I'll keep everything
fun, calm, efficient and running smoothly
so you can get all those amazing pics
spending less time posing
and more time celebrating!
110 Valley Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
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This place is special. If you're getting married at Bournedale you're not having a wedding, you're having a weekend long event. It's not like you just rent a room for 5 hours - you're getting the whole property. That means cabins, beach, fire pits, heck even a boat (they drive it not you). It has those summer camp vibes because during the week it literally is a camp for kids. For your wedding it transforms into something truly unique and special. Your ceremony is lakeside with the water behind you. Guests go out on boat rides during cocktail hour. The food is always great and at the end of the night you just move to the fire pits and continue the party. No stress, no rushing, no pushing you out the door at 10pm. It's fun, relaxed and very very memorable.
Ceremony
The ceremony area is just to the side of the building in this nice little garden lawn area lined with rock walls and overlooking the lake. You feel like you're in New Hampshire or on vacation at a private camp. It has all those summer vibes.
It faces towards the water with the sun setting behind and to the left (as you look at the water). Depending on the time of year and time of ceremony you could be in direct sun or complete shade. It's spacious and can accommodate a large wedding easily.
Indoor options would just be inside on the dance floor. I think they'd have guests at their tables while you're married on the dance floor. It's never happened in all the. years I've gone there though.
I can't think of another venue where the ceremony is so close to a lake. It's really a very cool vibe.
Bournedale Function Facility
What if it rains?
This property is intended for good weather. If we can't get outside, the vibe changes drastically. Best thing is though, it's never been a problem and almost certainly won't be for you. Most weddings at Bournedale are in the summer, so the sun sets late and rain is only fleeting and passing quickly. There's almost always an ability to go out and get all those amazing pictures at some point before we lose light.
For the ceremony, I'd assume guests sit at the their tables and you're on the dance floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne a great place to get married?
It's not just a wedding venue. You're not just borrowing a room for 5 hours. This is a weekend long retreat. You're getting the whole property with houses and cabins. When the dance floor ends, your guests go hang out at the fire pits for several more hours. Nobody is kicking you out at 10pm. Your guests can take pontood boat rides on the lake during cocktail hour. This place is special and unique!
2. Where are the best places for wedding photos at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
Right by the lake. It's a perfect scene. You can stay on the grass or go down on the sand and get the same amazing looks. Plus, just steps away you get rock walls and even cool spots (probably only I know about) where you look like you're in a forest! You can get a ton of variety in a small compact area with lots of different looks.
3. What's the best time of day for portraits at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
Family and wedding party pictures would typically occur either immedaitely following "First Look" or direclty after the ceremony during cocktail hour unless you built in a gap between a church ceremony and arriving on property.
Regardless, at some point just before or near sunset I'll take just the two of you outside again for those soft-light intimate shots. It should only take like 10 minutes but these are the shots you hire me for. These are the jaw-dropping, tier enducing, OMG shots.
4. Is a first look a good idea at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
Absolutely! The first look gives you a chance to truly see each other. Express your thoughts. BE together for a moment - away from everyone else. Now you get to enjoy your own cocktail hour. Now it's not such a whirlwind. You're not as rushed, so less anxiety. Totally worth considering.
For the traditional "I want to see her coming down the aisle", let me give some perspective. First, when she gets there you need to just shut up and get married. You can't stop and talk. At a first look you can. Second, that heart-fluttering HOLY CRAP feeling when all your guests stand and you realize this is real, this is happening! That feeling doesn't go away just because you already saw each other. It actually may be enhanced.
5. What happens if it rains on your wedding day at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
In all my years, I've only had maybe a handful of weddings that were 100% completely washed out. It's so rare it's not worth discussing. Yeah, maybe the ceremony gets moved indoors. Maybe the family and wedding party pics are on the dance floor but there will almost certainly be an opportunity between drops to run outside for a few pics of the two of you.
It's primarily a summer venue, which means the sun sets late and the rain passes quickly so the opportunity for outdoor pics just may be later in the day and off the original timeline.
6. How much time should we set aside for wedding photos?
I typically like an hour, but I'm SUPER efficient. It really comes down to how large your group is. How many in the wedding party? How big is your family? Are there divorces with step family? Are there grandparents? Do you want to include aunts, uncles, cousins? The smaller the group the easier it is obviously.
7. Can we stay on schedule without feeling rushed?
This is my super power. You could be WAY behind schedule, then it comes time for the family and wedding party pics and poof, you're back on schedule. I can be amazingly efficient to power through all those combinations so you can lower the anxiety and not lose any of your wedding.
8. What's your favorite photo location at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
Out on the pontoon boat. They'll take just the two of you with me out on the boat at the end of cocktail hour and it's so cool. It's relaxing, beautiful and gives you a chance to take it all in and breath.
9. Have you photographed weddings at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne before?
I wouldn't be talking about it otherwise - absolutely. There's a benefit to knowing the flow of things. Where you're allowed to go and where's off-limits. Knowing where the shadows will fall and knowing what will be in bloom. Even just knowing how the staff approaches the day and their personalities. It all helps make the entire day run smoothly for you. There's an unspoken "nod and wink" between me and the day-of coordinator keeping everything perfect so you get the most out of the day.
I've become friends with Darren and we work seemelessly together.
10. What should couples know before getting married at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne?
I'm sure you already know, but if it's a complete wash out for a rainy day, I'm probably going to get you wet. The room is just a room. There's nothing special inside. All the good stuff is outside, so grab an umbrella, we're heading out if at all possible. It's never been a problem, but just in case I want to put that out there.
11. How many guests does Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne work best for?
I think you can get a good amount of people in there. Nothing crazy like 150+ plus the majority of weddings fit perfectly.
12. Is Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne good for indoor and outdoor weddings?
This venue is all about the outside. I'll just leave it at that. But, that's only from a photography standpoint. Ask the DJ and they'll say it's amazing. You're spending the majority of your wedding indoors anyway. But for pictures, yeah, you want to be able to get outside to get your money's worth.
13. Where do you usually take family photos?
In the ceremony area overlooking the lake. It's close, convenient, easy and gorgeous.
14. Is sunset really worth stepping away from the reception?
Yeah, it really is. You're not going to see the sun hit the horizon, that's behind trees. You will get the colors and that romantic soft light if we go down to the sand on the beach. Absolutely totally worth it!
15. What makes photographing weddings at Bournedale Function Facility in Bourne unique?
The boat ride. Yeah, I can't think of another venue where you go out on a pontoon boat for pics. It's cool.