Cocktail Hour at Ceremony Location

Hi All,


We’re planning on getting married in Salem, Ma and are torn between two venues. One is outdoors and one in inside in a ballroom. We are planning on getting married in the summer and want to incorporate the outdoors as much as possible, but don’t want to rent a tent for the entire reception. So here’s what we’re thinking:
We were thinking of doing our ceremony at the House of the Seven Gables. It’s a historic venue with beautiful black painted homes on the water. Soo many different photo opportunities there! We love the idea of extending our time as such a lovely venue abs having our cocktail hour there following the ceremony. Then, having our reception a half a mile away at the ballroom in the Hawthorne Hotel (which we will provide shuttles for).
Has anyone else done something like this with having the ceremony and cocktail hour in the same location? (Especially since it’s only a half mile away) Should I still rent a small tent for a shaded area during cocktail hour?
Has anyone else done this or is planning on doing something similar?