The Best Raw Wedding Spaces & Venues in Dorchester, MA

The Best Raw Wedding Spaces & Venues in Dorchester, MA

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12 Wedding Venues in Dorchester, MA

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The Multicultural Arts Center 

5.0

Cambridge, MA
  • Up to 150 guests
  • Raw space
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $5,600

This Victorian treasure was built in the late 1880s, and originally served as the county courthouse. It’s been lovingly restored, and boasts a two-story theater space with an exquisitely embellished ceiling and wraparound mezzanine balcony. In the warmer months, ceremonies may be held in Centanni Courtyard. This airy outdoor space continues the historic feel of the Arts Center with lawns, a large arbor, and brick pathways. Your rental fee helps support the Center’s mission: to educate the community about diversity through the presentation of multicultural arts programs, and to make the center available to artists and groups who may not otherwise have access to a professionally equipped space.

Awarded Best of Zola
The Multicultural Arts Center was a beautiful venue for our wedding ceremony and reception! We had our ceremony outdoors in the courtyard just outside the building, and the staff helped us to get the permits to use the courtyard, helped to set up microphones for the ceremony, and also helped work with us on a backup plan to have the ceremony indoors in case it had rained on our wedding day. The courtyard is a charming spot with trellises and greenery and is surrounded by classic-looking New England buildings. Adria and Taylor on the staff were extremely helpful in helping us plan our reception: they answered our many questions and let us rehearse in the venue so that we could figure out how we wanted to lay out the space. The theater hall was an amazing place to have our reception: we especially loved the balcony and the design of the ceiling, and there was plenty of room for a little over 100 guests, buffet tables, a DJ, and a dance floor. The venue was also a really convenient location for our guests - it's close to the T and has several nearby hotels. Would highly recommend!
Brian, 19 days ago
The Center for Arts at the Armory 

5.0

Somerville, MA
  • Up to 230 guests
  • Raw space
  • Indoor
  • Starts at $3,000

The Center for Arts at the Armory is a non-profit organization that resides in a historic Armory building, serving Somerville and the Greater Boston community through arts, cultural and community events, exhibitions, markets, classes and more. The mission of Arts at the Armory is to provide an inclusive and accessible venue that creates opportunities for artists and cultural workers, brings diverse audiences together, enriches and transforms lives, and promotes the creative economy. In addition to the many events that CAA hosts that are produced independently of CAA, CAA has four signature programs: The Spotlight Series, The Performance Opportunity Program (POP), The Somerville Winter Farmers Market, and ROOTED Armory Cafe Visual Arts Exhibitions.

Awarded Best of Zola
We loved our experience planning/hosting a wedding cereomony and reception at the Armory. The staff were great to work with and the whole event went off without a hitch! The space was beautiful with lighting and decorations. One of the biggest advantages is that the Armory doesn't restrict which caterer you can work with. Many of the other venues we looked at had exclusive contracts with caterers that were many-fold more expensive than the one we ultimately used. Physically, the space we rented is a large performance hall with a stage on one side and a mezzanine on the other. Both are big open hardwood-floor spaces. The space is kind of dark, but looks great with adequate lighting and decorations. The Armory offers some string-lights and up-lights for free, and we also hired a lighting company to add additional lights. We also rented some plants. We had the ceremony on the main floor, then a cocktail hour on the mezzanine during which the catering staff flipped the main floor (we had 140 guests and they all fit comfortably). A live band performed on the stage and the caterer prepped in the backstage area. There is no kitchen so the caterer had to prepare all the food ahead of time offsite. One drawback is that the Armory doesn't allow hard alcohol to be served. Some other pros are that there's a parking lot and a new hotel that opened nearby. Overall, we would highly recommend the Armory, especially if you are willing to mix and match vendors and aren't expecting wrap-around service from a place that does weddings all the time.
Caleb and J., 2 years ago
Cambridge Boat Club 

5.0

CAMBRIDGE, MA
  • Up to 120 guests
  • Raw space
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $4,000

Cambridge Boat Club is a social and rowing club, located on the banks of the Charles River overlooking Eliot Bridge. Originally built in 1909, CBC was picked up in its entirety and rolled upstream to its current location in 1947, to make room for the building of Memorial Drive. Featuring vaulted ceilings and dark exposed beams akin to a ski chalet, and double french doors opening to a full length veranda, CBC offers a unique, rustic setting for any event.

The Cambridge Boat Club was the perfect choice for our New England fall-themed wedding! It is an absolutely gorgeous location on the river with just the right amount of historic charm. We had originally considered going with all-inclusive venues, but ultimately opted for the flexibility we had with the CBC to craft our own vision. The venue features two distinct rooms, a larger room called the Drinkwater room, which can be used for the wedding dinner, the Club Room, which was used for cocktail hour and the dance floor, and a porch, which has a stunning view. The layout perfectly accommodated both the party enthusiasts and our more introverted guests, who preferred quieter spaces for rest and socialization away from the dance floor. Opting for this venue requires a more DIY approach compared to all-inclusive options. Since it is a historic building, there are some restrictions to be aware of, e.g. no sparklers or ceiling drapery, and existing wall decor generally need to stay on the wall. This was no issue for us since we had a clear vision for the wedding theme and decor, and enlisted the help of Tastings Catering (highly recommend, since they have previous experience working in this space and also handle some of the decor) and Designlight. Major shoutout to Katie Donnelly, the club manager at Cambridge Boat Club, who always responded in record time to all our inquiries and provided helpful guidance. With everyone's help, we were able to create the wedding of our dreams!
Cathy Z., 10 months ago
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Harry Parker Boathouse - Community Rowing Inc 
Brighton, MA
  • Up to 200 guests
  • Raw space
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $3,500

Harry Parker Boathouse, located in Brighton, MA, hosts both indoor event spaces and an outdoor tent (40' x 70'). Located right next to the docks, the tent gives stunning views of the Charles River providing an elegant area for hosting your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. This waterfront space offers a mixture of a splendid, serene setting and a contemporary design. Boasting ample space for the happy couple to host their ceremony and reception, this truly is a wonderful venue that matches the unforgettable nature of your amazing occasion. Contained within the boathouse is a 3,040 square-foot space called the Community Room that provides a charming place for throwing the festivities which you have always wanted to experience. This space is on the 2nd floor, and it also offers two balconies that overlook the scenic Charles River. A calm, beautiful, and picturesque place, there's as much to admire inside as there is on the outside. The boathouse is easy to get to and offers free parking.

Location flexible? Discover venues near Dorchester, MA

About wedding venues in Dorchester, MA

How much do wedding venues typically cost in Dorchester, MA?

The cost of a wedding venue varies widely by location, number of guests, and many other details of the wedding package. Dorchester, MA offers a range of options that can fit most budgets. Raw venue space rentals (which only include the space itself) start at $550 and average $3,800. All-inclusive packages start at $155 and average $10,000.

What types of venues can I find in Dorchester, MA?

Dorchester offers a wide range of venues, including Ballroom, Urban and Hotel and resort.

What are some of the best wedding and reception venues available in Dorchester, MA?

Some of the most popular venues in this area include Saphire Estate, The Endicott Estate and Lakeview Pavilion. But just like finding "the one," finding the perfect wedding venue takes time and a little bit of magic. Start by envisioning your dream wedding - the ambiance, style, and location. Then, explore our extensive collection of carefully curated wedding venues. Our marketplace provides detailed information, stunning photos, and real couples' reviews to help you make an informed decision. Trust your instincts, and when you find that venue that gives you butterflies, you'll know it's the one.

What questions should I ask when booking a venue in Dorchester, MA?

It all depends on what you're looking for, but you may want to consider things like whether the venue has an on-site bridal suite (45% in Dorchester do) or whether the venue provides an event coordinator (48% in Dorchester do!).

Additionally, some venues work with certain caterers and require a minimum food and beverage spend in addition to the space rentals. Others might have a recommended list of preferred caterers that they'd like you to work with.

Can the venues in Dorchester, MA accommodate both small and large weddings?

Of course! Small wedding venues in Dorchester, MA can host intimate parties while large venues can accommodate up to 5000. The average venue in Dorchester can seat 120 guests.

What amenities do the reception venues in Dorchester, MA offer?

The venues in Dorchester, MA are known for the exceptional suite of services and amenities offered to couples and their wedding parties. The most common services provided are Bar services, Wi-Fi and Service staff. Some venues even offer Transportation!

What types of wedding venues are in Dorchester, MA?

What other Dorchester vendors will I need?

What other wedding venues are nearby?

What other wedding services are nearby?