If you have found yourself thinking about getting married in Boston, you have so many incredible options available to you. This city offers historic buildings, elegant hotels, lush gardens, and intimate restaurants. The variety makes it possible to create a wedding day that feels completely like you.
As a Boston wedding photographer with more than a decade of experience photographing weddings throughout Boston and New England, I’ve seen celebrations of all sizes and styles. And if there is one thing that I have learned, it’s that Boston gives couples so much freedom to make their wedding day their own.
Whether you’re planning a traditional wedding, an intimate restaurant celebration, or a simple City Hall ceremony, here’s what you need to know about getting married in Boston, Massachusetts.
How to Get Married in Boston, MA
First, we need to cover the not-so-glamorous but very important part of the whole day: your marriage license.
If you’re getting married in Boston, MA, you’ll need a valid Massachusetts marriage license. You can apply for one through any city or town in Massachusetts, even if you don’t live there or your ceremony is happening somewhere else in the state.
If you apply through Boston, both of you will need to make an appointment and appear together in Boston City Hall. You’ll need valid photo identification, your Social Security numbers, and the application fee of $50.
You can expect a three-day waiting period before you can use your license, although you can also apply through the court to have that waiting period waived. Your marriage license is valid for 60 days.
Deciding What Kind of Boston Wedding Feels Like You
Once you have the paperwork out of the way, we can get to the fun part!
One of the best things about getting married in Boston is that your wedding doesn’t have to fit into any specific mold.
You can host a large celebration at a gorgeous historic estate, plan an intimate dinner at one of Boston’s incredible restaurants, exchange your vows at City Hall, or just gather a small group of your favorite people somewhere meaningful to you.
Before you choose your venue, think about how you actually want your day to feel.
Do you want an energetic celebration surrounded by everyone you love? Something intimate and relaxed? A day spent exploring your favorite parts of the city together?
Starting with the experience you really want makes choosing everything else so much easier.
The Best Places in Boston to Get Married
There isn’t one single “best” Boston wedding venue. The right location depends on your guest count, style, and the kind of experience you want to create for your special day.
I’ve photographed couples who chose completely different ways to celebrate throughout the city. Harli and Gabe, for example, got ready at The Newbury Boston, took portraits in the Boston Public Garden, and celebrated their marriage with an intimate ceremony and reception at Contessa. If you love that timeless city look, you can see more from their Boston Public Garden wedding.
For a City Hall wedding, you can keep the ceremony simple and make the rest of the day your own. Gabby and Cayla paired their Boston City micro wedding with a celebration at Smith Wollensky, while Austin and Jamie chose the Boston Public Library for their wedding, followed by portraits around the South End and a reception at Aquitaine.
There are also beautiful options for couples who want a little more greenery. I’ve photographed ceremonies at the Arnold Arboretum followed by restaurant receptions in the city, giving couples that gorgeous outdoor setting without giving up the Boston experience.
And don’t feel like you have to stay directly within Boston city limits! Cambridge, Watertown, and the surrounding areas offer even more options. Farther outside the city, Glen Magna Farms combines historic architecture and gardens for couples looking for a completely different setting.
That variety is one of my favorite things about getting married in Boston. Your wedding can include a garden, historic landmark, favorite restaurant, luxury hotel, or all of the above. You really can build the day around the places that feel most meaningful to you.
Think About Your Boston Wedding Photography Locations
Your venue doesn’t have to be your only photo location!
One of my favorite things about photographing weddings in Boston is how much variety we can create within a relatively small area.
Beacon Hill gives you cobblestone streets, brick architecture, and that quintessential Boston charm. The Boston Public Garden brings greenery and romantic scenery into the mix, while Back Bay offers elegant architecture and a more polished city feel.
I specialize in helping couples plan their ideal portrait walking route that allows us to hit multiple beautiful spots in the city. Intentional planning helps so you don’t spend your wedding day sitting in traffic or rushing from one location to the next.
Sometimes, choosing just one or two meaningful locations creates a much more relaxed experience and gives us plenty of time to actually enjoy taking photos there.
Consider the Season When Getting Married in Boston, Massachusetts
One important thing to remember is that Boston weddings can look completely different depending on the season.
Spring brings fresh greenery and beautiful blooms, while summer gives you long days and plenty of light for outdoor portraits. Fall is especially beautiful throughout New England, and winter weddings can create a really cozy and romantic atmosphere that feels entirely different from the rest of the year.
But New England weather also likes to keep us on our toes!
If a large portion of your wedding day will happen outside, it’s extremely important to have a backup plan that you genuinely like. For portraits, I also recommend leaving a little flexibility in your timeline whenever possible.
The goal isn’t to obsess over the forecast, it’s to have a plan that allows you to enjoy your day no matter what the Boston weather decides to do.
Create a Wedding Day That Gives You Room to Be Present
My biggest piece of advice when you get married in Boston is to avoid packing every minute of your day.
Give yourself breathing room.
Leave extra time for getting ready. Account for Boston traffic when traveling between locations. Build in a few quiet moments with your partner.
Those little pockets of space often become some of my favorite moments to photograph because you’re not thinking about what you’re supposed to do next. You’re simply experiencing your wedding day, and that’s pretty magical.
Getting Married In Boston Should Feel Like You
There are plenty of logistics involved in getting married in Boston, but ultimately, your wedding day should feel like a reflection of the two of you.
Choose the traditions you love. Skip the ones you don’t. Pick locations that mean something to you, surround yourself with people who make you feel supported, and create enough space in the timeline to actually enjoy it all.
If you’re looking for a photographer who can give you direction when you need it while also documenting all of the candid, in-between moments you never want to forget, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Inquire about your Boston wedding photography and let’s create something that feels completely like you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Married in Boston
You’ll need to apply for a Massachusetts marriage license before your ceremony. If applying through Boston, both partners must make an appointment and appear together at Boston City Hall with the required identification and information. There is typically a three-day waiting period, and your license is valid for 60 days.
Yes! Boston City Hall offers wedding ceremonies performed by Justices of the Peace. You’ll need a valid Massachusetts marriage license and a separate appointment for the ceremony. This is a great option if you want a simple, intimate wedding followed by portraits and a celebration somewhere else in the city.
No. You don’t have to be a Massachusetts resident to get married in Boston. You do, however, need a valid Massachusetts marriage license, and the license can only be used for a ceremony taking place within Massachusetts.
Massachusetts does not require witnesses for your marriage ceremony. Your ceremony does need to be performed by someone legally authorized to solemnize marriages in Massachusetts. A friend or family member can also apply for a one-day marriage designation if you want someone meaningful to officiate.
Boston offers everything from City Hall ceremonies and intimate restaurant weddings to historic hotels, gardens, and larger traditional venues. The Boston Public Garden is especially beautiful for portraits, while locations outside the city, like Glen Magna Farms, give couples even more options for creating a wedding day that fits their unique style.
