The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Restaurant Wedding in Boston: Everything to Know
Restaurant weddings are forever some of my favorite days as a Boston wedding photographer. I love a venue that makes planning easy for my couples, and restaurants deliver that consistently. I mean, it’s a space that’s already built with connection in mind, you don’t have to worry too much about decorating, and the food? Incredible, every single time!
If that’s the kind of day you’re dreaming about (whether it’s a full restaurant wedding or just a restaurant wedding reception), keep reading to see the ultimate guide to planning your Boston restaurant wedding.
Why Choose a Restaurant Wedding?
If you’re planning a restaurant wedding, you’re probably the type of person who wants an intimate setting, a day that’s easy to plan, and a focus on the dining experience. And if that’s you, I love you already.
As a Boston wedding photographer, I hear couples all the time say that they’ve been to so many weddings and know that when it’s their turn, they want something way smaller and way more unique. And a restaurant wedding is the perfect fit.
My favorite thing about restaurant weddings, though, is that they’re really simple. It’s a great way to get all of your favorite people together without having to fuss too much with planning, because, let’s face it: finding, then coordinating, then decorating the perfect wedding venue in the perfect way? It can get a little chaotic! But restaurants don't give you that trouble. It’s basically a one-stop shop to reserve the space, then let them handle the rest. All you have to do is show up and be in love!
So, if this all sounds right up your alley, let's get into which formula works best for your Boston restaurant wedding.
Different Types of Restaurant Weddings: A Restaurant Wedding Venue or Just a Restaurant Wedding Reception?
There are two main ways to hold a restaurant wedding, and both of them are honestly a blast! You can do a separate ceremony (or elopement!) elsewhere, then have your reception at a restaurant, or book a restaurant wedding venue and host your full day there. The one you choose really depends on what you’re prioritizing on your day. One brings a little more intimacy and privacy, whereas the other follows tradition a bit more.
Here’s what each of these days looks and feels like:
A Separate Ceremony + A Restaurant Wedding Reception
With a ceremony somewhere other than your celebration at a restaurant, you get tons of flexibility. If you want everything in one day, love that! It gives you time to have a break in between to soak in these moments with just you and the love of your life. Having everything spread out makes things flow so well, so you can for sure do your ceremony one day and a celebration another!
Honestly, one of my favorite versions of this is a destination wedding ceremony plus a restaurant wedding reception back at home to celebrate with your favorite people. This formula lets you have it all: an intimate ceremony, a honeymoon, and a wedding reception (that actually feels like you).
A Restaurant Wedding Venue
Is a more traditional wedding route your vibe? Restaurants can do that too! We’ll get to the restaurant wedding venues that I love in Boston, but there are so many spaces that let you hold your entire ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the same place. So if spreading out your wedding over more time and more space makes you sweat, this one might be the better timeline for you.
My Top Tips For Planning a Restaurant Wedding (As a Boston Wedding Photographer)
Hire an Experienced Wedding Planner
This is a top tip of mine for weddings in general, but especially for restaurant weddings. As a Boston wedding photographer, I’ve seen wedding days with and without coordinators, and trust me when I say that hiring one will always ensure that your day runs as smoothly as humanly possible. It’s not something to cut corners on, because having someone to put out any little fires makes a huge difference in how present you’re able to be all day.
Plan the Space
Now, it’s time for the logistics. Where will your dance floor be (if you have one at all)? How will your tables be laid out? The restaurant wedding venue you choose should have some good options to offer you, but don’t be afraid to get creative with it if they allow it!
Above all, make sure it feels like you and keeps your priorities as the main focus. If your dream wedding is all about dancing with your fave people, make sure you have a good dance floor. If you’re more focused on a good dinner and bouncing around to tables to see people, make sure there’s enough room to walk between seating. Everything should point back to what truly makes you the happiest.
How to Decorate for a Restaurant Wedding
Some people are against restaurant weddings because they think you don’t get to customize them as much, but really, I see some really gorgeous, totally unique restaurant weddings. It’s so easy to make the space your own, and here’s exactly how:
Choose a color palette that feels like you
Incorporate personal touches – handwritten letters to each guest, engagement photos on the tables, love letters on napkins… Your opportunities here are basically endless.
Statement florals everywhere
Make it fun – think disco balls, unique lighting, and even projectors!
My Favorite Restaurant Wedding Venues
Okay, have I convinced you to have a restaurant wedding yet? Don’t miss some of my favorite restaurant wedding venues!
Leeward
Leeward in Portland, Maine, is such a cute little space. The all-yellow interior that holds up to 75 guests makes things feel so fun all on its own, and it’s perfect for the couple who wants a night full of connection, stopping at every table to chat, and Italian food that you’ll never forget.
La Brasa
Industrial vibes and open-fire energy make La Brasa one of the best Boston restaurant wedding venues. I truly don’t know which I love more, the exposed brick interior or the incredible food.
They make everything here on an open flame, so the feel is extremely cozy. It’s perfect for a sweet, intimate reception OR a wild dance floor, if that’s more your speed!
SRV
What can I say? Italian restaurants have my heart.
Seriously, though, SRV is such a gem. They have a ceremony space on the patio and a perfect place for an indoor reception that’s filled with natural light, enough room for a dance floor, and some really fun, modern colors! If you’re looking for a place that has some character and will hold you in your crying-during-your-vows era and your dance-all-night-long time of the night, that’s SRV.
More Boston Wedding Venues
A traditional venue might be calling your name more than a restaurant wedding, and that’s totally fine if that’s more your style! Here are a few I love that have this same effortless feel:
Garage B – plus my planning guide!
Bedford Village Inn – here’s what you need to know for weddings here.
The Boston Public Library – which is especially good for elopements.
Ashley Olafsson | Boston Wedding Photographer
This might be your first time hearing of (or considering) a restaurant wedding, but here’s your sign to do it. They’re the perfect setting for weddings full of connection, good wine, and good food. And if that’s the kind of day for you, we’re gonna get along just fine. Inquire about booking me as your Boston wedding photographer here.
Xoxo, Ashley
Sweet words: “Ashley is the BEST photographer anyone could ask for to be by their side on their wedding day! She truly made us feel like we were working with a friend!! Her work is amazing, and her personality is even better. There are not enough words to describe how incredibly grateful my husband and I are to have worked with her.”
