Three Standout Providence Wedding Venues

Photograph by A Nomadic Love

NOT GARDEN VARIETY

Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
Head Count Up to 180 seated
Price Starting at $3,600, plus food and drink

Host the ultimate garden-party wedding—even in winter—at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. Owned by the City of Providence, the center’s five glass greenhouses make up the largest indoor garden in New England. You can plan a celebration in two of them: the Mediterranean room and the Conservatory. With ceilings as high as 45 feet to accommodate palm trees and other tall plants, a koi pond, and fountains, the connected spaces offer a lush setting for a ceremony and a reception. In the warmer months, take advantage of the center’s lovely outdoor areas—including a rose garden, a summer perennial garden, and a well-manicured lawn—for exchanging vows, sipping cocktails, or dancing with guests at a tented reception. After all, you can’t ask for a better backdrop for photos than Mother Nature in all her glory.

Courtesy of ProvidenceG

SKY HIGH

ProvidenceG
Head Count Up to 250 seated
Price Starting at $4,500, plus food and drink

Deciding between a grand ballroom and an urban rooftop? You don’t have to choose when you host your wedding at the ProvidenceG. This sleek 1920s-era high-rise, which underwent an extensive renovation in 2013, features a weatherized rooftop deck overlooking the Providence skyline—welcome scenery for an al fresco ceremony or a lively cocktail hour. Downstairs, the equally impressive ballroom wows with crystal chandeliers, Greek key molding, and oversize windows that flood the nearly 5,000-square-foot space with natural light. And you don’t even have to leave the building for the after-party: Simply head downstairs to the complex’s basement-level GPub—a gastropub with a wood-topped bar and white subway tile—to relax with billiards, shuffleboard, and locally brewed beer until the wee hours of the morning.

Photograph by M. Studios

BOOKLOVERS’ DREAM

Providence Public library
Head Count Up to 170 seated
Price Starting at $12,000 (food and beverage minimum)

Your love story is the greatest one of all: Why not begin a new chapter at the Providence Public Library? Inspired by Sansovino’s library in Venice and the Bibliothèque Sainte-Genevieve in Paris, the literary haven features bold Beaux Arts elements, including a massive sweetheart staircase, original marble-mosaic floors, and dramatic carved columns. Tie the knot in the fountain-equipped indoor courtyard, then join guests for dinner in the Grand Hall or the Ship Room, a stately blue-and-white space with hardwood floors and tasteful displays of Atlantic Coast model ships. Plus, the venue works exclusively with culinary pros at Russell Morin Catering & Events, who’ll create a custom menu with choices ranging from plated filet mignon to trays full of mini lobster rolls.

THE CHECKLIST

Prewedding Adventure
Reserve a lane or two for your crew at Breaktime Bowl & Bar, just over the Providence city line, in Pawtucket. The recently restored duckpin bowling alley, built in the 1920s as a perk for the workers in this former factory building, boasts a ton of vintage appeal—and a full bar and food menu.

Rehearsal Dinner
Host your prewedding feast at Massimo, a buzzy Federal Hill spot run by veteran restaurateurs Joseph and Esther DeQuattro. Their boutique Italian wine list, heaping plates of rigatoni Bolognese sprinkled with Pecorino Romano, and upgraded classics like veal chop Parmigiano are sure to keep spirits high throughout the night.

Guest Digs
Located in the heart of downtown, the Dean hotel feels youthful and stylish—and won’t demand too much of your guests’ budgets. Rooms are minimalist yet well-appointed with vintage furniture and art by RISD grads, and the building’s amenities, including an in-house karaoke bar and complimentary bike use, can’t be beat.

Unique Vendor
Add to the ambiance of your reception venue with assistance from Uniquely Chic Vintage Rentals. The Lincoln-based furniture-rental service offers ornate, gorgeously restored chaises, settees, arbors, and tables—ideal for upgrading your photo shoots and setting a luxurious mood.

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