The Crane Estate Reviews

Maura McCarthy from Fireside Catering is nothing short of a wedding miracle worker. From the moment we embarked on our wedding journey, Maura was there, not just as a coordinator, but as a partner in turning our dreams into reality.

What set Maura apart was her unparalleled patience and dedication to understanding our vision. She didn't just listen; she absorbed every detail, every aspiration, and every quirk of our dream day. She met with us countless times, guiding us through the process with wisdom and grace.

Our wedding day was a testament to Maura's extraordinary talent. She took a blank canvas and transformed it into a 1920s speakeasy, a sultry, sophisticated haven that perfectly encapsulated our personalities. Gone were the stuffy formalities, replaced with an ambiance of sultry vibes and ambient lighting.

But what truly set our day apart were the details. Velvet couches, dark linens, an abundance of candles, and a grazing table fit for a king's feast. Maura's creativity knew no bounds, as she curated a menu designed for tasting and wine pairing, complete with a cigar and whiskey cart that added an extra touch of luxury.

And when the weather decided to throw a curveball with stormy conditions, Maura didn't skip a beat. She seamlessly pivoted, creating an indoor space for our ceremony and ensuring a smooth transition into the party.

Maura isn't just an expert; she's a master of her craft. She reigns in chaos, answers a million needs, and soothes anxieties with her calm demeanor. Her ability to take a vision and elevate it to the extraordinary is unparalleled.

I can confidently say that our wedding day wouldn't have been the same without Maura. She took our dreams and made them a reality, exceeding our wildest expectations at every turn. If you're looking for someone to turn your wedding dreams into a breathtaking reality, look no further than Maura McCarthy. She's a true gem in the world of wedding planning.

With lots of Love,

Ashley & Steele

We were absolutely blown away by the way everything came together at our Barn at the Crane Estate wedding in June 2023. From the delicious food and drinks from Fireside Catering to the incredible service (thanks to our bridal attendant and event manager!), all of our guests had the best time. Despite a day of nonstop rain, we walked into the Barn completely speechless to see the vision we had planned with Maura come together in such a beautiful way. Both our families and and us as the couple felt really taken care of by the team who were so attentive (more than one staff member took the time to fluff my dress for me during cocktail hour) and the flow of the night was seamless. Maura was wonderful to work with every step of the way and the wedding day felt stress free knowing she was in charge. The Crane Estate offers beautiful natural settings (even in the rain), timeless elegance, and a Coastal New England feel. We just hope we know someone else getting married there so we can attend!

Our Labor Day weekend 2021 wedding at the Barn at the Crane Estate was picture perfect! Trying to plan a wedding amidst the ever-changing rules of the pandemic was not an easy feat but Maura was super communicative and supportive. We weren't able to do any sort of menu tasting due to COVID, but the food was absolutely amazing!! Multiple guests told us it was the best wedding food they've ever had. The specialty cocktails were fantastic too! The only downsides for us were that there was no easy onsite getting ready space (for that we rented out the Cedar Hill Farm B&B in Essex and it was actually perfect) and also that the mosquitos were out during our sunset photos (however, thankfully the outdoor ceremony and outdoor cocktail hour were totally bug-free, so no guests go bit). All in all, the staff at the Barn at the Crane Estate was amazing, the setting was beyond gorgeous, and the food was wonderful. We are still on Cloud 9 from our happy day!

My husband and I got married at the Crane Estate last year and we still get compliments from our family and friends about how wonderful the evening was - everything from the food to the space and (especially) the views. We had the easiest time working with the Crane Estate team, too, which was incredible compared to the horror stories we’ve heard from couples during their similarly-timed pandemic wedding. The real cherry on top? Not only did they go above and beyond to make sure that we had ice cream from our family’s favorite creamery over an hour away, but they had a dedicated staff member to act as your personal “butler” that day to make sure that you have everything you need - from making sure they can grab you and your husband drinks/appetizers while you’re taking photos during cocktail hour or making sure that you and your groom do have a chance to enjoy an ice cream sundae since they want you to enjoy your day without any disturbances. I could not be happier or more grateful to the Crane Estate team - thank you so much!!

We had originally planned a 125 person wedding at the Barn. Then, COVID happened and our plans were upended. Maura and her team were wonderful every step of the way. She was incredibly supportive, communicative and flexible as we had to shift our wedding date, location (to the Great House and tent), redo our seating and reduce our numbers multiple times. Crane and Maura went above and beyond to make sure we had the best celebration. The food was delicious, the service was superb and they made sure our wedding was joyous and safe. It's a very personal decision whether to delay your wedding due to the pandemic, but we could not be happier that we celebrated with 40 close friends and family. And, we are forever grateful to Crane and Fireside Catering for supporting us through all the changes and hosting an amazing and happy wedding!

The Crane Estate is breathtakingly beautiful. We loved that it felt like we were in Europe, while only having to travel one hour from Boston. Maura and the Fireside Catering team were incredible. They went above and beyond to make sure that we could execute all of the details that we wanted. We were able to customize menu items, bring in specialty foods, and tailor the look of the wedding with a lot of flexibility. Maura made it all happen, graciously working with us via conference calls, extra meetings, and late night e-mails. She was so kind, understanding and professional. We had absolute confidence going into the weekend that the event would run flawlessly, which really is priceless. We cannot recommend this venue and the Fireside Catering team enough!

My husband and I were married 8.12.18 at The Crane Estate and it was a dream! We fell in love with the Estate a year earlier when we visited for the first time and planned our ceremony remote (with Detailed Engagements, our amazing wedding planner!). At least in our experience, the wedding booking was through Fireside Catering, the official events partner for The Crane Estate, and we worked with Maura who was absolutely wonderful. Coordinating the details was easy - everything was simple and clearly communicated - from costs for different set-up or food scenarios, to rain contingency plans. Going into the wedding weekend - even with rain forecasted - I had not a care in the world. The rain lifted for our ceremony and thankfully we could enjoy the great lawn - we even had some turkeys make a cameo appearance! The staff couldn't have been more attentive - cups full, plates cleared, and as the bride my "attendant" Heather was always there for me and so kind. The food from Fireside was amazing and even our foodie friends, who can be unfiltered critics, are still raving about the tenderloin filet entree and lobster roll appetizer! Our guests felt spoiled and my husband and I were thrilled to give our friends and family such a magical backdrop to witness our vows and celebrate with us. Thank you, Maura, Fireside, and Crane Estate team!!

AMAZING! Breathtaking views during our wedding ceremony that we will never forget. The Estate, the property and views were exactly what we were looking for when considering a venue for our wedding, and we could not be happier. Our event went flawlessly in large part due to Danielle's meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of our planning. Our event went flawlessly, easily flowing from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner and reception in large part due to Danielle's planning and coordination. Choosing the Crane Estate was our first, and best decision we made, as it set the tone for a magical day that we won't soon forget. We HIGHLY recommend the Crane Estate for any special occasion.

Castle Hill at Crane Estate was such an amazing place to get married. I was planning my Massachusetts wedding from California and only had time to visit a few venues in person on my short trip east. Crane Estate was on that short list and the second my husband and I pulled up to it, we knew this was it. This location is breathtaking and I highly encourage everyone to visit. I grew up in Cape Ann and hadn't heard of this place before wedding planning. It is truly a historic gem.

The staff are industry professionals. My day of coordinator was Heather. She was so helpful and responsive every step of the way. My wedding ran very smoothly and my guests were in awe of how gorgeous this venue is. I loved getting married here and I would highly recommend this venue.

We worked with Heather from the Estate for our October wedding. We had our ceremony at Steep Hill Beach and our reception at The Barn. Beautiful setting and we got access to the grounds for our pictures and its very cool that the estate is littered with deer who will definitely make a sneak appearance into your pictures!

What a gorgeous venue! We couldn't be happier with the Castle Hill and its superb team. The property is incredibly well-kept, from the inside to the outside - the bridal suite is fantastic, and so is the Groom's suite. I LOVE this place. tThe only down side is you have limited time on the property, but if you have the right team supporting you throughout your day, everything should go smoothly. It was important to me and my husband that we find a place that allows for being indoor and outdoor for our ceremony to cocktails and reception, and this property does it all!

There are so many parts Castle Hill that are so amazing for photo ops. You really can't go wrong with any part of it - be sure to check out the Italian Gardens! The rolling hills as a backdrop for the outdoor ceremony are picturesque. Everything about the Crane Estate makes you feel like you've been swept away into some faraway, fantasy land that is just absolutely beautiful. The staff is super professional and polite, they were marvelous. It's an elegant property that is on the pricier side but SOO very worth it! This place allowed me to have the wedding of my dreams and so much more!!!

We always knew we wanted to get married at Cranes. The great house and grounds can not be beat anywhere in MA. Our coordinator Danielle was amazing and so easy to work with. Danielle and the rest of the Crane Estate staff worked hard to make our day flawless. We highly recommend this venue!

Crane took care of us completely. Danielle was wonderful - she had answers to all of my questions, and the day of kept us on a schedule so everything stayed on track. We also could not believe how affordable renting the space was!

I loved working with the Crane Estate for my wedding. Every single guest commented on how amazing the venue was--it's literally the most gorgeous, dramatic (in the best way possible) venue on the North Shore! Even our officiant (my Rabbi) told people in his office that it was the most beautiful wedding he has ever officiated.

I worked with both Ashley and Danielle at the Estate and both were wonderful to work with. Danielle especially was so, so accommodating and went above and beyond to make the day unforgettable. I can't recommend enough!

We were so lucky to get married at Castle Hill on The Crane Estate! The venue is stunning and the grounds are simply amazing. The staff and employees at Castle Hill are equally as awesome. From the very beginning, Heather and Ashley were outstanding. From the big picture planning when we first booked (a year prior to our date) to the little details and timeline a week before the big day, to the last minute flexibility during the ceremony and reception, Ashley and her staff made our entire wedding a seamless, stress-free experience. The Castle Hill crew was helpful, supportive, and flexible every step of the way, and provided all the information we needed. The entire team was extremely professional and courteous. We would gladly recommend Castle Hill on The Crane Estate to other couples as we have absolutely no regrets about choosing this venue!

Everyone at the Crane Estate went above and beyond to make our wedding the most beautiful and well managed wedding. This venue is a absolute value for money. You get a lot for what you pay.
Unfortunately I had to fire my day of coordinator, 3 days before the wedding. Event manager from the Crane Estate stepped up and coordinated everything perfectly.
My advise to you: If you select this venue, you absolutely don't need a wedding planner or the day of coordinator.

The Bradley Estate was the perfect venue for my wedding! I worked with Laura and Heather during the early stages of planning and they were great! Heather gave me a lot of ideas and was great at answering all my questions. The day of coordinators were Lisa and Laura, Lisa was great she even let me text her with last minute questions. I brought in a lot of decor for them to set up and they placed everything perfectly. They kept everything running on schedule and Lisa packed everything up nicely at the end of the night.
My ceremony took place in the formal garden with the cocktail hour being indoor/outdoor and the reception was in a tent on the front lawn. All my guest raved about the beautiful location and how it looked as if it was right out of a magazine. This venue was absolutely breathtaking and if I had to plan my wedding all over again I would not change the venue.

This venue is magical, classy, and what a breath taking view! It was my dream to be able to get married here at the Crane Estate for a long time and I happened to be able to book it approximately 6 months before the wedding date all because it is on a Monday(but it is a "holiday" Monday because it was a Columbus day weekend Monday). We were blessed with a wonderful weather outside so we had the ceremony outside starting from 2pm. Reception took place indoors and everything was perfect, happy and gorgeous. We were assigned a coordinator, Laura. She was very helpful from the beginning and easy to get a hold of through email or phone. She even helped me sort through my table cards alphabetically!
I also went with florist(Karla Cassidy), photographer(Glenn Livermore), and caterer (Vinwood caterer) whom they all worked with Crane Estate many times and know eachother very well so they pretty much know the place inside and out and took care of me with very reasonable costs. If you plan with staff that know the venue very well, it leaves you with less headache and leaves more time for fun and joy during your planning time and the actual wedding day! I had a very beautiful wedding and I highly recommend this place to anyone who would dream to be married at a gorgeous one of a kind estate! :-)

We had a beautiful, outdoor wedding at the Crane Estate on October 4, 2013. The entire day at the Estate was flawless, from beginning to end. The staff worked so hard to make sure that everything was the exact way we wanted it, and we are so grateful for that.

Our event coordinator, Ashley DiCarlo, was outstanding during the entire planning process. She was seemingly always available to answer questions, offer input and otherwise help guide us in the process. She made excellent recommendations and offered suggestions that were truly helpful. The day of, we did not have a single thing to worry about because Ashley took care of everything on our behalf.

The Crane Estate is the most beautiful venue imaginable, and our guests were absolutely marveling at the elegance and opulence. We are so happy with every aspect of our wedding day and absolutely recommend this venue to any brides looking for sophistication, elegance and breathtaking views on your wedding day!

If you want an elegant, tasteful, classic wedding, this is the location. Not only are you getting married in the most gorgeous location (both architecturally and scenically), but it is staffed by true professionals! Francie was our wedding coordinator, and she organized all the vendors, created a day-of timeline, let everyone know what they should do and when on the day of (which was important since we had no idea what we were doing!) and kept us on track so we weren't just wandering around. She is a pro and whatever we asked of her she did with grace and ease. As others have said, they come up with real alternate plans in case of rain that will be just as beautiful. In fact after our ceremony there was a little rain, and in what seemed like seconds Francie had everything rearranged to take place indoors. Seriously, if you want a wedding day that'll go off without a hitch, surrounded by capable professionals who know their stuff, allowing you to truly enjoy your wedding day in a gorgeous location, THIS is your venue!

Castle Hill at the Crane Estate was a wonderful place to get married. It has breath taking views and is a truly unique venue. They were extremely professional and easy to work with. I felt like I emailed our coordinator all the time with questions and they were very quick to respond and helpful. Everyone from the park ranger to the bar tenders to our coordinator the staff was wonderful. They are very up front with all fees. I have no complaints.

I had a Friday afternoon wedding at the Casino Complex at the Crane Estate. Since I was only having the ceremony there, I got a discounted rate. Ashley was awesome at meeting with me, answering all my questions quickly, and getting everything set up the way I wanted it. Heather was the day of coordinator, and she was very organized, and everything went smoothly.

Pros:
-Breathtaking view.
-Private rooms set aside for bride and groom.
-Lots of free parking.
-Good service.
-Beautiful rain backup location.

Cons:
-Tourists wandering about the area occasionally got in the way, or in the pictures, I even found some wandering around the bridal suite. Heather put up signs telling people to stay away, but people just love gawking at weddings.
-Not much nearby, the salon we used was 30 minutes away, and hotels were hard to find.

It is hard to describe just how beautiful the Crane Estate is! We LOVED having our wedding here! Ashley, our coordinator, was great to work with. She was incredibly friendly, organized and professional. I felt completely comfortable having her in charge the day of the wedding.
The venue itself is gorgeous-- not to mention the beautiful grounds and rolling hills! Our pictures look like postcards!
The Crane Estate is the perfect place to have your wedding if you're looking for something different!! You will NOT be disappointed.

Our wedding was a real fairy tail at the Crane Estate. The location is breathtaking and our pictures are amazing. We chose Castle Hill because of its beauty and history and we were not disappointed. We had the perfect day and danced the night away under the stars. Francie our Castle Hill planner was perfect! She was there for us every step of the way. She listened to our ideas and made them happen. I called often and she always had time to talk and never made me feel like I bothered her. Thanks Francie for making our wedding at 10 ++. Kim & Greg

I recently got married at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. If you've ever visited this venue, you see why my husband and I immediately fell in love with it! The grounds are breath-taking!! When I woke up that morning to pouring rain, I was slightly disappointed since Plan A was to have most of the ceremony and reception outdoors. However, I could not have been more pleased with how our entire wedding turned out. Ashley DiCarlo, our wedding planner from the Crane Estate was AMAZING!!! She executed every detail perfectly and was a pleasure to work with. I wouldn't have changed a thing!!!