Providence Public Library Reviews
Reviews
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![larinakin]()
Karina Sent on 11/20/2019Beautiful, classic venue with fantastic events company
We knew this was our venue the minute we saw pictures. The venue is so incredibly classic without looking too high-brow. We were having such a hard time finding a majestic venue without it being a manor in the middle of nowhere. The venue is right in the middle of Providence, which made it so easy for our guests to travel and find accommodations! part of the library was under construction when we were getting married (the other side of the building), but it really didn't affect us at all. The space itself is great -- there is a top level for your ceremony, and lower area for dancing, and a separate room for eating dinner. I was nervous about it but it worked REALLy well. It kept people on the dance floor! To top it off, the caterer/event management - Russell Morins were AMAZING.
About Russell Morin:
Below is an excerpt from the email I wrote to Ardriana, our event manager at Providence Public Library and our day-of-coordinator. I wrote this only 2 days after our wedding, which fully describes how appreciative we were for the entire Russell Morin team. The venue (Providence Public Library) was absolutely gorgeous. Most importantly, Ardriana was available to answer questions whenever I had them (and I had plenty!!). They made the process so incredibly easy, and the day of felt like such a breeze because they are absolute professionals and experts at making weddings amazing. Ardriana and all of Russell Morin so thoughtful in helping us with some small pieces of our wedding -- for example, I asked if they had a specific thing that I hadn't seen on the menu but I knew my parents and family would like...and they came back and said they could do it?!! Or helping us with our vegan guests, figuring out dress changes (I changed into a traditional Chinese qipao in the the reception), and...everything. We cannot recommend them enough. Also so many people were obsessed with their food -- SEVERAL people texted me how good the chicken was. Nobody compliments chicken unless it's actually amazing. Which it was.
"We've already expressed this, but again, thank you (and the staff) so so much for making this our picture perfect wedding. You made the entire process so easy and enjoyable for us and you made our wedding day so seamless, special, and wonderful. Absolutely everything was perfect -- the cake! The lighting! Getting us when we were scheduled to do something! And people RAVED about the food -- I've never heard anybody talk about chicken so earnestly. We knew the venue was beautiful but didn't know how even more beautiful it'd be for our own wedding. I really don't know how I could have planned a wedding without Morins and I will sing high praises of your team and the venue for my whole life." -
![Alana]()
Alana Sent on 04/29/2024Beyond Our Expectations
My husband and I wanted a venue that didn't scream "typical wedding venue." As soon as we saw the library, we saw the potential. I will admit - the venue is almost TOO different that I was stressed out about all of the non-traditional logistics (countless stairs, dinner in a separate room, dancing in the sunken courtyard) - right up until I actually walked into the venue on my wedding day. I cannot believe how incredible the space looks once it's all done up - my jaw dropped when I walked inside. The library truly looks 100x better on your wedding day (the lighting package is a MUST) - and all of those "non traditional" factors I was worried about actually made for the most incredible photos. We received countless compliments on the venue, so many of our guests asked how we found it. Beyond the venue, RM was fantastic to work with. The schedule flowed seamlessly, and they have this venue figured out perfectly. The food was delicious, and everyone went above and beyond to make us happy...our newlywed attendant was a star. Lastly, this venue gives your endless photo opportunities around Providence - I can't recommend taking photos at the State House enough. Our wedding felt romantic and classic - just as we envisioned. -
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![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 05/15/2023A wonderful wedding at PPL!
As soon as we visited the library, we were sold. The space is beautiful, unique. The design and architecture of the building are all the decorations you need (well, almost). I also appreciated the variety of spaces (e.g., bridal suite upstairs, ship room for dinner, courtyard for dancing) to give guests room to move about, privacy for the bridal party, and a variation for photos. We received so many compliments on the venue. I also appreciate that it’s downtown - there are so many restaurants and hotels nearby to support your guests. There’s also the mall and other stores for whatever last minute items you forgot!
But a wedding at the library is nothing without Russell Morin’s! From the moment we started planning the wedding, the staff at Russell Morin’s were excellent, answering all of our questions and helping us personalize and plan the big day. Our tasting experience was incredible - hardest decision was narrowing down our selections. The food on the day was excellent, served quickly with a very professional and polished staff. All the additional items - wedding cake, chocolate fountain, apps, and late night snacks - were just as excellent as the meal itself. We had a newlywed attendant who made sure we were fed and were where we were supposed to be all night - so grateful for her! And finally, our day of coordinator, Kelsey, was the best, taking care of every detail, from the rehearsal to setting up the day of to making sure we had everything we needed when we left for the night, including sandwiches and leftover wedding cake. We loved the library setting but the Russell Morin’s team made the event so special.
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![Scott]()
Scott Sent on 08/14/2022Perfect location for Providence wedding
This venue is exceptionally beautiful and very well managed. You hardly need any additional decorations, the dinner room is elegant and gorgeous, and the dance floor in the courtyard is a lot of fun. The staff who work there are professional and responsive. The downtown location is incredibly convenient. We would highly recommend it. -
![Tori]()
Tori Sent on 09/08/2021Beautiful fairytale venue
If you're considering booking the PPL for your wedding, just do it! We got so many compliments on how beautiful and unique our venue is. Everything flowed perfectly from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception. Most importantly, what we didn't realize when booking is that by booking the library we received our fairy godmother in Paige. Paige is absolutely amazing and took so much of the stress of planning our wedding off of us! She gave amazing recommendations, made sure all the food was exactly how we wanted it, worked with us as we made changes and helped us use some of the library's decor for free. At the end of the night, she made sure everything was packed in our car and ready to go. She wrangled our large family at the rehearsal (no easy task) and made sure my husband and I were attended to our entire wedding night. Paige alone makes booking the library completely worth it, the beautiful venue and amazing food are just icing on the (delicious) cake! Thank you, Paige, for all your help! -
![DeaCee]()
Deanna Sent on 11/18/2019Beauty, elegance, and class
When we told people we were getting married at a library... we got a lot of puzzled looks. Then we showed them photos and people's eyes would light up, and that's exactly what it's like walking in to PPL. You enter through the beautiful stone facade and you're standing in a foyer at the base of a grand marble staircase; one that your wedding party will walk down and take photos on. Then, you're standing in the ceremony space and the more you look around, the more you notice the gilded details, the columns, the chandelier... and all the possibilities that the space provides. We had our ceremony with 140 guests seated and we didn't even need any extra decor (ok, well we got one of those big light up trees but that's it!) The space is so naturally elegant that it doesn't really need anything extra. Then everyone moved down to the courtyard for cocktail hour, and it's a gentle change of scenery that's still inclusive of everything and everyone. Our older guests loved being able to sit on the upper level and look down upon the dance floor and still feel like part of the action. Then we moved into the dining room for a seated plated dinner and it felt small enough that it was intimate but large enough that it didn't feel crowded. While we were in the dining room, the ceremony space and courtyard were being transformed with rental furniture and lighting so that it felt totally different when guests emerged from dinner. We kept the lighting neutral on the main floor but the courtyard was like a dance floor with dark lights and loud music. Lastly, there's a room upstairs where family and friends can take a moment alone to collect their thoughts and I found it to be really peaceful and calming. Overall, the PPL is a venue that keeps on giving and giving: it's SO versatile that it's like six spaces in one. You can dress it up or dress it down, class it up or keep it quirky. We also found the rental fees to be insanely affordable, and there was a security guard and coat check person there all night for our event. We loved the location and found it super convenient and within walking distance of everyone's hotels, parking garages, etc. (although we did get the valet parking option for our wedding because it was also more affordable than we thought.) Lastly, PPL works with Russell Morin Catering and Events which made the whole process really seamless. Russell Morin was also very accommodating, but that's a review for another day :) Overall, our guests had rave reviews about the PPL and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue!! -
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![Kelly]()
Kelly Sent on 10/21/2019A hidden gem of wedding venues!
Getting married at PPL (Providence Public Library) could not have been better. the set-up is ideal, the dance floor is UNBEATABLE! Having everything on-site makes it so easy, and Russell Morins (the catering company exclusive with PPL) made our day so seamless and perfect. We had just over 100 guests and it was the absolute perfect size. Not only is the layout of the venue perfect, but the historic details are jaw-dropping - so many amazing photo opps! It is in close proximity to many great hotels downtown. Their bridal suite upstairs is also amazing and a great place to get ready/dressed before the big day! We wouldn't have changed a thing, this venue and the staff and catering company was beyond perfect. -
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User3344825 Sent on 10/27/2017I cannot say enough good things about the library and Russell Morin catering. From the time we booked the library in May 2016, Lisa was there for everything we needed even if we did have a year and a half before the wedding! When Kacey came on board we began communicating more with her. She was extremely responsive to emails, answered even what I thought were silly questions, and gave reccomendations from her experience. October 2017 came quick and at our final meeting I knew we were in good hands with Kacey. She is AMAZING! The day of the wedding was better then my husband and I could have ever imagined. Everything ran smoothly and our guests are still raving about the decor and the amazing food. Kacey did an amazing job keeping the flow going and making sure everything was on point. All of our vendors were amazing as well. They all worked together to make sure the night ran smoothly. If you are contemplating the library for your wedding, DO IT. it was the best decision my husband and I ever made. Thank you Providence Public Library for the most amazing wedding day and memories to last a lifetime.
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![Juliana]()
Juliana Sent on 08/09/2017Perfection! PPL was the perfect reception location for our 'mini-destination' wedding. All of our guests were from out of town, and everyone commented on how beautiful the venue was and how much they loved the separation of cocktail hour/dining room/ dance floor (which is one of the reasons we chose it, other than its beauty). The dance floor is perfect for introductions and dancing all night without the awkward feeling that people are just sitting at their tables watching you act a fool.
Lisa Nightingale is a saint. Without her I don't know how I could have pulled any of it off. I liked her so much that I hired her as our day-of coordinator (through Russell Morins). She was always so happy and made everyone that was part of our wedding very much at ease. I honestly felt like I was talking with a longtime friend, and to me that's comforting in itself.
The food was AMAZING. From the steaks, to the wild mushroom ravioli and desserts, each of my guests that I talked to raved about all the dishes (shrimp neptune being the real showstopper). The staff was all so great and seemed genuinely happy to be there helping us. Even some girls working in the kitchen that had to walk through the dance floor actually danced through the dance floor with all of us, haha, everyone loved that. Our personal butler was the cherry on top, seriously, I always had a drink in my hand, didn't have to ask twice for anything, and most of the time I didn't even have to ask for anything at all, it's like she read my mind.
This venue is perfect in every way and worth every penny. Everything went by smoothly and the day was perfect. 10 stars. -
Hannah Sent on 02/04/2023
A Fairytale Wedding
We are so thankful to have chosen PPL to host our dream wedding! Our November 2022 wedding was truly a dream come true. Our wedding consultant, Maggie, was there for us every step of the way, always responsive to emails, and graciously patient in addressing our many (many!) questions along the way. Krista was our day-of coordinator and similarly did a great job ensuring that the whole day ran smoothly. I truly cannot think of any moments that went wrong, or where timing was off, which is a testament to her excellent management on the day-of. Aside from these two lovely ladies, the entire team was professional, courteous, and elevated our event so that it felt out of a fairy tale. The venue itself is just so beautiful, and required minimal decorating aside from our florals-- something we didn't even think about at first, but later ended up being a huge time-saver!
If you are considering the Providence Public Library, stop thinking, and contact them today. Our wedding day felt straight out of a fairytale, and I cannot recommend this venue enough. A wedding at PPL is sure to be beautiful, true to you as a couple, and executed to the highest degree of excellence and quality care. A huge thank-you to the entire PPL & Russell Morin team-- we will cherish the memories you helped create for us on the best day of our lives! -
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![Holly]()
Holly Sent on 09/28/2017beautiful and wedding dream venue! If you are looking for a unique wedding venue this is it. We loved our day and all of our guests kept commenting on how unique the venue was and how amazing the food was. Lisa was so easy to work with, especially since I was planning from overseas. We didn't get the lighting, instead set up lots of candles and battery lights and worked still beautifully. We also made our own centerpieces from old books and kept the whole library theme throughout the wedding. Had a piano player for our ceremony, which was just beautiful. I would just say to keep in mind on the pricing and furniture extras. Just a stunning place to be married. -
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![Lauren]()
Lauren Sent on 10/13/2025Dream venue worth the cost
We had a wonderful experience having our wedding at the Providence Public Library. All of the planning interactions are done through Russell Morin Catering, the library's exclusive caterer, and they have a great reputation when it comes to RI event caterers. The food is amazing, our wedding coordinator, Nicole (who was also our day-of coordinator), was attentive and kept track of all the details, and the venue looked beautiful. It was a bit outside of what we initially wanted to spend budget-wise, but ultimately it was worth the splurge for the venue and level of service. I (the bride) also have some dietary restrictions, and they were excellent about accommodating dietary needs without skimping on quality. One small downside for us is the caterer works with several other exclusive vendors (lighting, furniture rentals, living statues, pretty much anything you could ask for) to offer add-ons - which is great if you're looking for that, but as a couple who was already at the top of our budget, we felt like there was pressure in the initial planning meetings to spend beyond our contract. Once we made it clear we were at our budget limit, things seemed to run more smoothly. They also require you to purchase a basic lighting package through their lighting vendor which is quite pricy, and don't allow DJs to bring their own dance floor lighting, as is common in many venues. As their lighting vendor's premium package was beyond our budget, thankfully we were able to reach a compromise where our DJ could set up a few small lights near his setup that worked perfectly for the dance floor. Overall, we were happy with our decision to make the extra spend for the library and Russell Morin Catering - it was a dream venue for us, the staff was great to work with through the planning process and on the day of, and all our guests had wonderful things to say. -
![Shannon]()
Shannon Sent on 07/20/2019Rough road to a unique day!
When we first visited the Providence Library when venue shopping, we were just amazed at how beautiful it was! It was honestly a decent amount more than what we wanted to spend on a venue but we were so in love with it that we decided to splurge. You only get married once, right?! We booked pretty early, roughly 1.5 years out from our wedding. We originally were working with Michael. While I understand our wedding was a long ways off and other weddings were prioritized to ours, he was absolutely HORRIBLE at responding. Some emails he never even responded to at all and one email took him TWO months to respond to. He also had downplayed the renovations the venue was going to be going through. The entire actual library space was completely out of commission by the time our big day came around. We weren’t able to take any pictures in the ‘stacks’ and their Special Collections room was no longer available for photos either. Those were two things that were a MUST for us so we were pretty upset about that and wish we knew ahead of time. When we went to our tasting, I was hoping to see Michael there to talk to him more in person only to find out he no longer worked there! I thought it was a little unprofessional that I never even received a courtesy email to let me know my main point of contact was no longer working there and who my new contact person should be. At that point I started working with Paige who was MUCH better at responding and assisting me with any questions that I had. She did give me some push back when I had asked to meet roughly a month ahead of time to go over the decorations for the venue. I had wanted to make sure everything was doable but given her push back, I decided to just let it go and hope for the best. When I had originally met with Michael, he had made it sound like we would have multiple meetings to go over details and make sure everything would be perfect for our big day. Our “final” and basically only meeting was two weeks prior to the wedding. That stressed me out a bit because if there was a problem with anything, we would be scrambling last minute. I definitely feel like the expectations weren’t really set correctly up front which I think would have helped me. As for the day of, Ardriana was our day of coordinator. She had a very positive attitude and upbeat personality which we loved. She did a great job of helping us stay on time and making sure our order of events ran smoothly. I wasn’t 100% happy with how our decorations were put up on the day of. I had given the venue an instruction sheet with photos included and we still saw some of the decorations were setup wrong. That was a little frustrating to me given I had tried to meet with them earlier on the decorations to make sure that didn’t happen. We also had our own personal ‘butler,’ Janet, who helped assist us and the wedding party during photos and throughout the night. She did a really good job at first and through dinner of being there and bringing us drinks when we needed her. Unfortunately, at some point during the reception she just completely disappeared. She was supposed to bring me another drink at some point and after 40 minutes had gone by, I gave up and just went to the bar myself. Having the personal butler had definitely been a bit of a selling point for us since we knew we would be too busy to eat/drink otherwise. Given the other positive reviews on Janet always being there and accessible to help, I was a little shocked that she disappeared on us. While I would definitely say we had MULTIPLE things we were not happy about, there were still plenty of good things about our big day. The food was absolutely AMAZING!!! We got so many compliments that our food was the best wedding food they had ever had. The wait staff was super friendly and the dinner service went really smooth. They even had a guy at the door greeting guests as they came in and handing out drinks. Everyone loved him and said he was super friendly! At the end of the night, Ardriana and the team already had our decorations boxed up and ready to go so that we could go join our after party and not spend the evening cleaning up. We really appreciated that given we were so exhausted from the busy day! The venue itself was absolutely beautiful. We loved the way it was setup so that dinner was in a separate room and people could overlook the dancing via the balcony. Having the bridal suite upstairs was great! We had somewhere to put our stuff during the event and it was such a pretty room for photos and getting ready in for the girls. Even with our frustrations at times throughout, we are still glad we chose the Providence Library for our day. Our day was still absolutely beautiful and everything that we ever wanted. I had wanted a unique wedding that stood out from all the rest and I really feel that we achieved that! Given the rest of the awesome reviews on the venue, I think I just had a unique not great experience that was timed wrong with a bad consultant leaving the company. I would still say it is 100% worth having your wedding at the library and using Russell Morins. If you want a unique big day, you will not be disappointed! -
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