Fall in Love with Autumn Weddings at The Commons

There is just something about Autumn in Topsfield, MA....

From the breathtaking foliage to the exquisite seasonal cuisine, this is a venue that is fit for the perfect Fall wedding! 

Our ceremony space transforms into a photographer's dream in early October. There is no better background than beautiful New England foliage!

Our extraordinary cuisine compliments any Autumn wedding perfectly.  Some of our most popular menu selections during these chilly Autumn months include:

Hors D'oeuvres:

Maple Glazed Scallops and Bacon (shown on the left)
 A favorite for any season! Fresh sea-scallops wrapped in applewood smoked bacon and brushed with pure Vermont maple syrup, topped with maple butter presented on a bamboo skewer

 Mini grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup Shooters 
   Heart shaped grilled cheese bites served with a tomato soup shooter

Korean Grilled Beef Skewers (shown on the left) 

 Marinated and grilled Korean style beef presented on a bamboo skewer drizzled with a green onion and garlic sauce

Stuffed Mushrooms

 Crimini mushrooms stuffed with assorted wild mushrooms, buttery crumbs baked with sherry and rosemary essence, cheddar cheese, and apple wood smoked bacon

Salads:

October Salad

Wild field greens tossed with sugared walnuts, creamy goat cheese, and dried cranberries, served with homemade cider vinaigrette

Tuscany Caesar Salad                                                                    

 Crisp romaine, shaved parmesan Reggiano cheese and toasted garlic croutons, tossed with a creamy dressing, in a savory homemade parmesan Reggiano cup

Entrees:

Cider Roasted Chicken Breast                                                          
Cider-glazed Statler chicken breast, cornbread and cranberry cake, finished with an apple cider reduction

Chicken Florentine (shown below)                                                
  Statler chicken breast filled with fresh garden spinach, imported fontina cheese, and prosciutto de Parma with herb pan sauce

Char Grilled Filet Mignon (shown below)                                    
  Certified Angus Beef® seasoned and grilled, served with a savory rosemary, shallot, and red wine reduction. Pair our filet with mashed sweet potatoes for a seasonal entree that is sure to impress!

Butternut Squash Risotto                                                                 

 With toasted pine nuts and roasted haricot verts

On those chilly October afternoons, guests can warm up by one of our three fireplaces!

The Gould Barn, located next door, is a beautiful location for rustic wedding photos!

The beauty of The Commons in the Fall will leave your guests in awe. It may even make them forget about the many feet of snow that follow this wonderful season :)

Blog by Kelly Hart

Venue Feature: Rotunda and Cocktail Area

After months of major renovations, The Commons has

 re-emerged with a chic, modern flare that makes it one of 

New England's most elegant wedding venues. 

Check out our amazing transformation below!

Before:

                After:

Our New & Improved Cocktail Area

           Blog by Kelly Hart

Wedding Feature: Julie & Kevin

Julie & Kevin celebrated their wedding at The Commons on August 7th. Their beautiful wedding decor was a lovely balance between sophistication and summertime fun!

Their navy linens created an elegant setting that our ballroom was made for!

 While their gorgeous centerpieces gave us a pop of summer colors!

The groom was dressed to impress in a navy blazer, while the bridesmaids looked gorgeous in their champagne dresses.

....and don't even get me started on their wedding cake. PERFECTION.

Instead of displaying the typical tented place cards, Julie and Kevin chose to tie each guest's table assignment onto their toasting glass! At the end of cocktail hour, each guest simply grabbed their toasting glass, and made their way upstairs to our ballroom for the reception.

From start to finish, this wedding was beautiful and unique. We are honored that Julie and Kevin chose to celebrate their wedding at The Commons!

Blog by Kelly Hart

Featured Proposal Story: Lindsey & Bobby

In honor of National Romance Awareness Month, we decided to have a contest on our Facebook page, searching for the most romantic proposal story!  We asked our followers to share their engagement stories, and the couple with the most "likes" won a Home Goods gift card and a feature story on our blog!

Each proposal story we received was worthy of a prize...but you just can't beat a puppy proposal! The winning couple was Lindsey & Bobby, with a whopping 228 likes!

Check out their winning proposal below! 

"In the fall of 2013 we (Bobby and I) decided on getting a puppy. In November 2013 we went to pick her out from the litter. Little did I know, this puppy would turn into so much more!! On the morning of December 28th, we woke up and hit the road to go pick up our newest family member. We arrived, and this tiny black lab puppy waddled out of the barn she had lived in for the first 8 weeks of her live. I knelt down to pick her up and, to my surprise, I saw "Lindsey, will you marry me?" attached to her pink dog collar. I was SHOCKED! Bobby was then handing me a beautiful engagement ring. The whole ride home from the breeder, I couldn't believe I was holding my new puppy and was sitting next to my new fiance!!! The plan all along had been to head to Bobby's moms house so she could meet Penny, our new puppy. We arrived to her house, and as soon as I walked in the door, my entire family was there waiting to surprise me. I walked into my own engagement party! I had family come from New Hampshire, and Bobby's entire family. It was a long a day of (happy) tears, champagne toasts, a new puppy, and many surprises. We're getting married on August 28th and I couldn't be happier." - Lindsey

We can't wait for Lindsey & Bobby's wedding at The Commons on August 28th!

 Congratulations you two!

Written By:  Kelly Hart

What to put in your Amenity Baskets for your Wedding Reception

I am often asked the simple question...
"What do I put in my amenity basket for my wedding?"
 Often times, this is a last minute addition to your wedding reception...
but this small, added detail will be much appreciated by your guests.


Here are a few MUST HAVE items to include in your amenity baskets:

For the Ladies' Room:

Tide To-Go 

Hairspray

Static Guard

Breath Mints

Tampons

Hair Elastics

Bobby Pins

Mini Sewing Kit

Lint Roller

Clear Nail Polish

Mouthwash

Tylenol

Dental Floss

Makeup/Face Blotting Wipes

Tissues

Tums

Band-Aids

For the Men's Room:

Breath Mints

Hair Comb

Toothpicks

Tide To-Go

Lint Roller

Tylenol

Dental Floss

Mouth Wash

Tissues

Tums

Band-Aids

It's the little things that make your wedding stand out....like having a Tide-To Go pen available when someone inevitably gets their nicest dress clothes dirty.

Picture Perfect Springtime Wedding

The love between Kendra and Greg was captured beautifully in their wedding video and their amazing photos as well.

Kendra and Greg's Wedding Video