16 charming venues to consider for your big day!

By Fred Albert / Newport Wedding Magazine 2020

Newport County is blessed with a spectacular assortment of popular wedding venues. But sometimes you’re looking for a place that’s not as familiar — one that offers all the comforts and character of the big players, but is a little unexpected. (And, in some cases, a little more affordable.) So we asked an assortment of event planners and other insiders to share their hidden gems — those places that aren’t on everyone’s radar, but still offer a charming, only-in-Newport setting for your nuptials.

Newport

Courtesy of the Preservation Society of Newport County

Green Animals Topiary Garden
This beloved Portsmouth attraction is now accepting wedding reservations for the first time! The oldest topiary garden in the United States, Green Animals features more than 80 examples of evergreen wizardry stretching over several acres. The captivating animals, birds and geometric topiaries are joined by vegetable and herb gardens, orchards and a Victorian house overlooking Narragansett Bay, making this an exquisite setting for your Newport-area wedding. The property will be available for rental seven days a week from April to October for tented weddings and receptions. (The farmhouse can be used for changing space, but not the actual event.) Visit newportmansions.org for more details.

The Newport Art Museum
With its art-filled interiors and landscaped grounds, the museum is a creative backdrop for your indoor or tented affair. newportartmuseum.org

The Redwood Library & Athenaeum
Established in 1747, the Redwood is a memorable spot for your wedding or reception, accommodating either indoor gatherings or tented events for up to 350 people.
redwoodlibrary.org

Sara Zarrella Photography

International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum
Love. Match. What sport says “wedding” as much as tennis? With its historic buildings, sweeping porches and manicured grass courts, the ITHF offers event options for any time of year. tennisfame.com

Schooner Adirondack II
Enjoy a little romance on the high seas with 55 of your nearest and dearest aboard this 80-foot sailboat. sail-newport.com

The Chalet at Castle Hill Inn
When you think of Castle Hill Inn, you picture a waterside wedding with a tent on the lawn. But if you’re planning an intimate affair sometime between November and March (before the tent goes up), event planner Sherry Scott of Ruby Collaborative recommends the Chalet. This cozy, charming alternative simply oozes Old World charm. castlehillinn.com

Maria Burton Photography 

The Casemates at Fort Adams

There are a number of wedding options at Fort Adams, but event planner Katie McLaughlin of Leila Ryan Events makes special mention of this character-filled spot, whose vaulted brick ceilings, granite walls and view patios can accommodate up to 200 guests. fortadams.org

Queen Anne’s Loft
Located in the heart of downtown Newport, this Victorian building boasts panoramic views of the harbor and seating space for 100 dinner guests. queenannesloft.com

The Pavilion at Forty 1° North
Stage a downtown waterfront wedding under a sheltered pavilion surrounded by luxury yachts and Newport Harbor. 41north.com

Middletown

Sweet Berry Farm
Celebrate with up to 400 guests under a tent in the Orchard Field, or gather up to 90 around the fieldstone fireplace in the rustic post-and-beam barn. sweetberryfarmri.com

Norman Bird Sanctuary
The perfect setting for a nature lover’s wedding, Norman Bird Sanctuary’s grounds and Paradise Farmhouse offer indoor and outdoor options for small gatherings. normanbirdsanctuary.org

Brittany Leigh Photography

Newport Vineyards
Newport Vineyards offers both indoor and outdoor wedding spaces, all surrounded by the stellar beauty of their vineyards. newportvineyards.com

Portsmouth

Lefebvre Photography

Glen Manor House
Event planner Erica Trombetti of Infinite Events is partial to this French-style chateau, which is surrounded by formal gardens and borders the Sakonnet River. glenmanorhouse.com

Greenvale Vineyards
Greenvale offers several wedding sites, from the scenic splendor of their Waterview Tent Site to the rustic intimacy of their restored-stable-turned-tasting-room. greenvale.com

Jamestown

Dragonline Studios
Situated on a promontory jutting out into Narragansett Bay, this loftlike three-story building offers outstanding privacy and nearly wraparound views. “It’s a cool space that a lot of people don’t think of,” says event planner Sarah Heaney of Leila Ryan Events. rental.duncanlaurie.com

Little Compton

Photo by Bob Curley

The Stone House
This historic 1850s estate sits on 2.7 acres near the tip of Sakonnet Point, offering a quaint coastal setting for small events. newportexperience.com/stonehouse