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12 unique Boston wedding venues, mapped

These spots—including Fenway Park, Boston Common, and the New England Aquarium—also offer options for hosting receptions

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When it comes to unique backdrops for wedding ceremonies and receptions, Boston provides several.

Who knew you could get hitched at America’s oldest professional baseball stadium, for one thing? Or in its oldest public park?

These 12 venues offer varying capacities and services at varying prices (check the websites). But they are each unique to Boston.

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Museum of Science

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An outfit that famed chef Wolfgang Puck oversees organizes the catering for weddings at the museum.

The institution can accommodate up to 4,500 guests(!), and its location along the Charles provides fabulous views. Oh, and dinosaurs.

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New England Aquarium

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Penguins, turtles, seals, etc., can be part of the backdrop at this wedding-slash-reception venue.

The aquarium offers its various galleries and wings for the big day, as well as the entire spread itself, so the number of guests can range from the dozens to the thousands.

Aerial view of penguins on some rocks inside an aquarium. Shutterstock

State Room at 60 State Street

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This venue on the 33rd floor of the commercial skyscraper can accommodate around 900 guests—up to 500 for dinner—and there is the option to have both the ceremony and the reception in the space.

Twenty-foot windows offer sweeping views of Boston Harbor.

Photo via Longwood Venues

Boston Common

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The nation’s oldest public park is game for smallish weddings (no more than 50 people, say) in exchange for a small fee.

Like with the Public Garden—and other parks citywide—restrictions do apply.

Leaves changing along a pathway in Boston Common. Shutterstock

Boston Public Garden

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The city allows smallish wedding ceremonies in America’s oldest public botanical garden for a relatively small fee.

Restrictions apply, though, including a prohibition on chairs.

Still, where else can you get the swan boats in the picture?

A large statue of a man on horseback is in the background and in the foreground are colorful flowers. Shutterstock

Institute of Contemporary Art

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One of Boston’s most iconic modern buildings offers room for up to 225 guests, and the ceremony can be held there, too.

Huge windows and terrace space provide wonderful views.

A contemporary art museum with gigantic windows and a prominent overhang lighted up at night. Shutterstock

Boston Public Library

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It might be hard to beat the central location of the Boston Public Library in terms of ornateness.

The venue offers ceremony options in its courtyard and halls, and reception options in its capacious rooms.

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Fenway Park

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Major League Baseball’s oldest ballpark can be the backdrop for both the nuptials and a reception for up to 400.

Festivities take place on the right-field roof deck.

Cyclorama—Boston Center for the Arts

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The copper-domed Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts—surely one of Boston’s most underrated buildings—can accommodate from 100 to 1,000 guests (875 seated).

EpiCenter—Artists for Humanity

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The nonprofit bills its property as Boston’s “greenest event venue” because the AFH EpiCenter was the first building in the city to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest designation for energy-sustainable buildings.

The ceremony and the reception can unfold over the gallery and outdoor space.

Symphony Hall

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The capacious home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is available for rent.

And! The duration of that lease can precede a performance by the orchestra itself. That’s right: Get hitched, eat, and then take in a show.

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Arnold Arboretum

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Smallish wedding ceremonies are allowed at the sprawling Harvard-owned and -run park, but, as with other parks in the City of Boston, restrictions do apply. For one thing: no furniture.

Colorful trees shading a walking path with a bench next to it. Kevin Fleming/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Museum of Science

An outfit that famed chef Wolfgang Puck oversees organizes the catering for weddings at the museum.

The institution can accommodate up to 4,500 guests(!), and its location along the Charles provides fabulous views. Oh, and dinosaurs.

Shutterstock

New England Aquarium

Penguins, turtles, seals, etc., can be part of the backdrop at this wedding-slash-reception venue.

The aquarium offers its various galleries and wings for the big day, as well as the entire spread itself, so the number of guests can range from the dozens to the thousands.

Aerial view of penguins on some rocks inside an aquarium. Shutterstock

State Room at 60 State Street

This venue on the 33rd floor of the commercial skyscraper can accommodate around 900 guests—up to 500 for dinner—and there is the option to have both the ceremony and the reception in the space.

Twenty-foot windows offer sweeping views of Boston Harbor.

Photo via Longwood Venues

Boston Common

The nation’s oldest public park is game for smallish weddings (no more than 50 people, say) in exchange for a small fee.

Like with the Public Garden—and other parks citywide—restrictions do apply.

Leaves changing along a pathway in Boston Common. Shutterstock

Boston Public Garden

The city allows smallish wedding ceremonies in America’s oldest public botanical garden for a relatively small fee.

Restrictions apply, though, including a prohibition on chairs.

Still, where else can you get the swan boats in the picture?

A large statue of a man on horseback is in the background and in the foreground are colorful flowers. Shutterstock

Institute of Contemporary Art

One of Boston’s most iconic modern buildings offers room for up to 225 guests, and the ceremony can be held there, too.

Huge windows and terrace space provide wonderful views.

A contemporary art museum with gigantic windows and a prominent overhang lighted up at night. Shutterstock

Boston Public Library

It might be hard to beat the central location of the Boston Public Library in terms of ornateness.

The venue offers ceremony options in its courtyard and halls, and reception options in its capacious rooms.

Shutterstock

Fenway Park

Major League Baseball’s oldest ballpark can be the backdrop for both the nuptials and a reception for up to 400.

Festivities take place on the right-field roof deck.

Cyclorama—Boston Center for the Arts

The copper-domed Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts—surely one of Boston’s most underrated buildings—can accommodate from 100 to 1,000 guests (875 seated).

EpiCenter—Artists for Humanity

The nonprofit bills its property as Boston’s “greenest event venue” because the AFH EpiCenter was the first building in the city to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest designation for energy-sustainable buildings.

The ceremony and the reception can unfold over the gallery and outdoor space.

Symphony Hall

The capacious home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is available for rent.

And! The duration of that lease can precede a performance by the orchestra itself. That’s right: Get hitched, eat, and then take in a show.

Shutterstock

Arnold Arboretum

Smallish wedding ceremonies are allowed at the sprawling Harvard-owned and -run park, but, as with other parks in the City of Boston, restrictions do apply. For one thing: no furniture.

Colorful trees shading a walking path with a bench next to it. Kevin Fleming/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images