Saturday, April 13, 2013

Meeting Houses: Choosing A Historic Venue




Take even a quick trip through Vermont and you're bound to encounter a meeting house. Built mostly in the 1700-1800's, these iconic white (or sometimes brick) structures were once the center of village life, serving as the community's gathering place for worship, cultural events, and the quintessential town meeting. Fortunately, Vermont has worked to preserve these scenic buildings which provide a rustic, whimsical wedding venue for history lovers.

First visit to the Meeting House, 2009.
Beginning our own location search in early 2011, Dan and I knew we wanted our England-meets-New England wedding to feature more than a nod to the past. Eventually we fell in love with the Rockingham Meeting House, a National Historic Landmark we'd visited together in 2009. Built 1787-1801, this striking Puritan structure sits atop a hillside with a fenced churchyard and gorgeous hydrangea bushes. For just 200 dollars, the meeting house and its grounds provided the perfect backdrop for our vintage-inspired wedding and gave our guests a stunning view in a setting from a bygone era. What a fun day!
 
Interested? Here are some things to consider while planning:

  • Who's in charge around here? (We simply looked for contact information online when we spotted a meeting house we liked. We met several kind folks this way and got the answers we needed.)
  • Is the site open to the public? (Many meeting houses - including Rockingham - have some public hours. Located off the road in such a quiet spot, this didn't turn out to be an issue in our case.)
  • What's nearby for my guests: area attractions, places to stay, eat, shop? (For instance, our site was close to Leslie's Tavern, The Harvest Barn Inn, and the Vermont Country Store - where guests could stop for penny candy or a picnic lunch.)
  • How much time will I have to set-up/tear-down? (Our venue allowed us about four hours on the day of the ceremony, so we ended up doing a quick dress rehearsal and decorating while it was open to the public the afternoon before.)
  •  Are there restrictions on the decor I  can use? (Because they are historic sites, some do not allow candles, wires, etc.)
  • Is there a piano or organ on-site? (Rockingham has an antique pump organ which a family friend agreed to play for us.)
  • If still functioning as a church, is there an officiant who could marry us? (One meeting house we contacted said weddings at the site could only be performed by their officiant.)
  • Is there a reception space either inside or outside the building? (Some meeting houses have another floor that could be used, or space outside for a tent. We held our English
    tea reception at Crosby House, a friend's Victorian B&B.)
  • What about facilities? (Not all of these locations have indoor plumbing: some have toilets in a detached shed or even a neighboring building. Otherwise, you may need to rent port-a-potties.)
  • Is there electricity and/or heat? (Rockingham has neither, thus only open June through September when it's warm enough inside and there's plenty of natural light.)
  • Is it wheelchair-accessible? (Our venue was at the top of a hill, but cars could be parked beside the meeting house, which is equipped with a ramp.)   
Vermont is full of beautiful historic sites and you're sure to find a location that fits your style and budget.  Happy venue hunting!
 
Strafford, VT

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