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Weddings

Blithewold Reviews

Blithewold View more information

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 rating
81 Reviews
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92% Recommended by couples

Awards

81
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
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    Sam Sent on 06/30/2022
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    Most beautiful venue

    I actually use Blithewold twice during my wedding planning process. My bridal shower at the Blithewold was amazing. The staff went above and beyond and had a great time doing it. The venue is actually my favorite place in Rhode Island. The grounds are gorgeous and well-kept. If a wedding at the Blithewold’s not in your cards I would still suggest them for other events!
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    Lin K. Sent on 07/21/2022
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    Perfect Micro-wedding at Blithewold!

    Beautiful venue for our small wedding, and great service! Matthew and Allan were kind, flexible and helpful, from the early planning stages, right through to our special day. We and our guests thoroughly enjoyed our time. The mansion and the extensive waterfront grounds are a perfect setting for a wedding.
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    Sarah P. Sent on 10/26/2021
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    The most beautiful venue, ever.

    Blithewold was the absolute most beautiful place for our wedding. From the beginning, the staff there were so accomodating, answered all our questions, and were extremely flexible when we had to reschedule our initial wedding date due to the pandemic. Almost every guest in our 180 person wedding said that Blithewold was the most beautiful wedding venue they had ever been to. I was so worried about things going wrong on my wedding day, but thanks to the Blithewold staff that were assisting with my wedding, absolutely nothing went wrong and everything transitioned so seamlessly. Melissa, Karen, and the rest of their team were so quick to respond to my questions (and there were MANY questions) and made me feel absolutely comfortable leaving the biggest day of my life in their hands. They were so professional and even had many suggestions on how to make our wedding day more fun (i.e., extending the cocktail hour as the sunset was so beautiful). You get to have your ceremony essentially in a botanical garden with the ocean on one side and a beautiful historic mansion on the other. The tent is there year round and was so beautiful and even when it started raining and there were strong wind gusts, none of our guests noticed. I would recommend this venue to ANYONE, and I am so happy I chose to have my wedding at Blithewold.

    Blithewold's reply:

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Sarah! We were so honored to have been a part of your wedding day!
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    Victoria S. Sent on 10/10/2022
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    Amazing food and views

    The Staff is amazing, the food is amazing, the backdrop is amazing! Literally can not say one bad thing about this venue. The wedding was my dream come true and they made it all happen. The tent comes with the booking and it is fully floored so you don’t need to pay extra for any of that. The tent also includes twinkle lights and a dance floor. We also had a terrible experience with our photographer and needed to retake some portraits with a different one and Blithewold was so accommodating and let us come back to take photos in the fall on the grounds.

    Blithewold's reply:

    Thank you, Victoria! We agree, your day was amazing! We wish you a lifetime of happiness! All the best.
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    Chris N. Sent on 09/20/2021
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    Beautiful venue and fantastic staff

    If you don't want to read the whole post, my advice is to call and schedule a meeting, talk thru how you envision your wedding and walk the grounds. If the day you want is available, the $'s make sense for your budget, and you love the venue, then book. Our wedding day was perfect and the staff at Blithewold were simply fantastic. We couldn't have done it without them and I highly recommend. On to our story:

    Our engagement was very short (9 months) and we planned our wedding ourselves... as Rhode Island began to open back up our plans and guest list changed along the way. During that time Matthew and Allan were responsive to all our requests, spoke to all our vendors (Florals, Baker, DJ) to ensure scheduling was on track, provided timelines for us to follow and if they had questions they would call us to hash out (Tasting dates, finalize head counts, cocktail selections, rehearsal dates, etc). The day before our wedding we dropped off our table decor and left the rest to them. On our wedding day we had a first look and photos in the mansion. Matthew made sure the bride was tucked away into the bridal suite with plenty of time to bustle and powder before guests arrived. Blithewold provided both sunshine and rain plans ahead of time (it rained) and the staff just kept the whole day moving smoothly. Little details matter and the staff were on top of it. Everyone flowed from the ceremony to cocktail hour for passed apps/drinks. Umbrellas were provided by the venue as guests transitioned from cocktail hour to the reception tent and the party just kept going til the dj told us our shuttle would be arriving in 20min. It's been two weeks since our wedding; my wife and I are still smiling about how perfect our day was.

    Let's talk $'s. We researched 15 venues and getting upfront pricing was tough for many. Blithewold was upfront with all costs: venue, cocktail hr, passed hors d'oeuvres, gratuity, taxes, per-guest reception costs, etc. I was provided an invoice on Day 1 and the total at the bottom was the price we paid (deposit to reserve, balance due 30 days before wedding). Zero surprises and no fine print that padded on extra for "admin fees, gratuities, taxes, etc". Our only outside costs were to provide signage, floral arrangements, wedding cake, music and centerpieces for tables. We dropped off our decor the day before the wedding. Again, the staff set everything up perfectly and our reception looked fantastic.
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    Jani S. Sent on 08/16/2021
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    Stress-free, perfect wedding

    Blackstone Catering and Blithewold Mansion made our day perfect. Our guests loved exploring the grounds and the tent was gorgeous. It was such a special day and we were so happy that we got the beautiful views we dreamed of, on a budget. If you're considering Blithewold vs. somewhere else, pick Blithewold everytime!
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    Katie V. Sent on 05/24/2021
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    The most beautiful venue

    We had our ceremony off site but our reception at Blithewold. To say the mansion and grounds are breathtaking is an understatement! I had every single guest tell me how beautiful Blithewold was several times over! Nicole was so great to work with, she is one busy girl but always made time to answer my many questions. Seriously, this place is absolutely stunning and there are a million places to take pictures. Get married here you won’t regret it.
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    Wendy F. Sent on 05/13/2020
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    Impressive Response due to COVID-19

    Blithewold was a joy to work with from the very beginning until we sadly had to cancel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our daughter's summer wedding at Blithewold was not to be. Amid all the stress and disappointment associated with 'unwinding' a wedding, Blithewold was professional and gracious.
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    Thomas B. Sent on 10/09/2019
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    Perfect Venue for Your Perfect Day!

    Karen and the team at the Blithewold are extraordinary! Not only do they ensure that everything runs smoothly, but they run a tight ship which keeps everyone and everything on time. Their suggestions for vendors were spot on and so well researched that we felt like we not only booked a venue but a wedding planner as well. They took incredibly good care of our bridal party the day of the wedding and were such a blessing to work with.
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    Samantha S. Sent on 09/18/2019
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    It Doesn’t Get Better Than Blithewold!

    Blithewold is a truly incredible and one-of-a-kind wedding venue. I visited countless venues around the Newport, RI area before finding Blithewold, and I knew instantly that this was it! They had absolutely everything I was looking for - and our wedding reception was truly stunning. The massive lawn leading down to the water, gorgeous sunset views, unique gardens, beautiful and historic mansion, a big stone terrace and porches, a beautiful marquis tent with patio flooring, plenty of parking and a great set-up for event flow, helpful and knowledgeable staff - what more could one ask for?! We were completely blessed with the perfect wedding day weather (sunny with a few clouds, warm with a cool breeze, low humidity…) and our guests got to enjoy everything that Blithewold has to offer at its absolute best! Karen, the events director, was great to work with and incredibly helpful in guiding us with vendor decisions and making sure details were accommodated. Their catering relationship, with Blackstone catering, was a true blessing - we didn’t have to search for a catering vendor, and Blackstone offers delicious, creative food and truly amazing and professional service - they made our wedding the incredible event that it was! I am so grateful that we got to celebrate our wedding reception at Blithewold!
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    Stephanie Z. Sent on 10/30/2018
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    Perfect garden wedding

    We held our September wedding and reception at Blithewold. We could not be happier with how everything turned out. We cannot thank Karen Bellavance enough for her understanding as we worked through the possibility of a schedule change due to medical reasons. Karen provided lots of good information leading up to the event. Our wedding ceremony in the garden went smoothly thanks to the clear instructions we received during our rehearsal the day before the wedding. Blithewold weddings are a well-oiled machine. The staff keeps everything running on time. The tent and facilities at Blithewold are wonderful and the setting is magnificent – especially if you are surprised with a dramatic sunset!
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    Jennifer Sent on 10/29/2018
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    Perfect in every sense of the word.

    Blithewold was the absolute perfect venue for our wedding! The grounds are breathtaking, and we still have guests raving about how beautiful the venue was. Karen was an absolute pleasure to work with. I planned our wedding from Chicago, which made planning tricky at times, but Karen was so responsive and accommodating to all my emails, even my random one-off questions that would pop up throughout the year. The Blithewold staff runs a well-oiled machine and they work with their vendors so seamlessly to ensure the day runs smooth. They truly create a magical, unforgettable experience.
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    Lori Sent on 10/05/2017
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    A magical wedding at Blithewold is how I would characterize my daughter's wedding on 9/16/17. The elegant mansion, beautiful grounds, gorgeous gardens surrounding the ceremony location and perfect tent for our dinner and dancing provided our guests and us with a 'wow' wedding night. Karen Bellavance and her staff were so attentive, professional and organized from the 12 months prior when we booked the venue up until the day after when I picked up neatly organized belongings from the tent. All of the details, vendors and timelines were orchestrated perfectly to make the wedding the least stressful for the bride and me, the mom. Karen and Blithewold together make this site a perfect 10 to have your wedding. Can't wait to see the pictures!
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    Andy Sent on 10/11/2017
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    This venue is truly amazing in many ways: the view of the water, the architecture of the mansion, the grounds and numerous gardens, the tent, and the staff. Karen was very detail oriented and had great vendor recommendations for us, which was a big help for us since we were from out of town. The day of the wedding, Karen and the staff operated like a well oiled machine, ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. They are truly top notch.
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    Susan Sent on 09/23/2017
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    Our daughter got married at Blithewold Mansion on 9-8-17. From the moment we booked this venue in November of 2016, our experience dealing with Karen Bellavance, Director of Special Events, was nothing short of fantastic. Karen provided a wealth of information in a very professional, yet personal and warm and sincere manner, was quick to return phone calls and emails, and most importantly, listened to us and advised us on every detail every step of the way. She is a pleasure to work with. The ceremony was held outdoors in the North Garden overlooking the scenic Narragansett Bay and was accentuated by the lovely gardens at Blithewold. The cocktail hour took place on the lawn, and the reception in the beautifully lit tent. The permanent stone flooring in the tent is a real bonus and adds to its ambience. We couldn't have asked for a better day, the bride and groom had the wedding of their dreams, and our guests are still raving about the gorgeous venue. I can't recommend having your wedding at Blithewold Mansion highly enough!
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    Mj Sent on 08/14/2017
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    Our wedding guests said it was "the most beautiful wedding they've ever been to!" I literally cannot say enough wonderful things about our August wedding at the Blithewold! We had our ceremony in the garden, our guests had cocktail hour on the grand lawn, and our reception was under the twinkling lights in the tent. All I can say is if you're lucky enough and the Blithewold has your date open BOOK IT! You get full access to the mansion and the grounds for you and your guest for what is a reasonable price with other comparable venues. Our pictures look like they're out of a story book. Again you can shoot anywhere on the grounds. We chose to shoot in the bamboo gardens, stone archway, the greenhouse, and our photographer found this beautiful little piece of beach straight back from the tent that was absolute perfection at sunset. I have to admit, I read every single review on here before booking the Blithewold. There were a few that said Karen was difficult to work with, which made me a little nervous. All I can say is those reviews are wrong, Karen is an absolute delight, super responsive and an overall pleasure to work with. All I can guess is the people that wrote those reviews were most likely the type of people who were difficult themselves. Yes, the Blithewold will cut the music at 1030, but they tell you that ahead of time. If you have to have "one more song" :) tell your DJ to say last song at 10:10 and then play a few more. Also they have added new beautiful bathrooms right next to the tent, with a huge bridal suite attached.
    Tip: Hire their recommended caterer Blackstone, they know the place inside and out and your food and service will be superb.
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    Shannon Sent on 10/04/2016
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    It was an absolute dream to celebrate our reception here! The grounds are immaculate, with so many places to explore for photos! We had a fun time getting our guests to enjoy the grounds (all yours during your event!) and dance the night away in the tent! That is what sold us on booking the Blithewold - not only was it gorgeous, but it was a completely private retreat for our celebration. Bristol is one of our favorite places in RI, and how lucky it is to have a wonderful venue like the Blithewold!

    Karen Bellavance was incredibly helpful every step of the way through endless emails and phone calls to iron out details. The day before our wedding we dropped of decorations with Karen and briefly explained setup - when we arrived at the reception everything was perfectly in its place! The staff were very accommodating and I couldn't be more appreciative.

    Ps. My husband and I, though originally from New England, have been living in California the past few years. When we saw the gorgeous sequoia trees on the Blithewold grounds we were reminded of our west coast adventure (and favorite national park - Sequoia!). It helped us bring our west coast lifestyle back east with us!
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    Eileen Sent on 06/05/2016
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    We had the most perfect wedding at Blithewold! We got married over Memorial Day Weekend 2016, and the flowers in the garden where we had the ceremony were stunning! We didn't even feel like we needed any other aisle decorations since the garden and backdrop of the water were already so beautiful! There were so many places to take pictures! The guests loved the grounds and there was the most breath-taking sunset during dinner. The tent was also beautiful - it was nice that it already came with flooring and string lights. Karen was also such a pleasure to work with! She was so nice, responsive, and organized. We honestly could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding!!
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    Amanda Sent on 10/14/2015
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    Blithewold was amazing during the whole wedding process! We had our ceremony in the garden cocktail hour on the lawn and reception in the tent and everything was absolutely perfect! Karen was a great coordinator! She helped us with rehearsal and making sure everything on the day of was perfect. The grounds are so well maintained and all the flowers and different gardens are amazing. They just built a brand new bridal suit and bathrooms right off the tent site. They are really nice and high class! I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is still in need of a venue!
  • User2332362 Sent on 09/24/2015
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    My husband and I truly enjoyed everything Blithewold offered! The mansion and property are well maintained and provided a gorgeous setting for our big day. And the sun setting over the bay was breathtaking, we can't wait to see the pictures taken!

    Karen Bellevance and Donna Bozeman were wonderful to work with! We chose to do be our own wedding planners, which was only possible with Karen's guidance and list of recommended vendors. They were also quick to respond to all of our questions, whether it related to the venue or wedding planning in general. And we have to say that ALL of our vendors complimented Karen and Donna's professionalism the day of. We also dropped off quite a few personal touches and decorations before our wedding. Karen and Donna displayed these items exactly as we hope and it amazed us how quickly Donna and her team packed up these personal items for us and helped us load them into our car following our reception. This allowed my husband and I to quickly meet our guests at the after party.

    The Blithewold team allowed my husband and I a stress free day which we will cherish forever!
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    Caitlyn Sent on 07/01/2015
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    Blithewold has to be the most perfect venue for a wedding. It has a stunning mansion, breathtaking gardens, and a beautiful ocean/bay view. Our wedding on 6/20/15 was just beautiful. Karen Bellavance is great to work with, and helps execute your day. We were married in the North Garden, with a beautiful cocktail hour on the porch and lawn, followed by a fantastic reception dinner and dancing in the tent. Despite some rain at the end of the evening, and our band shorting out for a bit when the rain affected Blithewold's sound equipment, we had the perfect day. The new bridal suite and bathrooms are absolutely stunning. I would suggest one of the day-of coordinators stays close-by the bridal suite so that it is easier to get in and out. Other than that, we had the most beautiful, perfect day. The location was stunning, and I could not be happier. We visited Blithewold a number of times throughout the planning process, and were always greeted with open arms. Thank you, Karen and team!
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    Laura Sent on 10/17/2014
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    We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue to hold our wedding. Karen and team ensured that the day ran flawlessly. They were organized, calm, and eased any nervous jitters that we had throughout the day. Karen was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the planning process, always answering e-mails right away and addressing any questions that I had with patience. Everyone commented on how amazing our venue was. From the North Garden where the ceremony was held to having wedding photos taken in the bamboo and along the water, to watching a gorgeous sunset from the reception tent, it was a day that we will never forget. I cannot recommend this venue, along with Karen, highly enough to brides and grooms. It is a spectacular site!

    - Laura
  • User1956617 Sent on 12/07/2014
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    Absolutely Beautiful! The staff was organized and amazing! They were very helpful with all of the planning and event coordination. Can not recommend them highly enough!
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    Jane Sent on 09/18/2014
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    We would recommend Blithewold to any couple looking to get married. Beautiful grounds and professional, flexible staff. The weather was perfect but we had the mansion as a backup. The guests didn't have to deal with the hassle of Newport traffic. I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere more beautiful. This is where you will want to start your life together.
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