Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1198098
97 Grove at the Briar Barn Inn offers rustic charm. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF BRIAR BARN INN, BY BOB PACKERT/ PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM (OPPOSITE PAGE) coastline, bucolic woodlands, historic architecture, and beloved cultural institutions, it's hard to find a better place to say "I do" than the North Shore. But with so many enticing venues available, the challenge will be choosing just one. To get you started, here are several exciting options. At the Museum For an artful affair framed by rare treasures, consider the new wing at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem. "It's a very contemporary space, and the glass ceiling and light gray granite pillars are a large part of the experience," says PEM's Natalia Laskaris, manager of functions and rentals. Most couples say their vows in East India Marine Hall, elegantly outfitted with crystal chandeliers and arched floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows, before descending the spiral staircase into the garden atrium for cocktails, followed by dinner in the adjacent glass-ceilinged atrium, which is roomy enough for 270 seated guests and dancing. "Couples are looking for drama at their wedding and want their guests to still be talking five years later about the whatever," says Amy Porchenick of Boston's Gourmet Caterers, PEM's exclusive caterer. To wit, Gourmet Caterers has offered composed dinner plates as artful as the treasures on PEM's walls and "Oh wow!" desserts like mirror-glazed cakes. "And couples still want an after party," she adds, noting that donuts are still very popular, as are mini burgers and fries. On the Water Want something old and something new for your ceremony and reception? Wed at the 1907 Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, overlooking Gloucester Harbor, and then embark on Beauport Cruiselines for a snazzy seafaring reception. "We make the grounds and gardens available for couples and a maximum of fifty guests," says Martha Van Koevering, Beauport's site manager. "The property appeals to couples looking for a unique outdoor space in an intimate setting" awash in a rainbow of blooms. Three miles away from Beauport lies