Details. The grounds are stunning and our guests were amazed by the views. open post » featured post • • • • • How to plan for perfect wedding photographs. On the day of, Karen and her staff were awesome - they did a great job of ensuring that the entire night ran smoothly. Blithewold is a beautiful 33-acre wedding venue located in Bristol, Rhode Island. Does Blithewold ever close early? They shut down our bars without telling me or my planner, or having the band make an announcement! They were a dream to photograph and the backdrop is to die for. She is someone who gets done what needs to be done, she uses her vast knowledge and experience to help you plan out the best day possible. She was so nice, responsive, and organized. It was the perfect venue. I picked Blithewold, because it had an excellent rain back up. ded a wealth of information in a very professional, yet personal and warm and sincere manner, was quick to return phone calls and emails, and most importantly, listened to us and advised us on every detail every step of the way. Lesya spent her morning at New Leaf in Bristol, while Kurt hung with the guys for a few rounds of pool. The location if absolutely beautiful! However, by cocktail hour, the sun was shining and the atmosphere and scenery at Blithewold were absolute perfection. We had our wedding in August 2014 and had the most picture perfect day. We chose a palette of blush pink, taupe, pale ivory and hints of green and gold with romantic accents to complement the historic setting. Our guests ended up missing the trailer and going inside to use the bathroom anyway. If you do food/drinks outdoors between the ceremony/reception, make sure to have heavier floral arrangements for the cocktail tables as it can get windy. (If you do decide to get a trailer, make clear signs and tell the DJ to announce it otherwise your guests will miss it!) ive up to our expectations at all. If you have to have "one more song" :) tell your DJ to say last song at 10:10 and then play a few more. Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, excluding most holidays. Overall, our wedding day was the best day ever. Can't wait to go back and visit more of the property! 11. Karen was awesome to work with - quick with responses and very helpful with my crazy questions. When I begged for them to play one more song, the blithewold staff said absolutely not and got them off the stage. If it rained, you got married inside. She showed us a marketing video that allowed us to see the grounds in different settings and picture albums of previous brides. She ran the entire rehearsal and let us drop off a lot of items the day before. She took a lot of the joy out of the day/planning process. The sticker price can be a bit shocking at first but if you're willing to have a friday or sunday wedding its pretty fair. Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum offers a beautiful and gracious waterfront setting for your perfect wedding day. Bristol, RI. She has a bad reputation that I wasn't aware of until closer to the wedding when other vendors mentioned it. It was the first place we saw and nothing compared. , but it's worth the money if 1) it's within your budget and 2) you want to give your guests a completely different wedding experience. Even though the rain moved the ceremony from the gardens to the mansion, it was filled with genuine emotion. We were married here on 9/22/17. Karen isn't warm and fuzzy, but she'll have everything done perfectly and have everyone in the right place at the right time. For inquiries and to set up an appointment to discuss rates and availability, contact the Special Events Office (401) 253-2707 ext. There was just one hiccup, because we had forecasts of thunderstorms 3 days before our outdoor garden ceremony we had to talk back up plan. Picture Perfect Wedding Venue - Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum. You can also contact us using the form found at the “Contact Form” button below. While Blithewold is undoubetly a special and beautiful venue, they are terrible to work with. The robust natural beauty of the property is a magnificent backdrop for a celebration at any time during the year. Some sail boats even came by during our ... We had our wedding (both ceremony and reception) at Blithewold and it was simply a dream come true! 336 Reviews #2 of 21 things to do in Bristol. Originally a summer estate, Blithewold provides both historical charm and natural elegance. I would recommend this venue to anyone who wants a beautiful, outdoor wedding to go off without a hitch! We chose to shoot in the bamboo gardens, stone archway, the greenhouse, and our photographer found this beautiful little piece of beach straight back from the tent that was absolute perfection at sunset. If you don’t have elderly/handicapped guests, the walk to the mansion is fine -- and guests actually enjoy exploring the inside. Article from snapweddings.com. I have an extremely demanding job, and the staff there refused to deal with my planner directly. Settings. e, the event coordinator was extremely helpful from day one. We paid an additional $995 to add 30 minutes on to our wedding, then the guests were not even allowed on the property then. After the ceremony, the adventurous couple braved the rain for some photos. During the cocktail party and reception, your guests may stroll through the gardens and enjoy the property, just as guests at Blithewold have done for the past hundred years. I will always remember my wedding day as the perfect day! dding wasn’t wonderful but Karen and her staff helped me not feel stressed about any changes we needed to make last min. We had a gorgeous sunset that night and even saw fireworks from the lawn. From start to finish they very helpful and willing to bend over backwards to make your day go as smoothly as possible. We drew inspiration from the estate gardens and classic elegance of the mansion. With the recent merger of Blithewold and Blackstone, it's can't be beat. We worked with Karen to plan our special day and she made sure everything went off without a hitch! 3. there wasn't a good place for bridesmaids to change/get ready beforehand, there's a little room and a bathroom, but you aren't given access to this until an hour or two before the ceremony, so you have to get your makeup done and change elsewhere. Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate with grand views of Narragansett Bay and is nationally significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place Era. They truly create a magical, unforgettable experience. Stunning 33-acre estate on Narragansett Bay accommodates weddings up to 225 guests. Many staff members are currently working remotely. ns. Our day could not have been more perfect, rain or not. And on to Karen - she worked so hard to make our wedding a dream come true. We were in heaven creating this romantic elegant blush shoot at the elegant Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum. The day of the wedding, Karen and the staff operated like a well oiled machine, ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 With some help of some absolutely gorgeous July weather, we had the wedding of our dreams set in their gardens and lawn overlooking the bay. Danielle and Joe planned on getting married this summer, but had to reschedule their big celebration to 2021. Lydia and Victor’s colorful wedding at Blithewold was colorful in more ways than one. They were flexible when some of our pictures took a little longer; took it right in stride and still allowed our entrance to go smoothly. The venue was so beautiful we were able to have very minimal decorations which also helped our budget. We honestly could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding!! t almost looks like our daughter and her new husband visited 5 different places for pictures as the variety of vignettes on the grounds of Blithewold is hard to believe. Get Our Wedding Planner App On Your Mobile Device. I am so grateful that we got to celebrate our wedding reception at Blithewold! We were completely blessed with the perfect wedding day weather (sunny, warm with a cool breeze, low humidity) and our guests got to enjoy everything that Blithewold has to offer at its absolute best! It is one of the only New England estates built in the late 19th century that still retains its Now an esteemed estate with gardens, an arboretum, and a large collection of items documenting the lives of two generations of this family, it’s a beautiful place in any season. Our pictures look like they're out of a story book. Blithewold is an amazing place for a wedding. This place is truly magical. The garden is a perfect venue for a ceremony with all the flowers in b... We had a beautiful wedding at blithewold, Karen was extremely helpful, always got right back to me when I had questions and organized the ceremony beautifully. Also were hoping to bring our puppy for pics but he was not allowed on the property. Even with the COVID restrictions and the limited guest list, a group of 50 people didn't feel lost under the tent, it felt warm and inviting. On the day of the wedding, she was there directing everyone along with her assistant Cara, who is also absolutely amazing. ated on a slope or your heels sunk into the ground. My husband and I chose the venue almost 2 years in advance and Karen really worked with us throughout our planning. There are tons of perfect spots to get your photo taken- my favorites being the bamboo garden and shaded pathways. We couldn't have asked for a better evening. Karen was so kind throughout the whole experience and was so accommodating to all of our needs. The garden was so beautiful for the ceremony and the tent was amazing. We've had friends planning weddings say "I wish we'd looked at Blithewold before we booked our venue!" Halfway through our ceremony it started raining a little and next thing I knew the Blithewold staff had all our guests covered in dark green golf umbrellas. The Blithewold Mansion In Rhode Island Is A Magical Wintertime Experience. d the other staff are so great. Academic disciplines Business Concepts Crime Culture Economy Education Energy Events Food and drink Geography Government Health Human behavior Humanities Knowledge Law Life Mind Objects Organizations People Philosophy Society Sports Universe World Arts Lists Glossaries. Photography by Cloud: Associate Team. me other reviewers had an adverse opinion. She was such a pleasure to work with. If it rained I didn't want myself or guests stomping around in mud. 401.822.1388 | based in Southern Rhode Island We couldn't have asked for a better day, the bride and groom had the wedding of their dreams, and our guests are still raving about the gorgeous venue. Her team made sure our entire night went off with out a hitch and it certainly did! We had 155 people at our wedding and the tent was the perfect size (the venue claims the tent can hold 220, but I think it w... My husband and I got married at Blithewold on July 3rd and it was truly a perfect day. The most beautiful and un-pretentious place... and you can go back there, have a picnic, and visit any time to remember your special day! The grounds are breathtaking and if you luck out with great weather, you will be WOW-ed. rgeous building took our breath away. This was minutes before she was supposed to give a toast. Tip: Hire their recommended caterer Blackstone, they know the place inside and out and your food and service will be superb. GOLDEN WEDDING TRIP - Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum. Any time we needed anything, Karen and her staff was one step ahead of us. Make sure guests know where to put gifts and envelopes and that someone is attending to gifts at all times -- because the property is so big, it’s easy for envelopes to get misplaced. We got married over Memorial Day Weekend 2016, and the flowers in the garden where we had the ceremony were stunning! It poured all day, but it cleared up right before our ceremony started. ect, and competent in running the show! rything ran smoothly. I recently had my wedding at Blithewold (both ceremony and reception). The staff is top notch; true professionals. Even though I’ve photographed at Blithewold countless times over the years I always discover something new about the property. We first visited in the winter and there was still snow on the ground. We loved being able to do everything on site. Blithewold offers a beautiful setting for wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal dinners and other functions. After the first dance my mother was “ordered” to go put the card box in the car. The recipe for a successful rainy day wedding? With its beautiful lawn sweeping down to the water, turn-of-the-century mansion, towering trees, colorful gardens, and sparkling tent, there are so many special areas at Blithewold that each creates a unique experience for you and your guests. I have been to a few weddings where either you were se... A lovely place to get married, but the coordinator was awful. Blithewold offers a beautiful setting for wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal dinners and other functions. I would recommend this venue to anyone for the beauty, but don't count on your coordinator to be respectful or reliable. This venue is truly amazing in many ways: the view of the water, the architecture of the mansion, the grounds and numerous gardens, the tent, and the staff. Next, during the reception the power cut off multiple times to the music. ade planning tricky at times, but Karen was so responsive and accommodating to all my emails, even my random one-off questions that would pop up throughout the year. We had a small ceremony in the North Garden that was intimate and special, followed by a cocktail party with dancing for 140 guests. On the day of the wedding, Karen was there with her staff to make sure everything went smoothly. The tent where the reception is held has a gorgeous stone floor and beautiful twinkle lights. The massive lawn leading down to the water, gorgeous sunset views, unique gardens, beautiful and historic mansion, a big stone terrace and porches, a beautiful marquis tent, plenty of parking and a great set-up for event flow, helpful and knowledgeable staff - what more could one ask for?! The rehearsal is run by her the morning before the wedding and it was completely disorganized - even if we had discussed it all in detail a few weeks earlier. This blog post is a how to about designing a timeless, romantic, Blithewold Mansion Wedding ~ By Nicole and Frank I’ve heard so many people describe these style elements as the theme for their wedding, but Frank and Nicole really nailed it! Even on a dreary November day it was beautiful. ease. Rosecliff Mansion Wedding. So many of my guests have raved about how amazing Blithewold was and I agree! I couldnt have imagined a more perfect place to get married!! (401) 253-2707. When myself, my mom, and maid of honor arrived at the bridal suite 10 minutes early, Karen's assistant was incredibly rude (like, I would not have believed it if I were not there). 4. The staff was friendly, easy to work with, and extremely well organized. There were a few that said Karen was difficult to work with, which made me a little nervous. wn to the clean up afterwards making sure we had every item we came with. am ensured the wedding went off without a hitch. See more ideas about blithewold mansion wedding, mansion wedding, rhode island wedding. Following the ceremony, cocktails are enjoyed within the gracious, turn-of-the-century Mansion, on the terraces, and two covered porches overlooking the Great Lawn with its sweeping sunset views of Narragansett Bay. It is unique because of all the gardens and the mansion's charm. If you're looking for everything to run smoothly and for a magnificent setting, though- this is the place! 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