Here at The Commons 1854, we see a host of the most amazing photographers that present us with truly incredible work.  Thus, this thought inspired today's blog to be really light and cheery and made me want to simply post some of the most thoughtful and creative photographs that we have seen throughout the years here at The Commons.  Of course, these few are just a miniscule amount that have touched us, but just a few we would like to highlight.  Each photograph is different, and really highlights what each professional has to offer in terms of their creative sense.  Happy browsing !! 

Add some fun "extras" !

We love to see people add really fun stuff to their weddings to really make them unique, and "their own."  Here at The Commons 1854, we see a lot of these amazing ideas that really help to enchant the evening.  Some people go the traditional route, through the introduction of unusual cuisine or goody stations that feature the bride's favorite cupcake, or the groom's favorite pastry.  Others feature it during cocktail hour.  We most recently had a bride donate her recipe to our chefs, so that her menu could feature her signature appetizer, a buffalo chicken quesadilla, made bite size in a crisp puffed pastry dough.  However, food is somewhat the most common theme in terms of "spicing up the night."  Why not use media instead?  Let us tell you what we are thinking....

First off, let us talk about using entertainment.  Most recently, we had an amazing wedding that really exemplified both the bride and groom's dedication to their heritage through something fun that the bride hid up her sleeve.  The bride, who was wedding her long time love from Uganda, decided to bring a piece of her husbands culture to life.  She surprised him with native dancers, dressed in all the traditional garb, that were simply amazing.  They danced and chimed in unison, and brought such a surprise to the onlooking guests.  You could tell by the gasps and the awe in the room that this was a brilliant, fun and really different idea.  Not only did the guests get to know her groom a little more, but they also learned about his personal background and got a glimpse at what is held closest to their hearts, and how they will start and fulfill their marriage.  Others as well choose to go with the "theme" of the evening.  Last year, we found it so amazing that one bride and groom chose to have Victorian Carolers standing at the entrance to welcome guests to the seasoned winter wedding.  All of these unique ideas really will have your guests remembering the individuality of your wedding for years to come. 

So, we have cultural dancers and carolers that tops off our "extras" list.  They were simply amazing.  However, instead of viewing the spectacle first hand, why not save it for later.  Confused?  What we mean is this.  Make your guests live entertainment in themselves and install a photo booth!  We have one custom made for The Commons 1854 by our most recommended DJ's from Move it Music DJ and Lighting Co., and it is seriously a hit every time.  The bride and groom can customize a backdrop for all the photos to be printed on, and then leave it up to your guests to create pictures that you can look back on for years to come.  It is SUCH a great idea.  Let's face it, the photographers are amazing but simply cannot capture every single great photo of the night.  A photo booth allows your guests to be themselves, dress up in boa's and tiaras with crazy glasses and let loose.  The bride and groom can be adorned in hats and masks, that look hysterical when thrown over a tuxedo and a wedding dress.  The best part?  The photo's print out for you right there, so request that all your guests get copies and leave them for you :)  That way, you can see you guests in their finest hour, having a bawl at your wedding.  Sometimes, these natural smiles and laughs can surpass formal photos by FAR.  

There are so many more unique ideas out there...These are simply a couple.  Go ahead and have your groomsmen perform magic tricks, like a couple of ours did recently, or take some salsa lessons and salsa for your first dance.  The point is, even if your in love with the classic "Black Tie" theme, and want your wedding to stay traditional, it can never be seen as out of bounds to offer entertainment that your guests will love.  Our blog preaches about creating individuality and a setting that will create the best memories possible, and these are certainly a couple ways to achieve just that!

Happy planning! 
-Melissa 

Five Star, White Gloved Service.  Professionalism with a smile and a sense of humor.  Smiles for your big Day.  Sheer excitement that is shown only through respect and hard work.  Perfection at what they do.  Making events flawless through teamwork that is admirable.  Following direction.  Executing courses with a breeze, and still having time to mingle.  

Paints a pretty elaborate image of being out at a beautiful establishment, being waited on hand and foot, with no issues... at least I would say.  But no, these are not just random descriptors of the wait staff at the Ritz .  These words are meant to paint a picture of just what our in house catering staff here at The Commons 1854 has to offer.  Indeed, we hold them true.  Maintaining a five star rating is not easy, and when all is said and done, commending those that help to achieve this success is what we are all about.  

From the moment our guests walk in...well, let's face it, they don't walk in by themselves.  We designate two of our freshest faces :) to stand guard at the doors, awaiting our beloved guests arrivals.  When they arrive, our greeters welcome them with open arms,  ushering them in with kind remarks and taking their jackets if necessary.  These two are dedicated to standing there until every guest has been greeted and taken in to our venue and helped to settle in.  They help to usher our guests in to our cocktail hour, which takes place in our gorgeous rotunda and foire.  Our staff stand ready with glasses of Malbec already poured, or a crisp Pino Grigio.  They offer champagne or a signature drink that can be chosen by the bride.  Just walking in in this manner can be comparable to walking in to a 5 star luxury hotel.

From then on, the night is left in our hands.  During the remainder of cocktail hour, our staff is dedicated to immersing our guests in the wonderful horderve's that we offer.  Why not try a beautiful sea scallop, wrapped in hickory smoked bacon and delicately placed on a skewer with your Washington Apple martini?  We make drinking with one hand and eating with the other look easy.  And if your the Bride and Groom?  Or the Bridal Party?  Well then you have one, even two, dedicated servers at your beck and call.  We like to ensure our bride and groom with expert wait staff that can certainly ascertain anything that they may need during this period of time.  We don't want you to worry about having to ask someone for a drink, we want to already have it there for you.  Have mango and brie tarlets (so yummy!) on the ready, and korean beef skewers constantly next to your side with this exceptional service.  Our staff always thinks one moment ahead, and it is this thought process that separates us from the rest.  

At dinner, the teamwork is further exemplified and simply blows people out of the water for lack of a better expression.  The staff emerges like an army, bursting through closed doors, bearing baskets filled with fresh baked bread.  Try a cranberry roll, or a classic French baguette.  Immediately after, the staff reads your mind and places down a beautifully presented salad, all chosen by the bride and groom.  It could be our wonderful "October Salad," that is served with a mixed greens, candied walnuts, dried blueberries, crumbled goat cheese and is topped with our signature apple cider vinagrette.  It could be our classic ceasar, topped with fresh shaved parmigian reggiano, homemade croutons and delicately placed in a little cup, formed out of parm cheese that is meant to be eaten and enjoyed.  We offer you wine with dinner, a classic red or white choice.  We insist on maintaining a cleanliness like you would like in your own home, so we are constantly removing old glassware, plates, even freshening up your knife with a new one for dinner. (And this is just the starters...we like to keep tricks up our sleeve.)  We do this without being so overbearing that your wondering if we will ever just leave you alone for a nice meal, which trust me, we have all shared those thoughts at one point or another.  

When dinner arrives, it is stunning.  The staff flawlessly carry your gourmet dinner straight from the kitchen to your table.  They kindly remove the lid, only when your at your seat (and if your not they will seriously wait for you to come back to remove it, because why would you want a cold meal!), allowing the aroma to envelop and waft right towards your taste buds.  Now, it is your turn to savor the moment.

For the rest of the night our guests need not worry because everything they need is right there.  Our servers will fill your water while your out dancing, so when you get back parched and overheating, you won't be dying and trying to flag down the first soul you see.  We like to practice these little things, things we like to call silent service, because they truly show how we train to anticipate our guests needs, and appease them without making them ask.  And honestly, if you don't believe me?  Then take a peek at a few excerpts from reviews that have critically acclaimed The Commons 1854 and their staff as being #1!!!!

"It was the personal attention bestowed on each and every one of us that positively blew me away."

"Where do I even begin with the wait staff?  I feel like I just met a group of my best friends...I went in knowing that everyone would be very pleasant, but now I can't imagine our reception without them!" 

"You truly treated each and every person as if they were a guest at your home and took care of everything.  I am so happy with the way the night ran.  From the bar manager keeping us up to date on the alcohol to the room being cleared in record time.  Simply the BEST wait and service staff at a venue.  You met my expectation and then exceeded them by double." 

"With all the special care your staff gave us and our family, we all felt like the night was an awesome fairytale.  Thanks again for such a magical evening." 

"The interaction that my husband and I had with each of you on the team was outstanding.  Our guests repeatedly expressed their admiration for the level of service, the quality of the team, the attention to detail and the overall effort made to ensure that this special night was a success." 

And this is just the icing on the cake as far as reviews.  Check us out on Yelp, Wedding Wire, The Knot, Google Reviews, and much more to see just how fabulous we are.  And Hey, it seriously isn't bragging, boasting, being totally egocentric if we know its true. Right?!

Winter Weddings :)

 Not everyone can understand, but if your a New Englander, you can.  Winter can be one of the most gruesome, harsh things to get through without something to look forward to.  Most people look at it, or I say most people because it's how I feel :), as a couple months that you kind of just have to grin and bear.   However, I may change my tune just a bit when it comes to having a winter wedding.  I know the concept sounds a little scary, with all the snow and minus thirty temperatures.  But really?  It could be simply amazing.

Look at how the bride and groom look in the first picture.  As they hold hands, they are illuminated by the delicate snow and the glistening trees.  Her dress seems to shine and shimmer without any added sparkle.  His black tux makes him stand out against the backdrop in an intense yet simple way.  
The whole scene is just breathtaking.  Imagine taking your wedding photos underneath the tree scape, or in front of the gorgeous Topsfield Commons all lit up with Christmas lights.  I think it would be amazing to combine the holidays and a wedding.  The things that you could decorate with are endless, everyone is always in a superb holiday cheer, and a wedding gives you one more thing to anticipate and celebrate...two  things that people actually love to do during winter!
 

Sparkle and Shine with Firefly Lighting

Stunning. Magical. An iridescent landscape that can be highlighted like a castle.

These are just some of the descriptors I can give that seem to instantly jump off the tongue as soon as FireFly Lighting Co. takes the stage in the center of The Commons 1854.  Look at this amazing picture, popping with blues and turquoise, and centered with an amazingly velvety pink that seems to create an iconic center for this beautiful bride and groom.  The band seems to be draped in a reddish hue, making the uniformity of their black garb seem ultra sophisticated.  It really does look magical.  Imagine then, to be able to customize a color that would make your porcelain skin shine, or ivory gown glisten among a pale sunshine background.  Honestly, the great thing is that you don't even have to imagine these scenarios.  At The Commons 1854, we promote the use of FireFly Lighting to make these images of beauty come alive for the best day of your life.  How does this happen? Lets talk.

Firefly Lighting is a professional lighting company, exclusive to The Commons, that specializes in the use of sophisticated uplighting to bring drama and flow to private events here at this historic venue.   The company provides uplights for every corner of the ballroom, balcony and even downstairs in the rotunda to emphasize the color schemes of the bride's choice.  Don't worry--they aren't gaudy and huge.  They are elegant, black, rectangle shaped lights that can be perfectly fit near the gorgeous towering pillars of the ballroom, and the light they emit is just beautiful.  Choose a beautiful pale yellow for the fall, to accentuate the harvest theme with flowers of a ivory and purple hue.  Choose a glamorous red, to highlight the red sashes on your bridesmaid's dresses and the perfect red rose petals at your feet for your Christmas wedding.  Make your night glitzy and glam with a magenta hue or vibrant purple, and have unreal photos for years to come.  Seriously, the point is, they make a huge difference in the way that not only you will perceive your night, but all of your guests as well.  Instead of just a dance in the ballroom, it can be a dance in a fairytale wedding all colored in greens and pinks.  It can be simply spectacular.

Beyond the fact that uplighting creates these breathtaking moments with luminous hues, we have a technician that can control these hues at the touch of a dial.  Why stick with just one color all night when you can have ten?  For women, more choices can never be a bad thing, and for a groom?  Just go with it.  Change the color with the music.  When everyone is dancing, intensify the night with a bright green, and then slow it down to a sultry gray or shimmering white as you slow dance for the first time.  The options are really endless for uplighting, and it is truly one option that you do not want to overlook when finalizing those late minute details with your wedding planner.  Hand tailor a lighting package that suits you and your fiance's needs today, and make your wedding as perfect as possible!

Let Us Tailor You Some Tapas! :)

If your in the mood to satisfy those wedding taste buds and create a dramatic, delicious centerpiece at the same time, then having a signature, custom tailored tapas table is the way to do it.  Here at the Commons, the Executive Chef has compiled a set of unique "Tapas Tables" that the bride can choose from to serve her guests on her most special wedding day.  All of the tapas are freshly made on site by superbly trained chefs and are constructed using all of the finest ingredients, even topped with fresh basil and parsley grown fresh in our own garden that is adjacent to this historic venue.  Trust us, guests are always gasping as they are ushered in the front door, not expecting to see a lovely array of bits and pieces standing bright and center.  

Handmade mozzarella is garnished with fresh shaved prosciutto
and sun dried tomatoes.
The combination of the vinegar and salt flavors are too tasty. 

  

A mouth watering homemade arrancini,  or an Italian style rice ball,
that is layered with a savory Pecorino Romano risotto and is drizzled
with our house made marinara.



                A wonderful fall combination.
               Perfectly ripened Granny Smith
                 (Above) Apples compliment a soft, mild cheese
               and are served with candied walnuts
                for that added sugary crunch.
And of course, a picture of an eclectic Mediterranean
tapas arrangement. 

These hand cut honeydew and cantaloupe melons are wrapped in the finest imported
Italian prosciutto's, drizzled with a balsamic glaze and are paired with our Peking Duck.
We do ours just a little different, and stuff a paper thin scallion crepe with pan
 seared duck breast cooked in its own fat, add  julienned carrots and scallions, and top the sushi
style rolls with a hoisen sauce.
They are amazing!

Shots?  These are so yummy!  It's a delightful warm asparagus soup shooter,  served with a crunchy
 battered asparagus piece right on top.  Sip it, Dip it, or Shoot it.  However you prefer! 

A rich and savory balsamic glazed meatball, topped with Gorgonzola cheese, caramelized fig and
 finished with a bit of micro-celery for some added zest. 

A perfect stuffed pepper, made with our signature
stuffing that absolutely melts in your mouth.

    

               First off, what a centerpiece.  Second, they are a gorgeous garden fresh Caprese style salad,
adorned with garden fresh tomatoes, basil, and a delicate balsamic reduction. 

A beautifully presented pan-seared sea scallop, topped with gently crisped pancetta and adorned with
 baby pea shoots for a delightful crunch.  All of which is served on a delicate tasting spoon for easy eating.

 

These are just a few of the hundreds of tapas that we can create to make your wedding day unforgettable.  We are more than accommodating to vegetarian and nut free requests. Please consult Kristi, Johanna or Maura today to talk about some of our amazing custom tapas stations that we can create for you.  As a bride, make your wedding day even more unique with foods that display your taste and personality!  

-Melissa Wood
The Commons 1854 

Natural Sunshine and the Perfect Wedding Venue

Samantha and Danny's Spring Wedding Reception at the Commons 1854 was the perfect day.  Her colors and theme was filled with natural yellows and greens which was the perfect match for her wedding venue and the perfect late spring day.  Her wedding day was full of sunshine as her wedding party enjoyed a post ceremony wedding cake martini (Samantha's signature drink)

in the outdoor garden terrace at the Commons 1854.

 

The tall Maple trees at the Reception formal photo site provide a soft filtration of sunlight.  This ensured Samantha and Danny the ideal formal photos for their wedding.

 

 

 

 

The cake which was displayed in the grand ballroom at the Commons 1854 was the ideal accent to Samantha and Danny's motif.   The natural sunlight shining in through the large leaded glass windows matched the yellow rose petals on the cake table.   

 

 

 

 

The brides accents- Natural bees honey and menu card adorned the place setting at Samantha and Danny's Wedding Reception. 

 

 

 

 

 

The bride and grooms Ballroom.  The moment they entered the ballroom for their reception, Samantha and Danny's faces glowed.  They had sunset yellow uplighting by Firefly Event Lighting which started glowing as the sun went down. 

 

 



 

It was the perfect day for the perfect couple.  Photos taken by Leise Jones

 

 

 



Its the Little things that Go a Long way !

  The Commons 1854. Topsfield, Massachusetts

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Spice your night up with a beautiful cappuccino that could make your heart sing just as much as the cupcakes you’ll be pairing with it…..

------------------------------------------------------------------------Of course, there is a lot more to it than just picking a couple things to make your wedding extraordinary. There is of course the planning, and the shopping, and the planning, and more planning.  It can be stressful, it can be tedious, and sometimes, if you are that far in, the details can honestly be quite dreadful.  However, don’t stress it.  Sometimes, the most memorable events to your wedding can be the small stuff.  

I think it’s a wide consensus of most bride’s that we see here at The Commons 1854 that they just want their wedding to be unique, completely individualized, and amazing.  That is why for today’s blog, I chose to feature weddings that haven’t really followed the traditional suit during the late night hours.  Whether it be forgoing a cake and doing personalized ice cream cupcakes, saying “no-way” to coffee and instead choosing custom-heart shaped cappuccinos, or featuring a late night snack, such as a our amazing hand-cut shoestring french-fries topped with a parmesan truffle topping and burger sliders, these brides have shown their resistance to keeping to conformity, and instead have shown a part of themselves on a day that is supposed to be all for themselves. 

A huge trend that has appeared with our brides is the lack of a traditional wedding cake. Now sure, wedding cakes are illustrious centerpieces to what we coincide with a traditional wedding.  However why not mix it up?  We have seen some awesome alternatives, our favorite being one bride’s choice of an ice cream cupcake.  They were so cute and yummy!  Another bride chose to do individual black raspberry, truffle, red velvet, and chocolate cupcakes tiered as if they were a wedding cake, and invited their guests to join them in the “cutting” process.  It was adorable! Others go the route of using handmade Italian pastries, such as the ones shown in the picture, that go just perfectly  with delicately laced heart shaped cookies, and the delicious espressos that I will next discuss.

So, we have the cupcakes.  Now, how to make the coffee service different?  Nix it all together and try our gourmet Black Tie Espresso.  Black Tie prides itself on serving the finest espresso this side of Italy, and indeed, it holds true.  Adorned with all the bells and whistles, Black Tie uses only the superior machinery as well, that can ensure satisfaction on this most special day.  Brides have absolutely loved this option instead of a traditional coffee service.  What entails is this.  Guests are invited to the espresso table, at their convenience of course, and their surprise waits.  Not only are traditional cappuccinos made to order, which are quite exceptional considering the coffee is legitimately ground in front of you, but they can be personalized with flavorings such as anisette, vanilla, even white chocolate raspberry.  One can make it a latte’ or even just a straight up espresso without hesitation.  Yet, the most amazing part is the latte’ art.  We are proud to say that Frank Martino Jr., one of the few licensed Master Baristas in the U.S, runs this company and likewise stands tableside to execute this master art.  Brides are thoroughly impressed with this skill, drawing hearts that seem to perfectly compliment the delectable gourmet espresso underneath.  It’s truly a great way to customize the end of your night without blowing your budget!  

Ahh, and last but not least comes the food.  While espresso and chocolates have always, and will always, have such a warm place in my heart, nothing can compare to a late night snack…and here, we do them exceptionally well.  Brides and grooms alike have found our hand-cut, truffle and Parmigiano reggiano laced French fries, paired with a savory burger slider, a must-have on the late night list.

  Just as the night is getting hot and the dancing is getting crazy, it is inevitable that you’ll find yourself and your guests growing a little bit hungry.  These snacks will cure that sensation in an instant! Not only are they super delicious and perfect size, they come in cute little take out boxes! The truffle fries will keep you coming back for more, with their delicate crunch and cheesy aftertaste and the sliders will give you that love for a burger just like the first time you had one.  They are the perfect conclusion to an amazing evening and give you that teeny little hint of some late night love!