Historical Spaces Create Unique Ceremony Spots

by STACEY MARCUS

Looking for a historical spot to tie the knot?

Can you imagine a better place than where the Pilgrims founded Plymouth Colony in 1620?

Steeped in rich, colonial history Plimoth Plantation offers two beautiful outdoor ceremony sites: the Hornblower Garden, a secluded early 20th-century perennial garden featuring stone walls and a reflection pool, and the Riverview Terrace, a newly renovated space overlooking the Eel River.

“The Hornblower Garden is really special–it feels like a throwback to another era. It was designed and installed in 1920 as part of the original Hornblower Estate by Mary Parsons Cunningham, one of the first female landscape architects in the United States,” says Kate Sheehan, associate director of media relations & marketing at Plimoth Plantation. “The Riverview Terrace offers stunning views of the Eel River and Cape Cod Bay. It’s not uncommon to see a pair of swans floating by.”

Plimoth Plantation recently transformed a portion of what was previously a sweeping lawn into a formal, open-air ceremony space with a hardscaped aisle and terrace offering Eel River as a backdrop. “In the future we hope to restore the garden beds to their original planting design as well as to strengthen some of the hardscaping features,” notes Sheehan.

In addition to the property’s photo ops, newlyweds can also have costumed Pilgrim reenactors make an appearance at their reception to enhance the historical vibe of their big day—and provide some entertainment for guests.

Plimoth Plantation

137 Warren Avenue

Plymouth, Massachusetts 508-746-1622, ext. 8365 plimoth.org