Top Back Bay Wedding Venues, and Where to Stay for the Festivities

The same picturesque Victorian brownstones, stately colonial buildings, Italianate palazzos, and Queen Anne mansions that make Back Bay Boston one of the most beautiful historic neighborhoods in the U.S. also make it one of the city’s top choices for stunning wedding venues. Whether the festivities are formal, casual, indoor, outdoor, in the evening or daytime, the Back Bay has gorgeous spaces to match the mood. 

We don’t need to tell you that if you’re planning a wedding, you have enough details to deal with already. We do need to tell you that booking a hotel for the wedding party or guests doesn’t need to be one of them. Newbury Guest House is within walking distance of the Back Bay’s seven most popular and beautiful wedding venues. We offer an intimate, relaxing atmosphere that feels like you’re staying with family – but with all the amenities of a boutique hotel. 

7 Top Wedding Venues in Back Bay Boston

Boston Public Library 

The grand, Renaissance-style main branch of the Boston Public Library is one of the most distinctive wedding venues in the city, and one of its most flexible. With more than five ornately designed spaces in a variety of sizes and a stately outdoor courtyard, BPL can accommodate wedding ceremonies and receptions of almost any size or style. The lush Guastavino Room and the elegant Boylston Room are two favorites, and the library has a full special events staff to help with the planning. The Boston Public Library main branch is a 5-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

St. Botolph Club

Those with historically bohemian inclinations looking for a small, “non-weddingy” venue may find the private St. Botolph Club to be a love match. Founded in 1880 by a group that included many “black sheep” artists, the club’s red brick double-bowfront facade with elegant marble trim nods to Greek Revival style, while its interior houses a rotating series of art exhibitions. The St. Botolph Club can accommodate parties of up to 130, but you must be (or know) a member or be a member of one of its 80 reciprocal clubs worldwide. St. Botolph Club is a 5-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

The ‘Quin House 

The newly renovated 1880 building retains all its historic glamour while becoming perhaps the coolest wedding venue in the city. Its seven stories contain numerous cleverly decorated rooms ideal for pre-wedding events, such as the photo-perfect grand central staircase; the 1920s Art Deco bar Scotties; a stunning terrace garden with a retractable roof, the Bondo dining room with its spectacular upside-down tree chandelier; and the best rooftop deck views in Boston. The ‘Quin books wedding receptions of up to 150 in its cream and pale blue-tinged Sun and Moon Parlors, providing custom menus and full-service catering. Like St. Boltoph’s, it’s a private club, so you must be (or know) a member to host events there. The ‘Quin House is a 5-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

The Harvard Club 

Though it’s a private club, with membership open to alumni and associates of Harvard University, MIT, and Yale, it hosts no small share of Boston area wedding events – a century’s worth, in fact. The historic (1908) Back Bay clubhouse on Commonwealth Avenue spans six floors of elegant restaurants and function rooms, and if your tastes run to the classic, it’s hard to go wrong here. Its warm, elegant wood-paneled ballroom with glowing fireplaces and historic paintings can accommodate receptions for up to 200 and comes with a full banquet staff. The Harvard Club is a 7-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

The Tower 

This stately Gothic Revival-style six-story tower is one of the city's most photographed buildings. Inside, the décor has a sophisticated vibe that harkens to the 20s, but still offers a fairly minimalist backdrop that accommodates a range of nuptial styles. The charm and character of its first floor Lounge 1887 comes from masonry walls, wood ceiling beams, original decorative fireplaces and a catwalk that circles its 20-foot ceilings. For more formal celebrations, the second-floor Parlor has chandeliers that hang from airy ceilings, raised windows, ornate woodwork, and Gilded Age carvings perfect for evening or black-tie affairs. The venue can host celebrations of 90-500 based on room configuration and offers full catering services with an emphasis on local seasonal ingredients. The Tower is a 20-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

The College Club of Boston

For those hosting a small, intimate reception, rehearsal dinner, or bridal shower for 35-50, we’re happy to reveal one of Boston’s best-kept venue secrets: the College Club of Boston, which also happens to be the first women’s college club in the U.S. The stately classical interior includes ornate, painted 18-foot ceilings and decorative moldings and fireplaces that invite warmth and connection. The staff here is particularly helpful in accommodating a wide range of tastes and budgets. The College Club of Boston is a 12-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

Hampshire House 

It’s no surprise that this Beacon Hill venue regularly wins “Best Of” awards from top wedding sites like The Knot and WeddingWire – it personifies romance. Think white tablecloths, glowing candles, and decadent flower arrangements in a mansion library setting. They specialize in hands-on service, designing personalized events from intimate champagne brunches to elaborate evening receptions tailored to the hosts’ individual tastes, and pampering the wedding party and guests alike. Hampshire House is a 20-minute walk from Newbury Guest House.

When you stay with us at Newbury Guest House, you’re not only steps from some of the best event spaces in the city, you’re also on the same street as dozens of businesses catering to advance and last-minute wedding, shower, and bachelorette party needs. Just a few of the way-too-many-to-mention within blocks of the hotel include:

Bridal: L’élite, Boston Bridal Rack

Floral: Winston Flowers, Artistic Blossoms, April 23 Florist

Gifts: Simon Pearce, Naughty Hen Bachelorette

Jewelry: Brilliant Earth, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, gorjana, Kendra Scott

Stationery: Muji, Paper Source, lovepop

Menswear: Suit Supply, Classic Tuxedo, Zegna

Chocolates/Patisserie: Teuscher Chocolates, Royce Chocolate Boston, Lady M Bonbon, Georgetown Cupcake

Day Spas/Cosmetics: Bella Santé, Toscana Organic European Day Spa, Bluemercury, Lush, Sephora, Byredo

If you’re hosting or attending a Back Bay wedding or pre-event, congratulations! Booking the right hotel is as easy as tossing a bouquet. Be sure to ask us about group rates, then relax and enjoy your time celebrating together in the heart of it all.