Planning a wedding is a journey filled with excitement, anticipation, and, let’s admit it, a fair share of stress. From selecting the perfect vendors to curating your menu, every detail plays a vital role in creating your dream day. Through this whirlwind of decision-making, one crucial aspect often stands out: the venue.
In this blog, we’ll explore why entrusting your special day to full service wedding venues can elevate your experience from ordinary to extraordinary. From seamless coordination and stress-free planning to the convenience of full service wedding venue packages, discover how choosing a full service venue can turn your dream wedding into reality!
What Makes a Venue Full Service?
At each of our four Massachusetts wedding venues, Saphire Estate, The Villa, Avenir, and The Lakehouse, we offer more than just the backdrop for your wedding day. Bring your vision, and we will provide the rest!
The main ways that full service wedding venues stand out above the rest:
1. Expert Sales Manager
From the first point of contact, you will work with our expert sales team to find the perfect venue for your wedding day. Our sales managers can answer questions throughout the inquiry and tour process and customize your package details to fit your wedding budget. The sales team is prepared to provide you with more information about each venue and the best people to guide you through various venue options, date availability, and pricing structure.
Here’s what real Saphire Event Group couples have to say about our sales team:
“We were blown away by the amount of care, services, and accommodations provided at the venue. The sales manager at Avenir recommended we visit The Villa to see the sister location since it was closer to our home and may offer the feel we were looking for. When we arrived for our tour about a year before our proposed wedding date, we were greeted by The Villa’s sales manager. She was exceptionally thorough and left no stone unturned with what we were looking for.”
Niko A.
“We started with a tour of Saphire Estate about a year and a half before our wedding with a Sales Manager, who started us in the bridal suite and brought us through the entire experience of our wedding from ceremony to cocktail hour, to reception. It was the first of several venues we toured that we were able to actually visualize what our wedding could look like.”
Jen M.
2. Personal Wedding Producer
Our wedding producers are your new best friend. Assigned six to eight months from your wedding day, they are experts in wedding planning with expansive knowledge and resources at their (and your) disposal. Your producer is the wedding day preparation, coordination, and design guru. Their immense knowledge of each Saphire Event Group venue is invaluable when planning everything from floor plans to wedding photo locations! Every step along the way, from selecting the perfect table linens to reaching out to your dream vendors, they go above and beyond to make your dreams a reality. Plus, they will be there on your wedding day to ensure everything goes off without a hitch, letting you focus on getting hitched!
Don’t take our word for it! Here’s what real couples have to say about their full service wedding experience:
“Our event producer was the absolute BEST. So friendly, fun, attentive, knowledgeable, responsive, patient – the list goes on. It felt like working with a friend we’d known forever! We had the best time and our guests raved about the food, service, staff, and overall atmosphere. We were told by several guests that our wedding was one of the best, if not the best, they had ever been to, largely due to the experience that The Villa allowed.”
Allison K.
“Our event producer was absolutely wonderful to work with during our wedding planning process! From the very first email, she was the epitome of organization and efficiency. She streamlined the entire planning process, making what could have been stressful a breeze. She understood our vision perfectly and brought it to life with every detail. On the day itself, our producer and her team were a calming force. They handled every hiccup with a smile and a solution, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. No question was too small, and no request was too daunting – they were always available with a kind word and a helping hand.
Looking back, our wedding wasn’t just a day, it was a dream come true thanks to our event producer and her incredible team.”
Samantha H.
3. Curated Vendor Lists
After fifty years in the wedding business, we’ve formed fantastic connections with New England’s best vendors. Whether you’re looking for a photographer, DJ, or live performer, we’ve got you covered with the best of the best. Looking for someone who’s not on our list, or a type of vendor we don’t have a list for? Even better! We’re always looking for new recommendations to share with our clients.
We value the feedback of our vendors as much as we do that of our couples!
“Every Saphire Event Group venue is beautiful, but I really do love Saphire Estate. I love the tucked-away feel, down the long wooded road across from the lake. I also love the new, huge cocktail hour space and the patio area. There are so many places to take photos, and I love photographing weddings here. The team takes care of everything so well and is so kind to guests and vendors. Awesome wedding venue!”
“After booking, we got a book with amazing advice from their experience with wedding planning and a list of preferred vendors. We booked almost all of our vendors off of this list. It was great to have a starting point and know that they were not only an outstanding vendor, but they also had a working experience of the venue.”
Beckett & Megan L.
4. In-House Catering
The talented in-house culinary team at each Saphire Event Group venue sets us apart as a full service wedding venue. You’ll never have to worry about a caterer getting lost, mishandling food allergies, or cold food! Our team has perfected the art of flawless dinner service, cocktail hour passed hors d’oeuvres, and late-night snacks.
Our menu is likely the most positively reviewed aspect of our full service venue offerings (and that’s saying something!):
“The food was impeccable. Literally the best food ever. In no way, shape, or form was it “wedding food.” I never imagined having chicken at my own wedding, but at our individual tasting (since we are from out of state and couldn’t go to the group tasting) it was perfect, and even better on our wedding night.”
Alex G.
“Let’s talk service – Saphire Estate blew us away with the food. The quality was amazing – we liked 90% of the things we tasted and we actually went for 2 tastings because we were indecisive. Our guests commented on how great the food was both that night and beyond. The appetizers were chefs-kiss and our two entrees – the slow-cooked braised beef and Tuscan-crusted chicken were out of this world. “
5. Day-Of Wedding Attendant
In addition to your wedding producer, expert waitstaff, and bar staff, every Saphire Event Group couple is assigned a personal attendant for your wedding party. Their role is simple: have your back! From taking your drink orders during wedding party photos to catching your wedding producer’s attention if needed, they are by your side for every moment of your big day.
Our couples have a lot to say about our incredible day-of wedding attendants:
“The wedding attendants went above and beyond! They helped hold my dress to make sure it didn’t drag when I was walking outside, grabbed me food in the bridal suite from cocktail hour, grabbed me a drink each time (I don’t think I even walked to the bar once), grabbed desserts for us and just overall waited on us hand and foot all night and I cannot thank them enough!”
Christine C.
“Another highlight was the wedding attendant provided by Avenir on the day of the wedding. She was incredible! This extra support was fantastic and allowed me to fully enjoy and immerse myself in the day without worrying about the little details. The attendant was attentive, and proactive, and made sure that my husband and I were taken care of throughout the event. It was a luxury we didn’t even know we needed, but it made a world of difference.”
Alicia L.
6. Food Tastings
Every Saphire Event Group couple can attend a group tasting with other couples at their wedding venue! In addition to sampling delicious menu items, we invite several of our favorite vendors to showcase their skills, from florals to wedding stationery. Tastings are the perfect opportunity to see your venue and the culinary team in action! A private food tasting is always available for clients who want to try specific menu items or have food allergies.
Food tastings are more than just menu selection:
“Our event producer went out of her way to make us feel special at the tasting, coming over to answer any pressing questions. The food was absolutely delicious at the tasting and helped us finalize our menu for our wedding.”
Siobhan S.
“We went to the food tasting and we were amazed! This isn’t your traditional food tasting where you get small bites of a variety of foods. The food tasting is set up with other couples and it’s designed to make you feel like you’re actually at a wedding. They had a variety of food stations, vendors, appetizers, DJs, smaller portions of 5 different dinners, etc! It was truly amazing and a wonderful experience.”
Nicole W.
7. Updated, Unique Venue Spaces
Each of our full service wedding venues has a unique style and beautifully kept indoor and outdoor ceremony options, reception, and cocktail hour spaces. Based on guest feedback, we consistently update our venues, from ceremony and reception spaces to carefully cultivated landscaping, and the results are always stunning!
Looking for a venue? We have several full service venues to choose from:
1. The Tent at The Villa
The Tent features a stamped concrete floor (no mud or heels stuck in the grass), stunning wooden chandeliers, and a private outdoor ceremony space, in addition to all of the other perks of this full service venue!
2. The Villa’s Madera Ballroom
The Madera Ballroom brings a unique touch of rustic elegance to The Villa. Roaring fireplaces, hardwood floors, and a separate outdoor ceremony space with a wrought-iron pergola are just a few of the perks attached to this full service wedding space.
3. The Villa’s Grand Ballroom
The shimmering fireplace in The Grand Ballroom is just one of the stunning accents that help set The Villa apart. With a private wedding suite and cocktail lounge, this space takes full service to the next level.
The Villa also offers an all-inclusive wedding package, including cake, floral, and entertainment vendors. Couples, contact your Event Producer or Sales Manager for more information!
4. Saphire Estate
Choosing a full service wedding venue means you can focus on the essentials during your big day—like taking as many stunning wedding photos as possible on the Saphire Estate grounds! Plus, Saphire Estate is an exclusive venue, meaning couples have the entire property to themselves on the big day! From the shore of Lake Massapoag to a secluded wooded pathway, Saphire Estate has endless photo opportunities.
5. Avenir
One example of our dedication to creating the perfect full service venue is updating the Avenir Ballroom with stunning hardwood floors and removing the outdated carpet! The sparkling chandeliers are perfectly complemented by the new look and the stunning white dancefloor!
6. The Lakehouse
Our newest full service venue looks entirely new after completing a full renovation in June 2024! With all the incredible plans for this venue, one thing we’ll never change is the incredible lakefront views.
As you consider your wedding venue, be sure to take all of these important factors into account! Logistics of rentals and extra add-on fees at non-full service venues can add up quickly and be overwhelming. Let the team here at Saphire Event Group help make planning easy so you can enjoy your engagement. Schedule a time to connect with one of our wedding coordinators today!
