Massachusetts rain plan guide
Updated
A rain plan is what happens to an outdoor ceremony if the weather turns: a room indoors, a covered space, or a tent. Plenty of venues with a lovely lawn never say which. In Massachusetts, 47 venues with an outdoor ceremony say what happens if it rains. Most move indoors (39); 15 put up a tent. Plans are most often stated in the Berkshires & Western Mass and Cape Cod & the Islands.
We've gathered details on 70 Massachusetts venues. Pick a starting point and Sage will rank them for your day, with cost estimates wherever the venue publishes its prices.
We count a venue only when its own details describe a plan. Most of the rest never mention weather, which means you'll need to ask, not that there's no plan.
What kind of venue
The share of each kind of Massachusetts outdoor-ceremony venue that says what happens if it rains. Start your search with the kinds at the top: inns (9 of 9) and country clubs and golf clubs (9 of 10).
Read the rain plan carefully
39 Massachusetts venues
The simplest plan: the ceremony moves into a room the venue already has. Ask whether it holds everyone, and whether it's also the dinner room, since resetting it takes time.
In Massachusetts: Grove at Briar Barn Inn, Groveland Fairways and Hotel Commonwealth Boston, among others.
5 Massachusetts venues
A pavilion or covered terrace keeps the outdoor feel, but not the warmth. Ask whether it has sides that close, and whether there are heaters.
In Massachusetts: Black Rock Country Club, Fern Hill Barn and The Groton Inn, among others.
15 Massachusetts venues
A tent can go where you planned the ceremony, but it is usually ordered days ahead and paid for separately. Ask who orders it, who pays, and how late you can decide.
In Massachusetts: Russell Morin Catering and Events, Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill and The Estate at Moraine Farm, among others.
Some venues offer more than one, so the counts overlap.
Venue by venue
Every outdoor-ceremony venue here that describes its plan, in a sentence: where the ceremony goes, and, where the venue says, when the call is made and what it costs. The most detailed first.
Williamstown
If it rains: Barn packages can move indoors, and rain site change assistance is available for $500. The Outdoorsy 250 and Micro-Wedding packages do not include barn access even in severe weather. A tent is recommended over 100 guests and required over 150.
Up to 250 guests
North Andover
If it rains: The sailcloth tent covers dinner and dancing for an outdoor wedding. During the colder months the estate hosts the ceremony and reception indoors, with the first floor and air-conditioned sunroom available for cocktail hour.
Up to 250 guests
Nahant
If it rains: Outdoor ceremonies move into the Grand Ballroom, with the final call made 24-48 hours before the wedding. Exclusive umbrella insurance is also offered, providing every guest a domed clear vinyl umbrella for light rain.
Up to 220 guests
Princeton
If it rains: Ceremonies move indoors in front of the fieldstone fireplace when the outdoor pond-side patio cannot be used. The Sperry tent for cocktail hour is weather permitting and its use is at the venue's discretion.
Canton
If it rains: When weather does not permit an outdoor ceremony in the Fairway Garden, the ceremony moves indoors to the Ballroom, which is set for indoor ceremonies as well as dinner, reception and dancing.
Up to 250 guests
Sandwich
If it rains: Outdoor ceremonies in the Garden or on the Marshview Terrace carry a weather back-up location in an indoor banquet room; the decision to move indoors is made four hours before the ceremony.
Up to 150 guests
Danvers
If it rains: A separate ceremony tent may be reserved as the inclement-weather backup. It is held with a non-refundable deposit and the decision to use it can be made up to 48 hours before the wedding.
Up to 200 guests
East Falmouth
If it rains: The outdoor Ceremony Pad is used weather permitting; in case of inclement weather the ceremony moves to the indoor ceremony room on the private event floor, where chairs are included.
If it rains: From May through October dinner and dancing are under a sailcloth tent with clear sides; from November through April the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception are all indoors.
Up to 220 guests
Rehoboth
If it rains: The Innkeeper's covered Ceremony Pavilion with its three chandeliers serves as the rain plan or hot-day alternative. No separate indoor backup is stated for the Retreat Barn.
Up to 275 guests
Hingham
If it rains: Ceremonies are held in the Black Rock Pavilion or on the Atrium Deck, and move indoors to the Ballroom for up to 160 guests from January through April and in November.
Up to 220 guests
Waltham
If it rains: The historic mansion holds up to 125 seated or 150 reception-style as the indoor backup for an outdoor ceremony or reception, and a tent may be erected on the grounds.
Up to 200 guests
Kingston
If it rains: Indoor ceremony options - a fireside setup in the Grand Ballroom, the Grand Foyer, or the hardwood floor of the Blackstones Room - back up the outdoor ceremony space.
Topsfield
If it rains: During tent season the mansion provides indoor backup space, with a covered walkway between the tent and the mansion. Mansion-season events are held entirely indoors.
Up to 240 guests
Gloucester
If it rains: The Great Hall, Renaissance Dining Room and Courtyard are interior spaces that can take an event moved off the ocean lawn, and a tent may be erected on the grounds.
Up to 120 guests
Groton
If it rains: The barn hosts the ceremony indoors under its chandeliers as an alternative to the outdoor lawn, and the all-season deck holds the cocktail reception in any season.
South Yarmouth
If it rains: The indoor reception space, set with Chiavari chairs, white linens, a dance floor and chandeliers, is available as the weather backup for outdoor events.
Up to 190 guests
Groveland
If it rains: An indoor ceremony option in the Grand Hall, with its floor-to-ceiling wood trim fireplace, serves as the rain backup for the alfresco ceremony sites.
Up to 200 guests
Sturbridge
If it rains: Ceremonies planned for the Hillside Arbor, Meadow or Garden Gazebo move into Paige Hall or under the Garden Tent if the weather does not cooperate.
Up to 200 guests
Rowley
If it rains: The Barn is available year-round for indoor ceremonies and is the backup when an outdoor ceremony on the Grove Lawn or Terrace is not possible.
Up to 100 guests
Boston
If it rains: Golf-size umbrellas are provided for guests at outdoor events, and the Washburn Pavilion has a covered area along with its semi-permanent tent.
Up to 250 guests
If it rains: Multiple contemporary indoor event spaces are available as alternatives to the outdoor terrace for ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions.
Assonet
If it rains: Ceremonies move indoors to the stone fireplace in the main dining room when the outdoor garden ceremony on the south lawn is not possible.
Up to 250 guests
Lanesborough
If it rains: The state-of-the-art structural tent has sides with large windows that close shut, allowing ceremonies and parties in inclement weather.
Up to 150 guests
Scituate
If it rains: The ceremony fee covers either an alfresco or an indoor ceremony location, so a ceremony can move into the historic gathering rooms.
Up to 220 guests
Williamstown
If it rains: The indoor ballroom serves as the backup for outdoor events, accommodating up to 150 for dinner with dancing or 180 for dinner only.
Up to 200 guests
Quincy
If it rains: The Grand Ballroom serves as the indoor option for ceremonies and receptions, and the Pavilion Tent is a covered outdoor space.
New Marlborough
If it rains: Outdoor ceremonies on the Wedding Knoll, Cornfield, or Courtyard move indoors to the Barn Loft or Main Floor in poor weather.
Up to 250 guests
Dennis
If it rains: If the weather is poor the ceremony moves inside to the main banquet room, or, for larger ceremonies, under the front tent.
Spencer
If it rains: The grand barn provides an indoor alternative for the ceremony and reception, and the outdoor pavilion is roofed.
Up to 250 guests
Ipswich
If it rains: A ceremony can be held outside in The Historic Gardens or inside The Mansion, based on weather and/or preference.
Up to 220 guests
Wrentham
If it rains: Rain plans are included with the ceremony package; the venue's indoor rooms back up the outdoor ceremony sites.
Sagamore
If it rains: In case of inclement weather, ceremonies are held under the Sperry tent, and umbrellas are provided for guests.
Up to 200 guests
Andover
If it rains: Every ceremony price includes a back-up location, and indoor ceremonies are available off-season upon inquiry.
Up to 550 guests
Ipswich
If it rains: Outdoor ceremonies from May through October have the sailcloth tent or the mansion ballroom as a rain backup.
Up to 235 guests
Rehoboth
If it rains: Should the weather turn, the cocktail hour room hosts the ceremony indoors with guests seated chapel style.
Up to 200 guests
Topsfield
If it rains: Outdoor ceremonies on the side terrace move indoors to the Grand Ballroom in cooler months or poor weather.
Up to 200 guests
Brewster
If it rains: Ceremonies and cocktail hours move into the ballroom or the mansion interior spaces in inclement weather.
Beverly
If it rains: Events are held under the fully floored Tidewater tent, which has clear siding and bistro lighting.
Up to 250 guests
Attleboro
If it rains: A rain tent is quoted separately, estimated at $4,400, with a tent heater estimated at $5,200.
If it rains: Indoor ceremony spaces are available as an alternative to the outdoor rooftop option.
Up to 250 guests
Provincetown
If it rains: The Harborview Room serves as the indoor alternative for receptions held on the lawn.
Uxbridge
If it rains: Ceremonies are held at the Gazebo or indoors in the Chestnut Room for the same fee.
Up to 175 guests
Groton
If it rains: A lawn ceremony can move to the covered Courtyard with its soaring fireplace.
Up to 90 guests
Holyoke
If it rains: The ceremony package includes indoor back-up space for inclement weather.
If it rains: Two floors of indoor event space back up the outdoor waterfront terrace.
Up to 170 guests
Salisbury
If it rains: In the event of rain, a beach ceremony moves into the reception room.
Up to 350 guests
Each sentence is from the venue's own published details. Plans and fees change, so confirm with the venue.
How these venues differ
The 47 Massachusetts outdoor-ceremony venues with a rain plan against the 11 outdoor-ceremony venues that don’t mention one, biggest difference first.
| Share that | These venues | Outdoor-ceremony venues that don’t mention one |
|---|---|---|
| Have four or more separate event spaces | 66% | 36% |
| Give you the whole property | 47% | 18% |
| Can host 200 guests or more | 77% | 3 of 5 |
| Price the space alone, before food | 21% | 9% |
| Offer their own catering | 83% | 91% |
| Have on-site lodging | 30% | 36% |
Each row counts only the venues that say; a venue that doesn't is left out of that row rather than counted as a no.
Where to look
The tick on each bar marks Massachusetts as a whole: 48 of 70 venues say what happens if it rains (69%). Regions with fewer than five venues that say are left out.
What it costs
$25k
Typical venue and food, 100 guests
Across the 35 of these Massachusetts venues that publish a full price.
$18k–$45k
Typical range
Most of them fall in this range.
$26k
Every Massachusetts venue
The typical figure across all 52 Massachusetts venues with a full price, for comparison.
In Massachusetts, outdoor-ceremony venues with a rain plan typically cost $25k for the venue and food for 100 guests, about the same as the $26k typical across the state.
Places worth a closer look
Each has an outdoor ceremony space and says what happens if it rains, in a different way. Open a venue to see its spaces, pricing, and other planning details.
Ipswich · Up to 235 guests
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you can move indoors or put up a tent
$35–50k · Venue Fee + Catering
See pricing and policies
Boston · Up to 250 guests
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you can move under a covered space or put up a tent
$10–15k · Venue Fee Only
See pricing and policies
Danvers · Up to 200 guests
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you put up a tent
$5–10k · Venue Fee Only
See pricing and policies
Quincy
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you can move indoors or put up a tent
$25–35k · Venue Fee + Catering
See pricing and policies
Hingham · Up to 220 guests
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you can move indoors or move under a covered space
$25–35k · Venue Fee + Catering
See pricing and policies
Waltham · Up to 200 guests
Outdoor ceremony. If it rains, you can move indoors or put up a tent
$5–10k · Venue Fee Only
See pricing and policies
Describe your guest count, your budget, and anything you can’t compromise on. See a ranked list of venues, with why each one fits, trade-offs, and what to double-check.
Sage the Date reads each venue's own published details, including pricing, catering and alcohol rules, music curfews, rain plans, whether you get the whole property, and how many guests each space holds. Every estimate uses your guest count. When a venue doesn't say, we tell you instead of guessing.
Before you book
Sage reads each venue's own published pricing and policies, puts different kinds of quotes on the same footing, and estimates the cost for 100 guests. A venue counts as having a rain plan only when its own published details describe one; the comparisons are among venues that offer an outdoor ceremony. If a venue doesn't say something, we treat it as a question to ask, not a no.
