FAQs
Where and when is the wedding?
The ceremony and reception are both at The Crane Estate on Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA. The ceremony will begin at 6pm so guests should plan to start arriving at 5:30pm so there is time to get settled, mingle with other guests, and enjoy refreshments before the ceremony. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be taking place outdoors on the Grand Allée.
We need your RSVP to be absolutely sure of our headcount, but we’ve invited roughly 200 guests so we’re anticipating a pretty big party. Our venue can handle it and there’s lots of space to spread out, but please be mindful of the size of the event if large crowds are something you have concerns about.
How many people will be in attendance?
Our wedding is officially designated as Formal attire. This is the likely to be the most glamorously either of us will ever be dressed and we want to encourage our guests to do the same. The venue feels quite luxurious and we’re excited by the idea of everyone having the chance to play dress-up for the evening. Dress code won’t be strictly enforced (especially since it’s an outdoor wedding in the summer) but please try to dress to impress and don’t be shy—wear something that makes you feel fabulous and fancy.
What should I wear?
The Location section of this website has a lot of good information about where to stay in the area and how to get around, but just to summarize, you have a few different options for getting to and from the venue:
Take one of our shuttles! We will be offering shuttle bus service (to the venue at the start of the night, back to the hotels at the end of the night) from the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, MA and the Boston Marriott Peabody in Peabody, MA. This is the option best for those who are staying in Salem or Peabody and are planning to party the night away.
Hire a taxi or other car service! We have been told by our venue that Uber and Lyft have very few offerings in the area late at night (our venue is in a fairly remote area) but there are still ways to not drive yourself. There are plenty of taxi services based in Salem, MA, and we have heard from quite a few guests already about their plans to hire their own driver/limousine for the event.
Drive yourself or carpool! The Crane Estate has parking for around 70 vehicles. Vehicles can be left overnight until 10am the day after the wedding. However, please keep in mind that this wedding will be going late into the night in and is happening at a venue on top of a hill in a remote area made up of winding roads. There will also be a police presence (required by the venue) at the street entrance to the venue to help manage traffic. Please make smart choices and plan accordingly.
How can I get there?
We’ve carefully curated our guest list and the RSVP portal so that entering your name will bring up the appropriate attendance options. In order to plan our seating chart, menu, and remain below the capacity limits for our venue, we will not be able to accommodate additional guests beyond what pops up when you enter your name to RSVP.
Please keep in mind that this will be an adult-oriented evening event happening primarily outdoors in warm/hot weather at a sprawling historical venue near the ocean. As such, it will be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to keep an eye on your little ones while enjoying yourself. No one needs that kind of stress. We kindly request that you leave your small children at home.
If you believe there is a mistake with your RSVP or if you require special considerations, please feel free to contact us at our wedding email, mlmrmgwedding@gmail.com.
Can I bring a guest? What about my kid(s)?
We’ll offer pre-ceremony refreshments, passed hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour, a two-course plated dinner, and a small selection of desserts. We’ve tried our best to plan our menu so that there are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options offered at almost every part of the event, but please make sure to inform us of any dietary restrictions or allergies when you RSVP.
We will have an open bar with a selection of wine, beer, and liquor in addition to a few custom cocktails and typical non-alcoholic offerings.