Any ideas for a place to have a beautiful wedding reception near Providence? Looking for a location other than a hotel - -something with a view, etc. Is Newport really the only option? If so - are there any places in Newport that are reasonable in price for a wedding reception? Help!

Have you given any thought to Mystic, CT?

Mystic is too far....half the family is driving from Boston. They are being married in Providence at the college chapel.

Dorgal - By any chance does your name refer to Dore Hall?

Anyway, I've been to weddings at the Newport Naval War College's Officers Club - if you have any connection to the military this might work out. Its a very nice facility right on the water.

I've also recently seen tents set up for weddings in a park in Newport - Fort Adams I believe. This would surely be more reasonable than renting one of the mansions.

Narragansett also has the Coast Guard House.

I recently saw something on this board about a newly opened inn in Bristol that was right on the water also. That might be nice.

Good luck

Thanks for the ideas.

To your inquiry - no - Dorgal =
I'm a gal from Dorchester MA!

In my search for the name of that inn that I mentioned in Bristol I found the Mount Hope Farm. Its not what I was thinking of but it looks "wicked" cool (I'm from the South Shore). You might check out mthopefarm.com. Never been there but it might just do the trick.

Which college chapel? My daughter went to school in Providence.

I'm not sure how close to Providence you want to be, but here are a few inns which were in my files...take a look at their Web pages for information:

http://www.bristolharborinn.com/ Briston, RI

http://www.blackintoninn.com/ in Attleboro, MA...just 10-15 minutes from Providence

http://www.brooksidemanor.net/fontsize2weddingsbr/ Wakefield, RI

http://www.watchhillinn.com/ Watch Hill, RI

Good Luck.

Carol

Several years ago my nephew and his bride had their reception in a very interesting building on the grounds of Roger Williams Park just south of Providence. Can't remember the name of the building but I'm sure someone at the park could help or there may be a website.

Also agree that Bristol would be great--less crowded and touristy than Newport and equally beautiful.

Is Assonet, MA too far? (Just outside of Fall River - maybe 25 minutes from Providence, which is actually less time than going to Newport). Independence Harbor.... http://www.ihweddings.com/

Try Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, RI. Not far from Providence (about 15 minutes south) It overlooks Narragansett Bay. Meet Joe Black was filmed there. I've been to a wedding there and it was very nice.
www.aldrichmansion.com

In Newport, you could try Oceancliff or Newport Regatta Club. I was married at Oceancliff 2 years ago. It overlooks the ocean and I have been to a wedding at the Regatta club and it was very nice also.
www.newportexperience.com

Good Luck!

What month?

hey there! i am also planning a wedding in RI at the village inn in Narragansett. I am planning from hawaii. I have been use theknot.com message boards under local message boards, 'rhode island'. It has been a huge help! karen

As one who got married in Providence
(the First Baptist Church in America),
our reception was at the Brown Faculty
Club (no view)--I can vouch for a couple of ideas.....the night before my wedding, my college roomate was married at Astor's Beechwood in Newport which was gorgeous (not sure of the costs at all)--we hosted our rehearsal dinner that night in Newport at the White Horse Tavern, the oldest tavern in America (I still think it was the nicest rehearsal dinner I've ever attended) and we arranged to have all our guests travel together from Prov. to Newport in a trolley bus. My husband, his family and many friends were coming from California so it didn't seem right to make them navigate our New England roads after such a long journey. For so many, it was their first and perhaps only trip to New England so it was wonderful to show off Newport and the White Horse was so intimate and romantic. Even if
the whole wedding doesn't trek all the
way to Newport - it was so fun for all
of the wedding party and out of town guests to have a mini-adventure the night before. Good luck to you!

The name of the building in Roger Williams park is the Casino... My friends had their wedding there... it is nice but you have to pay for all the tables, caterer etc. I got married 10 years ago and had the reception at Quidnessett country club... nice views, decent food. I was never one for making a big production out of wedding but did you think about calling or consulting with a RI wedding planner? There are tons of historic homes and nice settings in the state that they can probably suggest.