Conference taveng::bagels

    We're currently  working  on  the same problem, but with much less
    time: we're getting married next spring (1990).

    Some places  that  I've  liked:  Hammond  Castle in Gloucester (or
    Rockport,  or  somewhere  in  that  area).  There's a lawn outside
    overlooking  the  water,  and  you  can  eat inside this wonderful
    castle.

    Lyman house  in  Waltham. I think the grounds are nice (when I was
    there  it  was  pouring,  so I didn't look too carefully), and the
    house is quite nice.

    Habitat in  Belmont? I don't know anything about it, but my fiance
    has mentioned it as a good place.

    The Aquarium.  I  know they will rent it for some functions, but I
    suspect  that  they wouldn't be able to during the hours that they
    are normally open, so afternoon may not be available.

    Good luck

--David

    I'm getting married on October 29th of this year at Brandeis, Waltham,
    MA.  We're having the ceremony in their Jewish chapel (the Berlin
    Chapel) and the party will be in the faculty club.  Brandeis has
    several good points:  the site is lovely, the faculty club is newly
    remodelled and is bright and elegant, their catering has an excellent
    reputation, and it's inside 128.  We're having around 140 people, which
    will work at Brandeis; I'm not sure 200 people can be accomodated. 
    I'll update this info after I get married.  Good luck planning.
    
    Terry

	I got married at Habitat in Belmont, near Boston.

	(I'm no longer married, but that's a different story, send
	SASE for more info)

	It's a beautiful small wildlife sanctuary, with absolutely
	gorgeous grounds.

	I'd suggest it for subdued weddings.  (i.e. I don't know if they'll
	allow an amplified band)

/Eric

    Hi,
     
    Recently attended a non-denominational wedding at Harvard chapel.
    Reception was in Fogg museum and was spectacular.  With flowers
    and band, it became a street party!
    
    A few years back a certain DEC VP's child was married at
    Sturbridge Village.  I understand it was very, very nice.
    Ceremony on the village green and reception at the Inn.
    
    My son was recently married at UC Berkely in the faculty glade,
    with the reception in the faculty club.  University weddings can
    be very very nice ... but then I'm a little prejudiced!
    
    Happy planning
    

    We just got married at Ridge Hill Reservation in Needham, which is run
    by the town. It's a house on 200 acres of park land. The capacity of
    the place is 150, but that includes service personnel, so it probably
    won't do for your wedding. (As an aside, we invited about 150, and
    about 100 showed up.) The ceremony itself was outdoors, with food and
    band inside. Cost was $800 + $182 for a policeman. (Needham is dry, so
    you need one if you serve liquor.)
    
    Habitat in Belmont is very nice, but has an upper limit of 100 people.
    It's $1500.
    
    Lyman House has some larger upper limit, and is $3k. There is also a
    house run by the city of Waltham itself that's just up the hill from
    Lyman House, but it wasn't as nice. But see for yourself. I can't
    remember the name at the moment.
    
    Endicott House in Danvers is owned by MIT, but will do outside
    weddings. Be persistent, as we were told "no" initially.
    
    Most of these places are not air-conditioned.
    
    As for a caterer, if kosher is not required, a fellow named Howard
    Swartz, in the Cambridge area, was recommended to us by many people.
    
    The Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston has a list of many
    old houses and the like that will do weddings.
    
    The DeCordova and other museums will also do weddings, but you have to
    start after the museums close, such as after 5pm on Sunday.
    
    A lot of this same ground is covered in the MASSACHUSETTS notesfile. Do
    a dir/title=wedding in there for help.
    
    Good luck!
    
    --Dan

    Also the Wellesley College Club.  You don't have to be an alumna and 
    in nice weather they'll set up the band outside overlooking Lake Waban.
    
    There is a book out right now at the Book Fair in Newton right next to
    the checkout counter with descriptions of "Places to Have a Wedding in
    Boston."  
    
    

    
    Thanks for all the suggestions (and please, keep them coming).  I've
    looked through every notes file imaginable, but haven't quite found
    what I want.  Since this will be a Jewish wedding, I thought I could
    get some good alternative ideas here.
    
    It does seem that the nice outside places tend to have smaller
    capacities.  (The Lyman House sounded nice, but only seats 150).  I
    will look into the Wellesley College Club.  I'm also looking into some
    of the bigger hotels.  I'm particularly interested in The Royal Sonesta
    - their ballroom has a wall of windows overlooking the Charles.  I
    might be able to settle for that!!! :-)
    
    The other idea I've had is Country Clubs.  Blue Hills C.C. and Spring
    Valley C.C. in particular have been recommended.  Anyone have
    experience with any of these places, or other ideas?  I've been warned
    that some Clubs have anti-semitic tendencies.  While that's a subject
    for another note, let's just say that I'd like to avoid hostile or
    uncomfortable environments.
    
    Again, thanks for your input.  I'll keep you updated on what I find
    out.
    
    Sarah
    

    
    If you're looking into hotels anyway, you might want to check out the
    Four Seasons in Boston.  They have nice rooms for affairs, and you can
    get your choice of non-kosher or kosher; they have a separate "kosher"
    room, and when they have kosher affairs, the mashgiach unlocks the door
    and the chef (same one as for the non-kosher affairs) sails in and
    does his stuff. 
    
    The food is apparently wonderful, but it costs an arm and a leg.

re: .7 Spring Valley CC.  I've been to several weddings there.  Very nice,
though not incredibly special.  No problem with anti_semitic tendencies;
all the folks I know there are Jewish.

Waky