Nantucket Wedding Planning Guide
// VENUES
The White Elephant
White Elephant is a luxury hotel located on the Nantucket Harbor, on the right side of the terminal ferry, a ten-minute walk from it. I like the history of its name – in the early 20th century, a wealthy resident of the island began to buy up old houses on the right side of the bay, and she planned to build a large hotel there. Locals mocked her, joking that the big hotel would be hulking as an elephant. Remembering this joke and finishing construction, she named the hotel and the entire resort – the White Elephant. Of course, the hotel is difficult to call big, but for Nantucket, it is enormous: almost 70 guest rooms and suites. Wedding ceremonies take place on the Harborview Lawn overlooking the harbor and Children’s Beach. And for your wedding reception there are a few options: Harborview Terrace for intimate weddings and The Ballroom and Conference Center, located in the Inn, can hold up to 300 guests.
The Nantucket Hotel
Our Grand Ballroom is the only in-town venue that offers seating for up to 220 guests and provides the freedom to host events until 1:00 AM!
The Wauwinet
The Wauwinet is a boutique resort, as well as one of the most popular Nantucket wedding venues named after the village on the north-south coast of the island twenty-minute drive from the terminal ferry. The main building of Wauwinete House first welcomed guests 135 years ago. Isn’t it awesome to get married at a venue with such a rich history? The Wauwinet has 32 guest rooms. Weddings of up to 100 people can take place in the dining rooms, and celebrations of up to 150 people can take place in the tent.
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Located in the heart of downtown Nantucket, the Whaling Museum offers guests the perfect mix of modern design combined with history and tradition. The museum’s climate-controlled space features an unforgettable 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, elegant art, and priceless artifacts. Flowing from the museum’s main hall is the Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory, a soaring 1847 two-level exposed brick space with original wooden ceiling beams. Together, they form an extraordinary venue to host a wedding ceremony or reception, cocktail party, or private dinner event. CLICK HERE for a list of all of the other Nantucket Historical Association wedding venue options.
Harborview Nantucket
Harborview Nantucket is a boutique resort consists of eleven luxury accommodations in the town of Nantucket. It’s perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies on a lawn or a private beach, and reception can be held in a tent right in the center of the resort. Very convenient, especially if you rent all the accommodations for your wedding guests.
The Nantucket Dreamland
The Harborview Room is the crown jewel of the Dreamland Theater. This setting is the perfect place for hosting weddings, social gatherings, birthdays, meetings, workshops, lectures and much more. With direct access to the commercial catering kitchen, the Harborview Room has a stunning panoramic view of Nantucket Harbor from its own private terrace. This space is sure to leave a lasting impression on you and your guests.
Galley Beach
Galley Beach is the perfect setting for your private event. We handle private parties, weddings, as well as corporate events. Please contact our full time event coordinator via the link below for more information.
Great Harbor Yacht Club
Nestled in picturesque Nantucket Harbor, the Great Harbor Yacht Club’s unique style of relaxed luxury, combined with its extraordinary waterside setting, creates a special event experience like no other. Perfect for intimate occasions to grand affairs, both our indoor and outdoor venues offer a range of possibilities for unforgettable Nantucket events.
Nantucket Yacht Club
Nantucket Yacht Club is located right in the Downtown Historic District of Nantucket Town. Its history began at the end of the 19th-century when locals established the Club to provide sailing experience for guests and residents of the island and held yacht races in Nantucket Sound. The Nantucket wedding venue can host a celebration for up to 260 guests. A ceremony takes place right on the property of the Club overlooking on has an exceptional view of the harbor. Main Ballroom is perfect for large parties and has access to the patio and waterfront deck.
Chanticleer Nantucket
Originally opened as a small tea house at the turn of the century, The Chanticleer is now one of the premier restaurants on Nantucket. One of the most romantic destinations on the island, you may linger over an intimate lunch in the Rose Garden or come together with family and friends for a convivial dinner in one of our personal dining rooms- al fresco on warm evenings. We take bookings for weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and any other celebratory gathering you might wish to host.
The Summer House
The Summer House is a boutique collection of inns and restaurants, including the Beachside Bistro, on Nantucket. We operate the famous Summer House Cottages on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic in Siasconset, and four wonderful inns in Nantucket town. The Summer House also makes for the Island’s most perfect wedding venue.
The Westmoor Club
Our Clubhouse Terrace and lawn space create a dream-worthy Nantucket wedding scene. Depending on your preference of scenery, our fifteen acres provide numerous opportunities for a perfect day! Whether your outdoor event is tented or open, the gorgeous property which has been featured in local and national magazines, is the perfect backdrop to your special day! The North Lawn can accommodate a tent for up to four hundred people. Guests will enjoy the view of the lower grass tennis courts, croquet lawn and elaborate gardens.
Whales Watch Estate
Google “Whales Watch Nantucket Wedding” to see footage of weddings, family reunions, and other large events held at this one-of-a-kind Nantucket estate. Direct oceanfront with steps down to your own private beach, complete with bonfire pit, and a huge yard for events. Large wrap around porches and decks offer some of the best views on Nantucket! All areas of house and yard have been recently outfitted with new furnishings. Hot tubs were added to each house this past year and we will be adding a pool late 2019.
Sankaty Head Golf Club
Sankaty Head Golf Club located next to the iconic Head Light lighthouse. This country club offers its customers a breathtaking view and exceptional service. Location for a wedding ceremony is the entirely green lawn of Sankaty Head Beach Club overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and wedding reception can happen five minutes down the road at Sankaty Head Golf Club, which set against the backdrop of an iconic 168-year old lighthouse.
Sandbar at Jetties Beach
Sandbar at Jetties Beach is an event space truly unique to Nantucket. With one of the island’s most pristine beaches as your backdrop, we can provide the ultimate beachfront private event – whether it is a small intimate cocktail party for 20, or a wedding for 250, any celebration at Sandbar is sure to be a memorable experience.
124 Tom Nevers Road
A private home with an amazing south shore view.
13 Wherowhero Lane
This fifteen bedroom house is set on two and a half acres of landscaped yard and pine trees in a quiet Surfside neighborhood.
Nantucket Golf Club
250 Milestone Road
46 Madequecham Valley Road
Incredible oceanfront compound on over three acres, with private direct beach access to one of the most beautiful beaches on Nantucket Island.
Wade Cottages
The Wade Cottages are located in the nicest part of the beautiful town of Siasconset. Steps from the beach and from the quaint village center.
First Congregational Church
For a wedding day bathed in light, look no further than First Congregational Church, Nantucket. Before deciding on any other wedding venue, come by and visit the beautifully restored historic sanctuary. You may well fall in love with the high arching windows, long center aisle, magnificent organ and beautiful grounds. Located high on Beacon Hill overlooking the town of Nantucket, First Congregational Church has been home to some of the largest weddings on the island and some of the most intimate of gatherings. The ministers and staff will work with you to make your wedding formal and celebratory while appropriately personal and meaningful for you, your family, and your friends.
Siasconset Casino
“If 'Sconset is Nantucket's hidden gem, the Casino is the crown jewel of the island.” The Siasconset Casino, or simply the Casino, was built in the fall of 1899 to fill the growing community’s need for a large event space. Throughout the early 1900s, the Casino played host to innumerable parties and theatrical performances. Fast forward 120 years and the Casino is still hosting a variety of events - from weddings to art openings and fundraisers to movie nights.The Casino has three main entertaining spaces, each with their own unique set of features. You’ll have access to whichever spaces you feel will provide the most enjoyable experience for you and your guests.
Siasconset Union Chapel
The Siasconset Union Chapel was built in 1883 as an ecumenical “House of Worship” and has hosted Protestant and Roman Catholic services for many years since. The Chapel is at the heart of the 'Sconset community. It is the meeting place for prayer, song, message, marriage, contemplation and a place for annual renewal and resumption of friendships.
St. Mary’s Church
3 Federal Street
(508) 228-0100
St. Paul’s Chuch
St. Paul’s Church is a beautiful church and a popular place for weddings. The Church is available for weddings of both members and nonmembers. The church can accommodate about 300 people. With its recently renovated organ we also offer musical accompaniment that can include our choir.
Unitarian Church
The historic 1809 Unitarian Meeting House is the perfect location for Nantucket weddings of all sizes. The building's gold dome, one of the island‘s most recognizable landmarks, beckons wedding parties as they arrive by ferry or plane, setting the stage for a special occasion always to be remembered.
// VIDEOGRAPHERS
Yellow Productions
The most important day of your life should be something you can look back on & remember forever. Whether you’re getting married on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, New England or beyond, every love story film we create is handcrafted & custom made to our couples because no love story is ever the same. We create films that will last a lifetime.
September Productions
September Productions does more than just create beautiful wedding videos. We craft emotionally rich cinematic stories of one of the most important days of a couple’s life. Your wedding day may fly by in a blur, but your wedding film will capture the moments to be cherished together, shared with the people you love, and treasured for generations to come.
Meg Simone
I believe wedding films should be documented with a small footprint, natural and realistic approach. With 17 years experience filming weddings, I know how to weave together sound and moving pictures in a timeless, relatable, natural way, and can make even the most camera-wary feel at ease. I want to be the easiest part of your wedding experience from your first email to final delivery. In an era where everyone has a camera, not everyone has the years experience and know-how to make compelling family heirlooms while preserving the guest experience. Let me walk the sidelines, give me a temporary window to your world, and I will allow you to relive one incredible party and adventure in your life.
// HAIR & MAKEUP
Emily Nantucket
Emily is a graduate of the Make-up Designory in Soho, NY. With an appetite for beauty, studying Make-up was the perfect opportunity for her passion to come to life. Beauty wasn’t all she studied, her curriculum included character make-up, from bald caps to prosthetics. After graduating Emily became a lead makeup artist for a private label on the coast of Connecticut. She has had the chance to work on numerous commercial shoots & has branched into wardrobe and set design. With an island love so deep Emily moved to Nantucket. She is continuously being inspired by the Grey Lady’s natural charm! Emily is whitty, whimsical & knows how to create practicle beauty at the same time! Emily’s vision from the beginning was to help women reach their full beauty potential. 10 years later, She continues to see that vision through and provide one beautiful outcome after another!
Darya’s Salon
Darya Salon & Spa is a year round full service salon and spa located in the heart of downtown Nantucket. Our services include the latest techniques and trends, using only high end products to reach the finest results. Darya Salon and Spa is a leading salon in the wedding industry on Nantucket, garnering recognition from the best bridal magazines such as: Style Me Pretty, WellWed, Nantucket Living, Boston Magazine, Southern Living, Nantucket Weddings and N Magazine. Visit Darya Salon and Spa to experience innovative beauty services in a fresh modern atmosphere, while you enjoy our beautiful island!
RJ Miller
You have great expectations for your wedding day, and we take great care to see that those expectations are exceeded. RJ Miller’s experienced wedding coordinator will work with you on every detail so when the day of your wedding comes, your only responsibility is to bask in the moment.
Melissa David Salon
Melissa David is a high-end salon and spa in downtown Nantucket specializing in cutting edge color techniques such as balyage and hairpainting as well as modern lived-in straight razor and shear cuts!
Jeannie Vincent
Makeup Artist serving Nantucket and beyond.
// FLORALS
Soiree Floral
Soirée Floral is a floral and event design studio providing stunning environments and unusual arrangements for weddings, social occasions and corporate events. Dawn Kelly, founder and creative director, creates the unexpected with every bouquet, centerpiece and event she designs. While her designs may be dramatic, Dawn’s clients will tell you she brings a sense of calm, balance and sensibility to the creative process.
Flowers on Chestnut
At Flowers on Chestnut, we specialize in creating the Nantucket Wedding of your dreams. We work with some of the island’s premier wedding vendors to create your vision.
Wild Isle Studios
Artistic, contemporary floral design using locally sourced seasonal flora.
Fleurish Nantucket
Fleurish was inspired by the earth, sand, and sea. You will find this inspiration come through in most of my floral designs-they are whimsical, full of texture, and movement. Melanie only takes on a handful of events a year in order to give each of her clients the best possible experience.
Parties and Petals
Stacey Perry draws inspiration from nature and the bounty of each season. She loves to forage materials and to make each design unique for weddings and special occasions.
Krissy Price – Boston Pollen
Pollen Floral Design focuses on using seasonal, high quality blooms to create beautiful, fresh designs unique to your wedding or gathering. Pollen designs are inspired by natural elements and textures to reflect a lush, garden aesthetic.
Mohr Gardening
Mohr Gardening brings a unique eye for color and design out of the garden and into your home or other venues for weddings, and private parties.
Mary Beth Ferro Floral Design
Mary Beth has had 26 years of experience working with clients as a floral designer and 14 years as an interior designer for Nantucket Looms. The variety of her designs include sweet summer bouquets sold at Nantucket Looms; arrangements for holiday house tours in historic mansions; designs for weddings and special events of all sizes; styling of photo shoots; and weekly installations in island homes.
// CATERING
NanTaco - Taco & Bar Cart
21 Water Street, Nantucket, MA 02554
contact@nan-taco.com
AckPicnics - Specialize in setting up & styling stunning outdoor dining experiences anywhere on Nantucket!
Email: Ackpicnics@gmail.com // Telephone: 831.251.8018
// CAKES & DESSERT
Cake Nantucket
Locally made cakes for weddings, birthdays, and any special occasions.
Nantucket Bake Shop
Making wedding cakes for thirty years!
45 Surfside
Award winning Chef/Owner Rebecca Moesinger, a talent second to none, was the founder and former head designer of Konditor Meister bakery. Email Rebecca or call us at (774) 333-3981 for a consultation on your wedding or special occasion cake.
Jodi’s Cakes
From classical elegance to works of whimsy pastry chef Jodi Levesque will create a cake from which memories are made.
// PLANNERS
David M. Handy Events
David M. Handy Events is an established, full-service event design and planning company based in Nantucket, Massachusetts, with offices in Boston Massachusetts, that offers the inspiration, the experience, and the personalized approach to client service necessary to make any event extraordinary.
Milly & Grace Weddings
Thoughtful wedding planning & design for adoring couples, who dream of getting married on Nantucket Island.
Nantucket Island Events
Nantucket Island Events is the premier planning company on island. NIE is locally owned and operated by Maureen Maher and Margaret Naylon. While on an island thirty miles out to sea, numerous questions and inherent challenges will arise – for over 10 years, clients have trusted in their local expertise and flawless attention to detail in order to insure that you and your guests are able to relax and enjoy, not only the day of your special events, but all of the months leading up to your “on island” celebration
Jimmy Jaksic – Immaculate Reception
At Immaculate Reception, we believe in creating a Nantucket wedding that truly reflects the personalities of the bride and groom. We provide a wide range of wedding coordinating, planning and design services to meet your needs. Our Nantucket wedding planning services are personalized to match your needs, from full service planning, partial planning or “day of” coordination.
PPX Events
Venue, Event Planning & Catering Company.
Nantucket Island Weddings
Carolyn Hills has been in the hospitality customer service industry for 30 years and in 1996 she established The Nantucket Concierge knowing there was a need to offer visitors to the island more personal services. The Nantucket Concierge not only offered assistance with accommodations, restaurant and other reservations, but also event and wedding planning.
// MUSIC
The Sultans of Swing
Over the company’s 20 year history, we have assembled a talent pool so rich, we feel 100% certain that we can deliver a rave up performance for any generation, anywhere in the world. To lift up a room with music, a band must play the right song at the right time for the generations in the audience..and we can perform them all. We customize our band for each event we do, so the playlist is tailored to your musical preferences. Check out our streaming videos, and peruse our references from weddings and parties.
Nightshift Entertainment
Offering a diverse array of musical services ranging from soloists and jazz ensembles, to high-energy dance bands. Night Shift Entertainment delivers expert advice to help you obtain your entertainment goals. Merging talent and innovation, we provide our clients with extraordinary live entertainment for the most distinctive weddings and corporate events.
Billy Voss Events
A locally owned and operated event entertainment, rental and service company in Nantucket, MA. We have had the privilege of providing event services for over 100 weddings, venues and functions on and off Nantucket in 2015 alone.
Jeff Ross
Nantucket’s premier wedding and function band.
Miss Fairchild
Boston’s R&B ensemble Miss Fairchild is joyfully committed to The Show; spectacle, musicianship, awe and entertainment. Performing in the grand tradition of the Motown/Stax innovators of the 60’s, and the glittery Pop-Funk icons of each succeeding decade, MF exists amongst a new tier of R&B showmanship. Channeling both the urban ferocity of The Dap Kings as well as the slick live acts of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars, they tilt their fedoras to the past, while dancing in tandem with the contemporary.
East Coast Soul Boston Wedding Band
Over the years, East Coast Soul’s demand has grown exponentially, as has our network of close musical companions. As a result, we’ve developed into a boutique collective of elite ensembles, each based on the same core repertoire and performance style, but inspired by the unique energy of their musicians and vocalists.
Bobby Maguire - Violinist
(508) 901-1008
jrmaguire84@gmail.com
Nantucket DJ Productions - Brett Morneau
Nantucket DJ Productions is a full service disc jockey business with professional quality live sound equipment and lighting. We can work with all venues and will provide premium sound regardless of the size and scope of the location and event. We have thousands of songs available, as well as “clean” versions of all the top hits.
// OTHER
Nantucket Tents - Sperry Tents
Largest on-island inventory of pole tents by Sperry
Nantucket Party Rentals
Tent Rentals - Family owned and operated party and event rental company
Hang Ten Raw Bar
We specialize in serving fresh seafood and are committed to provide you with the freshest and finest Nantucket has to offer. We source sustainably from our own Pocomo Meadow oyster farm and dig wild native little neck clams. We are on the water daily and will harvest our shellfish for your party the day of the event. We cater to weddings, cocktail party's, birthdays, private dinners, beach party's, corporate events and more.
Parchment Fine Papers
1 New Street, Sconset. 508-228-4110
Sara Fitz
Delightfully illustrated goods.
ACK Gift Bags
ACK GIFT BAGS has been the island’s premier gift bag company since 2010. Let us give your guests a warm welcome with a personalized bag full Nantucket treats, and check this project off your list. Owner Denise Badders has worked in the hospitality industry on Nantucket for over 15 years. With her finger on the pulse, you will have access to a huge variety of Nantucket treasures based on a curated and exclusive list of island vendors.
Lemon Press Juice Detox
Lemon Press is about encompassment. Our mission is to simply give the community access to healthy informational and nutritional tools in order for you to unlock your full potential.
Anticipate Invitations
An exquisite event begins with an exquisite invitation.
Cranberry Transportation
Cranberry Transportation can handle groups of as many as over 500 passengers or as little as a luxury sedan for the Bride and Groom.
Highland Drivers
Highland Drivers is a small family run business offering extraordinary vehicles for special occasions, weddings, birthdays or just a special night on the town.
Rev. Linda Simmons
I’d love the opportunity to be your Nantucket wedding officiant! I am a Unitarian Universalist minister who has been marrying people of all walks of life since 2001. I can marry you here in our gorgeous sanctuary, on one of our pristine beaches or in any other location you would like.
Nancy Holmes
Justice of the Peace - (508 ) 228-7217
A Nantucket Marriage License can be obtained at the Town Clerks office on Broad Street ~ 508-228-7216