Going to the Chapel
Portsmouth is one of the most beautiful places in New England to get married! If you are dreaming of a wedding that takes place in a charming, historic setting, check out the following venues on the Seacoast. Your guests will thank you, as there are so many delicious restaurants and activities to do in the area prior to and after your celebration. And your photographs will highlight the beauty of the Seacoast on your very special day.
First of all, choose a central boutique hotel for you and your guests to stay. Hotel Thaxter, with its spacious, comfortable and handsome guest rooms allows you a second-to-none downtown accommodation. Located on a quiet corner, you can walk out the front door and soon be in the flurry of shopping and various entertainment venues. Our restaurant, Nichinan, named after Portsmouth’s sister city in Japan, offers mouth-watering Japanese cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. The monthly events are listed online so you can easily plan your activities and book ahead. Our sister inns, The Sailmaker’s House and Water Street Inn are both located nearby and offer additional space for guests in charming inns with upscale amenities.
Wedding Venues:
Langdon House
This magnificent Georgian estate’s original owner was a Revolutionary leader, signer of the constitution, and three-time governor of New Hampshire. It is located in downtown Portsmouth, and the spectacular gardens include a 100-foot rose and grape arbor (installed more than a century ago!), antique statuary and sweeping lawns surrounded by mature trees.
Max guests 150
Seacoast Science Center
Situated on the ocean’s edge in historic Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, Seacoast Science Center provides a unique and memorable setting. Surrounded by lawn, woods and 600′ of ocean front, the view includes lighthouses, the Piscataqua River, and the Isles of Shoals. Max guests 200
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
An architecturally stunning center of arts and culture in the heart of historic Portsmouth, restored from a 1905 landmark. Complete with a glass and steel atrium, funky rooms with fireplaces, and soaring arched windows. Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club offers a spectacular venue with new, state-of-the-art production, sound, and lighting technologies.
The 801
After a refresh of the space in Fall of 2023, The 801 now has a modern industrial feel with high ceilings, metal beams, exposed brick, and reclaimed wood details. The 801 is a full-service event space equipped with everything you need to host a beautiful reception including a full bar, catering kitchen, and patio space.
Max Guests 150 standing, 90 seated
The Hawthorn
Constructed in the late 1800s, The Hawthorn, reopening in 2025 for weddings and events, is imbued with historic charm and industrial relics. There are massive wooden beams, paned glass windows, and expansive red-brick walls, adding texture and elegance with sculptural brass light fixtures, luxe finishes, and velvet accents. It is a truly modern event venue, with a full catering prep kitchen, a private host’s suite, and a 64-foot wraparound bar.
Guest capacity 250
Cisco Brewers
For a fun, laid-back wedding, this location is Portsmouth offers a contemporary atmosphere, an outdoor space, and top-quality beers - for up to 5,000 guests!