Lake Champlain provides a romantic backdrop for weddings in Burlington, Vermont.
Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains and a quaint historical downtown center are a few of the key ingredients that make Burlington, Vermont a picturesque place for a wedding. The venue you choose in Burlington ultimately depends on your budget, the size of your guest list, whether or not you want the ceremony and reception indoors or outdoors and whether you want a formal or more casual event.
Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts
The advantage of choosing a hotel or B&B is, of course, that you and your guests have the option of staying overnight at the same venue where the wedding and reception take place. You can often get discounted room rates when you're booking a wedding event at the same location.
The Sunset Ballroom atop Comfort Suites and the Hilton Burlington offer ceremony, reception and rehearsal dinner packages and can accommodate 325 and 680 people, respectively, so if you want a formal indoor event and plan on having a lot of people there, these options may be your best bet in town. If you want a more intimate affair, Hartwell House Bed & Breakfast, One of a Kind Bed and Breakfast and Lang House on Main Street Bed and Breakfast can host smaller events.
Golf Course / Country Club
For a large outdoor event with a formal touch, consider the Burlington Country Club. This golf course is equipped to deal with all kinds of special events, including wedding ceremonies and rehearsal dinners. The Quarry Hill Club is a banquet and reception facility with two swimming pools, a jacuzzi, five tennis courts and four acres of land. Casual and formal menus are available, and it has a clubhouse with a banquet room as well as a large white tent to accommodate large numbers of guests.
Parks
City parks are a natural choice if you want a more casual outdoor event that can accommodate a large number of people without breaking your budget. The Burlington Community Boathouse at Waterfront Park is a popular location for weddings and has catering services available. North Beach Park and Oakledge Park & Beach are also city parks with pavilions at the edge of Lake Champlain where you can host your wedding. Contact the Burlington Department of Parks & Recreation for rental information.
On the Water
If you'd rather be on the water, take a cruise while saying your vows and then watch the sun go down on the water while you and your guests enjoy eating and dancing onboard. Two ships host wedding events on Lake Champlain: The Northern Lights is a 115-foot long vessel offering three wedding menus depending on your budget, and The Spirit of Ethan Allen III is a ship that can accommodate up to 424 guests. In addition to weddings, they also host engagement parties and bachelor or bachelorette cocktail cruises.
Tags: Lake Champlain, Burlington Vermont, your budget, accommodate large, ceremony reception, Country Club, more casual