VENUE SPOTLIGHT ON COMMON GROUND CENTER

Posted on April 28, 2022

Couples who want their Vermont wedding to feel rustic, nature-inspired, and fun will love today’s venue: Common Ground Center. This unique venue offers both outdoor and indoor spaces for wedding celebrations, and onsite cabins for guests to stay. If spending a weekend with your loved ones in the beauty of the Vermont countryside sounds like your jam (um, yes!) then read on!

The space: What’s the vibe?

Rustic, exclusive, camp vibes. We have 700 acres to explore while you’re here for your wedding!

The amenities: What’s Included?

Our venue is rustic with modern amenities. We have a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to have your ceremony and your reception can be hosted in our gorgeous dining hall. We have fields, a pond, rustic barns and mountain views that make a stunning backdrop for all of your photos and are sure to leave lasting memories for you and your guests.

Use of the full property is included for 3 days. We provide tables and chairs (seating up to 160). We have a large screened porch and tents on site for extra coverage in Vermont weather. Couples do need to rent a tent if they want to have an outdoor reception.

Lodging for 31 people in our stunning and cozy Ecolodge and our cabins and tent spaces sleep an additional 140 people with epic camp vibes. We also have a sweet wood fired oven – hello, pizza night!

The area: What is there to do in the local area?

We are located within 30 minutes of Burlington and Middlebury. We have 700 acres to explore with hiking trails, a pond, Lewis Creek access, tennis and basketball courts, a game room, and so much more. All are great options for outdoor activities with family and friends!

The history: Does the property have a rich history?

Our site was originally a farm and has been lovingly restored throughout the years. We maintained the original charm but added modern upgrades to spaces. We’ve also built new structures including our Ecolodge and cabins that are eco-friendly and include materials harvested from the property.

Three rapid fire questions:

1. Favorite moment during a wedding: There is a distinct and palpable feeling at the end of every wedding weekend. Everyone seems so relaxed and like they went on a vacation after the wedding weekend is over!
2. Favorite thing to do in VT: Anything and everything outside. Finding natural swimming holes, exploring new trails, or just lounging in a hammock with a good book.
3. Best advice for couples: Utilize our Rental Coordinator in your planning stages, bring an A-team to have a stress free set up and take down, and hand off as much as possible so you can just enjoy your celebration!

Thank you, Common Ground Center! Learn more about this venue in the vendor guide.

Wedding Venue: COMMON GROUND CENTER

AN ARMENIAN WEDDING AT COMMON GROUND CENTER

Posted on March 30, 2021

Weddings are a unique opportunity to celebrate not only where you’re headed as a couple (marriage!) but also to honor where you come from, your heritage. When Karine and Vahe were planning their wedding, they knew honoring their shared Armenian heritage was important to them.

“The culture of Armenia is a big part of our identity,” says Karine. “It’s a nation with strong rural traditions, and we kind of wanted to recreate the feeling of traveling to an Armenian village for our wedding. We jokingly referred to Vermont as the ‘Armenia of the East Coast’ because the landscape is so lush and stunning!”

Choosing an Eco-Friendly Wedding Venue

In addition, the couple prioritized an eco-friendly wedding. Common Ground Center‘s commitment to the environment was a major deciding factor for the couple. “It has a full kitchen, so we were able to use their facilities and flatware instead of disposable plastic cups, plates, silverware, etc. Wherever possible, everything we used was reusable. Our wedding favors were camping mugs that we asked everybody to wash and use throughout the weekend.”

Karine said their celebration came together with a lot of help from family and friends – including a full Armenian BBQ (“which is no small feat!”). Check out the gallery below!

More Real Vermont Wedding Inspiration

Be sure to check out more posts of our real Vermont wedding posts here.

Wedding Venue: COMMON GROUND CENTER | Photographer: SINCERELY PHOTO + VIDEO | Hair & Makeup: BRITTANY DEGREE | Wedding Planner: ANJA MATUKIC

Wedding Barns We Love

Posted on March 8, 2021

Barn weddings are practically synonymous with Vermont Weddings. Whether it’s the ceremony or the reception site, rustic or elegant, barns can be the perfect place to host your Vermont wedding. Here are a few of our favorite barn venues throughout the state.

Farmhouse Flowers

Nestled among the gardens, The Barn at Farmhouse Flowers (Moretown) offers you the beauty and warmth of a hand-crafted timber frame barn built by local master craftsmen. The Barn opens onto a hillside pasture and a walking path that crosses a small bridge and leads to the hilltop wedding site. Surrounded by wildflowers, the hilltop site overlooks the flower farm, cornfields and views of the Worcester Mountain Range.

Maquam Barn & Winery

Situated on over 500 private acres, The Maquam Barn (Milton) is a beautifully reconstructed historic Vermont barn. The Barn offers air conditioning and heat, plenty of seating, and views of the operating vineyard and mountains from the expansive patio.

The Mansfield Barn

Originally built in the 1840’s, the Mansfield Barn (Jericho) is a meticulously renovated post and beam barn. Located at the foot of Mount Mansfield, the barn provides views of the Mountain, and beautiful natural landscape in any season.

Barnard Inn & Max’s Tavern

The historic Barnard Inn & Max’s Tavern (Barnard) offers a 1796 brick chateau, a renovated reception barn, and acres of perennial gardens and paths to explore and enjoy for your ceremony and reception. The Inn’s celebrated cuisine is always freshly-prepared and seasonally-inspired, crafted by award-winning Chef Will Dodson.

The Grafton Inn

Nestled within a quintessential Vermont country village, The Grafton Inn (Grafton) merges Vermont’s pastoral heritage with its modern charms. Adjacent to the main inn is the Phelps Barn, which was once a carriage house and now serves as a beautiful reception space with ample room for dining and dancing. Lodging is available on site.

The Inn at Grace Farm

The Grace Barn at the Inn at Grace Farm (Fairfax) is a gorgeous, round timber-frame barn built from lumber from the acres it sits on! The Barn overlooks rolling hills, and sweeping mountain vistas. The Barn can be enjoyed year-round thanks to comfortable radiant floor heating. Guest suites are available at the Inn.

Old Lantern Inn & Barn

The Old Lantern Inn and Barn (Charlotte) is an all-inclusive, chef-owned wedding venue. Couples enjoy the charm of the historic barn and the ease of planning with the team’s commitment to providing superior service. The on-site Inn provides a convenient lodging option.

The Soule House & Carriage Barn

Couples who envision an intimate, rustic wedding with a touch of vintage elegance will love The Soule House & Carriage Barn (Fairfield). The historic barn provides a perfect backdrop for a reception, and the Farmhouse provides an elegant, cozy spot to spend a weekend with loved ones.

Sleepy Hollow Inn

Excited by the idea of outdoor adventure for your wedding weekend? Check out Sleepy Hollow Inn (Huntington). The bright and airy 17-sided round barn overlooks a gorgeous view of Camel’s Hump. Guests are invited to camp on the property and explore over 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.

Common Ground Center

Couples looking to celebrate in the Vermont countryside will enjoy the Common Ground Center (Starksboro). The property provides a 1,000 square foot Hay Barn, a cathedral-like space perfect for a wedding ceremony, and a rustic reception hall for perfect for dinner and dancing the night away.

Skinner Barn

In the Mad River Valley, the Skinner Barn (Waitsfield) is a historic dairy barn originally built in 1891. Of classic post and beam construction, the upper floor (originally designed for hay storage) has been restored with loving attention to keep the historical character of the structure intact.