Tent Season (May-October)
Willowdale Estate is one of the few historic mansions in New England that can offer parties in every month of the year. In this post we are going to celebrate the end of our 2016 Tent Season by looking back at the parties we’ve hosted this year and sharing some details to get you all ready for more fun next year!
Between May-October 2016 we will have hosted 74 Weddings and 38 Corporate, Social, and Public Events!
In May through October, Willowdale Estate installs a custom Sperry Tent has all of the amenities of an indoor venue with lighting, flooring, heat, and tent sides to protect guests from the elements. This setup is the best of both worlds for clients who want to enjoy the beauty of our peaceful outdoor setting while still having a comfortable rain plan with our ample indoor and tented event areas.
Photo: Leona Campbell Photography
With warmer weather and larger event capacities- this is the perfect season for weddings, corporate events, summer outings, fundraisers and proms! Guests enjoy the use of the historic mansion for cocktail hour and use the spacious garden courtyard and tent for dinners, dancing, and fun entertainment options like a fire pit or lawn games.
In addition to the outdoor space, many of our events use the historic indoor areas for cocktail hour, and as an area for coffee, tea or desserts. Guests love our 1901 Arts and Crafts style Estate which is laden with traditional architectural details such as original mosaic tiling and ornate fireplaces.
Photo: Katie Slater Photography
Many people get their first introduction to Willowdale Estate as a wedding venue but we are actually busy hosting a range of events like client appreciation events, fundraisers, proms, and even social events that are open to the public! Below are some of our favorite uses of our private estate during the Tent Season:
SUMMER COMPANY OUTING
We love sharing our space for what might be “The Best Workday Ever”. With great food, drinks, fun games, and themed experiences included in our service- we’re not surprised that many North Shore businesses come back year after year for a day-long retreat. Many companies do a great job of mixing business with pleasure and include presentations using our in-house AV equipment, podium and smaller rooms for breakout sessions. There are plenty of fun entertainment options to make the day even more memorable – like a Ipswich Ale Tapmobile, Canoe Trips on the Ipswich River, or a live band!
Photos: Zev Fisher Photography
PROMS & FORMALS
Dancing under the tent is always a memorable experience and we have had several schools host a prom or formal dances at Willowdale Estate! With the location, equipment, food and service all taken care of- the students can focus on the fun stuff like the clothes, the theme and making memories with friends! This year, many schools included a promenade and photos at our location before the dinner and dancing which creates an impressive backdrop for photos.
Photos: Hello Love Photography
PUBLIC EVENTS
Every year Willowdale Estate hosts a series of public events to share our unique space with our friends, neighbors and clients. Many of our biggest public events take place in our Tent Season, and this year our Bluegrass & BBQ event and our Halloween Gala sold out in less than 12 hours! Sharing our space is our greatest joy and the public events are the perfect time for the community to enjoy the space.
If you want to hear more about attending a public event at Willowdale Estate check out our upcoming events: https://www.willowdaleestate.com/willowdale-events-boston-ma/
In November we will take the tent down and move to indoor events through April for our Mansion Season. Keep in touch with our weekly posts for more details about our weddings and events in all seasons!
