I first learned of Topsfield Commons about six months ago where I had the pleasure of being a guest at a wedding there. The bride, Tracy, is a friend of my wife’s going back to elementary school. Both are from Ipswich, Massachusetts, which is the next town over from Topsfield. Tracy told me that she’d wanted to have her reception there ever since she started thinking about getting married. After seeing firsthand how beautiful everything was, I understood why she liked it so much. So when I needed a venue to host my wedding dress bridal shoot, The Commons was the first place I contacted.
The building itself dates from 1854 and is built in the Greek revival style. It served as the old meeting house for the town of Topsfield for a number of years before eventually being replaced by a new city hall building. In 1996 Kristi and Frank Martino purchased the building and renovated it from top to bottom while retaining all the beauty and character of the original building. The upstairs of the building is a grand ballroom with huge 18 foot windows, a full stage, and a balcony with two staircases on each side. Downstairs are two large fireplaces, a bridal suite, and a main room.
The Martinos pride themselves on having the premier wedding venue for the North Shore. In addition to the beautiful main building, they also have a full kitchen with staff that includes a five star chef. At Tracy’s winter wedding, the details included a signature martini, custom uplighting, and a full bar downstairs in the main room. It was very elegant without being pretentious or stuffy.
Thanks to everybody at The Commons for their hospitality while working with me on my photo shoot. If you’re looking for an elegant venue on the North Shore for your wedding, I would definitely stop by for a visit.
