Boston, MA

Best of Boston Weddings 2026

Published

6 days ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Best Stationery, Gus & Ruby / Photo by Lindsay Hackney

Stationery

GUS & RUBY

At Gus & Ruby, stationery isn’t just paper—it’s personality, pressed and printed to perfection. Beloved for their inventive designs, hand-rendered illustrations, and luxurious letterpress, this New England favorite crafts suites that tell your story from the very first envelope. Founders and longtime friends Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield lead their team to infuse every project with warmth, wit, and impeccable taste, making each invitation a true keepsake. gusandruby.com.

Photographer

CITYLUX STUDIOS

CityLux Studios captures weddings with the cinematic flair of a Vogue spread and the heart of a love story. Known for luminous tones, modern composition, and effortlessly emotive moments, this Boston-based team turns real life into high art. Married couple and founders Sarah and Peter blend editorial precision with genuine connection to create luminous imagery that feels as timeless as the love it celebrates. citylux.studio.

Videographer

STOPGOLOVE

Founded by filmmakers Jared Haskell and Jason McCutchen, StopGoLove turns real moments into modern, cinematic stories. Their style is clean, intentional, and emotionally honest—beautiful composition, smart pacing, and an instinct for the in-between beats that make a film feel alive. The result is wedding cinema with editorial polish and zero pretense: story first, style built in. stopgolove.com.

Floral Studio

ORLY KHON

Orly Khon doesn’t just arrange flowers; she composes living art. Known for her moody, romantic designs that balance wildness with refinement, Khon approaches each event like a painter at her canvas, blending texture, color, and movement into unforgettable floral moments. Whether it’s a delicate tablescape or a lush, architectural ceremony design, her work feels both timeless and a touch rebellious—much like the modern couples she designs for. orlykhon.com.

A wooden serving board holding a row of ten pieces of sushi, each wrapped in seaweed and topped with a crispy fried item, creamy sauce, red fish roe, and small green garnishes. A hand is holding the board.

Best Catering, Max Ultimate Food / Photo by Person Killian Photography

Catering

MAX ULTIMATE FOOD

Turning culinary imagination into edible art, this Boston-based team delivers restaurant-level dining with the precision of a luxury event planner. Creative tasting menus, impeccable service, and presentation that’s anything but predictable make every celebration unforgettable. From passed hors d’oeuvres to late-night bites, every detail is, well, ultimate. maxultimatefood.com.

Three-tiered cream-colored cake decorated with intricate piped icing swags and floral patterns, topped with small green berries and a few pastel flower petals. The cake is placed on a beige tablecloth, flanked by two framed vintage wedding photos and a silver cake server.

Best Cakes, Lizzie’s Bakery / Photo by Lushi Song

Cakes

LIZZIE’S BAKERY

Whimsical yet sophisticated, these confections are as delicious as they are striking—think handpainted details, sculptural sugar florals, and modern, clean-lined tiers. Behind the magic is Lizzie Johnson, a Food Network alum with a fine-art eye and a love of bold flavor, crafting designs that feel personal, polished, and picture perfect. Sweet beauty, inside and out. lizziesbakery.com.

A formal group portrait of nine people dressed in elegant evening attire. Eight individuals stand in a row, with two women wearing sparkly teal dresses and six men in black suits with patterned jackets and dark green ties. One man sits in front on a chair, wearing a shiny blue and green patterned tuxedo jacket with black pants, a white shirt, and a black bow tie. The background features a large framed landscape painting on a green wall, and the floor is wooden with a patterned rug in the foreground.

Best Band, Hot Mess / Photo by Shannon Bialy Photography

Band

HOT MESS

No cookie-cutter wedding playlists here. This Boston-based band is known for turning every crowd into a dance-floor frenzy, thanks to powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and an uncanny ability to read the room. Whether it’s a soulful slow jam or a pop anthem that gets Grandma on her feet, they bring the perfect blend of polish and pure fun. Simply put: They don’t just play the party, they are the party. hotmessrocks.com.

DJ

C-ZONE ENTERTAINMENT

For couples who want a packed dance floor and a soundtrack that feels uniquely theirs, this Boston-based team delivers. With decades of experience, seamless mixing, and an intuitive sense for what the crowd craves, these DJs curate moments that move effortlessly from first dance to final encore. Sophisticated, high-energy, and always in tune with the couple’s style—this is music done right. czonemusic.com.

Photo Booth

ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALISTS

A photo booth should be as stylish as the celebration itself, and this team delivers just that. With sleek setups, creative backdrops, and instant share options, they turn snapshots into unforgettable keepsakes. Whether it’s a glam booth worthy of the red carpet or a playful setup packed with props, they make every moment memorable and a whole lot of fun. entertainmentspecialists.com.

Outdoor wedding reception setup under a white tent with draped fabric and string lights. Round tables are covered with green and white floral tablecloths, each surrounded by wooden chairs with white cushions. Hanging gold geometric lanterns adorned with white and green floral arrangements are suspended from the tent ceiling. The floor is polished wood, and the background shows green grass and a stone wall.

Best Wedding Planner, Baciare Events / Photo by Constance Schiano

Wedding Planner

BACIARE EVENTS

Founders Ashley Saffer and Renée Sabo are masters of turning dream days into beautifully lived experiences. With a blend of creativity, calm precision, and genuine care, they craft weddings that feel effortless, elegant, and deeply personal. Whether it’s an intimate coastal gathering, a grand ballroom affair, or a celebration halfway across the world, their team ensures every detail is seamless. baciareevents.com.

Event Designer

TYGER EVENT DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Founded by principal Ty Kuppig, this design and production studio brings a couture sensibility to every celebration. With an architect’s eye and a storyteller’s instinct, Kuppig transforms venues into cinematic settings layered with texture, light, and mood. From sculptural floral moments to bold, modern palettes, each event feels elevated, expressive, and entirely one of a kind. tygerproductions.com.

Hairstylist

MONIKA RAMIZI, SALON MARIO RUSSO

Known for her “try-anything” attitude and calming presence, Monika Ramizi approaches bridal beauty with both artistry and ease. Whether it’s soft, romantic waves, a sleek modern updo, or something entirely unexpected, she tailors each look to the bride’s personality and vision. The result is hair that feels fresh, confident, and camera-ready from the first look to the final dance. mariorusso.com.

Makeup Artist

BEAUTY BY NELSE

For Nelse Karini, makeup is more than artistry; it’s empowerment. A self-taught talent with a passion for helping women look and feel their best, she’s known for her luminous, skin-first approach and ability to create a flawless finish that still feels like you. Brides love her mix of precision and personality—equal parts perfectionist and hype woman—and the confidence that comes with her chair-side magic. beautybynelse.com.

Bridal Boutique

L’ÉLITE BRIDAL

A destination for the fashion-forward bride, this Newbury Street institution curates an elite roster of global designers—from Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier to Berta and Ines Di Santo. With more than three decades of experience, the boutique’s expert stylists and in-house tailoring team deliver a couture-level experience that feels as personal as it is polished. Every gown is chosen for its artistry, craftsmanship, and that unforgettable moment when a bride sees herself and knows: This is the one. lelite.com.

Five women are posing in an elegant room with ornate gold-trimmed walls and a patterned carpet. Four women wear intricate white bridal gowns with lace and sheer details, each with unique designs including off-shoulder, high neck, and embellished sleeves. One woman stands out in the center wearing a bold red pantsuit with a tailored blazer. The woman seated on the floor wears a long-sleeved lace gown and a matching lace headpiece. The overall scene conveys a high-fashion bridal theme.

Best Wedding Dress Designer, Candice Wu Couture / Photo by Reinhardt Kenneth

Wedding Dress Designer

CANDICE WU COUTURE

With a couture sensibility and a flair for the unexpected, Candice Wu redefines modern bridal style. Her gowns balance romance and edge, featuring exquisite craftsmanship, sculptural silhouettes, and intricate detailing that make every look unforgettable. Whether ethereal and whimsical or sleek and daring, each design embodies her signature blend of elegance, confidence, and artistry. candicewucouture.com.

A hand wearing seven diamond rings, each with a different cut and setting. The rings feature round, oval, and rectangular diamonds set in silver or gold bands, with some bands adorned with smaller diamonds. The nails are painted pink with one nail having a white stripe. The background is blurred greenery.

Best Engagement Rings, Boston Diamond Company / Photo courtesy of Boston Diamond Company

Engagement Rings

BOSTON DIAMOND COMPANY

Discerning brides and grooms turn to this Newbury Street jeweler for more than sparkle—they come for expertise. Owner Stephanie Binder and her team of certified gemologists offer a refreshingly educated approach to fine jewelry, guiding clients through every facet of diamond selection with honesty, precision, and an impeccable eye for design. Whether sourcing an exceptional natural stone or creating something from the boutique’s Pure Luxe Lab collection of lab-grown diamonds, each piece reflects the brand’s unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Because true luxury isn’t loud; it’s brilliantly, quietly flawless. bostondiamond.com.

Wedding Bands

LONG’S JEWELERS

For more than a century, Long’s Jewelers has been synonymous with craftsmanship, integrity, and enduring style. This fifthgeneration, family-owned jeweler bridges heritage and modernity with a collection of wedding bands that balance artistry and intention. Each piece is designed to feel as effortless as it is enduring—refined in form, rich in meaning, and unmistakably elevated. A modern icon of lasting love and impeccable taste. longsjewelers.com.

Rentals

DEZ COLLECTIVE

At Dez Collective, design lives in the details. This Boston-based studio curates a thoughtful collection of furniture, tabletop, and décor that elevates weddings from stylish to unforgettable. With a deeply honed instinct for atmosphere, the team creates layered environments that feel intentional, artful, and entirely now: the kind of spaces that photograph as beautifully as they feel. dezcollective.com.

Urban Venue

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

A landmark of art and architecture, the Boston Public Library offers one of the city’s most breathtaking backdrops for a wedding. Beneath vaulted ceilings and along marble corridors, history and grandeur converge in a way that feels both timeless and distinctly Boston. Partnering exclusively with the Catered Affair, the venue hosts some of the city’s most luxurious celebrations, yet it’s also possible to exchange vows here in a one-hour ceremony that costs little more than a library card. Either way, the setting is unforgettable. bpl.org.

Historic Venue

THE GREAT HOUSE AT THE CRANE ESTATE

High above the Ipswich coast, the Great House at the Crane Estate feels like stepping into another era. Designed in 1928 by architect David Adler for industrialist Richard T. Crane Jr., the 59-room Stuart-style mansion crowns a 165-acre National Historic Landmark surrounded by salt marshes, barrier beaches, and sweeping ocean views. The property’s showstopper, the Grand Allée, a 2,060-foot lawn that stretches from the mansion to the water’s edge, offers a photo backdrop worthy of royalty. craneestateevents.com.

A large, multi-story white building with a gray roof is situated near a sandy beach and ocean. The building has many windows and a covered entrance supported by columns. There is a paved walkway and some greenery around the building, with sand dunes and a wooden path leading to the beach nearby. The ocean is calm and blue in the background.

Best Coastal Venue, Wychmere Beach Club / Photo by Alex Paul

Coastal Venue

WYCHMERE BEACH CLUB

If it’s possible to have glamour on the beach, this is where it lives. In Harwich, Wychmere Beach Club merges Cape Cod’s oceanfront ease with a distinctly polished edge. Expansive water views, clean architectural lines, and light-filled spaces create a setting that feels both elevated and elemental: seaside sophistication, perfected. wychmerebeachclub.com.

Rustic Venue

THE BARN AT GIBBET HILL

If “rustic” makes you think of mason jars, think again. The Barn at Gibbet Hill redefines the genre with its soaring post-and-beam architecture, polished wood interiors, and panoramic views of rolling pastureland. Set on a working farm in Groton, the venue blends country character with refined hospitality: think firefly evenings, farm-to-table menus, and sunsets that wash the hills in gold. barnatgibbethill.com.

A woman in a white, one-shoulder gown holding a bouquet stands in an ornate hallway with a golden arched ceiling and chandeliers. She faces two women in elegant dresses, one in a dark brown strapless gown and the other in a lavender tiered dress. The hallway features large mirrors, framed artwork, and intricate tile flooring.

Best Ballroom Venue, Fairmont Copley Plaza / Courtesy photo

Ballroom Venue

FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA

In the heart of the Back Bay, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is Boston’s grande dame—all gilded ceilings, marble columns, and chandeliers that seem to glow from another century. A Beaux Arts masterpiece with unmistakable presence, it brings drama to the classic ballroom wedding. Yet behind the opulence is a pulse of modern sophistication: flawless service, effortless style, and a setting that never goes out of fashion. fairmont-copley-plaza.com.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings’ guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.

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Boston Catholics offer mixed views on pope’s remarks following US operation in Venezuela – The Boston Globe

Published

2 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Boston Catholics offer mixed views on pope’s remarks following US operation in Venezuela – The Boston Globe

Digennaro’s wife, Judy, shook her head in disagreement.

“I feel quite the other way,” said Judy Digennaro, 72. “It might start rifts, but what’s most important is people talking, and that’s what the pope is trying to do.”

During a news conference with Vatican reporters in December, the pope called for dialogue between the United States and Venezuela. On Friday, he said violence had replaced dialogue as a means of resolving conflict and reiterated an earlier call to “respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all, ensuring a future of stability and concord.”

Some local Catholics said the remarks felt like an overstep. David Digennaro said he supports the Trump administration’s move to shift Venezuela’s leadership away from Maduro and would prefer the pope to limit his comments to humanitarian issues.

“If he’s talking about the people that live [in Venezuela,] that’s fine,” he said. “But if he’s referencing Maduro, that’s politics, and I’d turn away from it.”

Outside St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine in Back Bay, parishioners in crisp suits and colorful dresses filed out onto the sidewalk after Mass on Sunday afternoon. Several people said the pope’s address had not been mentioned during the service and praised the clergy for keeping the news separate from religious teaching.

Others voiced support for Pope Leo’s broader message of peace and dialogue but said they prefer that the pontiff avoid specifics.

Jordan Williamson, 35, of Quincy, said the pope is not the authority on international affairs. She said she looks to politicians for details about global conflicts and to Leo for moral guidance.

“The pope should be a moral voice that lays down the framework for why we do things,” said Williamson, who has attended the Boylston Street church for more than a decade. “But we all have jobs … and Mass is meant to transcend all of that.”

Williamson’s friend, Sandra Pastrana of Arlington, agreed, saying she often steers her Bible study group away from political debate. Still, she said she recognizes that there are moments when religious leaders need to speak their minds.

“It’s never good for the church to get involved in politics, but as a moral voice of how the world should live within what’s going on, the church has a duty to say these things,” said Pastrana, 63.

Judy Digennaro said Leo’s address was encouraging, adding that society cannot move forward positively without open discussion.

“I’m happy when the pope has something to say and when he promotes peace and justice,” she said. “As Catholics, that’s what we’re all about, so if he’s willing to speak and say something, all the better.”

Many Boston churchgoers were unaware of the pope’s address and said that they focused more on the words of their individual priests.

Gobran Hanna, an electrical engineer who moved to Cambridge in June and attends St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, said he tends to spend time with members of the Catholic community who are less focused on politics, but conversations with fellow congregants about Israel, Ukraine, and Venezuela help keep him informed about global affairs.

Hanna said he welcomes Leo’s efforts to speak out against international injustices.

“When the pope makes a statement that might be related to politics, I look at that and see how it applies to my own life,” said Hanna, 23. “It’s not about somebody on this side or somebody on that side, it’s about how we can apply the lessons that the pope is teaching us.”

Lila Hempel-Edgers can be reached at lila.hempeledgers@globe.com. Follow her on X @hempeledgers and on Instagram @lila_hempel_edgers.

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What Alex Bregman leaving Boston Red Sox could mean for Marcelo Mayer

Published

14 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

What Alex Bregman leaving Boston Red Sox could mean for Marcelo Mayer

Alex Bregman is off the free agent board after leaving Boston to sign a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs on Saturday.

Who will now play third base for the 2026 Red Sox?

Boston has had 23-year-old Marcelo Mayer working out at both third base and second base this offseason.

As a rookie last season, Mayer made 28 of his 35 starts at third base. His other seven starts came at second. He was promoted from Triple-A Worcester when Boston placed Bregman on the injured list May 24 with a right quad strain. The left-handed hitter started mostly at third base against right-handed starters when Bregman missed 43 games from May 24-July 11.

The sure-handed Mayer is considered Boston’s long-term shortstop. But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has committed to keeping Trevor Story as his shortstop this season instead of moving the veteran to second base to open shortstop for Mayer immediately. That leaves Mayer as either Boston’s second baseman or third baseman depending on how the roster shakes out.

With Bregman gone, it’s looking more likely that Mayer will play third base.

The options on the free agent and trade markets are dwindling. The Red Sox could target free agent shortstop Bo Bichette to play second base. Meanwhile, free agent third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who hit 49 homers for the Diamondbacks and Mariners last year, remains available. But the 34-year-old would represent a significant downgrade from Bregman defensively. Suárez finished with minus-six defensive runs saved in 1,347 ⅔ innings at third base last year.

Mayer has the ability to play plus defense at third. He finished with 0 defensive runs saved in 248 ⅔ innings there last year. But the more reps he receives there, the better he should get. Most of his pro career has been spent at shortstop. He played just 48 ⅓ innings at third base in the minors compared to 2,254 innings at shortstop.

“It’s not easy going into an offseason kind of getting reps at every position,” Mayer said at Fenway Fest on Saturday. “I believe that every position requires different traits, different skills, different angles that you need to master. Obviously, I’m doing everything I can taking reps at third and second base and I feel really good at both. So wherever they need me is where I’m going to play. I’m going to do my best out there.”

He added that playing third base is completely different than playing second base.

“Second base, you’re doing everything backwards,” Mayer said. “Third base, you’re pretty much playing shortstop with less range, kind of quicker reflexes. So yeah, I think they’re just different skills that you need to hone in on to be able to be great at that position.”

Mayer spent the final 58 games of the 2025 season on the IL with a wrist injury that required surgery. He expects to be ready to fully participate in workouts once spring training begins.

“I’m pretty much doing full baseball activity, like a normal ramp-up, as I would for a regular season going into spring training,” Mayer said. “So I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

Mayer’s injury history is another concern if he replaces Bregman. It’s fair to question whether the Sox can rely on him to be available for the majority of a 162-game season.

The Red Sox asked him to put on weight this offseason to try to make him more durable. He has had issues staying healthy throughout his career so far, never playing more than 91 games in any season in the minors and majors.

“It was one of the main goals I set for myself going into the offseason,” Mayer said. “I weighed in at like 218 right now, which is by far the heaviest I’ve ever weighed in my life. I feel great, stronger and faster than ever. So I feel like my body’s in a really good spot.”

He’s up from 208 pounds at the end of last season.

“Moving well,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday at Fenway Fest. “Actually, Trevor was surprised the way he’s moving. Fast. It seems like his offseasons, the last two or three, he’s always rehabbing or trying to catch up. Not this year. I had a conversation with him toward the end of the season and he basically said, ‘I’m ready, I’m ready.’ And we’ll see, we’ll see how it works out. But the kid, he’s a good baserunner, he’s a good defender, he can hit the ball out of the ballpark. Obviously there’s a few things offensively that he needs to improve, but that’s everybody. And I like the player. I like him a lot. I don’t think he’s afraid of this environment. He actually likes it. So just go out there and play in spring training.”

Another question mark is whether Mayer is ready to be an everyday starter who faces both righties and lefties?

Cora typically avoided batting Mayer against lefty starters and relievers last year, like he does with most all his young left-handed hitters. Mayer went 4-for-26 (.154) against southpaws while starting five games against them. He was 13-for-48 (.271) with a .300 on-base percentage, .458 slugging percentage and .758 OPS in 50 plate appearances against lefties for Triple-A Worcester before his promotion.

The Red Sox faced left-handed starters in 28% of games in 2025.

“I think he can play every day,” Breslow said at the GM Meetings in early November. “I certainly wouldn’t want to set limits on what he’s capable of doing. He hasn’t and that’s something we of course need to be mindful of.”

Cora said while discussing Mayer, “Facing lefties in spring training is going to make them better. If we don’t face them, we’ll figure out. … So just try to get them against lefties. Same with Roman (Anthony), same with Wilyer (Abreu), same with Jarren (Duran). That’s something that, like I said, we’ll talk with Bres and see where we’re at.”

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Red Sox shed light on plans for outfield, including Ceddanne Rafaela’s role

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Red Sox shed light on plans for outfield, including Ceddanne Rafaela’s role

Last year the Red Sox had a unique and enviable problem, which was that at full strength the club had more starting-caliber outfielders than it had available lineup spots.

Injuries kept that from being an issue most of the season, but for some stretches the only way the club could accommodate everyone was by playing Gold Glove center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela at second base.

With Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and Rafaela all set to return for the 2026 campaign, the Red Sox could face a similar logjam, but both manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow signaled that they’d prefer not to move Rafaela to the infield again.

“We’ll talk about that one, but probably not,” Cora said.

“Ceddanne is an incredibly gifted athlete and can impact a game in so many ways, and it makes it really easy when you can put him at second base or play shortstop for a long time for us like in ’24 when Trevor (Story) was hurt, but he is game-changing in center field,” Breslow said. “We saw that this year, and giving him the consistency of playing the same position every day also has benefits for his offense.”

Rafaela delivered a breakout season in the outfield last year, ranking second in MLB across all positions in defensive runs saved at center (plus-20) en route to his first career Gold Glove.

His impact defensively at second, however, was much more modest. In 24 games at the position he was just plus-one defensive runs saved.

Recognizing Rafaela’s value in the outfield, it was widely expected that the Red Sox would clear a spot by trading one of their incumbent players, most likely Duran or Abreu. But up to this point that hasn’t happened, and Breslow said it was never something he considered an urgent priority.

“It was never likely in my mind,” Breslow said. “We’ve got really talented outfielders and when teams call that’s what other executives point to. They’re young, they’re controllable, they’re dynamic, they’re talented, they can impact games in multiple ways. It’s really nice to be able to say they’re also members of the Boston Red Sox.”

So how will the Red Sox accommodate everyone if Rafaela isn’t going to play second? Cora said he expects to rotate players through more regularly, though he added that Rafaela and Abreu — both Gold Glove winners — will likely play more often than not.

“I think keeping guys healthy is something we always talk about,” Cora said. “They’re good outfielders, all of them, as a unit they’re the best in baseball. We just have to figure out the stadium, workload, and all that, but Willy and Ceddanne, they’re the best in the business, they probably will be playing the most in the outfield.”

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