to the spectacular, from the funky to the formal, from the grounds and halls of inns and estates to museums and mountaintop retreats. There is broad scope for originality in any venue, given the region’s wealth of specialized purveyors of food, flowers, cakes, and all the other trimmings that make each wedding unique.
Let’s begin at the beginning. Adam and Eve had it easy. Were they even married? It must have been a very simple ceremony. No formal wear. Today’s weddings are more complex. Choice of place and date is just one thing (two, actually). Then there’s the guest list. That’s up to you (if you’re lucky). Once you know who you want to invite, then you have to. . .invite them. Perhaps you’d better send a save-the-date card, and then the invitation itself (you’ll have to compose the words and select the script and the cardstock, and proof and approve the text) — and you’ll need a reply card, and a pre-addressed, stamped reply envelope, too — and — and — you’ve only just begun. In fact, aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? Shall we talk money?
No, first let’s talk romance. That’s a feeling, an intangible that’s in the hearts of the beholders. But the setting definitely helps. The Berkshires has mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, gardens, rolling lawns, and more trees than most city dwellers see in a year; not to mention orchards, arbors, bowers, and other green and romantic spots. And that’s just Mother Nature. Now add art. One of the most quietly romantic paintings in the Berkshires is Norman Rockwell’s “The Marriage License,” created in 1954 for a Saturday Evening Post cover and now hanging in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. Numerous proposals have been made in front of it, according to Museum staff. By the way, you, too, are going to need a license.
OK, back to business: What is your budget and who’s paying? It is possible to have a beautiful, memorable wedding on a modest budget in the Berkshires if that’s what you prefer or can afford. It’s also easy to spend lavishly for the big day. Berkshires wedding planner Tara Consolati reports that she had done more than one million-dollar wedding. “Most of the weddings I was doing pre-COVID, and expect to do again post-COVID — they are all destination weddings — run around $200,000 to $300,000, but you don’t have to spend that much. A lot of my clients are from Manhattan, but I’ve had couples from all over the country and abroad.” To get the financial lay of the land, you may wish to consult https://www.costofwedding.com. Type in a Berkshires zip code and get average prices on the range of things that you (or your parents!) are likely to be spending for.
Or are you still arguing about — excuse me, discussing! — whether to invite this or that relative and this or that old friend and his or her old ex? Even under the best of circumstances, you’re likely to be hitting the wedding etiquette books before long or spending anxious evenings perusing sites that promise to reveal “The 50 biggest wedding mistakes” and “The nine largest hidden wedding costs.” You wanted a simple wedding: by now you know that there are no simple weddings, that planning a wedding is to plunge into a social and financial maelstrom. To ease the stress, you could hire a wedding planner, a kind of event concierge who knows the territory both literally and figuratively. The Berkshires has a number of experienced wedding professionals ready to assist you, each with networks of vendors connected to them. Or, if you’ve already chosen your venue, you may prefer to freelance the fixings. Most venues are happy to make recommendations (some have planners of their own), and they are likely to have a “preferred vendors” list of people and businesses they’ve successfully worked with before. The final choices will be up to you, however. The Berkshires has depth (and healthy competition) in all departments, which is another reason to get married in these hills. Bear in mind that a venue coordinator is not the same as a wedding planner; the latter are more likely to have seamstresses on speed-dial if a dress needs to be repaired at the last minute.
“I’ve shot many weddings in the Berkshires,” says Great Barrington-based photographer Eric Limón, “and I’ve seen the effect this region has on people. Maybe it’s because they’re destination weddings, couples indulge in a little fantasy. They’re not at their local church, synagogue, or country club — they’ve been transported to this other environment, maybe an old mansion or a rustic barn or a museum, where they’re surrounded by natural beauty, history, and art. Couples get creative.”
You’ll find that Berkshire venues, even the more formal ones, encourage your input. You may decide to have the works — the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the reception, the dancing, and even the sleeping and the brunch, all in one place, or you may choose to move yourselves and your guests around for each phase of your celebration. If the latter, you can charter bus or limo service as needed. Chances are you won’t have far to go.
Large indoor spaces such as barns are one option for rehearsal dinners and receptions, and outdoor tents are another. One of the beauties of a tent is that you can pitch it anywhere, including in your well-off Berkshire aunt’s backyard. Of course, you don’t pitch it yourself, you call an experienced outfit like Mahaiwe Tent of Great Barrington, which will also rent (and set up) tables, linens, dinnerware, bars, bandstands, and flooring for dancing.
Massachusetts and Vermont were leaders in authorizing same-sex marriage, and New York followed not long behind. Gay couples will find a warm welcome in the area. The same goes for interracial and minority couples in a region that remains predominantly white.
Plus, it’s easy to get to for you and your guests. Western Massachusetts is only 2½ hours by car from Boston and New York; there’s also bus service. The Albany airport and Bradley Field outside of Hartford are each about an hour away, depending on where in the Berkshires everyone will be heading, with limo service available. The nearest Amtrak route runs from New York along the Hudson; the stops at Hudson and Albany are 45 minutes or so from the lower and upper Berkshires, respectively.
One thing’s for sure: the Berkshires are full of comfortable and interesting places for your guests to stay, from B & Bs to inns, hotels, and resorts. And another thing: the towns are loaded with attractive and original shops, cafés, galleries, and eateries. Exceptional cultural, horticultural, and recreational opportunities abound: you won’t have to worry about keeping your guests entertained; in fact, they’ll be disappointed if you don’t allow them time to roam a little. Don’t blame your guests if they decide to linger when the time comes for you to jet off to Bali.
The whole idea of a wedding is to gather the people you know and love to witness this rite of passage. It takes a village, as someone once said. Your later lives may take you far from
the scene of your vows, but you’ll always have the Berkshires to return to, to remind you of how it all began. Adam and Eve (alas) never had it so good.
VENUES BY CATEGORY
Just a little cottage in the Berkshires . . .
A “Berkshire cottage,” that is, from back in the good old Gilded Age, when 75 grand summer homes were built in Lenox and Stockbridge by the one-percenters of the day (banking, railroads, law).
A number of those homes are now open to the public, and they all host weddings. If your dream is to get married at Edith Wharton’s summer place (The Mount) in Lenox in the presence of, say, 250 of your friends, it can be arranged. So can more intimate gatherings in the halls and gardens of many of these “cottages.”
Apple Tree Inn | LENOX
Constructed in 1885 as a private residence and since 1937 operating as an inn, the property has long-range views of the mountains and a beautifully sited swimming pool. Celebrations take place under a tent or in the main house.
Blantyre | LENOX
Built at the turn of the century in the Feudal-Revival style, elegantly refurbished Blantyre boasts of “a new age of Gilded Grandeur.” An on-site wedding professional will help you design every aspect your celebration.
Chesterwood | STOCKBRIDGE
Sculptor Daniel Chester French purchased this grand property in 1896 for use as his summer home and studio. He modeled his great statue of Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial here and designed the gardens too, leaving a lovely flat spot to pitch a wedding tent, even one for 500 guests (it happens). The house and studio are open to the wedding party during the cocktail hour.
Cranwell Resort-Miraval | LENOX
The resort’s 380 green acres will be fully open for business — and wellness — and weddings — as of June 1, after a major renovation. Cranwell was acquired by Miraval Resorts last year.
Gateways Inn | LENOX
Harley Proctor (think Proctor & Gamble) built this retreat during the Gilded Age building boom, and it comes with a staff experienced at managing weddings. Various packages are on offer, depending on the number of guests. The atmosphere is intimate, whether for elopements or up to parties of 80.
Seven Hills Inn and Restaurant | LENOX
What began as an 18th-century farmhouse became in the 19th century a Berkshire cottage and in the 20th an elegant 54-room inn with a long history of hosting weddings and prominent Tanglewood musicians. A just-completed renovation has brought all of its facilities up to date, including the pool, and an in-house wedding planner will make it easy for you to take the plunge.
The Mount | LENOX
Edith Wharton didn’t just live well and write at The Mount (built in 1902); she also designed the house and gardens. Her 112-acre estate is open to the public, except when a wedding is going on: then you can have one of the pearls of the Berkshires all to yourselves.
Thornewood Inn | GREAT BARRINGTON
This oasis of an inn (there is a pool) has been operated by the same family since 1983. They transformed an old Dutch Colonial house into an elegant country inn with its own restaurant (The Point) and host weddings for up to 140 guests.
Ventfort Hall | LENOX
Fifty-room, Jacobean-Revival Ventfort Hall, built in 1893 for J.P. Morgan’s sister and her husband, features 28,000 square feet of living space and a number of event rooms and halls — but the staff makes sure that no one gets lost (or moves in).
Wheatleigh | STOCKBRIDGE
Built as a Mediterranean-Revival villa in 1892, since 1976 Wheatleigh has been operated as a hotel. Proximity to Tanglewood contributes to its cachet.
INNS AND HOTELS
There is something undeniably convenient about having at least part of your wedding at the hotel or inn where you and your guests will be staying. These places are in the hospitality business: they’ll take good care of you. And each offers something unique.
Fairfield Inn & Suites | GREAT BARRINGTON
A stylish Marriot hotel in the South County neighborhood also accommodates wedding events in a room with a capacity of 150. Blocks of ten rooms earn a discount.
Courtyard Lenox Berkshires | LENOX
This is a second Marriott hotel, with architecture and views that pay homage to the Berkshire cottage aesthetic. An event space can accommodate up to 77 people, and the hotel offers discounts for blocks of wedding guests.
Devonfield Inn | LEE
This country house B & B is an early 19th-century dwelling with 11 rooms and suites tailored to contemporary hospitality standards. On the small side for weddings, the Inn offers elopement packages complete with officiant to perform the ceremony (but remember that it takes three days to get a marriage license, so plan ahead).
Garden Gables Inn | LENOX
The Inn is a charming and luxurious leafy retreat of 14-rooms located in the heart of Lenox. It’s operated by the same people who run Hilltop Orchards in nearby Richmond, which has become a wedding venue in its own right in recent years. Couples and company often stay at the Inn.
Hotel on North | PITTSFIELD
This 45-room boutique hotel on Pittsfield’s main street occupies a stately brick building made over with a warm, modern, Berkshires-urban vibe. They’re ready to handle all of your wedding needs in style or just part of them.
Kemble Inn | LENOX
Renovated in this decade as a modern boutique hotel, the Kemble Inn provides a romantic setting for weddings and elopements. It’s LBGT-run and has welcomed same-sex couples since its reopening. There’s a commercial kitchen, among other amenities, and the Inn can comfortably accommodate from 25 to 175 guests (the latter groups under a tent).
Lakehouse Inn | LEE
There is something about a lake house — a peaceful place away from it all by calm waters. This one’s on Laurel Lake, on the Lee-Lenox line. You can rent the whole 16-room inn for the weekend and hold as many of your events there as you like. The lawn can accommodate 150 guests.
Porches | NORTH ADAMS
MASS MoCA (across the street and the river) is a repurposed former mill, and Porches is a one-of-a-kind boutique inn that repurposes a row of 19th-century millworkers’ houses. These two exponents of North Adams’ makeover aesthetic sometimes work together for weddings, though Porches can also handle intimate, arty-elegant celebrations on its own.
Red Lion Inn | STOCKBRIDGE
Venerable and fun at the same time, the Red Lion specializes in smaller weddings (“from eight to eighty”). It’s been located on the same Main Street corner since 1773 and now bills itself as a “village,” as it includes accommodations adjacent to the substantial main building. You can sip mimosas in the flower-filled courtyard and toast the bride and groom in private banqueting rooms with antique prints and china lining the walls.
Rookwood Inn | LENOX
The Inn began life in 1825 as the Williams Tavern and got a Victorian makeover, complete with turret, in the 1880s. Modern renovations now combine with antique furnishings for a homey-elegant feel. The inn advertises “Elopement Packages” (innkeeper Amy is a Massachusetts Justice of the Peace, should you require one), and couples and their families sometimes take the Inn over as their base of operations for weddings. The setting is secluded, but only a short walk to the town center.
Santarella | TYRINGHAM
Also known as the Gingerbread House, one-of-a-kind Santarella was the home of British sculptor Sir Henry Hudson Kitson — and perhaps also his masterpiece. If you’re hoping to have a fairy-tale wedding, this might be the place. There’s a “honeymoon silo” if you decide to linger.
MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES
It might at first seem odd to have a wedding at a museum — unless you’re both paleontologists — but in case you haven’t noticed, museums are themselves getting engaged…in society, in creative new ways. They inspire — like the Muses for which they are named — and they have beautiful and unusual spaces that are unused after hours. So do libraries. And, of course, they need all the revenue streams they can get.
Berkshire Museum | PITTSFIELD
Located right in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, this eclectic museum offers a unique Art Deco reception setting in its elegant Crane Room. You can pose on the Art Deco staircase, too. Rental fees are modest; some restrictions apply.
Lenox Library | LENOX
The architecture is impressive, and the spaces inside are on a human scale. The Lenox Library has become an especially popular spot for rehearsal dinners, especially for booklovers and those who want to escape the ordinary. There is something delightfully transgressive, too, about turning the circulation desk into a bar. And in not being quiet! But if the band plays past bedtime, you may have to pay a fine.
MASS MoCA | NORTH ADAMS
MASS MoCA has been doing weddings for 20 years, but is increasingly in demand for ceremonies and receptions with a contemporary buzz. The spaces in this palace of brick and glass are dramatic and highly Instagrammable. One is a new, dedicated event space with a production team available to help you put on any kind of a show. You can gather in galleries and also make use of outdoor spaces. New trend: couples are getting married at MASS MoCA in all seasons. New Year’s Eve is now a coveted date (plus, you can file jointly).
Norman Rockwell Museum | STOCKBRIDGE
This is Norman Rockwell country, but until you’ve spent time at the Norman Rockwell Museum you may not have yet taken the full measure of Rockwell’s art. If you get married there — down by the Housatonic River behind the Museum is a popular spot — you and your guests will have the Museum to yourselves during cocktails (served on the terrace). Docents will be there to guide you through the galleries if you wish. In any case, Rockwell will lend his genius and humor to your celebration. And everybody will be moved by “The Marriage License.” A tent over the terrace accommodates 150, but you’ll have to stop the music and dancing at 11 p.m.
Clark Art Institute | WILLIAMSTOWN
The Clark is the latest museum to get into the wedding business (as of 2016). The striking architecture, and the way it fits into the landscape, impart an aura to ceremonies. The spreading maple at the foot of the Reflecting Pond is a favorite setting for vows, while the terrace and adjacent indoor exhibition spaces are often used for cocktails and reception dinners. All this happens after Museum hours. The Museum collections are not open during weddings, but many out-of-town guests return the following day to see the art.
TurnPark Art Space and Sculpture Park I WEST STOCKBRIDGE
TurnPark Art Space and Sculpture Park is the perfect place for art lovers and creative couples to host their dream wedding. The grounds are built on a former marble quarry in the very center of the picturesque town of West Stockbridge, providing a unique and magical backdrop for your dream wedding. You can hold your ceremony in a stunning marble amphitheatre and then spill out into two large fields for your reception. Your guests can also enjoy walking paths that wind through world-class art and monumental sculptures and are teeming with birds and wildflowers.
THEATERS & TANGLEWOOD
Jacob’s Pillow | BECKET
Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Dennis were the (married) couple who began it all in the 1930s. Dance companies come from all over the world to perform, and students to learn. Couples also come to get married and have their receptions. Some are dancers, some are drawn to a place that has been the site of so much physical and artistic energy. Plan ahead! The Pillow gets booked up quickly.
Shakespeare & Company | LENOX
Shakespeare’s comedies end in marriage, sometimes in more than one marriage (like Lenox on a summer Saturday). Whatever the confusion that comes before (and there is always confusion before) gets resolved in a wedding and a dance. The plays that Shakespeare & Company puts on each season take priority, but weddings are hosted at openings in the schedule.
Tanglewood | LENOX
A lot goes on at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937! 300,000 visitors flow in and out every summer. But management is somehow able to — orchestrate — everything, including weddings in a variety of settings on Tanglewood’s 400 bosky acres. You don’t have to be musical to feel musical. Plus, you’re supporting the BSO.
CAMPS
Married life is an adventure, so why not start it off where you and your guests are sure to have fun in an idyllic lakeside setting? Camp-style weddings tend toward bohemian chic. Perhaps you once toasted marshmallows at this very camp. What better setting for a rite of passage? Some advice: leave your heels at home; be careful with fire; and don’t tip over your canoe.
Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA | BECKET
Two well-established camps on waterfront property, Camp Becket for boys and Chimney Corners for girls, provide a peaceful setting for woodsy weddings. Rustic buildings are complemented by modern, full-service dining facilities, and members of your party can sleep over in the cabins and lodges. There is plenty to keep friends and family busy over the course of the wedding weekend with a fleet of canoes, a ropes course, and other traditional camp activities. It all makes the perfect setting for earning merit badges or taking wedding vows.
Camp Lenox | LEE
Camp facilities may be rented May 25 – June 10 and August 13 – September 15. Have the ceremony on the dock and the reception at the lodge and dance the night away, with breaks to gaze up at the stars.
Camp WA WA Segowea | SOUTHFIELD
Have your wedding “the WA WA way” (ex-campers will know what that means, and it’s all good) in sylvan surroundings at a private lake with a lodge, dining hall, kitchen, cabins (so your guests can sleep over!), and even an outdoor chapel.
IN THE MOUNTAINS
Bascom Lodge | MT. GREYLOCK
If you want to be on top of the world when you get married in Massachusetts, this is the place, just a hundred yards south of the summit of Mt. Greylock, at 3,3491 ft. the Bay State’s highest peak. A paved road will get you there; some outdoorsy couples hike up. The solidly built rustic-elegant lodge sleeps 34 in a variety of arrangements. And there are no neighbors to disturb if the celebration gets out of hand.
Jiminy Peak | HANCOCK
You don’t have to be a skier to choose a ski mountain for your ceremony. But it’s handy to be transported up to the top on the express chairlifts, and the views over the valley below are sensational. There’s a little alpine village at the summit with plenty of lodging and reception spaces.
Rose and Goat Retreat | FLORIDA (MASS.)
If you’ve ever driven the Mohawk Trail (Route 2) east of North Adams, you know that it goes right over a mountain (the same one that the famous Hoosac Tunnel goes through). The spacious but cozy main lodge on this 50-acre estate provides a dramatic summit setting for weddings, with peace and quiet (until the music starts), cabins for your guests, and an all-season outdoor hot tub to relax — or frolic — in.
BY THE LINKS
You don’t have to be a golfer to hold a wedding or a reception at one of the Berkshires’ scenic golf clubs, but if you are, there’s no place like home.
Country Club of Pittsfield | PITTSFIELD
Herman Melville’s brother once owned it; Herman Melville’s lover was married to the man who owned it; Melville himself lived next door. The 1785 manor became home to a golf club in 1900, and the original building forms the main part of the present structure. The porch is ideal for cocktails, the Grand Ballroom and smaller banqueting rooms for dining and dancing.
Berkshire Hills Country Club | PITTSFIELD
A.W. Tillinghast designed the course in the 1920s, but the attraction for wedding parties is the striking 2003 clubhouse with its wrap-around deck and ballroom with space for 300 guests. This is a popular spot for celebrations, hosting more than 30 weddings per year.
Stockbridge Golf Club I STOCKBRIDGE
Stockbridge Golf Club was founded in 1895, which makes it one of the oldest golf courses in the United States, nestled on the banks of the Housatonic River amidst the beautiful Berkshire Hills The Clubhouse, with an open, screened-in porch overlooking the 18th hole and a big dining room fireplace, provides a charming setting any time of year, from small intimate gatherings to events for up to 170 guests, with full-service dining.
FARMS, GARDENS, BARNS & ORCHARDS
Berkshire Botanical Garden | STOCKBRIDGE
The 15-acre gardens have been one of the gems of the Berkshires since the 1930s. Recent renovations to the 18th-century Center House have opened the property to expanded event-
hosting, and it’s already become a popular spot for day-after-the-ceremony brunches. It’s like being in the middle of a wedding bouquet, and you enter through a “living wall” of plants.
Bloom Meadows | HANCOCK
A terraced lawn beside a wildflower meadow for ceremonies, a stone patio for cocktails, a rustic-modern event barn for up to 170 guests for dinner and dancing, all by a bend in the road in rural Hancock. Owners Sarah and Greg got married there themselves!
Crissey Farm | GREAT BARRINGTON
Some Berkshires “event barns” are old; this one’s new (2007) and “green” (solar powered). The owners, Gary and Chelsea, get high ratings from reviewers, and the reasonable rental fee will let you save something for the honeymoon.
Gedney Farm | NEW MARLBOROUGH
Located in a National Historic District, Gedney Farm is a former dairy farm that now offers lodging (16 rooms) in the elegantly converted cattle barn and three levels of event space in the old horse barn. Both venues have AC and heat — Berkshire weather can be so changeable! The shade of an ancient black cherry tree is a popular site for ceremonies, and acres of rolling fields make for a private, bucolic setting that wedding parties typically take over for the weekend.
Hancock Shaker Village | PITTSFIELD
The practice of celibacy contributed to the Shaker sect’s decline, but their influence is felt to this day in many fields — and the fact is that the restored Shaker Village (also a working farm) makes a one-of-a-kind spot to get married or hold a reception. ‘Tis the gift to be simple!
Hilltop Orchards | RICHMOND
No matter what part of the growing cycle you choose — from apple blossom time in May to when the trees are hung with fruit later in the season — an orchard wedding is as close to paradise as it gets. Get married underneath the boughs, celebrate under the tent. And if you’re looking for a place to stay, the owners of Hilltop also run the Garden Gables Inn in Lenox.
Race Brook Lodge | SHEFFIELD
If your idea of a wedding involves a romantic getaway with easy access to hiking trails, this 31-room rustic retreat in a wooded setting at the foot of Race Mountain will suit you and your guests in fine style. A barn provides space for a reception and dancing far into the night. Wake up to birdsong in the morning.
Stonover Farm | LENOX
With farm-and-cottage design from 1890, a beautiful barn, a lawn, a duck pond, and 14 rooms (including a bridal hideaway), Stonover Farm is the ideal rustic-elegant wedding venue.
CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUES
For couples who prefer to make their vows in a sacred setting, many Berkshire churches are happy to open their doors and rent their facilities — and provide spiritual counseling too. Among the most popular religious wedding ceremony destinations in the Berkshires are these.
The Guthrie Center | GREAT BARRINGTON
It was once the Trinity Church; it was once where a certain restaurateur named Alice lived; now it’s a place where people come together for inter-faith services, spiritual exchange, music, and events like weddings, in a welcoming atmosphere.
Church on the Hill | LENOX
You can see why the first settlers of Lenox decided to put their meetinghouse here. The present church, belonging to the United Church of Christ, dates from 1805. It’s not only beautiful, but welcoming: “Church on the Hill celebrates Christian marriages for couples of all sexual orientations and gender identities.” The chapel, located down the hill, is also available. The church’s wedding specialist will be glad to help you with your plans.
First Congregational Church of Stockbridge | STOCKBRIDGE
This beautiful brick-and-wood church bills itself as “a sun-filled sanctuary for couples planning the quintessential New England wedding.” The church can accommodate ceremonies both large and small (with seating for up to 400 including the balcony). There’s a Steinway piano and a Johnson organ — and someone available to play them. The Pastor will help you plan the ceremony — and talk to you about the meaning of marriage, too.
First Congregational Church of Williamstown | WILLIAMSTOWN
Classic colonial architecture in a village setting makes this a popular wedding destination in the northern Berkshires. The light-filled sanctuary and spacious event hall can accommodate weddings large and small. “We welcome weddings and commitment ceremonies of all sexual orientations and gender expressions,” says the Church’s website.
Saint James Place | GREAT BARRINGTON
It looks like a church — it was a church (an Episcopal church) — but since 2017 it’s been a beautifully restored event space (three of them, to be precise) for performances, community gatherings, and weddings. Located right in downtown Great Barrington, air-conditioned, handicap-accessible, pet friendly, with excellent lighting and acoustics and a caterer’s kitchen, it’s an elegant blend of sacred and secular.
Synagogues
There are a number of synagogues and temples in the Berkshires of various denominations — Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. Jewish couples “from away” who want to be married by a local rabbi who is licensed in Massachusetts can find the names of Berkshire congregations online. Start by calling rabbis to see who you like and who is available.
WEDDINGS WITHOUT BORDERS
VERMONT
Southern Vermont shares the same mountains as the Berkshires and it’s also a prime wedding destination. Here are some of the most popular venues.
Park McCullough House | NORTH BENNINGTON
This well-preserved, 35-room Romantic Revival mansion, built in 1865 by lawyer and entrepreneur Trenor Park, can be yours for the (big) day. It’s not for sleepovers, but it makes a grand setting for weddings. The adjacent Carriage Barn is well equipped for receptions, and the house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and green fields where horses graze.
Equinox Resort | MANCHESTER
There has been a hostelry on this site since the time of the Revolutionary War. The innkeeper proved to be a Loyalist, so his tavern was sold to help fund the fledgling government of Vermont. These days it makes an elegant setting for weddings. The Pavilion on the Pond, close by but a world away, is a dreamy site for ceremonies, cocktails, and dinners. Picture the pond reflecting the steeply rising slopes of Mt. Equinox by moonlight (in Vermont).
Hildene | MANCHESTER
Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln became a railroad magnate as president of the Pullman Company, and there’s a beautifully restored Pullman car on the property. It’s the dramatic setting on an escarpment overlooking the Valley of Vermont that is the draw for couples and their guests. The house itself, with a moving exhibition on President Lincoln in one of the upstairs rooms, is open during the cocktail hour. With thirty weddings taking place on the grounds each year, the staff knows how to put on a successful celebration.
The Inn at Manchester | MANCHESTER
21 rooms in a classic Vermont inn minutes from Manchester’s shops and eateries, plus a 2,500 square foot Celebration Barn opened in 2015, make this a popular venue for both intimate and large-scale weddings and receptions.
Mount Anthony Country Club | BENNINGTON
Set on 110 acres of rolling green slopes beneath the Bennington Battle Monument in historic Old Bennington, with views north and east to the Valley of Vermont and its flanking Green and Taconic Mountains, the clubhouse and its elegant event spaces beckon couples and guests in all seasons. The ballroom seats 200, the banquet room 80, and the on-site restaurant (The Grille) ensures smooth food service sourced from Vermont farms.
Wilburton Inn | MANCHESTER
The Levis family has run the Inn since 1937 and has put their creative stamp on a 1902 mansion and estate. The setting is magnificent; it’s on the same stretch of land as Hildene, a little higher up. The Inn and adjacent villas can accommodate 100 guests, and 60 more can stay at smaller mansions operated by the Inn. Dinner for 250 is no problem, and this year dining and dancing can take place in the new tented marble pavilion.
The West Mountain Inn | ARLINGTON
In town they still talk about Michael J. Fox’s wedding at the Inn. Such a nice man! The Inn is nice too, an elegant Vermont country house with a built-for-the-ages barn from 1900 that has been discreetly equipped as a modern event space. An idyllic wedding venue.
NEW YORK
Columbia and Dutchess Counties, next-door neighbors to the Berkshires, are considered part of the greater Berkshires community, and they also have great places for weddings
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Basilica Hudson | HUDSON
Basilica Hudson is a non-profit multi-disciplinary arts center founded in 2010 that hosts events, screenings, community gatherings — and rentals. 7,000 square feet of light-filled interior space in a reclaimed 1880s factory building on the Hudson River; 10,000 square feet of outdoor space; 400 feet south of the Amtrak station in Hudson; plenty of free parking; with a range of equipment, tables and chairs and lighting included. If you’re planning a big wedding . . .
Helsinki Hudson | HUDSON
A beautifully renovated 1863 brick and wood industrial building a mile away from the river offers four distinct event spaces, each of which is available separately or in any combination and all of which are wheelchair accessible. The Restaurant can seat 85, the Club 250, and when a massive panel is slid away they combine to handle nearly 500. One floor up, the spacious Ballroom, for dining and dancing, has its own entrance. The Courtyard off the Restaurant is ideal for outdoor gatherings and can accommodate tents.
Copake Country Club | CRARYVILLE
160 scenic green acres by Copake Lake, with both indoor and outdoor spaces for ceremonies and dinners, has made the Club a popular wedding destination. The Greens Restaurant, located right at the Club, and the Barn at Copake Lake are part of the attraction.
Weddings at the Hill | HUDSON
Situated in the middle of several hundred acres of beautiful horse pastures, woods and a lake, this private 300-acre Hudson Valley Estate offers views of the Catskills and Berkshire Mountains, and multiple buildings and barns for custom weddings. Couples can exchange vows against the backdrop of the mountains and lake, enjoy dinner and dancing in the historic Palladian Barn, and wind down the evening with a fire pit and an after-party in the Art Barn.
The Barn at Liberty Farm | GHENT
Nestled on a private section of a 300-acre certified organic farm, The BARN at Liberty Farms is a former thoroughbred stallion barn providing a discreet country setting off the quiet and winding road. The venue’s grounds offer a diversity of options. Imagine your first-look photography on the hilltop, ceremony on the manicured paddock, cocktails on the lawn, dinner and dancing in the barn and relaxing by the fire pit.
Taconic Ridge Farm | HILLSDALE
The property has been designed to provide versatility and convenience to couples and guests, whether it’s dinner and dancing in the barn, cocktails on the deck overlooking the stunning views of the Taconic Range, or an intimate ceremony overlooking it all. Set up a bridal suite in the main house or relax in the rustic, yet refined tack room near the barn.
Burkestone Estate | HUDSON
This property has two barns, 5 suites, and a main house, or “Lady in Waiting” as she is known by staff and guests. This 5-bedroom center hall Victorian built in 1900 is being returned to her former grandeur.
Bridlewood Dressage Events | HILLSDALE
Just outside the Berkshires and only 2½ hours from both NYC and Boston rests one of the oldest horse farms in the northeast. Family-owned and now maintained as a holistic horse training facility, the land features lush pastures, mountain views and a perfectly flat lawn for an outdoor tented reception.
DUTCHESS COUNTY
The Roundhouse | BEACON
A popular event space is truly where old meets new. Its industrial past – original wood beams, exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows – is met with sleek, modern steel railings, sweeping high curtains and contemporary lighting. The space can host up to 200 guests. Indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies and cocktail hour options allow for flexible and creative use of the space.
The Grandview | POUGHKEEPSIE
Inside the doors at the Grandview along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, you will find the dramatic design of a Grand Ballroom and riverside cocktail area. With theatric lighting, plush fabrics, and old-world appeal, the event space offers a stunning backdrop for weddings. Outside, the vivid Hudson River landscape is the setting of an Outdoor Ballroom with an engineered theater-style sound system, two separate outdoor ceremony sites, and manicured gardens with lounge areas.
Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel | POUGHKEEPSIE
The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel offers two ballrooms that are elegant and inviting, of which the Regency can accommodate up to 300 people with a dance floor and 350 without. The Terrace Ballroom accommodates up to 216 people with a dance floor and up to 240 without. The Grand’s new rooftop ceremony garden, with Catskill Mountain views, is a beautiful setting for exchanging vows.
Locust Grove Estate | POUGHKEEPSIE
The historic Locust Grove Estate is a not-for-profit museum and nature preserve. The former estate of inventor Samuel F. B. Morse is set on a hill overlooking the majestic Hudson River and is an unforgettable setting for weddings year-round, with buildings and gardens that combine the charm of the 19th century with the comfort of the 21st.
Mount Gulian Historic Site | FISHKILL
Tucked away on 48 acres overlooking the Hudson River, Mount Gulian is an 18th-century Dutch Colonial homestead with a beautiful Dutch barn from the 1720s and picturesque flower gardens. What’s historic about it? The homestead served as headquarters to General von Steuben during the Revolutionary War and was where the Society of the Cincinnati was founded after the war ended. George Washington was its first president before he became ours.
Le Chambord at Curry Estate | HOPEWELL JUNCTION
Located on 10 acres of quiet, private, peaceful country property, the happy couple and guests can enjoy all the picturesque charm of the Hudson River Valley. The estate houses a 4-star restaurant, SS Beverley Bar, wedding and conference center, outdoor pavilion and an inn with 21 rooms for overnight accommodations.
Troutbeck | AMENIA
A 250-acre estate hotel. Home for centuries to romantics, naturalists, humanists and poets. Revived and renewed for the romantic, the locavore, the creative, the adventurous and, the curious.
Clermont State Historic Site | CLERMONT
Since the eighteenth century this historic Hudson River estate – home to seven generations of the prominent Livingston family – has hosted scores of engagement parties, weddings, and wedding receptions. Couples may choose Clermont for their ceremony site, reception site, or both. Wooded hideaways, century-old gardens and exquisite views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains make you and your guests feel like Hudson Valley royalty.
The Beekman Arms Inn | RHINEBECK
This gracious 250-year old hotel provides a setting to say “I do” that’s anything but cookie-cutter. “The Oldest Inn in America” was built along the Old King’s Highway, in what is now the Village of Rhinebeck. The tavern and hotel are on the National Register of Historic Places and can accommodate up to 80 guests.
Old Drovers Inn | DOVER PLAINS
Expect the traditional formality of a historic setting but also the chance to create a unique nuptial experience in the new, wood-frame Preston Barn, on the scenic inn grounds. It provides the rustic charm of yesteryear with the modern amenities couples desire.
Millbrook Vineyards | MILLBROOK
The view from the 30-acre vineyard is breathtaking and the Loft is a compelling choice for a wedding in the country. Rustic and elegant, the Loft’s 1940’s style barn with its soaring ceiling makes this space a charming location for any type of event. The 95-foot hallway leading into the main loft area is adorned with art from local Hudson Valley artists. This hallway can be set up with banquet tables down the center for a dramatic dining presentation and comfortably fit approximately 120 guests.
Clinton Vineyards | CLINTON CORNERS
Clinton Vineyards hosts private tasting/luncheon events for groups of up to 35 in a lovely barn – ideal for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and small weddings. The picturesque vineyard grounds are available for larger outdoor weddings with exquisite vista views all around.
The Culinary Institute of America | HYDE PARK
Perched high above the majestic Hudson River, the CIA offers breathtaking views and beautiful gardens, as well as both impressive classical and stylishly modern spaces for weddings of all sizes. The Hudson Valley is widely known for its history and beauty, and the CIA is a jewel in the crown.
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome | RED HOOK
A spectacularly different setting for everything from truly distinctive rehearsal dinners or engagement parties, to scalable weddings in the museum or on the grounds. Imagine a themed wedding that features air shows or bi-plane rides. Aerodrome grounds and Museum building are available during the season and its large hangar is an option prior to and after the airshow season.
CONNECTICUT
Just over the boarder, Connecticut can be considered the foothills to the Berkshires and is equally beautiful.
Wake Robin Inn | LAKEVILLE
Thirty-eight rooms and reception space for up to 225 guests make the Wake Robin an attractive choice for larger weddings in northwest Connecticut. Plus, it’s on a hilltop, with birds and flowers (btw, the wake robin is one of the latter).
Interlaken Inn | LAKEVILLE
Located on 30 acres of manicured lawns and traditional New England style gardens, nestled in between two shimmering lakes in Northwestern Connecticut, the Interlaken hosts only one wedding per day and specializes in destination weekend weddings. The inn can accommodate up to 220 Guests or smaller, intimate affairs.
Thee Ellsworth Manor | SHARON
Weddings are held on a clearing on top of Ellsworth Mountain that offers 100-mile views overlooking 2,000 acres of The National Audubon Society and preserve land. The historic manor founded by Norwald Olsen, a Norwegian immigrant from Grimstad, Norway, serves as a honeymoon site for many couples looking to spend extended time enjoying the majestic views of four states from Ellsworth Mountain.
Spirit Horse Farm | KENT
The Spirit Horse Farm is a good option for an intimate wedding on a small family farm and lodging facility in the heart of Kent. The farm was established in the late 1800s. Guests can learn about small scale organic and sustainable farming practices while enjoying animals and livestock. Through lodging and activity fees, visitors and guests help to conserve and protect the rural and agricultural heritage of Kent.
Litchfield Inn | LITCHFIELD
Nestled in the rolling hills of Northwestern Connecticut, the Litchfield Inn is surrounded by the beauty of nature in a historical town that exudes classical New England charm. For couples seeking a country setting at an historic inn with a large banquet room and many different themed guestrooms, The Litchfield Inn checks all those boxes.
South Farms | MORRIS
The White Barn at South Farms is Connecticut’s largest historic farm venue on one of the state’s most iconic farms. Exclusive use of the award-winning historic White Barn and its various spaces (the parlor, hayloft, bull room, and stone barn) can accommodate 50 to 200 guests for parties, fundraisers and wedding receptions. The barnyard grounds are available for photographs, cocktail hour and onsite ceremonies.
Wood Acres Farm | TERRYVILLE
Happy couples looking to host a country wedding in the “Gateway to the Litchfield Hills” can plan a either a large affair or an intimate elopement against the backdrop of the picturesque Wood Acres Farm grounds. Couples can enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, a charming Bridal Cottage and/or the rustic Banquet Barn and outdoor and tented setups for weddings of all sizes.
Candlelight Farms | NEW MILFORD
This private 600-acre estate on Candlewood Mountain features ponds, paddocks, meadows, streams and breath-taking views. From a small event of 20 people to a grand affair of over 400, Candlelight owners and staff offer one-on-one attention, a warm welcome & guidance every step of the way while planning anyone of myriad destination, weekend or single day weddings.
