Three Gorgeous Garden Wedding Venues in New England

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
Bristol, Rhode Island

The 33-acre Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arborteum along the shores of Narragansett Bay is one of the most intact examples of the Country Place Era in the U.S., where wealthy Americans commissioned lavish retreats from 1890 to 1930. Since then, it has been impeccably maintained inside and out, making this 45-room stone manor and its mature landscape a stunning setting for a wedding for up to 225 guests. Host your ceremony on the sweeping waterfront lawn, then steal a breath of fresh air and a moment alone with your new spouse as you stroll down to the bay. Follow the serpentine paths through the property, and you’ll find an arboretum filled with native specimens—including the tallest giant sequoia on the East Coast—as well as exotic trees inspired by the original owners’ travels to Asia and Europe. Don’t miss the Bosquet, French for “woodland,” and bamboo forest for your newlywed photos. Bristol, RI, blithewold.org.

REHEARSAL DINNER SPACE
The Franklin

This modern French brasserie exudes classic European charm, with its candlelight and vintage art setting an intimate mood for your rehearsal. From the first bite of mushroom coquettes to duck confit or pot de crème, plus bubbly, you’ll be whisked abroad the moment you cross the threshold. groundswellguild.com.

The Garden at Elm Bank / Courtesy photo

The Garden at Elm Bank
Wellesley, Mass.

Less than 20 miles from downtown Boston, 12 resplendent gardens are a wedding haven at the Garden at Elm Bank’s 36-acre oasis. The Pollinator Meadow, Dahlia and Daylily gardens, and Goddess Garden offer layers of color and thousands of diverse plants from spring through late fall, while the Olmsted Italianate Garden is an exclusive spot for a ceremony, with its 14th-century Spanish fountain and blush hydrangeas. Wander the grounds to get your bearings or visit the Belvedere Pagoda during cocktail hour. Then settle under the stars for the reception (with a tent, of course) in the Maple Grove, known for its towering maple trees and enough lawn to cover a hockey rink. With multiple event venues for indoor and outdoor weddings, you’re covered even if it rains—the Hunnewell building is a stately carriage house with romance in its veins.

Wellesley, masshort.org.

GUEST EXCURSION
The Davis Museum at Wellesley College

This modern art museum is free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday on Wellesley College’s campus. The 11,000 objects in its permanent collection are sure to delight, while temporary exhibitions include French faience ceramics and ancient Mediterranean jewels, plant portraits, and African American prints. wellesley.edu.

Long Hill / Courtesy photo

Long Hill

Beverly, Mass.

A beloved Federal-style home for the Sedgwick family from the early to late 1900s across 114 acres, Long Hill has blossomed into a property that’s open to the public and hosts al fresco weddings for up to 140 people. Its enchanting naturalistic and structured gardens are organized into “rooms” with distinct plantings, ornamentation, and statuary that offer blooms of color through the growing season. With ample space here, guests can explore before the ceremony or stay in intimate groups to admire and compare the horticulture between rooms. Take a cocktail to investigate the property’s network of 100 woodland acres that flanks the gardens with walking trails, an apple orchard, meadows, and a children’s garden, or the happy couple can escape for a smooch and a private portrait session. Beverly, thetrustees.org.

GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS

CLARENDON SQUARE BED AND BREAKFAST

Clarendon Square Bed and Breakfast occupies a beautifully renovated 1860s townhouse where historic charm meets boutique luxury. Guests will discover designer-decorated rooms with marble en suite baths and rich fabrics, while upstairs, a rooftop terrace with a hot tub offers sweeping city views.

clarendonsquare.com.

First published in the print issue of Boston Weddings 2026 with the headline, “Verdant Vows.”