As a Boston wedding photographer, I always get excited when couples choose venues that hold special meaning to them. Emily and Brendan’s country club wedding at the Salem Country Club was the perfect example of this! Emily actually learned to swim at the club as a child, and there’s even a plaque there commemorating her accomplishments in the sport. So it was really special to photograph their celebration at a place with such personal history.
Their September wedding was filled with beautiful classic details, heartfelt moments, and so much joy. If you’re planning a country club wedding around Boston, keep reading for more from their day!
Salem Country Club Weddings
The Salem Country Club is a stunning North Shore venue with lots of history in the golf world. It was first founded back in 1895! The property features a beautiful white expansive building that’s perfect for hosting weddings, and the golf course is extremely well cared for, making for gorgeous views for you and your guests throughout the day.
Since Emily and Brendan’s wedding took place at the tail-end of summer in early September, the landscaping was absolutely stunning. The gardens were in full bloom, and the entire property looked beautiful. The Salem Country Club is a classic New England setting with lots of beautiful backdrops for your photos.
[If you’re looking for more North Shore wedding inspiration, check out Kelsey + Matt’s Turner Hill wedding in Ipswich, Madeline + Dillon’s Emerson Inn wedding in Rockport, Emily + Ryan’s Willowdale Estate wedding in Topsfield, or Taylor + Peter’s Eastern Yacht Club wedding in Marblehead.]
Emily & Brendan’s Classic Country Club Wedding
We started the day with Emily getting ready on-site at the club with all the ladies. I met them there and captured some fun getting-ready photos, as well as detail shots of all her beautiful bridal details. One that I loved in particular was Emily’s shoes–they had satin bows lined with pearls on the backs, which was such a pretty touch!
Once everyone was ready, we headed to St. Adelaide’s Church, where they had a beautiful Catholic mass ceremony. One of the moments they were most looking forward to was Brendan getting to see Emily for the first time as she walked down the aisle, and it was just as romantic as they imagined! Such a sweet moment.
They first met at Bentley and have been together ever since. Brendan proposed during a romantic weekend getaway to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, so getting to celebrate this new chapter of their lives with all their favorite people was the other piece of their wedding that they were most looking forward to.
After the ceremony, everyone headed back to the venue for their reception. Since Emily had such a personal connection to the club from her swimming days, she was excited to take some photos by the pool. We also took advantage of the beautiful golf course for portraits with their wedding party and families.
Emily’s bridesmaids wore really pretty light blue dresses in different styles, which was perfect for the North Shore coastal vibe of Salem. The groomsmen complemented them perfectly in classic tan suits with light blue floral ties.
From there, we joined the rest of the guests on the terrace for cocktail hour. They chose to give out cute monogrammed golf balls as wedding favors, which was a fun nod to the golf club setting!
The reception space looked gorgeous. The tables were set with beautiful centerpieces of big white roses and blue hydrangeas that tied in perfectly with the bridesmaids’ dresses and the overall classic coastal color scheme.
Then the party itself was so much fun! Everyone had a blast dancing to the live band, and their family and friends gave really sweet, heartfelt speeches throughout the evening. One especially memorable moment was when a bridesmaid played them a song on the accordion, which was such a unique and personal touch!
The whole evening was filled with so much joy and love for Emily and Brendan.
Boston Wedding Photographer
This Salem Country Club wedding was such a beautiful celebration, and I loved being there to document it all. From the personal connection to the venue to all the thoughtful details throughout the day, it was clear how much care they put into creating a meaningful celebration.
If you’re planning a country club wedding on Boston’s North Shore or anywhere throughout New England, I’d love to capture it for you! Reach out to me through my contact page, and I’ll be in touch to hear all about your vision for your day.
Thank you to these amazing vendors!
Venue: Salem Country Club
Church: St. Adelaide’s Church
Photography: Kelly Stevens Photography
Florals: Gregory’s
Cake: Montilio’s Bakery
Hair & Makeup: Lyndsay Simon Beauty
Dress: Tulle Brida
