WEDDING:(venue) Charles River Museum of Industry

The fiancee went to the Charles River Museum of Industry once for a steampunk event and suggested it when I asked him to think of fun and different wedding venues. It's an old textile mill that has been converted to museum with invention exhibits such as an old buggy, telephone booth, paper-bag making machine, bicycles, etc.. You can touch most of the stuff in there and hopefully climb on some of the cars. We're waiting for the new event manager to get back to us with what things we can sit on.

So far, it's my favorite of the venues we've seen so far. They have a new event manager who is nice and answers emails very quickly. We had decided that we weren't going to worry about the open bar, people could pay for their own booze! This of course was after agonizing about the open bar question for 2 months. As soon as I finally made peace with not caring about the open bar, I find out that my dream venue doesn't allow cash bars! The museum has a policy prohibiting the resale of alcohol. At the moment, I'm waiting for the caterer to let me know how other events at this place have worked in terms of liquor. During our visit, we found out that the security guard fee went up $50 from $200 and that they were adding a clean-up fee of $250 (which didn't exist before this year). It makes sense but of course, it's just my luck that these new fees come up as soon as I'm interested in the place!

Jackson Room: Dinner and Dance floor

CHARLES RIVER MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY
Location: Waltham, MA
Capacity: 180 seated guests with dancing space, 225 seated guests without dancing space
Site fee: $2800
Food:  they have a list of authorized caterers but I think that you just need to get museum approval if using one not on the list.
Alcohol: All alcohol has to be purchased from Gordon's Liquors. If not using a full-service caterer, then you have to use Premiere Bartending Services. NO CASH BARS ALLOWED.
Extra fees: $250 security guard fee, $250 clean-up fee

Buggy!

PROS:

• SO MANY PHOTO OPS!
• Telephone booth 
• Buggy
• Tandem bicycle! (waiting for approval from museum)
• There's a wooden footbridge leading from the parking lot to the museum which is nice for pictures

Phone booth!

•  They have stampable metal pogs (thin metal disks) which can be customized with our own design. There's a machine which guests can use to stamp their pogs. 
• They have 12 round tables (seats 8-10), 150 chairs, and some other smaller round tables that can be used without extra fees.
• There are 2-3 couches in sitting area with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Charles. Super cozy and perfect for my grandparents to sit and hang out with the babies.
  
  
  

  

  View from the footbridge

  

  Footbridge from parking lot to the museum

  

  Front entrance

Dam outside of the Museum

CONS:

• NO CASH BAR ALLOWED! GAUGH! 
• Unfortunately, this might be a deal breaker for this venue. Since we're trying to stay on budget, the whole open bar thing will push us over too far.
• There are a lot of additional rental fees that are required since this place is a venue only. 
• China, additional tables, and chairs all need to be rented separately.

Watch exhibit

View from the upstairs gallery

Paper bag making machine