Blithewold Reviews

It was a dream to get married at Blithewold. We had a noon time ceremony in September and it was absolutely beautiful. One of the best parts about getting married at Blithewold is that you don’t have to worry about decor for the ceremony because the garden and property are stunning.
Hannah and Allan were easy to work with. They were accommodating, professional and supportive throughout the whole process.
Blithewold has always been a special place for me. I am so glad we were able to have our wedding there.

We are so happy to have gone with Blithewold for our special day! Erica and Melissa were wonderful to work with from when we first came onsite to see the venue/property to the days leading up to the wedding to the day itself! Their energy, responsiveness, and professionalism remained top notch throughout the process. We lucked out with our wedding day being rain free and were able to have our ceremony on the North Garden (although there were back-up indoor options if needed). The team at Blithewold were able to work with any/all changes as needed, which was much appreciated! The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all went well and our guests loved the beautiful property and event! Erica, Melissa, Matthew, and other staffs' customer service, along with manor, gardens, arboretum, sprawling lawn and view of the bay. all played a role in making our day so special. Thank you!

The Staff is amazing, the food is amazing, the backdrop is amazing! Literally can not say one bad thing about this venue. The wedding was my dream come true and they made it all happen. The tent comes with the booking and it is fully floored so you don’t need to pay extra for any of that. The tent also includes twinkle lights and a dance floor. We also had a terrible experience with our photographer and needed to retake some portraits with a different one and Blithewold was so accommodating and let us come back to take photos in the fall on the grounds.

Beautiful venue for our small wedding, and great service! Matthew and Allan were kind, flexible and helpful, from the early planning stages, right through to our special day. We and our guests thoroughly enjoyed our time. The mansion and the extensive waterfront grounds are a perfect setting for a wedding.

I actually use Blithewold twice during my wedding planning process. My bridal shower at the Blithewold was amazing. The staff went above and beyond and had a great time doing it. The venue is actually my favorite place in Rhode Island. The grounds are gorgeous and well-kept. If a wedding at the Blithewold’s not in your cards I would still suggest them for other events!

We couldn’t have imagined a better setting than Blithewold for our August 2021 wedding. The mansion, ceremony garden, sprawling grounds on the water, and reception tent are all uniquely stunning and together result in a truly one-of-a-kind venue. Throughout the planning process, which ended up being a year longer than anticipated due to the pandemic, there wasn’t a moment that we didn’t feel so lucky that we would be able to have our day with this stunning backdrop.

Additionally, Blackstone (and Karen in particular) made the entire planning process flawless and fun. Karen was so accommodating and understanding when we had to postpone due to the pandemic, and was communicative throughout the next year hopping on calls and emails whenever needed to answer the many questions we sent her way. On the day of, Karen, Melissa, and the Blithewold team made sure everything was running flawlessly, and we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day (with unparalleled cuisine by Blackstone). Blithewold will always hold a special place in our hearts and we want to give one last special thank you to Blackstone and all the people who helped create our day. We can’t recommend them enough!

Blithewold was the absolute most beautiful place for our wedding. From the beginning, the staff there were so accomodating, answered all our questions, and were extremely flexible when we had to reschedule our initial wedding date due to the pandemic. Almost every guest in our 180 person wedding said that Blithewold was the most beautiful wedding venue they had ever been to. I was so worried about things going wrong on my wedding day, but thanks to the Blithewold staff that were assisting with my wedding, absolutely nothing went wrong and everything transitioned so seamlessly. Melissa, Karen, and the rest of their team were so quick to respond to my questions (and there were MANY questions) and made me feel absolutely comfortable leaving the biggest day of my life in their hands. They were so professional and even had many suggestions on how to make our wedding day more fun (i.e., extending the cocktail hour as the sunset was so beautiful). You get to have your ceremony essentially in a botanical garden with the ocean on one side and a beautiful historic mansion on the other. The tent is there year round and was so beautiful and even when it started raining and there were strong wind gusts, none of our guests noticed. I would recommend this venue to ANYONE, and I am so happy I chose to have my wedding at Blithewold.

If you don't want to read the whole post, my advice is to call and schedule a meeting, talk thru how you envision your wedding and walk the grounds. If the day you want is available, the $'s make sense for your budget, and you love the venue, then book. Our wedding day was perfect and the staff at Blithewold were simply fantastic. We couldn't have done it without them and I highly recommend. On to our story:

Our engagement was very short (9 months) and we planned our wedding ourselves... as Rhode Island began to open back up our plans and guest list changed along the way. During that time Matthew and Allan were responsive to all our requests, spoke to all our vendors (Florals, Baker, DJ) to ensure scheduling was on track, provided timelines for us to follow and if they had questions they would call us to hash out (Tasting dates, finalize head counts, cocktail selections, rehearsal dates, etc). The day before our wedding we dropped off our table decor and left the rest to them. On our wedding day we had a first look and photos in the mansion. Matthew made sure the bride was tucked away into the bridal suite with plenty of time to bustle and powder before guests arrived. Blithewold provided both sunshine and rain plans ahead of time (it rained) and the staff just kept the whole day moving smoothly. Little details matter and the staff were on top of it. Everyone flowed from the ceremony to cocktail hour for passed apps/drinks. Umbrellas were provided by the venue as guests transitioned from cocktail hour to the reception tent and the party just kept going til the dj told us our shuttle would be arriving in 20min. It's been two weeks since our wedding; my wife and I are still smiling about how perfect our day was.

Let's talk $'s. We researched 15 venues and getting upfront pricing was tough for many. Blithewold was upfront with all costs: venue, cocktail hr, passed hors d'oeuvres, gratuity, taxes, per-guest reception costs, etc. I was provided an invoice on Day 1 and the total at the bottom was the price we paid (deposit to reserve, balance due 30 days before wedding). Zero surprises and no fine print that padded on extra for "admin fees, gratuities, taxes, etc". Our only outside costs were to provide signage, floral arrangements, wedding cake, music and centerpieces for tables. We dropped off our decor the day before the wedding. Again, the staff set everything up perfectly and our reception looked fantastic.

Blackstone Catering and Blithewold Mansion made our day perfect. Our guests loved exploring the grounds and the tent was gorgeous. It was such a special day and we were so happy that we got the beautiful views we dreamed of, on a budget. If you're considering Blithewold vs. somewhere else, pick Blithewold everytime!

We had our ceremony off site but our reception at Blithewold. To say the mansion and grounds are breathtaking is an understatement! I had every single guest tell me how beautiful Blithewold was several times over! Nicole was so great to work with, she is one busy girl but always made time to answer my many questions. Seriously, this place is absolutely stunning and there are a million places to take pictures. Get married here you won’t regret it.

Blithewold was a joy to work with from the very beginning until we sadly had to cancel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our daughter's summer wedding at Blithewold was not to be. Amid all the stress and disappointment associated with 'unwinding' a wedding, Blithewold was professional and gracious.

Karen and the team at the Blithewold are extraordinary! Not only do they ensure that everything runs smoothly, but they run a tight ship which keeps everyone and everything on time. Their suggestions for vendors were spot on and so well researched that we felt like we not only booked a venue but a wedding planner as well. They took incredibly good care of our bridal party the day of the wedding and were such a blessing to work with.

Blithewold is a truly incredible and one-of-a-kind wedding venue. I visited countless venues around the Newport, RI area before finding Blithewold, and I knew instantly that this was it! They had absolutely everything I was looking for - and our wedding reception was truly stunning. The massive lawn leading down to the water, gorgeous sunset views, unique gardens, beautiful and historic mansion, a big stone terrace and porches, a beautiful marquis tent with patio flooring, plenty of parking and a great set-up for event flow, helpful and knowledgeable staff - what more could one ask for?! We were completely blessed with the perfect wedding day weather (sunny with a few clouds, warm with a cool breeze, low humidity…) and our guests got to enjoy everything that Blithewold has to offer at its absolute best! Karen, the events director, was great to work with and incredibly helpful in guiding us with vendor decisions and making sure details were accommodated. Their catering relationship, with Blackstone catering, was a true blessing - we didn’t have to search for a catering vendor, and Blackstone offers delicious, creative food and truly amazing and professional service - they made our wedding the incredible event that it was! I am so grateful that we got to celebrate our wedding reception at Blithewold!

We held our September wedding and reception at Blithewold. We could not be happier with how everything turned out. We cannot thank Karen Bellavance enough for her understanding as we worked through the possibility of a schedule change due to medical reasons. Karen provided lots of good information leading up to the event. Our wedding ceremony in the garden went smoothly thanks to the clear instructions we received during our rehearsal the day before the wedding. Blithewold weddings are a well-oiled machine. The staff keeps everything running on time. The tent and facilities at Blithewold are wonderful and the setting is magnificent – especially if you are surprised with a dramatic sunset!

Blithewold was the absolute perfect venue for our wedding! The grounds are breathtaking, and we still have guests raving about how beautiful the venue was. Karen was an absolute pleasure to work with. I planned our wedding from Chicago, which made planning tricky at times, but Karen was so responsive and accommodating to all my emails, even my random one-off questions that would pop up throughout the year. The Blithewold staff runs a well-oiled machine and they work with their vendors so seamlessly to ensure the day runs smooth. They truly create a magical, unforgettable experience.

This venue is truly amazing in many ways: the view of the water, the architecture of the mansion, the grounds and numerous gardens, the tent, and the staff. Karen was very detail oriented and had great vendor recommendations for us, which was a big help for us since we were from out of town. The day of the wedding, Karen and the staff operated like a well oiled machine, ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. They are truly top notch.

A magical wedding at Blithewold is how I would characterize my daughter's wedding on 9/16/17. The elegant mansion, beautiful grounds, gorgeous gardens surrounding the ceremony location and perfect tent for our dinner and dancing provided our guests and us with a 'wow' wedding night. Karen Bellavance and her staff were so attentive, professional and organized from the 12 months prior when we booked the venue up until the day after when I picked up neatly organized belongings from the tent. All of the details, vendors and timelines were orchestrated perfectly to make the wedding the least stressful for the bride and me, the mom. Karen and Blithewold together make this site a perfect 10 to have your wedding. Can't wait to see the pictures!

Our daughter got married at Blithewold Mansion on 9-8-17. From the moment we booked this venue in November of 2016, our experience dealing with Karen Bellavance, Director of Special Events, was nothing short of fantastic. Karen provided a wealth of information in a very professional, yet personal and warm and sincere manner, was quick to return phone calls and emails, and most importantly, listened to us and advised us on every detail every step of the way. She is a pleasure to work with. The ceremony was held outdoors in the North Garden overlooking the scenic Narragansett Bay and was accentuated by the lovely gardens at Blithewold. The cocktail hour took place on the lawn, and the reception in the beautifully lit tent. The permanent stone flooring in the tent is a real bonus and adds to its ambience. We couldn't have asked for a better day, the bride and groom had the wedding of their dreams, and our guests are still raving about the gorgeous venue. I can't recommend having your wedding at Blithewold Mansion highly enough!

Our wedding guests said it was "the most beautiful wedding they've ever been to!" I literally cannot say enough wonderful things about our August wedding at the Blithewold! We had our ceremony in the garden, our guests had cocktail hour on the grand lawn, and our reception was under the twinkling lights in the tent. All I can say is if you're lucky enough and the Blithewold has your date open BOOK IT! You get full access to the mansion and the grounds for you and your guest for what is a reasonable price with other comparable venues. Our pictures look like they're out of a story book. Again you can shoot anywhere on the grounds. We chose to shoot in the bamboo gardens, stone archway, the greenhouse, and our photographer found this beautiful little piece of beach straight back from the tent that was absolute perfection at sunset. I have to admit, I read every single review on here before booking the Blithewold. There were a few that said Karen was difficult to work with, which made me a little nervous. All I can say is those reviews are wrong, Karen is an absolute delight, super responsive and an overall pleasure to work with. All I can guess is the people that wrote those reviews were most likely the type of people who were difficult themselves. Yes, the Blithewold will cut the music at 1030, but they tell you that ahead of time. If you have to have "one more song" :) tell your DJ to say last song at 10:10 and then play a few more. Also they have added new beautiful bathrooms right next to the tent, with a huge bridal suite attached.
Tip: Hire their recommended caterer Blackstone, they know the place inside and out and your food and service will be superb.

It was an absolute dream to celebrate our reception here! The grounds are immaculate, with so many places to explore for photos! We had a fun time getting our guests to enjoy the grounds (all yours during your event!) and dance the night away in the tent! That is what sold us on booking the Blithewold - not only was it gorgeous, but it was a completely private retreat for our celebration. Bristol is one of our favorite places in RI, and how lucky it is to have a wonderful venue like the Blithewold!

Karen Bellavance was incredibly helpful every step of the way through endless emails and phone calls to iron out details. The day before our wedding we dropped of decorations with Karen and briefly explained setup - when we arrived at the reception everything was perfectly in its place! The staff were very accommodating and I couldn't be more appreciative.

Ps. My husband and I, though originally from New England, have been living in California the past few years. When we saw the gorgeous sequoia trees on the Blithewold grounds we were reminded of our west coast adventure (and favorite national park - Sequoia!). It helped us bring our west coast lifestyle back east with us!

We had the most perfect wedding at Blithewold! We got married over Memorial Day Weekend 2016, and the flowers in the garden where we had the ceremony were stunning! We didn't even feel like we needed any other aisle decorations since the garden and backdrop of the water were already so beautiful! There were so many places to take pictures! The guests loved the grounds and there was the most breath-taking sunset during dinner. The tent was also beautiful - it was nice that it already came with flooring and string lights. Karen was also such a pleasure to work with! She was so nice, responsive, and organized. We honestly could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding!!

Blithewold was amazing during the whole wedding process! We had our ceremony in the garden cocktail hour on the lawn and reception in the tent and everything was absolutely perfect! Karen was a great coordinator! She helped us with rehearsal and making sure everything on the day of was perfect. The grounds are so well maintained and all the flowers and different gardens are amazing. They just built a brand new bridal suit and bathrooms right off the tent site. They are really nice and high class! I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is still in need of a venue!

My husband and I truly enjoyed everything Blithewold offered! The mansion and property are well maintained and provided a gorgeous setting for our big day. And the sun setting over the bay was breathtaking, we can't wait to see the pictures taken!

Karen Bellevance and Donna Bozeman were wonderful to work with! We chose to do be our own wedding planners, which was only possible with Karen's guidance and list of recommended vendors. They were also quick to respond to all of our questions, whether it related to the venue or wedding planning in general. And we have to say that ALL of our vendors complimented Karen and Donna's professionalism the day of. We also dropped off quite a few personal touches and decorations before our wedding. Karen and Donna displayed these items exactly as we hope and it amazed us how quickly Donna and her team packed up these personal items for us and helped us load them into our car following our reception. This allowed my husband and I to quickly meet our guests at the after party.

The Blithewold team allowed my husband and I a stress free day which we will cherish forever!

Blithewold has to be the most perfect venue for a wedding. It has a stunning mansion, breathtaking gardens, and a beautiful ocean/bay view. Our wedding on 6/20/15 was just beautiful. Karen Bellavance is great to work with, and helps execute your day. We were married in the North Garden, with a beautiful cocktail hour on the porch and lawn, followed by a fantastic reception dinner and dancing in the tent. Despite some rain at the end of the evening, and our band shorting out for a bit when the rain affected Blithewold's sound equipment, we had the perfect day. The new bridal suite and bathrooms are absolutely stunning. I would suggest one of the day-of coordinators stays close-by the bridal suite so that it is easier to get in and out. Other than that, we had the most beautiful, perfect day. The location was stunning, and I could not be happier. We visited Blithewold a number of times throughout the planning process, and were always greeted with open arms. Thank you, Karen and team!

Absolutely Beautiful! The staff was organized and amazing! They were very helpful with all of the planning and event coordination. Can not recommend them highly enough!

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue to hold our wedding. Karen and team ensured that the day ran flawlessly. They were organized, calm, and eased any nervous jitters that we had throughout the day. Karen was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the planning process, always answering e-mails right away and addressing any questions that I had with patience. Everyone commented on how amazing our venue was. From the North Garden where the ceremony was held to having wedding photos taken in the bamboo and along the water, to watching a gorgeous sunset from the reception tent, it was a day that we will never forget. I cannot recommend this venue, along with Karen, highly enough to brides and grooms. It is a spectacular site!

- Laura

We would recommend Blithewold to any couple looking to get married. Beautiful grounds and professional, flexible staff. The weather was perfect but we had the mansion as a backup. The guests didn't have to deal with the hassle of Newport traffic. I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere more beautiful. This is where you will want to start your life together.

When my husband and I got engaged in January, my first stop searching for venue location was Blithewold. There was snow on the ground, and we could barely venture out on the grounds without snow boots on. Karen provided us with pictures,and videos to get the feel for the location during the summer months. I couldn't have asked for a better location and an amazing team for our day.

Every single one of our guests commented on how beautiful the mansion and grounds were. It was the first time many of our guests had been there, even though both our families are local to RI.

Karen was great to work with, organized and calm throughout the whole planning process. Her team was so responsive to any requests we had throughout the event. I cannot say enough good things about this venue.

I do recommend hiring vendors that are familiar with Blithewold, especially photographers and videographers as the property is vast and lighting for certain shots takes special timing and having people that know the property was very comforting.

The grounds are so beautiful, the tent is amazing and Karen is best of all! She worked tirelessly to help us organise our wedding reception. She was always quick to respond and if she was unable to meet with us she organised for someone else to meet us at the time most convenient to us. We were blown away by the beauty of the venue once they had set everything up for us. All the staff there were so helpful from beginning to end and we really felt that our every request and whim was granted. We are so grateful to have had such a stunning venue to celebrate our special day!

Blithewold was beautiful! The staff was wonderful! I fell in love with this venue right from the start. My Husband loved it too! The grounds are so beautiful and well kept. You can't get a bad photograph in this gorgeous garden. Whether inside the mansion or out in the gardens, the whole place is peaceful and serene. I felt like a garden princess among all the tranquility and beauty. The staff was very on top of things. They were so helpful and there for me when I needed. My dress ripped and they were right there with safety pins ready to pin it up so i could enjoy the rest of the evening -which is exactly what I did. Blithewold is a special place and I am so happy they were part of my vendor team. I can'y wait to go back and visit and share the beautiful photographs! Truly a special place full of love and happiness!

I'm so glad we picked the Blithewold for our wedding reception and ceremony site. Karen was so organized from the first day we met her and worked closely with my planner to make sure my wedding day was flawless. Our guests couldn't stop complimenting us on the venue, the water views, the lush gardens, and the over all outdoor summer wedding we threw at Blithewold.

My wife and I had been looking for different places to get married, but weren't committed to anyplace yet. When we turned the corner into Blithewold's driveway, our jaws dropped from how beautiful it was. The huge, beautiful grounds with the gorgeous building took our breath away. We walked in for our meeting with Karen Bellavance, who took us on a tour of the house and explained the location of the ceremony (Overlooking the water as we said our vows... how perfect?) and the tent for the reception (again, with water and sunset views!). She showed us a marketing video that allowed us to see the grounds in different settings and picture albums of previous brides. We were completely in love and Karen was so incredibly helpful with answering all our questions. All of our guests were equally in love with the location, they all kept commenting on how beautiful it was. During cocktail hour and as the sun was setting, our guests roamed the grounds to enjoy a special romantic moment away with their significant others. On the day of the wedding, Karen was there with her staff to make sure everything went smoothly. They guided our guests to their seats and made sure everyone was accommodated. Any time we needed anything, Karen and her staff was one step ahead of us. They were flexible when some of our pictures took a little longer; took it right in stride and still allowed our entrance to go smoothly. They kept constant communication with the vendors - half the time something was being taken care of that we didn't even realize! It was just incredibly perfect and we couldn't have been happier. Beautiful pictures, beautiful weather, beautiful location!

Our daughter had her wedding ceremony and reception at Blithewold Mansion on 5/3/2014. I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful it was. Karen, the wedding coordinator and her staff are just unbelievably organized and kept everything on tract to make it the best for all of our guests; family and friends have still been calling us to tell us to tell us how nice everything was and everyone was so impressed with Blithewold. It is a beautiful venue to have a wedding and you will not regret it. Absolute perfection!!!

Blithewold was the perfect venue for our wedding! My husband and I chose the venue almost 2 years in advance and Karen really worked with us throughout our planning. She was always very quick to respond to any questions we had and was extremely helpful and receptive in making the wedding exactly what we wanted. All of the workers at Blithewold were amazing, especially the night of the wedding. Everything went perfectly, the ceremony started exactly on time, and my husband and I were so impressed with the friendliness of the staff. We really had the most perfect wedding and could not have imagined anything better! Thank you to Blithewold for making it perfect. We would do it all again with them in a heartbeat - which is why you should choose this for your venue!

Blithewold is breathtakingly beautiful! Our photographs came out amazing because there was not one bad spot to take pictures in!

Just as great as the venue was the wedding coordinator, Karen. She was so patient and helpful during the entire planning process!

I’ve been visiting Blithewold with my mom for years and dreamed about having my wedding there but never thought it would happen. I was thrilled when I got a deal on an unreserved date in 2013. Karen was great to work with; kind, responsive, and organized. She was also fabulous about making suggestions when I wasn’t sure what would work best. She made sure the rehearsal ran smoothly as well as the wedding itself. We were able to get beautiful photos with varied backgrounds of the bay, gardens, and mansion. Our guests were amazed at the house and grounds and loved being able to explore.

Blithewold was not only one of the most stunning and beautiful venues I think I've seen, they were wonderful to work with and really ran my day flawlessly. Throughout my year and a half engagement, I always had a lot of one-off questions that popped up, and Karen Bellevance was fantastic at getting back to me quickly and was very helpful. I had a lot of home-made personal touches I brought in myself to Blithewold - without having a wedding planner hired on my own, I was worried about it all getting set up and in the right place. Karen and her team were great at stepping in here: I was able to drop everything off the day before and they, along with our caterer, set up, and also let us leave everything the night of the wedding so we could go back the day after the wedding to re-collect what we needed to. Overall, I can't say enough about their professionalism and my 110% confidence in Karen and her team - all the vendors seemed to work together and get everything set up thanks to Blithewold's help facilitating.

The Blithewold was the perfect venue for our magical day. We knew from the moment we stepped on the grounds that it was the place for us, but never could we have envisioned how magical of an experience we would be able to have and how much we would rely and grow to love the staff, as we did our entire wedding team. Even with a drizzly afternoon, the Blithewold team gave us complete flexibility of where to hold the ceremony and met every imaginable need for ourselves and our guests. The most beautiful setting, amazing team and wonderful event we could have ever hoped for and Karen's support, kindness and warmth helped to make it a perfect experience.

Dream wedding come true. What a perfect venue. We had our reception here & it was more than we hoped for. Everyone was easy to work with & very pleasant. Well worth the money.

Blithewold Mansion and Gardens offered the fairytale wedding I had always dreamed of! We lucked out with the weather, and it was the most unbelievable sunset we had ever seen. We had lawn games by the terrace during cocktail hour, which was a great option for a kid-friendly wedding. Karen was great during the planning process and was immediately available on the day-of, offering to take flowers while the girls primped. Our photographs are as amazing as you would expect, thanks to all the natural decor and beauty the grounds offer. I had been warned that volume restrictions can create constraints for the DJ and we truly did not even notice, it was just as loud as we would have liked so don't let this deter any bride looking for a gorgeous, outdoor wedding. Could not have been happier!

We had our wedding (both ceremony and reception) at Blithewold and it was simply a dream come true! The grounds are breathtaking and if you luck out with great weather, you will be WOW-ed.
Karen was a delight to work with. I don't know why some other reviewers had an adverse opinion. She is someone who gets done what needs to be done, she uses her vast knowledge and experience to help you plan out the best day possible. She will also be on your side if you need help coordinating your other vendors.

Our event was on a Sunday and knew our time was somewhat limited but we definitely got everything in that we wanted. If the biggest issue with Blithewold that there were too many beautiful places we wanted to take pictures and we ran out of time, well I'm ok with that.

If you want your fairytale wedding, go to Blithewold and start your own happily ever after.

Blithewold was a gorgeous location for our wedding. It provided a beautiful backdrop for our wedding ceremony and reception. The evening was handled efficiently and professionally by Karen and her staff. Everything was wonderful because of this dream location - I wish every bride the same!

Absolutely beautiful!! This place is stunning and such a dream wedding spot. The prices are a little high but after the perfect weeding I had I can understand why. I really could not have asked for a better venue, it was like a story out of a movie. Karen and her staff were also wonderful. They handle everything and made the day go so perfectly. My pictures were absolutely stunning…such a great place! I can’t wait to go back again and remember every aspect of my day.

We had the most beautiful wedding. We had a semi-untraditional ceremony and Karen worked with us every step of the way. Just the day before (at rehearsal) we decided to switch it up yet again because the weather was going to be unseasonally warm the following dsy, we asked if we could exchange vows outside on their amazing terrace and Karen did the swap effortlessly! The grounds are breath taking and the house met all of our expectations. Our guest still haven't stopped talking about how fabulous our wedding was!

My experience at Blithewold was wonderful. I wanted an untraditional wedding and the staff was very accepting to my wishes. On the day of the wedding I was unable to have my ceremony where I wished due to weather. The staff was very quick and efficient in helping me prepare for my ceremony in a different location. The setting was perfect and I was very impressed by their quick actions. You also get a year membership after getting married which is a special way to keep connected to the place that we shared our vows. The only downfall to Blithewold is that you have to use vendors from their list or get permission if you have one of your own. I did not have an issues using vendors that I wanted that were not on the list and their lists have good options.

The staff was kind and wonderful, not to mention efficient. It's a beautiful location. I couldn't have picked a better venue. It looked like a $100K wedding with this location. WOW, WOW, WOW!

My husband and I were just married at Blithewold and we had an AMAZING experience. Karen Bellavance and her crew run a tight ship and made sure every detail of the ceremony was carried out perfectly. They worked well with the caterer and vendors, as well as with us throughout the planning process. We live across the country, which can make coordinating efforts a bit of a challenge, but we felt we were in good hands with Karen. She even took phone calls with us well after east coast business hours as needed to ensure we were all on the same page.
We hired a band that has never worked with Blithewold before. There are some constraints around decibel levels as the mansion is in a residential area, but everyone communicated well and our evening was perfect (read- super fun dance party).
The grounds and reception- Blithewold is gorgeous. We were married in the garden area facing the water. Even though it was mid-October, the flowers in the garden were colorful and beautiful. The tent is already decorated with lights strung across the top which add a pleasant ambiance. There is a lovely bridal suite where my bridesmaids and I were able to finish getting ready. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. Our photographer was like a kid in a candy store taking our pictures in various parts of the mansion grounds. The sunset was breathtaking and added to the beauty of the evening.
All in all, we had a wonderful experience. We both agree that the wedding and reception far exceeded our expectations.

Most magical place in Rhode Island! Even more beautiful than the mansions in Newport and you get the whole place to yourself! Guests are still talking about the entire experience that the Blithewold was able to provide

Having my wedding at the Blithewold Mansion was truly a dream come true. I had a few venues on my list that I looked into online, but I visited the Blithewold first and my search was over! Karen B, the wedding coordinator, could not have been a better person to work with. She is extremely good at her job, would answer questions promptly throughout the planning and the day of the wedding she was so calm cool and collected, it made everything run a million times smoother! The venue itself is the perfect combination of gorgeous gardens and flowers blooming in all seasons, along with a beautiful tent that gives you security from the crazy New England weather changes. I would get married here a hundred times over if I could!! Thank you so much to Karen and the whole Blithewold team for truly the best day of our lives.

I am so glad that we had our wedding at Blithewold Mansion. It rained on the morning of our wedding. However, by cocktail hour, the sun was shining and the atmosphere and scenery at Blithewold were absolute perfection. Working with Karen and Deborah was seamless from start to finish. Overall, our wedding day was the best day ever.

Blithewold is truly a magical place, the setting is breathtaking and the attention to detail by the staff is everything one can wish for. There are certain restrictions around the time the bridal party and guests can be on the property that can make the planning a bit more work, but for the most part is fine. We had our dream wedding at Blithewould a few weeks ago, and we had the best time, our guests keep commenting on how perfect everything went, and how beautiful it was. We both agree.

Karen was very responsive and helpful during the planning process and wedding.

We had a perfect day at the Blithewold for our recent wedding and reception. Karen and her team did an incredible job coordinating all the vendors and making sure all of our little details were executed seamlessly and just as we wanted them to be. There is a strict time frame in which you can have your ceremony and reception, so be sure to plan for an after-party, as you will most certainly be required to get off the premises before 11pm. All in all a picturesque, beautiful place to get married and celebrate!

Blithewold is an amazing place to get married. The staff is extremely professional, and Karen is very responsive and wonderful. I would definitely recommend it. It even rained on my wedding day so the guests did not get to fully experience the beautiful grounds, but I'm still so happy we got married there. The tent with its stone flooring was the perfect place to have the reception out of the rain.

Blithewold Mansion is a dream come true. My husband and I had researched and visited every venue in the Newport area and had given up hope in finding our perfect venue. We both knew the minute we set foot on the property that Blithewold was it for us. The mansion and grounds are beyond perfection and it was an experience that neither us nor our guests will forget. You cannot match the beauty of this property. On top of the grounds, there is of course the staff. Karen is an absolute professional who knows exactly what she is doing and how to orchestrate your perfect day. She will let you realize your own dream wedding while providing helpful information and suggestions. I wish I could do it all over again...and if I did I would not change a thing. I truly got to have my dream wedding and it was all because of Blithewold's beauty and Karen's managerial skills! I cannot recommend Blithewold highly enough!

Blithewold is the perfect venue to get married. The rolling lawn down to the bay, gorgeous tent with permanent stone flooring, and meticulous gardens make for the perfect backdrop for any party. With the ceremony site in the west garden facing the water, the sun sets as you are saying your vows. There are tons of perfect spots to get your photo taken- my favorites being the bamboo garden and shaded pathways. The staff was friendly, easy to work with, and extremely well organized. I didnt have to worry about anything during the day. The Blithewold staff worked closely with my caterer, band, and photographer to make sure everything ran smoothly. It is also great that there are wonderful rain contingency plans in place. I would choose Blithewold a million times over again.

From the moment we saw Blithewold we knew it was the place for us. Even on a dreary November day it was beautiful. We had an absolutely perfect wedding day from start to finish, and I couldn't imagine a more perfect setting for a wedding. Karen was wonderful to work with leading up to our wedding. She ran the entire rehearsal and let us drop off a lot of items the day before. On the day of, Karen and her staff were awesome - they did a great job of ensuring that the entire night ran smoothly.

Gorgeous venue, professional staff. Our reception took place at Blithewold (ceremony at St Luke's Parish) on June 5th and my family and friends have not stopped talking about it. The water backdrop, large field, beautiful gardens, stunning mansion- it all was surreal and fun!

We were married at Blithewold on 10/12/18 and it was a truly phenomenal day. Karen and her team were very responsive and helpful from our very first inquiry through the day of the event. Blithewold hosts dozens of weddings every season, so they function like a well-oiled machine. While they are quite specific about which vendors they prefer to work with and how they like to do things, this actually simplified the process because their team has identified the best vendors and have excellent working relationships with them. The grounds are stunning and our guests were amazed by the views. We loved being able to do everything on site. We've had friends planning weddings say "I wish we'd looked at Blithewold before we booked our venue!" I can't recommend Blithewold highly enough if you're looking for a romantic, picturesque venue.

The views were spectacular and the staff were very accommodating.

Blithewold is the dream wedding venue! After visiting over a dozen venues in three states, my husband, my parents, and I instantly knew that Blithewold was “the one” when we saw it-- the expansive lawn reaching out to the ocean, the bamboo grove, and the meandering gardens are straight out of a fairytale. Our guests are still raving about how beautiful our wedding venue was. Karen Bellavance and her staff were wonderful to work with too -- they were extremely responsive and professional throughout, and did a great job coordinating with our vendors, and making sure our garden ceremony ran smoothly. We do have a few tips for Blithewold couples: 1. You don’t need to rent a restroom trailer. Karen actually advised us against it, but we decided to pay over $1000 for one because some of our vendors recommended it (the bathroom inside the mansion is downstairs and a bit of a walk from the tent). Our guests ended up missing the trailer and going inside to use the bathroom anyway. If you don’t have elderly/handicapped guests, the walk to the mansion is fine -- and guests actually enjoy exploring the inside. (If you do decide to get a trailer, make clear signs and tell the DJ to announce it otherwise your guests will miss it!) 2. The tent poles are not very attractive -- we ended up deciding at the last minute to pay over a grand just to cover up the poles with some “swag” fabric and are so glad we did (they make the tent look so much nicer). So consider that as potentially part of your decoration/venue costs. 3. Make sure guests know where to put gifts and envelopes and that someone is attending to gifts at all times -- because the property is so big, it’s easy for envelopes to get misplaced. 4. You won’t be disappointed if you choose Blithewold!!!

We got a great deal for booking within the same year, as they needed to fill dates remaining. It ordinarily would have been beyond our budget, but if you can afford it or get a discount, it is absolutely amazing! A beautiful site, incredible support from the staff... they had everything down to a science, I never had to think!

Blithewold is top-notch. They put on an amazing party. If you can afford it, i recommend it wholeheartedly.

Blithewold Mansion was a dream come true. My husband and I instantly fell in love after visiting the grounds. We knew this was the place to start our life together. Karen was our wedding coordinator - she was so accommodating! I must have sent her a million questions and she was always very responsive.

We got married on a beautiful, sunny day in August. The weather was PERFECT. I was the happiest bride in the world. From the gardens to the water and the tent. Everything looked flawless. The grounds were my favorite part. We took pictures on the front lawn, on the mansion terrace, in the ivy forest, next to the bamboo garden, on the rocks near the water, and in the gardens. Blithewold is truly picturesque and the perfect place to say I do! I highly recommend getting married at Blithewold Mansion!

Once we saw Blithewold, our search for a ceremony and reception venue was over! The gardens and mansion are absolutely stunning no matter the season. Karen was very responsive over email as our date approached; she is extremely experienced, direct, and competent in running the show! Our day-of coordinator was very helpful in keeping the flow of the event smooth. Our guests thought it was one of the most beautiful sites they had ever seen. All in all, Blithewold was the perfect place for our wedding and we are so grateful to Karen and her team for making our special day even more special!

When my fiancee and I started to look at venues, Blithewold was the second spot we visited and we immediately fell in love. The spot is breath taking, from the garden where the ceremony was held to the various spots on the property for pictures and exploring, to the perfect tent for our party. We did not want to look elsewhere. Karen was absolutely wonderful to work with, always responsive to emails and ready to work with what we were interested in having for our big day.

On the day of, weather called for scattered thunderstorms and rain started 1/2 hour before the ceremony. Karen kept me calm and assured that no matter what, guests would be kept dry while the rain continued and was very positive that rain would not stop my day. She was right, the rain stopped, outside chairs dried and ready to go, for a perfect ceremony.

All the details as far as start and end times were honest and discussed from day 1. We were sad for the day to end. We cannot wait to go back to Blithewold for all the years to come, to enjoy the grounds and all they have to offer. Highly recommend.

We LOVED having our wedding at the Blithewold. It's a gorgeous venue and the staff is very helpful and friendly. If you're looking for an outdoor venue with lush gardens and scenery and great photo ops, this is a great choice. They have a tent on the property that is used in rain or shine for your reception, so you don't have to worry about anything - they set everything up for you, and they have an excellent Plan B if it rains on your day. Aside from the beautiful venue, one of the reasons we chose Blithewold was because we knew they were prepared for anything. We felt well taken care of and our day was perfect. (And I never use the word perfect.)

Amazing venue,the moment I saw it I knew this was the place. The gradens are beautiful,and being so close to the water was exactly what I wanted. Easy to get to for my friends and family coming from the Boston area, and also plenty of parking etc. Its also close to Newport, so many of my guest stayed the weekend there. The tent was a little bif for the number of guests I invited but overall that was not a negative. ALl were great to work with, Karen their coordinator was great.

I had an absolutely magical dream wedding at Blithewold in September. Compared to other venue prices in New England, particularly on the water, this is a very reasonable place if you want to have an elegant, unique wedding. The tent used is not an average tent similar to one you would rent. It's a permanent tent with clear windows ( if needed for rain) and a gorgeous stone floor which was a selling point for me. If it rained I didn't want myself or guests stomping around in mud. Because it is a historic place etc there are some rules, i.e. Sound restrictions and it closes down relatively early. Also were hoping to bring our puppy for pics but he was not allowed on the property. Karen Bellevance is an excellent wedding coordinator. She was very organized and responsive to all my questions. I communicated with her via email at least weekly. There was just one hiccup, because we had forecasts of thunderstorms 3 days before our outdoor garden ceremony we had to talk back up plan. One of the reasons I had chosen this venue (which was a lot more than we planned to spend) because what I recall when we toured the place was its different options for back up plans. I was told 3 days before my wedding there was only one option-the living room, which I was not happy about. It turned out that it stopped raining 30 minutes before our ceremony so it was beautiful but I was upset 3 days before and felt a bit misled. It is possible however that I misunderstood. Overall it was an amazing day and I highly recommend Blithewold, Karen and her staff .

Everyone at Blithewold was very professional. They run a strict business and have certain rules that need to be followed. They were very organized and made sure that my day ran without any hiccups. The mansion and tent are beautiful. They provide a very calming atmosphere.

Blithewold is a true turnkey venue with extremely professional staff. It’s definitely set at a high price point – and things like the ceremony, additional time for photos, and even the rehearsal are not included in the base price. However, it’s a special place that provides a beautiful backdrop to your wedding, even if you don’t go all out with florals or extra decorations in the tent. The guest experience is fantastic, as they get to park on-site, explore the grounds, walk through the first floor of the house, and enjoy the water view. The bridal suite and guest restroom facilities are a nice touch too. The day-of coordination staff were great to work with, communicated directly with our other vendors, and were very attentive to our needs – we only wish we had met them sooner! Blackstone is the exclusive catering partner, however there is one exception for clambake dinners, which we did with McGrath Clambakes and would definitely recommend if you want a truly unique meal!

Blithewold was a fantastic venue and we were thrilled to have our wedding there. Karen Bellavance is excellent and very professional and responsive. When we booked I was not aware of how actively involved Karen and her staff would be on the day of. It was such a pleasant surprised. They took charge when needed and helped ensure that the evening went smoothly and that we started on time. I gave a 3 for value simply because it is so expensive. It is beautifully manicured and the view of the Narragansett Bay is fantastic. My guests were impressed with the grounds and tent. I also liked that I could choose my own caterer. However, it is very pricey and you only get to stay until 11pm on the dot. Hence, my 3 for value. I also gave a 3 for flexibility because the times you can do a rehearsal are very limited and it was inconvenient for us and our wedding party. Overall, I highly recommend it.

The venue was so breathtaking. With so much natural beauty of the gardens and landscaping, you really dont need to decorate too much. If you are interested book early! We booked a year and a half out and dates were already slim. I would also recommend really sitting and discussing the rules and regulations relating to decor within the space to avoid any hiccups. The venue was beautiful enough for us to want to work within their guidelines. Overall incredible space, really happy we chose this space to celebrate in.

Blithewold is the perfect venue for an outdoor garden wedding and tented reception. Our guests loved strolling the grounds during cocktail hour and later during the reception.
We opted to have our wedding on a Sunday evening to make it more affordable, and the only issue with that was having to hold our rehearsal a bit earlier in the day on Saturday.
Karen is extremely knowledgable and helpful, and I would highly recommend Blithewold!

We had our wedding on the Friday before Labor Day weekend 2014 and had the most picture perfect day. The weather was perfect, the mansion was beautiful, and the gardens were all in bloom. The staff were all courteous and helpful during the rehearsal and on day-of - Karen is good to work with, she's responsive, more-so in the couple weeks leading up to the wedding, and then she is very professional and knows how to get you through the rehearsal (with a rowdy groom party and all) and the day itself. We had both our ceremony and reception at the mansion - ceremony was in the garden and reception was in the tent. My only cautions are the following - 1. rest room access for guests is a little far from the tent, so just keep that in mind if you have older, less mobile guests, 2. access to the mansion on the day-of was later than we would have liked, it's such a HUGE property, that it was impossible to get all of the pre-wedding shots we wanted, so make sure you walk the grounds and figure out how long it takes to get from one place to another before planning test shots all over the property -- you will run out of time. 3. there wasn't a good place for bridesmaids to change/get ready beforehand, there's a little room and a bathroom, but you aren't given access to this until an hour or two before the ceremony, so you have to get your makeup done and change elsewhere. 4. Spray for mosquitoes, and also have bug spray available for guests. We did both, but still unfortunately ended up getting a number of bites throughout the night. 5. If you do food/drinks outdoors between the ceremony/reception, make sure to have heavier floral arrangements for the cocktail tables as it can get windy. Other than that, we had an incredible wedding day and wouldn't have changed anything about the venue - it is expensive, though about average when you compare to other places in the area, but this was so worth the money for such a beautiful, unforgettable venue.

Blithewold was absolutely beautiful. The staff was excellent. We were able to rent the dancefloor, tables and chairs through Blithewold which made things much easier. The only issue is that you can only have your event until 10pm. Other than that it was wonderful!

This venue is absolutely stunning. The flowers, gardens, and little details make this mansion unique inside and out. My husband and I were sold on having our ceremony here for a very small party after speaking with the event coordinator Matthew who had so much love and passion for the property and his role there. He and Allan in the event services were professional and great to work with. They even helped plan wine and food for our guests while we had our photos done.

We were so excited for our special day, however, the actual day was quite different than what we expected. These guys work hard, and i’m just going to write this as a heads up to them. I loved the venue, but advise them to be more careful with the following.

A coordinator we worked with on our special day decided to tell me multiple times they have two other weddings that day to handle. They rushed me and my bridal party the whole time. This made me flustered and close to crying before I even went down the aisle. They managed to even upset my photographer. To them it felt like I was just another customer despite paying to have our ceremony there. As someone who worked in retail and services, this was highly unprofessional. I am more than just a number. Very disappointing. I did nothing to warrant such behavior.

Blithewold was an absolutely beautiful venue for our wedding. Everyone continues to comment about the setting. Karen was very professional in the planning stages and responsive in answering our questions. There are a number of rules and restrictions, some required by the state/town, but strictly enforced at Blithewold that can be kind of a pain e.g. Can't bring own alcohol before the event, early end time, volume restrictions. We were disappointed by the lack of organization at the rehearsal the day before. The day-of the team did a good job of coordinating the ceremony, but could have been more communicative and better at consulting me before agreeing with our officient to make some adjustments to the beginning of the ceremony.

We loved Blithewold and our wedding was beautiful! We did not have a good interaction with the event coordinator though, which added to our stress of an already stressful time of planning a wedding. When we first booked the venue, we had one coordinator who since retired. No one reached out to tell us she retired so I was emailing her not knowing. Then the new coordinator finally reached out. She was nice at first but then she stopped answering on a timely basis. Then when it got closer to the wedding she missed 2 phone appointments with us and was rude to us when we told her we didn’t appreciate her wasting our time since we had to take time out of work for the phone calls. She never introduced herself when we finally saw her at the rehearsal day. She allowed us to bring our own arch but then told me “we’re not touching that, you need to move it on the wedding day”. We didn’t even see her on the wedding day, she never came up to us to say hi or even congratulate us. The rest of the event staff was super nice and directed our day perfectly! We just had a bad experience with the coordinator so that’s why I gave it a low rating.

I will start by saying that Blithewold is breathtaking, and in spite of the negatives, my husband and I would still choose to get married here, but there are some things of which brides-to-be should be extremely wary. First of all, if you do not have an event planner/coordinator to act as your liaison, and you do not plan to hire one, I would suggest finding a different venue. The staff are very difficult to work with, and they are not very warm or inviting. At our rehearsal, our parents were literally "barked at" that they couldn't look around the house because there were paying guests on the grounds. Very unprofessional and handled inappropriately. Also, due to the nature of the venue, it is impossible for them to be flexible with times, which is not the fault of the staff, but still something to be aware of. We would have liked to have had more time on the grounds to get ready and take pictures, which is really the allure of a venue like Blithewold, but unfortunately, had no choice but to miss half of our cocktail hour in order to get the shots we wanted. MOST IMPORTANTLY: beware the noise ordinance!!! Although we were aware of it, and it was in our contract, we were given NO heads up at the wedding, and our band literally had the plug pulled on them 8 measures into a song. Very awkward ending to an otherwise magical evening (plus, we didn't get to have a "last dance"). It would have been easy enough for them to let us know, "the next song will have to be your last," or something like that. Instead, it seemed as though they waited for the next song to start on purpose, in order to make a statement. All of our vendors were top notch, which saved the day, but Blithewold on its own is a gamble...

The mansion and grounds itself is gorgeous. But, the event coordinator Karen is not the friendliest or easiest person to work with leading up to and day of your wedding. I have an autoimmune disease that gets worse with stress or anxiety, you know, the two big things that happen before the day actually begins on your wedding. They have a strict can't show up before 9:30am to get ready for a 10:00am ceremony. I asked if it was okay to show up at 9:00am and explained why. Begrudgingly, she agreed to it but did not inform me that would change the length of time I had in the bridal suite. Which I would of listened to her if I was previously told I would have to be out of their sooner. Instead of asking me or addressing me with any concerns, she harassed my bridesmaids and made rude remarks in front of them to incoming clients. Karen was extremely rude to my mom at one point regarding everything. She rushed my ceremony to start, I was just finishing getting ready and my groomsmen were already lined up at the alter with my husband waiting for 10 minutes.

If you are willing to pay the $35,000+ for a wedding, I'm sure you will be treated differently. I only had my ceremony so I feel like we were treated as if our business wasn't worth it to them.

Rest of the mansion staff was amazing and polite.

This venue has inflexible and unreasonable sound requirements. The requirements are so restrictive that it compromises the overall quality and fullness of sound. They proclaim to work cooperatively with other vendors while creating an environment of intimidation and threatening to shut down operations over a very subjective system of warnings. Venue staff hover over the venue in an unfriendly and unwelcoming manner. This is not a user friendly venue

While Blithewold is undoubetly a special and beautiful venue, they are terrible to work with. My husband and I luckily were thrilled to give every single other wedding vendor a 5 star review, and were fairly easy going, but Blithewold did not live up to our expectations at all.

Karen is not easy to communicate with or work with. In fact watch for your other vendors reactions when learning they have to work with her. Many vendors cringed, tiptoed around complaining about her, etc.

When myself, my mom, and maid of honor arrived at the bridal suite 10 minutes early, Karen's assistant was incredibly rude (like, I would not have believed it if I were not there). After the first dance my mother was “ordered” to go put the card box in the car. This was minutes before she was supposed to give a toast. This resulted in confusion as the caterer was to handle the removal of cards with a pre-selected family member. Next, during the reception the power cut off multiple times to the music. The only excuse that was given that maybe a charging cell phone overloaded the circuits. Very unlikely as we had no uplighting or any additional equipment set up. The second very unacceptable thing that happened was Karen pulling the groom off the dance floor from where he was enjoying time dancing with his grandmother, other family members, and friends to be told that the DJ’s music is too loud. When paying for wedding vendors it is absurd that they would not coordinate and handle any issues amongst themselves. Another main complaint from guests is that they were not allowed out of the parking lot until 4pm! As stated per the contract, they were to be allowed on property at 3:30. We paid an additional $995 to add 30 minutes on to our wedding, then the guests were not even allowed on the property then. Karen was nowhere in sight by the end of the night and never followed up with us after the wedding.