The Publick House Wedding | Andrea Van Orsouw Photography
Marlee & Dominic’s Wedding at The Publick House | Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Marlee wore sneakers with her wedding dress.
She is a woman who knows what she’s about. I’m obsessed with her for that.
The ceremony: outdoor gazebo in November but it’s much better than you’d think
November 15, 2025. Outside. In front of the gazebo at The Publick House in Sturbridge with blanket-wrapped guests gathered in the cold because Marlee and Dominic thought ahead and decided “ya know what? We’re gonna keep our guests cozy”.
The ceremony was short, sweet, and then everyone moved inside to get warm and get going. Correct series of events. Let’s party.
The people aka the life of the party. All of them.
The décor was gorgeous but it was the people that made the space beyond colorful, dynamic, and full of energy.
Marlee and Dominic have the kind of friends and family who show up to the fullest extent. Arms in the air, zero self-consciousness, complete commitment to having the best night. The energy in that room was contagious from the first song to the last and never dipped once.
One of my favorite details of the whole day: Dominic gave each of his groomsmen a vinyl record of an album that reminded him specifically of them. Not a generic groomsmen gift. A record chosen individually, for each person, because of who they are to him. That gesture says everything about Marlee and Dominic; thoughtful and sentimental and also, based on everything I witnessed that night, extremely fun to be around.
These two didn’t spend their wedding day managing the day. They just danced. Fully immersed in the experience, not a single moment taken too seriously. The whole night was better for it.
The Publick House, Sturbridge, MA
This is my second wedding here and I’ll never shut up about it: this venue is soooo good! The coordinator is on top of everything, the property is full of charm, and there are enough ceremony and reception options that every wedding looks completely different. This one looked nothing like the last one I shot here, which tells you everything about how versatile it really is.
If you’re considering it, this is your sign! And if you’re still exploring Massachusetts venues, here’s my full guide to the best wedding venues in Massachusetts, plus my complete New England wedding venues roundup if you’re looking further out.
And if you’re in search of a photographer, I’d love to photograph your Publick House wedding.
Vendors
Venue, Coordinator, Cake & Catering: The Publick House
Photography: Andrea Van Orsouw Photography
DJ: JHath
Videographer: Bruno Mamede
Hair: Stone Ivy Salon
Florist: The Sage Bouquet
FAQ: Weddings at The Publick House, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Where is The Publick House? Sturbridge, MA, is right off the Mass Pike, about 20 minutes from Worcester and an hour from both Boston and Hartford. It feels tucked away and is somehow incredibly easy to get to at the same time.
What’s it like as a wedding venue? Historic inn, tons of charm, genuinely excellent coordination team, multiple ceremony and reception spaces. It adapts well to completely different aesthetics and crowd sizes. Every wedding I’ve shot here has looked like its own thing entirely.
Can you actually have an outdoor ceremony there in November? Marlee and Dominic did and it was beautiful. Keep it short, provide the blankets, lean into the late fall charm. The gazebo backdrop in November has this moody cozy quality that you genuinely can’t replicate in July.
Do you photograph weddings at The Publick House? This is my second one there and I’d go back forever! I’m based in Connecticut and Sturbridge is practically in my backyard. Let’s talk.
