Friendly Crossways is a rustic-chic destination outdoor wedding venue located in the countryside but only 30-miles west of downtown Boston. Our wedding package includes getting ready rooms, gorgeous ceremony spaces, fire circle and lodging on site. We strive to give you the flexibility and time to create your special community for an entire weekend of joyful celebration on our farm.
“Friendly Crossways was the first venue we looked at and… we knew from the moment we stepped foot on the property we were sold.”
“Everything was so seamless on our day. I would highly recommend Friendly Crossways for anyone who wants to have a stunning outdoor venue with great food and great people around you!”
“You can get married just about anywhere but at Friendly Crossways you’re given the chance to live out your values of putting relationships first.”
“We loved that we could rent the whole property for the weekend and have our out of town friends stay with us from Friday to Sunday.”
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“We got far more from the venue then we ever could have expected. We got far more then our money’s worth for choosing Friendly Crossways. I absolutely recommend them for any event or retreat.”
Planning your perfect celebration at Friendly Crossways
Property Rental base rate for 2022 starts at $6,350. Our package includes exclusive use of our 25-acre property for three days and two nights, a spacious getting-ready suite, many outdoor ceremony locations, a lush lawn for the tented reception, and rustic, forest and garden settings for your timeless photos. You can also use our magical fire circle both nights. Cost to lodge up to 25 people each night is included, with room for more!
Custom Designed Tents from our exclusive tent provider, Special Events of New England, range from $2,400 to $5,800, depending on your choice of tent, sides, lighting, dance floor, tables and chairs, and the number of guests. Contact Bob for more information. Robert.soucy@specialeventsofne.com
Our maximum guest count for a tented reception is 150. Intimate, dance-free receptions can be held indoors for up to 50 people.
Reception Catering Friendly Crossways’ chef-owner, Mary Helan Turner, is partnering with two excellent catering companies that will prepare your memorable once-in-a-lifetime meal fresh on site, and serve it with the attention that you and your guests deserve. Usually $105-$145*+ per person (*includes everything: food from appetizers through dessert, rentals, servers, chefs, fees, gratuity and taxes). An external caterer may be used for ethnic, religious or cultural menus that we cannot provide, a facilities fee will apply. Self catering the reception meal is not allowed. Friendly Crossways can also cater your non-reception meals or you may self-cater those.
Our Bartending Services are required for all events where beer and wine are served. Pricing for use of the rustic wooden bar, bartenders, coolers, ice, glassware and other rentals, etc. ranges from $500-$1200 for depending on number of guests and hours of service.
Beverages, including beer, wine, champagne and hard cider for your reception are chosen by you, provided by your licensed caterer, and billed on a host consumption model. That is, you only pay for what is consumed. Hard liquor is not allowed on the premises.
View our seasonal wedding galleries
“We had our Telugu wedding onsite and it was awesome. The groom had his Baraat on a tractor through the parking lot, the ceremony Mandap was on the lawn in the wedding glade surrounded by trees, the cocktail hour spanned various parts of the greenery (imagine lawn games, food, drinks, and everyone lounging in the sun), reception was under a tent adjacent to the ceremony, and it all ended with some late night lounging by the fire circle. While this might have been an unconventional space for a South Indian wedding, it ended up being perfect. ”
Videography by Rotera Films
“Two of our friends, who were married a month before us, said, “We don’t want to say your wedding was the best wedding ever, because of our wedding, but your wedding was the best wedding ever.””
Wedding Package Details
Full Wedding Weekends | |
---|---|
Person Maximum | ~150 |
Availability | 5pm Friday – 1pm Sunday |
Tented Reception Required | Yes, rental add’l cost through exclusive vendor |
Getting-Ready Suite | Yes |
Outdoor Ceremony Locations | Yes |
On-Site Parking | Yes |
Indoor Space for Inclement Weather | Under tent |
Ceremony Reception Tables & Chairs | Via tent package |
Overnight Lodging | Yes, 2 nights, up to 25 people included in venue rate |
Fire Circle | Yes |
S’mores Package | Add’l cost |
Lawn Games | Add’l cost |
Board Games | Yes |
Rehearsal Dinner Catering | Add’l cost |
Farewell Brunch Catering | Add’l cost |
Reception Catering | Via exclusive external vendors |
Beverages | Beer & Wine only | BYO or via licensed caterer |
Bartending Services | Via Friendly Crossways |
Venue Rental Cost | 2022: $6,350 |
Full Wedding Weekends | Extended Wedding Celebration | Microwedding, Extended Evening | One-Day Event Wedding Events | Elopement Wedding Events | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Person Maximum | 120 | 120 | 25 | 25 | 10 |
Availability | 5pm Friday – 1pm Sunday (June thru mid-October 2021) | 4pm arrival – 1pm departure (Limited Friday & Saturday nights in 2021) | 4pm-Noon (Sunday thru Thursday nights only June thru mid-October 2021) | 2pm-10pm (Sunday thru Thursday nights only, June thru mid-October 2021) | 2pm-10pm (Sunday thru Thursday nights only, June thru mid-October 2021) |
Tented Reception Required | Yes, rental add’l cost through exclusive vendor | Yes, if more than 25 people. Rental is add’l cost through exclusive vendor | – | – | – |
Getting-Ready Suite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Outdoor Ceremony Locations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-Site Parking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Space for Inclement Weather | Under tent | Under tent | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ceremony Reception Tables & Chairs | Via tent package | Via tent package | Yes, upgrades available | Yes, upgrades available | Yes, upgrades available |
Overnight Lodging | Yes, 2 nights, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Yes, 1 night, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Yes, 1 night, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Lodging & breakfast included for couple only. Additional guests @ $65/person | Lodging & breakfast included for couple only. Additional guests @ $65/person |
Fire Circle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
S’mores Package | Add’l cost | Add’l cost | Yes | – | – |
Lawn Games | Add’l cost | Add’l cost | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Board Games | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rehearsal Dinner Catering | Add’l cost | – | – | – | – |
Farewell Brunch Catering | Add’l cost | – | – | – | – |
Reception Catering | Via preferred vendor | Via preferred vendor | Via Friendly Crossways | Via Friendly Crossways | Via Friendly Crossways, if serving a meal |
Beverages | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | BYO Beer & Wine only | BYO Beer & Wine only |
Bartending Services | Via Friendly Crossways | Via Friendly Crossways | Via Friendly Crossways | Via Friendly Crossways, if serving alcohol | Via Friendly Crossways, if serving alcohol |
Venue Rental Cost | 2021: $6,197 2022: $6,350 | $4,797 | $3,797 | $1,997 | $1,000 |
Person Maximum | Availability | Tent Reception Required | Getting Ready Suite | Outdoor Ceremony Locations | On Site Parking | Indoor Space for Inclement Weather | Ceremony Reception Tables and Chairs | Overnight Lodging | Fire Circle | S’mores Package | Lawn Games | Board Games | Rehearsal Catering | Farewell Brunch Catering | Reception Catering | Beverages | Bartending Services | Venue Rental Rate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Wedding Weekends | 120 | 5pm Friday – 1pm Sunday (June thru mid-October 2021) | Yes, rental add’l cost through exclusive vendor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Under Tent | Via Tent Rental | Yes, 2 nights, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Yes | Add’l cost | Add’l cost | Yes | Add’l cost | Add’l cost | Via preferred vendor | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | Via Friendly Crossways | 2021: $6,197
2022: $6,350 |
Extended Wedding Celebration | 120 | 4pm arrival – 1pm departure (Limited Fri. & Sat. nights in 2021) | Yes, if more than 25 people. Rental is add’l cost through exclusive vendor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Under Tent | Via Tent Rental | Yes, 1 night, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Yes | Add’l cost | Add’l cost | Yes | — | — | Via preferred vendor | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | Via Friendly Crossways | $4,797 |
Microwedding, Extended Evening | 25 | 4pm-Noon (Sunday thru Thursday nights only June thru mid-October) | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, upgrades available | Yes, 1 night, up to 25 people included in venue rate | Yes | Add’l cost | Yes | Yes | — | — | Via Friendly Crossways | BYO Beer & Wine only, or via licensed caterer | Via Friendly Crossways | $3,797 |
One-Day Wedding Event | 25 | 2pm-10pm (Sunday thru Thursday nights only, June thru mid-October) | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, upgrades available | Lodging & breakfast included for couple only. Additional guests @ $65/person | Yes | Add’l cost | Yes | Yes | — | — | Via Friendly Crossways | BYO Beer & Wine only | Via Friendly Crossways | $1,997 |
Elopement | 10 | 2pm-10pm (Sunday thru Thursday nights only, June thru mid-October) | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, upgrades available | Lodging & breakfast included for couple only. Additional guests @ $65/person | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | Via Friendly Crossways | BYO Beer & Wine only | Via Friendly Crossways | $1,00 |
“I can’t imagine going through the stress of planning a wedding during COVID without Mary Helan’s guidance and kindness.”
Weekend Wedding FAQ
What services does your weekend wedding venue provide?
A wedding weekend at Friendly Crossways includes the gift of time to relax with friends and family. On site lodging for up to 50 people coupled with your hosts’ flexibility means you can do-it-yourself as little or as much as you want when it comes to getting those friends and family involved in decorating the tent or using the kitchen to prepare a leisurely breakfast on your special day. Wind down in the evening by the fire circle.
What settings does your venue provide?
Friendly Crossways has a variety of outdoor wedding ceremony venues including a “cathedral in the pines” wedding glade, open lawns, old apple orchards, perennial gardens and New England stone walls. There is space for a tented reception and lawn games outside and rehearsal dinner and brunch inside a century old barn. This is a working farm with a corn field, blueberry orchard, honey bees and an organic vegetable garden. A tent package is required for 60 or more guests. Intimate weddings of up to 60 people can hold a dance-free reception in our barn dining room.
Describe your venue:
We’re inviting you to our home. It’s charming, warm, homey, rustic, chic, beautifully landscaped with plenty of space for fun and games, and only 30 miles from Boston!
What religious affiliations does your venue serve?
Friendly Crossways is nondenominational and ecumenical.
What is the maximum capacity for a reception?
- 120-ish adults for a tented reception (Massachusetts and CDC guidelines permitting)
- 60 inside (Massachusetts and CDC guidelines permitting), currently: 25 inside
Do you have onsite catering?
Yes. A menu has been designed that includes chef-owner Mary Helan’s most requested wedding foods and our partner chefs’ specialties. Basically, we can provide you with anything you want!
Do you allow outside catering?
Outside catering for the reception is allowed if your heart is set on a menu that we can’t provide, including some ethnic menus. Additional facilities fees will apply. Outside caterers for the rehearsal dinner are welcome with no additional facilities fees unless there are 40 or more people.
Do you offer an on-site wedding consultant?
Yes, at an additional cost. However, we encourage you to visit our preferred vendors page to find a wedding planner and day-of coordinator for your celebration
Do you have a liquor license?
- Wedding couples may choose from a wide variety of beverages (beer, wine, champagne, cider) provided by a caterer who has a liquor license.
- The beverage bill is based on what is actually consumed by your guests.
- Wedding couples may purchase and bring in their beer & wine for rehearsal dinner or after party, and may be able to BYO for their reception, depending on caterer.
- Wedding couples must provide host liability insurance with Friendly Crossways, LLC as additional insured which can be purchased for $150 on line via EventHelper.
- Hard liquor is not allowed on our site except for seltzers with ABV of 5% or less.
- Our bartenders have liquor liability insurance, one bartender per 90 people. Friendly Crossways provides, at an additional cost, the bar service including bartenders, handcrafted wooden bar, ice, etc.
Describe your parking facilities:
- We provide a parking attendant on the ceremony day.
- We have parking on site for 25 cars and overflow parking nearby for another 50 cars.
Is there handicap access?
Yes.
Do you offer any special services?
The owners have over 30 combined years of experience in coordinating complicated events (like wedding weekends) in a harmonious manner. Our wedding couples get the benefit of that experience.
Do you rent other items such as linens, tables, or flatware?
- Yes: tent, sides, lighting package, tables, chairs, dance floor, napkins & table cloths are rented through our EXCLUSIVE tent rental company Special Events of New England.
- As your caterer, we are responsible for providing tableware (china, glass, silver) and everything necessary to prepare and serve your memorable reception meal.
Can you provide a coat check?
No. But coats are hardly ever necessary during our wedding season which is mid-May to mid-October.
We really liked working with these vendors; they are flexible, hardworking, professional and respect “our” couples.
Accommodations in our renovated Barn, Hayloft, and Carriage House.
Come Visit
Friendly Crossways
247 Littleton County Road
Harvard, MA 01451
friendlycrossways@gmail.com
(978) 456-9386