On most weekends, spring through late fall, the Herb Lyceum at Gilson’s in central Massachusetts is full of wedding parties, having fun with the attractive location within the small rural town of Groton, some 50 miles northwest of Boston.
The Gilson family has operated this four-acre farm for the reason that 1800s and it’s been an herb farm since 1989. Throughout the season, the Gilson’s day by day life here takes a backseat for wedding bookings, in order that families and friends could make themselves at home and have fun within the private sunken garden, or the newly renovated greenhouse, designed especially for larger parties of 150 guests.
Moreover, the attractive 1800s-built barn-like carriage house caters for more intimate gatherings of around 30 guests.
Outside of wedding bookings, the gorgeous old barn is where seasonal communal chef’s whim dinners are held, hosted by chef and restaurateur Will Gilson, who grew up here.
Nevertheless, “the marriage business takes over the farm every weekend, once June hits,” he said. “That is the proper setting for the agricultural, intimate wedding.”
The Herb Lyceum’s wedding business is an extension of Gilson’s duties heading five restaurants and cafes in Cambridge, Mass.
But, that is where the James Beard Foundation-nominated chef’s cooking profession began at age 16, when his father, David, opened the Herb Lyceum’s barn as a dining venue in 1999, and he volunteered to be chef.
Gilson caters to most tastes and dietary restrictions, but a typical menu, designed using the farm’s herbs and seasonal produce, might include appetizers equivalent to fried oyster lettuce wraps, truffled arancini or artichoke-and-pea falafel with minted yogurt, enjoyed with drinks as guests mingle by the hearth pit and sunken garden in front of the barn (reception pricing starts at $40 per person).
The family style sit-down dinner includes, after a alternative of starters, entree decisions like semolina orecchiette with pesto, pecorino and kale; pan-roasted organic salmon with sauteed greens and salsa verde; and grilled hanger steak with herb butter, zucchini and truffle jus.
Drinks are worked out with the beverage manager, who will curate wine, beer and cocktails to suit budget and tastes.
Wedding packages include the rental of the grounds for five hours (close family and friends have access to the venue for your entire day), staff, an event planner on site, cutting and presentation of your cake, rentals of two sets of chairs (one for the ceremony, one for the dinner), linens, flatware, glassware and a really posh portable restroom.
For lodging, Groton is best known for housing among the oldest prep schools in the USA and in addition for its Groton Inn, founded in 1678 and deemed to be America’s oldest inn until it burned to the bottom in 2011.
A latest one, replicating the unique’s Colonial white clapboard style has since gone up, adding handy lodgings for the Herb Lyceum’s wedding parties.
“We’re within the business of making great memories,” Gilson said of his work. That features for family and friends — several years ago, when Gilson married his wife Molly, he knew he had the proper venue to have fun. “Marrying my wife within the place I grew up was the proper day,” he said.
Wedding pricing for 150 guests at Herb Lyceum starts at $75 per person plus food and drinks. Receptions start at $40 per person, dinners at $65 per person plus beverages. A 5% admin fee, tax and rentals of any additional items are extra.
Groton Inn room rates start at $189 per night.
On most weekends, spring through late fall, the Herb Lyceum at Gilson’s in central Massachusetts is full of wedding parties, having fun with the attractive location within the small rural town of Groton, some 50 miles northwest of Boston.
The Gilson family has operated this four-acre farm for the reason that 1800s and it’s been an herb farm since 1989. Throughout the season, the Gilson’s day by day life here takes a backseat for wedding bookings, in order that families and friends could make themselves at home and have fun within the private sunken garden, or the newly renovated greenhouse, designed especially for larger parties of 150 guests.
Moreover, the attractive 1800s-built barn-like carriage house caters for more intimate gatherings of around 30 guests.
Outside of wedding bookings, the gorgeous old barn is where seasonal communal chef’s whim dinners are held, hosted by chef and restaurateur Will Gilson, who grew up here.
Nevertheless, “the marriage business takes over the farm every weekend, once June hits,” he said. “That is the proper setting for the agricultural, intimate wedding.”
The Herb Lyceum’s wedding business is an extension of Gilson’s duties heading five restaurants and cafes in Cambridge, Mass.
But, that is where the James Beard Foundation-nominated chef’s cooking profession began at age 16, when his father, David, opened the Herb Lyceum’s barn as a dining venue in 1999, and he volunteered to be chef.
Gilson caters to most tastes and dietary restrictions, but a typical menu, designed using the farm’s herbs and seasonal produce, might include appetizers equivalent to fried oyster lettuce wraps, truffled arancini or artichoke-and-pea falafel with minted yogurt, enjoyed with drinks as guests mingle by the hearth pit and sunken garden in front of the barn (reception pricing starts at $40 per person).
The family style sit-down dinner includes, after a alternative of starters, entree decisions like semolina orecchiette with pesto, pecorino and kale; pan-roasted organic salmon with sauteed greens and salsa verde; and grilled hanger steak with herb butter, zucchini and truffle jus.
Drinks are worked out with the beverage manager, who will curate wine, beer and cocktails to suit budget and tastes.
Wedding packages include the rental of the grounds for five hours (close family and friends have access to the venue for your entire day), staff, an event planner on site, cutting and presentation of your cake, rentals of two sets of chairs (one for the ceremony, one for the dinner), linens, flatware, glassware and a really posh portable restroom.
For lodging, Groton is best known for housing among the oldest prep schools in the USA and in addition for its Groton Inn, founded in 1678 and deemed to be America’s oldest inn until it burned to the bottom in 2011.
A latest one, replicating the unique’s Colonial white clapboard style has since gone up, adding handy lodgings for the Herb Lyceum’s wedding parties.
“We’re within the business of making great memories,” Gilson said of his work. That features for family and friends — several years ago, when Gilson married his wife Molly, he knew he had the proper venue to have fun. “Marrying my wife within the place I grew up was the proper day,” he said.
Wedding pricing for 150 guests at Herb Lyceum starts at $75 per person plus food and drinks. Receptions start at $40 per person, dinners at $65 per person plus beverages. A 5% admin fee, tax and rentals of any additional items are extra.
Groton Inn room rates start at $189 per night.
