Details: Wire Card "House"

I saw this in my local Target today. You could easily personalize the little sign on front. Thoughts?

Available in Target stores or Online Here

Friday Image: Favorite Invitations

By Chewing the Cud via Oh so Beautiful Paper

You have probably seen this custom invite set before: it is old. Check out the date: 2008 (okay old for the blog world). But I have always and will continue to always love it.  Wedding Season is about to get crazy as we kick off with a fabulous event this week and then team up with the amazing Kate Parker of Kate Parker Designs throughout the season.  I cannot promise more blog posts per se but I am trying to play around with Instagram more so you can have a window into the wedding season craziness!

Wedding Faire Weekend!

Esq.Events spent the weekend at the Commander's Mansion Wedding Faire and we had a great time meeting brides, grooms and other fabulous vendors! Couples came from all over in all stages of the planning process! We are looking forward to working with some of you soon!

Website Updates etc.

You may not have noticed but I am trying to get on top of 2011 weddings and press before we dive head first into 2012. I promise that soon I'll blog a few weddings but in the meantime feel free to check out the new Press and Gallery sections. We were super thrilled to have a wedding featured on Beantown Bride over the summer!

We also were super excited to work with an additional photographer and a reporter from the New York Times on Matt and Chanda's big day. You can read the whole article here!

Finally a shout out to the folks at Style Me Pretty for this fun feature on Style Me Pretty Massachusetts. We are thrilled to be part of the SMP family and the fact that SMP is focusing on their very own state!

Now if only my twitter feed gadget was working we'd really be ready to start 2012 with a bang!

Reception Venues in Boston: A Modern Choice

I am sure that many of you read my last post on historical venues in Boston and thought to yourself “I would never...” Well you are in luck: Boston is full of amazing modern unique venues and this post features some of my favorite Modern Spaces.

Do you identify with being “Green”? Is limiting waste and being a good environmental citizen important to you? Do you dream of blank walls and white space that you can transform into your own? Do you want an event that is modern & edgy? Although you may think that you need to travel to Manhattan or San Francisco to meet your needs, the city of Boston has a lot to offer the modern-focused couple.

Photo provided by Artist for Humanity EpiCenter

Artist for Humanity EpiCenter, the first LEED Platinum certified building in Boston, is available for Weddings (and other Events too!). Located in the middle of South Boston with amazing views of the Back Bay Skyline, this is the perfect space for an Eco-minded modern couple.  The event space a lofted gallery with room for a cocktail hour, outside ceremony and seated dinner. The space is very much a blank canvas and offers the convenience of ample parking and easy access to public transportation. (Warning: LEED Certification comes with some trade offs: including no Air Conditioning!) Artist for Humanity is a non-profit organization that employes Boston Teens to work and gain experience in Digital Media/Video, Graphic Design/Motion Graphics, Painting/Murals, Photography/Web Design, Screen Printing, Sculpture/Industrial Design, Web Design. All the rental fees support the mission of the organization: the students are also available for wedding driven design work: need a logo, invites, paper products or even a website?? they can help!!

Photo provided by Artist for Humanity EpiCenter

If modern art space is appealing to you but an extremely urban environment is a deal breaker than look no further that the Decordova Sculpture Park & Museum. Located in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the Sculpture Garden offers distinctive spaces for ceremonies and receptions; including library and/or gallery space, a rooftop terrace and the garden itself.  

Fun Heart Sculture at DeCordova

Similarly, the Griffin Museum of Photography located in Winchester, Massachusetts rents out their gallery for Weddings. The museum is housed is a charming stone building and provides an excellent backdrop for ceremonies and photos. The photo exhibit is ever changing so  you will want to inquire about the exhibit schedule prior to booking.

Moving back into the city center, The Institute of Contemporary Art is located  in downtown Boston on the Waterfront. The building itself is an architectural marvel (and also an excellent place for Engagement Pictures!) and provides breathtaking views of Boston's harbor and skyline. The museum is well equipped to handle weddings and uses Wolfgang Puck Catering as their exclusive caterer. Fancy!

For brides and grooms seeking an urban and modern reception that is all inclusive, there are few venues better than the State Room. Located on the 33^rd floor, the State Room provides a stunning modern space overlooking the historic Boston Waterfront: the Great Room features floor to ceiling glass walls offering incredible panoramic views and a truly “Boston” experience.

Image via the State Room

All these spaces offer the opportunity to make the space your own in unique or traditional ways. If these spaces are too expected and not “outside of the box” you'll have to wait for the next Boston focused venue post!!!

Friday Image: Paris

Today's Friday Image is not a wedding photo but it does feature a Wedding Coordinator in Paris. More photos from this shoot next week!

Photo by One and Only Paris Photography

Picking your Venue: BOSTON, a Historical City

It is my unbiased opinion that the City of Boston is one of the best places in New England to get married. It is also my opinion that no matter what your tastes there is a wedding venue in Boston for you! Boston has a venue for everyone, modern loft spaces, stunning restaurants, historical buildings and many unique and unusual settings.

When a couple is looking for a wedding venue in Boston, I tend to cast a wide net and suggest places in the Greater Boston Area. This includes downtown Boston proper, across the Charles River into Cambridge, Charlestown and the Boston Harbor and into the immediate suburbs: Arlington, Watertown, Newton & Waltham just to name a few. Although many couples want to be in the middle of the city, there are benefits of being a few miles out, especially if you have a lot of out of town guests: driving & parking are more accessible, hotel room rates can be more reasonable and you won’t have to worry about the Walk for Hunger, Red Sox Home games or other events that could cause delay or difficulties. 

It should come as no surprise that the city has a great selection of historical venues. Historical venues are not for everyone, but I am huge history geek so it is where we will start our Boston venue tour.

For a true historical experience, you can begin with a candlelit ceremony at the Old North Church (you could even have members of the wedding party carry lanterns instead of bouquets) and then proceed to a reception in one of the following locales:

For a refined experience, check out The Old Boston State House. Located in the middle of the downtown Boston, it is the oldest surviving public building in Boston and still maintains an elegant and colonial charm. The building has a museum open to the public but the upper floors can be rented for wedding ceremonies and receptions. It is also a great place for grabbing that perfect Boston portrait. 

Located less than ten miles from downtown Boston, the Commander’s Mansion located at the Arsenal on the Charles in Watertown, Massachusetts is an amazing venue. The Mansion has a beautiful interior, a bricked tent patio and beautifully landscaped grape arbor where ceremonies can be performed. It also includes ample parking, a stunning Victorian-style veranda and an interesting political history surrounding the original Commander who built the property during the Civil War. Esq.Events has done a lot of Weddings at this venue so its no wonder that it is one of our favorites. Come check it out next month at their Wedding Faire!

If you or your fiancé are in love with old cars or if the idea of living in the golden age appeals to you, The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline may be the perfect venue for your Boston Wedding. The museum is housed in the original Anderson carriage house, which was constructed in 1888 and was built to mimic the French Chateau, "Chateau de Chaumont-Sur-Loire". It is the only remaining building left on the Anderson Estate which is now Larz Anderson Park. If the architecture and classic cars are not enough, the stunning views of the Boston Skyline and the picturesque grounds may convince you.

For couples looking for a more traditional historical experience should consider the Omni Parker Hotel. America’s oldest continuously-operating hotel is located on the Freedom Trail, is the original creator of the Boston Cream Pie and has an elegant rooftop ballroom complete with balcony that overlooks the city. 

History/Boston Cream Pie not your thing? Stay tuned….