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Boston Area's Best Venues For A Fall Wedding

Fall weddings are romantic and rustic and Massachusetts has plenty of beautiful venues that exude these themes. Barn weddings are gorgeous when the leaves are changing colors, and when it starts getting colder towards the end of the autumn months, it's important to find an indoor venue that suits all of the needs of the event. Whether the bride wants a city or country wedding, there is a nearby event space with the perfect look for her (and him). Here are the five of the best fall wedding venues.
Copley Wedding
(Image: Fairmont Copley Plaza)

Fairmont Copley Plaza
138 St James Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-5300
www.fairmont.com/copley-plaza-boston

The Fairmont Copley Plaza is the ultimate venue for a fall or winter wedding. It is in the ideal location in one of the most gorgeous settings in the city. This is perfect for couples that live in the city and want a true Boston wedding. Plus, the venue is indoors, mitigating all wedding day weather woes. The Fairmont is a gorgeous space with an old-Boston high-end feel, which is perfect for a black tie wedding.

Willowdale Estates
(Image: Willowdale Estates/Phil Fox Photography)

Willowdale Estate
24 Asbury St.
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-8211
www.willowdaleestate.com

About a half hour north of Boston is the Willowdale Estate located in Bradley Palmer State Park. Willowdale is a gorgeous stone mansion with room for both indoor and outdoor receptions. By planning the ceremony or reception outdoors, guests can enjoy the beautiful colors of the changing New England foliage, while still at a formal setting. This is perfect for couples that want a high-end wedding with touches of country without going full-on rustic.

Arnold Arboretum - Boston's Best Fall Weddings
(Image: Arnold Arboretum)

Arnold Arboretum
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130
(617) 524-1718
www.arboretum.harvard.edu

Arnold Arboretum is the absolute perfect place to host a fall wedding. Located in Jamaica Plain, this Harvard-owned property is easily accessible by public transportation, making it a great option for a woodsy wedding that is convenient for city guests. However, all parties within the park are limited to 40 people, so while this is great for small family weddings, hosts of larger events will have to look elsewhere. But, there is a huge bonus to having a wedding at the Arnold Arboretum - it is free! Donations are welcome, but hosting a party in the park is absolutely free.

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Race Brook Lodge
(Image: Race Brook Lodge)

Race Brook Lodge
864 S Undermountain Rd.
Sheffield, MA 01257
(413) 229-2916
www.rblodge.com

For couples seeking a real country wedding, there is Race Brook Lodge in western MA. The lodge is very rustic, making it the ultimate cozy venue for fall. Ceremonies and receptions can either take place outside or inside the lodge. The lodge features a dynamic, barn-like atmosphere. Outdoor ceremonies often take place next to a large "majestic tree" and a babbling brook - all of the elements needed for a charming New England wedding.

The Crane Estate
(Image: The Crane Estate)

The Barn at Crane Estate
290 Argilla Rd.
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-4351
www.thetrustees.org/crane-estate/the-crane-barn

The Race Brook Lodge is three hours away from Boston, but there are much closer options for a rustic-style wedding - one of which is the barn at Crane Estate. The Crane Estate is a gorgeous mansion on Cape Ann, overlooking the ocean and Crane Beach. While many couples opt to get married in the estate itself, the barn is a great option for the fall. The barn is the perfect happy medium for people who want both a coastal wedding and an outdoorsy wedding surrounded by gorgeous foliage.

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Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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