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Rockport Art Association & Museum
Rockport Art Association & Museum
Couple's photo
Couple's photo
A fun spot for taking pictures!
A fun spot for taking pictures!
A smaller gallery, connected to our spacious Hibbard Gallery reception hall. Perfect for cocktail hour and passed hors d'oeuvres. This gallery is often configured for wedding ceremonies as well.
A smaller gallery, connected to our spacious Hibbard Gallery reception hall. Perfect for cocktail hour and passed hors d'oeuvres. This gallery is often configured for wedding ceremonies as well.
The Hibbard Gallery
The Hibbard Gallery
Christmas lights wrapped in tulle drape from our soaring wooden beams
Christmas lights wrapped in tulle drape from our soaring wooden beams
Table setting
Table setting
Wedding reception setup
Wedding reception setup
These hanging lanterns were the perfect tie-in to this bride's Mexican Sunset theme. Do it yourself, or hire a company like Events For Rent - they took care of this installation and even hooked the lanterns up to dimmers.
These hanging lanterns were the perfect tie-in to this bride's Mexican Sunset theme. Do it yourself, or hire a company like Events For Rent - they took care of this installation and even hooked the lanterns up to dimmers.
Small paper lanterns lend a decorative element to this elegant October wedding!
Small paper lanterns lend a decorative element to this elegant October wedding!
Wedding reception setup
Wedding reception setup
Simple yet elegant food station set up in the Maddocks Gallery
Simple yet elegant food station set up in the Maddocks Gallery
For this wedding, the bride decided to convert the Maddocks Gallery into an area for food stations, standing tables and cocktails. One food station is pictured in the corner of this photograph. Not pictured is a large bar set-up to the right of the sliding barn door, and another food station is set up in the corner to the far left of the room. Elegant wooden benches surround the perimeter of the room, a perfect addition to the rustic elegance of the Maddocks Gallery.
For this wedding, the bride decided to convert the Maddocks Gallery into an area for food stations, standing tables and cocktails. One food station is pictured in the corner of this photograph. Not pictured is a large bar set-up to the right of the sliding barn door, and another food station is set up in the corner to the far left of the room. Elegant wooden benches surround the perimeter of the room, a perfect addition to the rustic elegance of the Maddocks Gallery.
This is one example of how the bar area can be set up. Pictured here, Harvest Catering's full bar is stationed in the far right corner of the Maddocks Gallery.
This is one example of how the bar area can be set up. Pictured here, Harvest Catering's full bar is stationed in the far right corner of the Maddocks Gallery.
The sparkling white lights in our courtyard interlude add a romantic touch to this Fall Wedding.
The sparkling white lights in our courtyard interlude add a romantic touch to this Fall Wedding.
Another view of the Cirino Interlude Courtyard in Early October. Brides will sometimes place a small cocktail or champagne bar here to welcome their guests into the Reception Hall.
Another view of the Cirino Interlude Courtyard in Early October. Brides will sometimes place a small cocktail or champagne bar here to welcome their guests into the Reception Hall.

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Rockport Art Association

About

Located in the heart of the picturesque seaside village of Rockport, Massachusetts, the Art Association is the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony and/or reception. The award-winning fine art on display that surrounds your guests creates a unique and elegant backdrop for your special day.

The upstairs Martha Moore Room serves as an intimate Bridal Suite for the Wedding Party. After relaxing with a glass of champagne and freshening up, charm your guests with a grand entrance down the colonial wooden stairway that connects to the courtyard garden interlude.

Our Maddocks Gallery is often configured as a chapel (at no additional cost). Brides planning an outdoor ceremony can enjoy the security of knowing they have an elegant and accommodating "backup" ceremony space, should the heavens decide to rain tears of joy!

The Maddocks Gallery also doubles as a rustic yet elegant space for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dessert stations and more. Our baby grand piano is often housed in this gallery and can be used for playing or as a surface for gifts or photographs.

Our Hibbard Gallery serves as the main reception area, comfortably accommodating up to 150 guests for a traditional sit-down dinner (250 for a tapas/cocktail style event), leaving ample room for a band or DJ and plenty of dancing!

Both galleries are heated and air-conditioned and have modern restrooms.

Our Event Coordinator is happy to suggest many picturesque areas for outdoor wedding ceremonies and event photography just a stone’s throw away from the Rockport Art Association.

Many hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts are conveniently located within walking distance of the Rockport Art Association. With all of the activities and lodging available right in town, many brides choose to make their wedding a weekend-long celebration for their guests.

Click here to see what our clients are saying!

We pride ourselves in the rich history of our Art Association and hope that you will visit us soon for a tour. We specialize in booking only one event per day, allowing you and your guests' exclusive access to our facilities.

Take advantage of our current Donor Membership Discount and join our family of over 1,000 contributing members! In addition to receiving discounts on art workshops, classes, and much more, you will save 50% on your gallery rental! Please contact us today for more information on booking your wedding at the Rockport Art Association, (978) 546-6604.

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Frequently asked questions

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Historic Building
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception

What event services do you offer?

Event Planner

Reviews of Rockport Art Association & Museum

Write a review
Write a review
aurora
Aurora Sent on 10/01/2018
5 out of 5 rating
To say we are happy that we chose the RAA is an understatement. We'd stopped in to the gallery a few years ago when we visited Rockport on a whim and really loved it. I was thrilled when I found out they do weddings! The entire staff was very responsive and easy to work with. Their preferred vendors for food were excellent choices (we went with Vinwood), and I felt so good to be celebrating among beautiful artwork! We did some decorations but didn't want to detract from the art on the walls, which was perfect. The piano in the gallery was amazing for our ceremony, and the town of Rockport was just a wonderful setting. We have heard such nice things about the RAA from our guests, too. And it was affordable compared to other venues. It really fit our style. We had a little under 100 guests and had plenty of room for dinner and dancing, though more than that would be tight. Parking was a little fretful but once we realized there was an issue it seemed to resolve pretty fast...we still started on time with a full house!
Thank you to the volunteers and to Robin and Kayla for helping us with our very important day!
K
Keryn Sent on 09/19/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Robin is absolutely amazing and although I have not had my big day yet she has made it very stress free for me. She is so helpful and very on top of things. You can tell she cares very much about making sure the bride and groom have the best day ever.
M
Joseph Sent on 07/18/2014
5 out of 5 rating
The RAA is a hidden gem. It's a beautiful, unique space and requires really little decoration because of the beautiful artwork, wooden beams, and hardwood floor. The warm uplighting in the galleries and the twinkly lights wrapped around the beams add a lot of charm. The rental fee is very reasonable and you can bring in your own alcohol through Kappy's or Gordon's, which is another big cost savings.

We had a lot of guests traveling from other parts of the country, and it was so nice to have a venue in downtown Rockport so that guests could get a feel for the town -- and then the venue was right up the street.

The venue is very flexible and do-it-yourself, however our caterer set did all the setup and breakdown, coordinated our rentals, and managed the whole event flow, which made things much easier planning-wise.

I'd highly recommend the RAA!
L
Linda Sent on 06/09/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Rockport art association was an awesome venue for my daughters wedding on June 7, 2014. The space is gorgeous, art on the walls, high ceilings, hardwood floors and lots of space. Robin was very helpful and responsive and it was a good value for the money. Logistics was super easy and bringing in creative caterings bartender and kappys on call for the alcohol enabled us to offer beer and wine for the guests without breaking the budget. I loved the courtyard and separate room for the bar. We had a band and there was plenty of room for dinner and dancing.
D
Debra Sent on 07/12/2014
4.9 out of 5 rating
We held our ceremony and reception at the Rockport Art Association and were thrilled with how everything turned out. It was by far the most reasonable rental we found in our search, and the gorgeous wood floors, exposed beams, and interesting art work gave us a rustic yet modern space. The ceremony space was gorgeous, and the main gallery comfortably held our 110 guests plus a band and dance floor with plenty of space for dancing. Several of our guests remarked on how lovely and unique the venue was. Robin was great to work with and very knowledgable about the venue and surrounding area. We ended up hiring her as our day of coordinator and were thrilled to have her help with all the wedding day details. The ability to bring in our own alcohol (through Kappy's on Call) and set up bar service through our caterer (Vinwood - also fabulous) was a huge savings. RAA worked beautifully for us since we were looking for a unique and relaxed venue rather than a formal ball room setting. We highly recommend to couples looking for a similar vibe.
D
Linda Sent on 10/21/2009
4.9 out of 5 rating
As musicians we were looking for something different.
As sentimental fools we were looking for some place that meant something to us. My husbands Mom passed away six months before we started dating and the last time the family was in Rockport was for her memorial, so we were looking for a happier occasion to get this family together.
This place is so intimate & special. We were married on the dance floor & did a tapas type of reception with a few stations. Everyone wandered around and talked, ate, danced & mingled. Comments were how much it reflected my husband & I, how intimate, how different.....and how much fun! Not your traditional wedding, but definitely us!
B
Jordan Sent on 07/22/2008
4.9 out of 5 rating
Everything was absolutely perfect! Emails and phone calls were always answered in a timely manner, I was able to use the upstairs room a full 24 hours before the wedding (to hang my dress...etc...) and the women there were so sweet and always inquired as to whether I needed any help.

I would definitely recommend the Art Association to anyone looking for a creative and different reception location.
M
Maura Sent on 09/22/2015
4.8 out of 5 rating
Charming, rustic venue in the heart of downtown Rockport. We held both our ceremony and reception here and couldn't have been happier. Our guests raved about the unique setting. It perfectly suited the casual, rustic vibe we were going for and the space has so much character! Tons of great places for photos in the nearby area. Can't wait to go back and visit every year on our anniversary!
N
Nicole Sent on 11/18/2008
4.8 out of 5 rating
I absolutely LOVED this venue, I had the perfect wedding and this was a large part of that perfection. The venue is quaint and charming, little extra decor is needed since the art work speaks for itself. Used both galleries - one for ceremony (with a large barn door as the head of the "aisle" - beautiful!) and the larger one for the reception - awesome exposed beams - perfect for hanging lights or lanterns on. Overall I really loved this venue and it was just the perfect location for us and the staff was a pleasure to work with.
U
User2390887 Sent on 10/26/2015
4.1 out of 5 rating
If you are looking for a charming, unique venue to have your wedding, The Rockport Art Association is a great choice! Located in the center of town, a historic New England home adjacent to the street welcomes guests into the space. Wood floors throughout with exposed beams gives a warm and cozy feel. Guests make their way to the back gallery, which is a large hall with walls covered in gorgeous art. The exhibit not only makes a beautiful backdrop, but a conversation piece, as well!

With this venue, you are only paying for the space - so if you are looking for an all inclusive one stop shop, this is not the place for you. You are required to hire tables, chairs, linens, etc., in which the RAA has a preferred list of vendors for you to choose from. Robin is the liaison between couples and the art association. She is wonderful to work with, providing advice and assistance in having your wedding at the RAA.

Because this is a space of business that is open to the public, if you are a couple who has a VERY specific vision in mind, this also is not a space for you. There is minimal flexibility in choice of vendor (see above - preferred list only) and floor planning (e.g. you do not know what exhibit you will get on the day of your wedding. So if there is a statue positioned somewhere in the hall, tough luck. You have to work around it).

With all this said, though, if you are an easy-going and flexible couple with crazy organization skills or who hired a good wedding planner, the RAA can be transformed into a beautiful space loved by all your guests that they will be talking about for years to come!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

10
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner

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Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Henry & Masci Photography Henry & Masci Photography Wedding Photographers

We photographed a wedding at the Rockport Art Association over the weekend. It was beautiful. The space was great and really added to original looking photographs. The area around the building is also great for photo backdrops!

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