north shore
Boston North Shore Wedding Venues
If you are looking for a venue for your North Shore wedding or special event, we have two venues to recommend. One is the Smith Barn in Peabody, MA the other is the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The Goodtime Stringband has performed at a numerous wedding ceremonies and receptions at these two venues and found the facilities and staff to be fantastic. Both venues have a lot of charm and character as well.
The Smith Barn
The historic Smith Barn is situated on a picturesque hilltop surrounded by two hundred and fifty acres of orchards and conservation land. Located at the Felton-Smith Historic Site adjacent to Peabody’s Brooksby Farm, the Smith Barn is the perfect setting for your special day. Rich in beauty and significance, the site represents over three centuries of the region’s history and is home to several historic landmarks.
Ample parking is available, and the first floor of the barn is wheelchair accessible. Smith Barn is available for rent from March through November. The Felton-Smith Historic Site is located just 2 miles from Interstate 95 and Routes 1, 128, and 114.
The Willowdale Estate
Built in 1901 and originally the summer retreat of prominent Boston businessman Mr. Bradley Palmer, the ornate fieldstone mansion and luscious grounds – originally known as Willow Dale – was lovingly restored and enhanced with the addition of a Butterfly Garden and Tented Pavlion. Opening its doors in 2007, Willowdale Estate now hosts (and plans) weddings and events.
As part of the DCR Historic Curatorship Program, Willowdale is a shining example of private and public partnership. Under the leadership of Miss Briar Rose Forsythe, in 2007 Willowdale Estate opened as an elegant event venue with full service party planning and catering. Utilizing her decades of hospitality experience with her family’s businesses, a bed and breakfast and a boutique hotel, and her fundamental love of good, wholesome food, Briar is building a company that utilizes the beauty of this historic residence as backdrop for wonderful party experiences.
For the purpose of geo-locating, Boston’s North Shore includes the towns of Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Burlington, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Revere, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Stoneham, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield, Wenham, West Newbury and Woburn.
