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Weddings

About

Common Ground Center is a rustic venue space located in Starksboro, Vermont. Situated just 30 minutes from Burlington, Vermont and open from mid-May to mid-October, this venue space is perfect for those looking to celebrate their wedding or special event in the beautiful Vermont countryside. With accommodations, an on-site commercial kitchen, and a team of dedicated staff, the impressiveness of Common Ground Center speaks for itself.

Facilities and Capacity

Common Ground Center (CGC) is located on 700 acres of gorgeous Vermont wilderness and is home to hiking trails, a two-acre swimming pond, a campfire pit, a wetland site, a creek, and two tennis courts. Guests can choose from three unique venue spaces. For those looking to celebrate their marriage under the stars, the open fields at Common Ground Center can be transformed into a whimsical wedding space. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something more classic, the cathedral-like Hay Barn is the perfect locale for stunning indoor ceremonies. Lastly, the Dining Hall makes for a great reception space, thanks to the bamboo dance floor and large screened-in porch. Common Ground Center permits a capacity of up to 200 of your friends and family. As well as beautiful venue spaces, CGC also offers 20 unique cabins to choose from, which can sleep up to 86 people, as well as a lodge that can sleep 31.

Services Offered

The staff at Common Ground Center have experience in serving bridal showers, engagement parties, ceremonies, and receptions. They also have plenty of event items for your event, including chairs, furniture, china, flatware, dance floors, and tables. The venue also has a modern commercial kitchen, which provides couples the opportunity to create a wide variety of event menus. You can hire your own caterer, who can take full advantage of this expansive kitchen-space. Some of the other services the venue offers include:

  • Accommodations
  • Event rentals
  • Parking
  • Wheelchair access

History

Common Ground Center was opened in 1994 by Peg Kamens and Jim Mendell, who wanted to spend their vacations doing creative activities and organizing events for those looking to celebrate in the beautiful Vermont countryside. Since their start, they have hosted hundreds of guests from across 29 states and over 11 different countries.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

15,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

6,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

No

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
Flatware
Parking
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

35

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Barn
Campsite/Cabin
Farm/Ranch
Garden
Inn/B&B

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Event Rentals
Wifi

What event items are available?

Chairs
Dance Floor
Furniture
Tables
Tents

What food and beverage items are available?

China
Flatware

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Reviews of Common Ground Center

D
Devan Sent on 05/20/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Relaxed & Magical Vibe, Venue Designed for Community Building

We HIGHLY recommend Common Grounds Center for a couple who are seeking a weekend-long event to maximize social interaction and community building with your family and friends. The ecolodge hosted several of our close family members and the cabins are perfect for the more adventurous guests. Food truck kept the atmosphere relaxed, while we dressed up the dining hall to feel a bit more formal - pleasing all parties. The barn was used for a AM yoga class while the groomsmen went mountain biking on the local trails. Friday evening consisted of outdoor pizza oven, s’mores, and jam session around the bonfire. Many guests told us this was their favorite wedding venue ever!
Max
Max A. Sent on 11/10/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect venue for a DIY multi day wedding

We picked the CGC because 1) it’s a gorgeous venue that needed very little decorating, 2) we could have free reign over the whole weekend, and 3) they offer total flexibility with respect to vendors.

Their coordinator Kate was suuuuuper easy to work with and very responsive to our questions since we were planning remotely. She was really flexible (we extended our holiday weekend to Monday) and didn’t add stress to our planning process.

The venue is gorgeous and has a diverse set of spaces you can use for your event (a large dining area, game rooms, a cozier communal area, and a rustic barn). The cabins are super cute and each one is unique. The best part was all the outdoor space, from trails to the fire pit and sprawling fields. It was a perfect spot for a retreat-like wedding
C
Caitlyn Sent on 10/12/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Fun, unique and gorgeous venue

This venue was everything we wanted! We wanted a nontraditional wedding where all our guests could just let go and be kids. It was like a dream wedding and we still hear from our guests how much fun they had. The cabins were so cute and even those who were unsure about being in the great outdoors had a blast! We were able to book for a couple days after to enjoy the venue, clean up and just relax. What an unforgettable experience!
Amanda
Amanda Sent on 07/05/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A beautiful and customizable space

Common Ground Center was everything we hoped for in a wedding venue. This beautiful landscape in Vermont allows you to really embrace nature and the camp atmosphere brings your friends and family together for an intimate and celebratory weekend. The Common Ground Center staff are simply wonderful to work with and they give you the reigns to bring to life the wedding you imagine. The camp ground has so many amenities that make it a comfortable and easy wedding like full kitchen, a number of available rentals, accessible bathrooms, so many activities like tennis, kickball, tetherball etc. On top of all this you get the added benefit of knowing that the money you are spending on your wedding it going to a good cause working toward the Common Ground Center mission.
H
Hannah Sent on 11/07/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Best place to marry my best friend

Booking Common Ground Center as our wedding weekend venue was among the easiest and best of our wedding-related decisions. Everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - exceeded our expectations, from the grounds/facilities to the staff communication to the surrounding location. I could wax poetic all day, but I particularly want to point out two things. First, CGC has it all. Over the weekend, we took full advantage of the available facilities and hosted: a campfire & hotdog roast; a square dance with a local caller; a family-led yoga session; hiking, kickball, tetherball; impromptu outdoor jam sessions; a wood-fired pizza session; and, oh yeah, an amazing wedding ceremony and reception. We completely lucked out with the weather and were able to hold our ceremony outside, but I can't tell you how much peace of mind it gave us that the hay barn would have made a stunning protected venue. Second important point: since we housed & fed nearly all of our guests on campus all weekend, we charged room/board, which made this venue financially achievable -- and, FAR less expensive than regular hotel/food for our guests! I mention this because if the price is a little above budget at first glance, it's worth considering this as a financial win-win for both you and your guests. I acknowledge that this type of venue isn't for everyone, but if it strikes a chord with you as it did for us, I can promise you your only wish at the end will be that you could stay longer.
K
Kati Sent on 09/13/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, relaxed, community-oriented

My partner and I decided to have a camp wedding to have all of our friends and family in one place that allowed us to actually relax during the wedding weekend and have fun together - Common Ground was the perfect option for us. The staff was super responsive and accommodating, and the venue itself is just so incredibly beautiful and relaxing. It has a variation of facilities, activities, and options for entertaining guests and having weather back up plans, making it easy to not have to worry about planning out every minute of the time we spent there. We also loved that you're supporting the great work of a socially and environmentally-minded non-profit organization!
Andy
Andy Sent on 12/12/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Magical weekend

Not only did we have what we wanted (a classy but relaxed wedding venue), our friends and family (and their kids) loved the venue and the atmosphere it cultivated. Many folks later told us it was one of the most incredible wedding experiences they had, especially getting to stay on site for several days with family and friends.
C
Claire Sent on 09/19/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The Common Ground Center was the perfect place for our wedding weekend. Our friends and family loved the cabins and ecolodge. Using the pizza oven and kitchen in the dining hall made for a delicious and easy-to-prep welcome dinner the night before our wedding. We loved the pond and open spaces for playing and gathering. The staff at CGC were always friendly, patient and helpful. They responded quickly to emails and were happy to support us with anything we needed. We couldn't have picked a better spot to celebrate our wedding - who doesn't love summer camp?!
L
Lauren Sent on 06/01/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Amazing place and amazing staff. We rented out the venue for the weekend: Friday- Sunday. The location is beautiful, and our guests fell in love with it as soon as they arrived (as did we!). It was very easy to transition activities between buildings and indoor/outdoor events. The different accommodation options work very well for different types of guests - everyone was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the cabins were. Our guests also appreciated the Wifi. Our wedding took place in the Haybarn because of rain, and we loved that we didn't have to worry about a rain location - the barn is really beautiful too. We loved having the campfire each night and trails for guests to explore. Our caterer loved the full-sized professional kitchen too. We couldn't have asked for a better experience with the staff either - they patiently answered all of our questions and were available throughout the weekend for last-minute emergencies. They also worked very well with our other vendors - they even met with our caterer before the event and walked them through the space.
H
Hannah Sent on 01/10/2018
5 out of 5 rating
I can't recommend CCG enough for your wedding. You can truly make the camp, wedding, and your experience completely your own. We had over 85 people staying on site and another 30 or so staying in nearby hotels. We had pizza from the wood fired oven for the Rehearsal Dinner, Ceremony & Cocktail Hour on the field near the Eco Lodges, and the reception outside near the dining hall. Our friends and family truly got into the spirit of the camp, going on hikes, playing kickball, swimming, and even yoga classes.

Camp Common Ground is a wonderful value for your money and you can truly have a wedding weekend experience without spending $50,000. I mostly worked with Emily and she was invaluable! From everything from florist recommendations to logistics.

I do recommend hiring a day of coordinator - I used Andrea who the camp recommended. There are a lot logistics and it's helpful to have someone in charge!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

29
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

2 Endorsements
Barrie Fisher Photo Barrie Fisher Photo Wedding Photographers

What a beautiful setting to get married in!

Tasty Persuasions Catering Tasty Persuasions Catering Wedding Caterers

The Common Ground Center has a great space to use for catering. Makes your job much easier. Tina Patno, owner of Tasty Persuasions Catering.

Map

Common Ground Center frequently asked questions

Common Ground Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Flatware
  • Parking
  • Tables
The space offered by Common Ground Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Barn
  • Campsite/Cabin
  • Farm/Ranch
  • Garden
  • Inn/B&B
Common Ground Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Common Ground Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
Common Ground Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Event Rentals
  • Wifi
Common Ground Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Furniture
  • Tables
  • Tents
Common Ground Center is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 5 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism and 4.8 in value.
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