A Fun Summer Wedding at The Grove at Briar Barn Inn | Ally & Charlotte
The Grove at Briar Barn Inn | Rowley, Massachusetts | Wedding Photography
Some wedding venues are beautiful. Some have amazing food. Some have an incredible staff.
And then there’s The Grove at Briar Barn Inn in Rowley, Massachusetts, which somehow manages to have all three.
Ally and Charlotte’s wedding day was one of those weddings where everything just felt easy. They both got ready right at the Inn, had a first look that helped calm some of those pre-wedding nerves, exchanged vows outside, and then spent the rest of the day celebrating with a ridiculously fun bridal party and some seriously good food.
As a Boston wedding photographer covering the North Shore, I love photographing weddings at The Grove because the whole property has such a relaxed, intimate feel. It feels upscale without being stuffy, and there are so many beautiful spaces to photograph without spending half the day getting from one location to another.
And did I mention the cookies?
We'll get to those.
Getting Ready at The Grove at Briar Barn Inn
One of the best things about getting married at The Grove is that both people can get ready right at the Inn.
Ally and Charlotte each had their own getting-ready spaces, which meant we could photograph both sides of the morning without anyone having to travel.
This is another situation where having a wedding photographer who works with a second photographer can be really helpful. There are always things happening simultaneously on a wedding morning, and having two photographers means we don't have to choose between them.
We could capture the little details, the excitement, the nerves, the people helping them get ready, and all of those random moments that happen before the ceremony.
And speaking of nerves...
The First Look That Calmed the Nerves
Ally and Charlotte decided to do a first look, and I think they were both pretty happy they did.
There's something about finally seeing your person on your wedding day that makes everything feel a little more real.
The morning can be hectic. There are people everywhere, things to remember, timelines to keep up with, and that little voice in your head reminding you that you're about to get married.
Then you see your person.
And suddenly, you're good.
Their first look gave them a chance to have a quiet moment together before the ceremony and take a breath. It also meant we could knock out some portraits before the festivities really got going, giving them more time to hang out with their guests later.
And honestly, that's always a win in my book.
An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony
Ally and Charlotte's ceremony took place outside at The Grove, surrounded by the beautiful grounds of the Inn.
There's something about an outdoor ceremony that works so well at this venue. The property has that perfect New England feel—lush landscaping, beautiful architecture, and plenty of greenery without feeling overly formal.
It was a beautiful setting for the two of them to officially become wives.
And while I love a beautiful ceremony backdrop, I'm even more interested in what's happening during the ceremony.
The nervous laughs.
The happy tears.
The way they look at each other.
The reactions from their friends and family.
Those are the photographs that tell the story.
The Most Fun Bridal Party
And then there was the bridal party.
These people were FUN.
Like, actually fun.
There are bridal parties who politely smile for photos, and then there are bridal parties who immediately understand the assignment.
Ally and Charlotte's crew definitely fell into the second category.
We got the classic group photos, of course, but we also got plenty of ridiculousness, laughing, and personality. And that's exactly how I want bridal party photos to feel.
You don't need to spend 45 minutes standing in perfectly straight rows looking at the camera.
Let's get the photos you need, have some fun with them, and then get you back to your cocktail hour.
And Then There Was the Food...
Okay.
Let's talk about the food at The Grove.
This is hands-down some of the best wedding food I've ever had.
And I don't say that lightly.
One of the things that makes The Grove at Briar Barn Inn so different is that it's a restaurant when they're not hosting weddings.
And you can tell.
The food doesn't feel like typical wedding catering. It feels like restaurant food—because that's essentially what it is.
Everything was delicious, and I have to give a special shoutout to the chocolate chip cookies.
THE COOKIES.
If you get married at The Grove, please get the cookies.
Actually, forget the wedding advice. Just get the cookies.
A Beautiful North Shore Wedding Venue
The Grove at Briar Barn Inn is such a great option for couples looking for a North Shore wedding venue that feels elevated but still relaxed.
It's beautiful without feeling overly formal.
It's intimate without feeling cramped.
And the fact that you can get ready, get married, celebrate, eat an incredible meal, and spend the entire day right there makes the whole experience feel so much easier.
For couples planning a wedding in Rowley, Massachusetts, or anywhere along the North Shore, it's definitely a venue worth checking out.
And for a same-sex couple looking for a beautiful and welcoming Massachusetts wedding venue, Ally and Charlotte's day was a perfect example of how personal and joyful a wedding at The Grove can be.
The Kind of Wedding Photos I Love
My approach to wedding photography is pretty simple.
I want you to have beautiful photographs, obviously.
But I also want you to actually enjoy your wedding.
I don't want you spending the entire day posing for photographs or being pulled away from your friends and family.
We'll make time for portraits. We'll get the family photos. We'll get the bridal party photos.
But then I'm going to step back and let you live your life.
Because that's where the good stuff happens.
The laughing.
The happy tears.
The weird dance moves.
The hugs.
The stolen glances.
The moments nobody planned.
Those are the photographs you'll look at years from now and immediately remember exactly how that moment felt.
Ally & Charlotte's Wedding at The Grove
Ally and Charlotte's wedding had everything I love about a wedding at The Grove at Briar Barn Inn: a beautiful outdoor ceremony, a gorgeous setting, a fun group of people, an intimate wedding-day experience, and food that I'll probably be thinking about for a while.
Plus, they got to start their day at the Inn, have that quiet first look together, and then spend the rest of the day celebrating without having to worry about traveling from place to place.
It was such a fun day to photograph.
Ally and Charlotte, thank you for letting me be part of it. ❤️
Getting Married at The Grove at Briar Barn Inn?
I'm Jennifer Oliver, a Boston wedding photographer specializing in candid, colorful, documentary-inspired wedding photography throughout Boston, the North Shore, and New England.
If you're planning a wedding at The Grove at Briar Barn Inn, searching for a Rowley MA wedding photographer, or looking for a photographer for your North Shore Massachusetts wedding, I'd love to hear from you.
My goal is simple: beautiful photographs that feel like you, without spending your entire wedding day taking pictures.
Planning your Grove at Briar Barn Inn wedding? Let's talk.
Vendor Team:
Photographer: @jenoliverphoto
Venue: @eventsatgrove
Videographer: @nhimages
Florals: @adrialowry
Gowns: @alexandrasbridalboutique and @shopbellasera
DJ: @grooveevents
Bakery: @spinellislynnfield
Make-up: @ktwymanartistry and @lunarlashandbrow
Hair: @styles.by.chelsey
Officiant: @married_by_priscilla
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