Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal wrote about the rising cost of weddings. Data for the piece was sourced from Zola and The Knot. The national average of $35,000 is likely a bit lower than what couples would typically spend in areas with a higher cost of living – including New England, where budgets of $45,000-60,000 are more common.
 
An expert quoted in the article recommended one big cost savings tip that we’ve shared with many couples over the years – the best way to reduce the overall cost of your wedding is to reduce the guest list. This one move impacts the cost of so many things – including catering, bar and floral. If you’re renting tables, chairs and linens (we include them in our rental, but many venues don’t), reducing your guest count will cut those costs as well. Having a smaller wedding party can also save you money on dresses/tuxes, wedding party gifts, and hair & makeup, if you're helping to pick up the tab for those items.
 
This is all money that go into important things like the venue (which after all is the only thing everyone will remember five years from now) and photography/videography (the only lasting evidence of your day!).
 
So, when you’re making up your guest list, keep this in mind!

We loved everything about this wedding! L&K were beaming all day - even when we had to move the ceremony inside due to rain. Their officiant (a friend) was hilarious and had everyone laughing (and happy crying) throughout the ceremony. The sand ceremony - combining sand from favorite beaches of everyone in the family - was so moving, and featured sand imported from the beach in Italy where L's sweet mom met L's dad... we could go on and on! Every time we see a Miller Lite, we still think of K. We felt honored to be a part of this day! L&K, thank you so much for letting us be part of your love story! 

Vendor team:
Photographer: The Family Farmer Creative
Videographer: Picture This Wedding
Event management: CAtCH Events
Caterer: Woodland Catering
Bar items: Kappy's OnCall
Florist: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Desserts: Crumbl Cookies
Entertainment: Meritage Entertainment
Makeup: Kristin Kincaid Salon
Hair: Lacey Aiello
Accommodations: Essex Street Inn

If your wedding is in 2024, you’re probably getting serious about planning! We’ll be sending out a full onboarding package to Bradstreet’s 2024 couples later this month, with all sorts of templates and great information. In the meantime, here’s a primer on a crucial part of your wedding day – your timeline!
 
Here at Bradstreet, your event manager will begin working with you months before your wedding and will prepare a timeline for you. In this blog post, we provide a sample timeline to get you thinking about the details of your own day.
 
At the Barn at Bradstreet Farm, couples pick their own ceremony time – we only host one event per day, so the whole day is yours! While we see some ceremonies as early as noon, most couples pick 4.30pm. So, we’ve designed this sample with a 4.30pm ceremony in mind.
 
The first step in developing your timeline is determining your ceremony time. Your photographer may want to weigh in here – most photographers prefer to have the ceremony at least 90 minutes before sunset, but some prefer two hours. In the summer, 4.30pm is most common. Later in the fall, we see 4pm and even 3.30pm ceremonies because sunset is earlier.
 
Another variable is whether you’re doing a first look - if you are, you can get a lot of photography done before your ceremony, giving you more time to enjoy cocktail hour. Most – but not all – Bradstreet couples do a first look.
 
This sample timeline assumes a 4.30pm ceremony and a first look:
 
10am: Your event manager will get you checked in to the dressing suites! Anyone participating in Hair and Makeup (HMU) services generally comes right at 10am. Don’t forget the mimosas!
10.15am: Your event team begins setting up décor inside the Barn.
12pm: The other half of the wedding party checks into the dressing suites – those who just need to change.
12.30pm: Lunch arrives for the wedding party.
12.30pm: Photographer arrives.
1pm: Woodland Catering arrives and starts setup.
1.30pm: Beach Plum Flower Shop arrives and begins setup.
2pm: HMU team departs.
2pm: DJ arrives and begins setup.
2pm: First look!
2.30-3.30pm: Family photos
3.45pm: Wedding party back to suites.
4pm: DJ starts background music for guest arrival.
4pm: Guests start to arrive, are directed to ceremony area by Bradstreet team.
4.25pm: Bradstreet team brings wedding party to Barn to line up for ceremony.
4.30pm: Ceremony time!
5-6pm: Cocktail hour.
6pm: Move guests into Barn for dinner.
6.10-6.30pm: Introduce wedding party, first dance and family dances, toasts.
6.30pm: Dinner begins.
7.30pm: Dance floor opens! (could be later depending on the size of the dinner group)
9.30pm: Transportation arrives
10pm: End of the best night ever!
 
There are a lot of variables here – but this is a good skeleton to use. Happy planning!

Such a fantastic day for B&N and their little boo! We loved the simple, classic greenery coupled with gorgeous deep green bridesmaid dresses.  This was such a fun group - B&N are kicking off their married life surrounded by great family and friends!

Thanks for letting us be part of your love story, B&N! Come back and take pics with M, we'd love to see you!

Vendor team:
Photography: Jennifer Halla Photography
Catering: Woodland Catering
Desserts: Three Sweet Peas Bakery Cafe
Bar items: Kappy's On Call
Floral: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Event management: CAtCH Events
Entertainment: Music Machine Entertainment
Beauty: Salon Beautopia
Transportation: Salter Transportation
Accommodations: Essex Street Inn

The Farmers Dinner has announced its 2024 farm-to-table dinner series, including three events at the Bradstreet Farm: May 26, Sept 15 and Oct 20. These events sell out, so buy your tickets now! Each event features different chefs and seasonal ingredients - every menu is unique. We hope to see you there!

A&R's wedding was one of many in 2023 that featured a lot of rain - but that didn't stop anyone from having a great time! We moved the ceremony inside, and photographer Perla Images took gorgeous shots on our back patio and in the greenhouse. It was a fun crowd, and the day was perfect from beginning to end. A&R, thanks for letting us be part of your love story!

Vendor team:
Photography and Videography: Perla Images
Event management: CAtCH Events
Catering: Woodland Catering
Floral: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Bar items: Kappy's On Call
Entertainment: Austin Sousa of DJ Souz
Hair and Makeup: Beautify Makeup Boutique & Spa
Dessert: Three Sweet Peas Bakery Cafe
Transportation: Black Tie Limo
Accommodations: Essex Street Inn

K&G's microwedding was all about family, and friends who are like family! With about 30 guests including the couple's children (one of whom was the officiant!), this event had a very intimate feel. It was so fun to watch this blended family enjoy their time on the farm together.

K&G, thanks for letting us be a part of your love story!

Vendor team:
Catering: Woodland Catering
Photography: Jim Barbere Photography
Bar items: Kappy's On Call
Live music: Eric & Xavier Clemenzi
Floral: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Desserts: Three Sweet Peas Bakery Cafe
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Event management: CAtCH Events

K&E are just the kindest couple, and when we met their families, we knew where it came from. This was a great crowd, full of beloved family, close friends, and a lot of laughs. We loved the florals for this wedding - especially on the arbor. These two just absolutely beamed all day. K&E, thanks for letting us be a part of your love story! Come back and visit!

Vendor team:
Photographer: Bold As Love Studios
Catering: Woodland Catering
Bar items: Kappy's On Call
Desserts: Alexis Lugbauer and Three Sweet Peas Bakery
Florist: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Entertainment: Meritage Entertainment
Hair: Sharon Carter of Hair We Go Weddings
​Makeup: Shannon Diamond
Event management: CAtCH Events
​

O&T are Rowley neighbors (and now friends!) who wanted to get married in T's home town. They are big on everything local and chose the Barn at Bradstreet Farm not only for its location but for our emphasis on locally sourced food, flowers and wine. In talking with T, who works in the seafood industry, we realized that the clam shells that line our paths came from his cousin (also in Rowley). So O&T's walk down the aisle on those shells had special meaning! 

This was such a fun group, and we'd be hard pressed to remember another bride who enjoyed herself more on the dance floor! O&T, thank so much for letting us be part of your love story - please come back and visit!!

Vendor team:
Photographer: Southwest Sonder Photography
Event management: CAtCH Events
Caterer: Woodland Catering
Florist: Beach Plum Flower Shop
Tent and rentals: PEAK Event Services
Desserts: Three Sweet Peas Bakery
DJ: Meritage Entertainment
Makeup: Makeup by Jill Tilton
Hair: Katie Lantych of Blonding & Bridal
Marquee letters: Alpha-Lit

The ​Barn at Bradstreet Farm announced today that it is collaborating with The Farmers Dinner to bring a new farm-to-table dinner series to Boston’s North Shore.
 
Four events are planned for 2023:

• Sunday, August 20
• Sunday, August 27
• Sunday, Sept 24
• Sunday, October 29

 
“After overwhelming demand for our sold-out farm dinners, The Farmers Dinner is thrilled to announce our partnership with Bradstreet Farm for a stunning new series at this hidden gem,” said Keith Sarasin, founder of The Farmers Dinner.
 
Guests can immerse themselves in the rich history of Bradstreet Farm, the second-oldest continually operating farm in the United States. With roots dating back to 1635, this landmark property has been fully restored to its former glory after three years of meticulous work. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property offers the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dining experience.
 
Guests will be treated to a multi-course menu that showcases the best of the Rowley area's farms. A team of talented chefs sources only the freshest, most sustainable ingredients to craft each dish. Each dinner will feature a completely new menu to showcase the ever-changing seasons of New England.
 
The dinners will be paired with local craft beer from Rowley’s Anonymous Brewing and wine from Mill River Winery.
 
The Barn at Bradstreet Farm opened in 2018 for private events. “All our private events are farm-to-table, and we’ve been wanting to host a public community dinner series for a while now – locals have been clamoring for this,” said Michael Sabatini, owner of the Bradstreet Farm. “The Farmers Dinner produces fantastic events and provides a suburb dining experience – they are the perfect partner for us. We’re very excited to kick this off!”
 
General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now at https://www.thefarmersdinner.com/. VIP experience options include private wine tastings and private tours of the property prior to dinner.