Please join us in celebrating
the marriage of
Ashley & kyle
“To the dreamy summer haze,
Love gave a deep enchantment,
The colors were fairer, the blue
More lovely in the lucid sky.”
— “The Pageant of Summer,” Richard Jeffries
When
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
Guest arrival at 3 pm
Wedding ceremony at 3:30 pm
Merry-making from 4 ‘til 8 pm
where
The Commons 1854
4 North Common Street
Topsfield, Massachusetts
01983
Places to stay & Transportation
Our wedding venue is close to our hometown—Salem, MA!
As part of celebrating our wedding, we hope you’ll find some time to explore the area and see for yourself why we call this weird little seaside city our home. Since Salem is a huge tourist destination and most of our local hotels are relatively small in size, we don’t have a reserved block at any of the listed hotels. We don’t expect any accommodation shortages, but we would definitely encourage you to reserve your stay early!
In Salem hotel accommodations will host you in the heart of Salem, a comfortable walking distance from shops, restaurants, and historic sightseeing. These hotel locations are great if you’re staying in town more than just the day of our wedding, and want to explore or have an easy way to meet up with other guests. *We’re also arranging for a shuttle service to transport guests to and from Salem and our venue on the day of the wedding.
Out of Salem hotel accommodations are closer to the wedding venue. These are a good choice if you plan to handle your own transportation while visiting, or if you don’t intend to spend much time exploring on foot during your stay.
Lastly, if you prefer to reserve private accommodation like an Airbnb, we recommend choosing a location that is easy driving or walking distance from one of these two points to ensure you have easy access to either shuttle services or the venue itself: locations that are a close distance from 32 Derby Square (Old Town Hall) in Salem; or near our wedding and reception venue at 4 North Common Street in Topsfield.
In Salem hotels
The Hampton Inn, Salem: Central location, offers standard hotel amenities.
The Hotel Salem: In the center of downtown with stylish rooms and a rooftop lounge.
The Hawthorne Hotel: A famous historical hotel with a classic style and sensibility.
The Merchant: A boutique bed and breakfast experience right in the heart of downtown.
Northey Street House: A quaint bed and breakfast.
Out of Salem hotels
Double Tree Hilton, North Shore: A short drive to the venue.
The Beverly: Contactless, apartment style stay, equal distance from Salem and the venue.
Best Western Plus, Danvers: A short drive to both the venue and to Salem.
Dress CodE
Semi-formal; wear something
that makes you feel springtime-y!
Our ceremony takes place outdoors in the side terrace garden. Because spring weather in New England can be a little temperamental, we suggest bringing something cozy to layer with your outfit, just in case (especially for our friends coming in from warmer climates). If it turns out to be a rainy day, we’ll move the ceremony inside!
Plus ones & kids
When rsvp-ing, please include only the guest names listed on your invitation.
We're sorry we couldn’t extend plus ones for our wedding day— we hope you understand! If you’re traveling into town with a buddy for the weekend, let us know. Kyle and our local friends love giving suggestions for fun activities around the Essex County & Boston area.
We’re too broke for a babysitter, but…
Your kids are welcome to come party with us if you’d like to bring them along! There’s a spot for their names on the mail-back RSVP you received with your invitation.
Gifts
We don’t have a registry—your presence is a gift!
We’ve been lucky enough to spend 10 whole years together already, collecting mismatched silverware, cozy furniture, kitchen appliances and bookshelves for our overflow of books. Being able to spend our wedding day with you is what we want the most. If you still wish to give a gift, we would graciously accept a contribution toward buying a home together.
Food & Drinks
Dinner options
Prime Rib: hand rubbed with caramelized garlic, marine sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, slow roasted with bourbon and Vermont maple pan jus
Atlantic Salmon: pan-seared filet roasted with Vermont maple butter and whole-grain mustard glaze
Vegan Terrine: portobello mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, and roasted red peppers layered and smothered in tomato ragout
*All dinner options will be served with golden garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus tossed in sea salt and olive oil. Please make a note of any food allergies so we can make adjustments to your meal if needed!
Bar
There will be open bar service during cocktail hour just after our wedding ceremony; during the ballroom reception, the bar will switch to a cash bar.
A little bit of Venue History
Originally built as a Methodist Church in 1854, the Commons was known to Topsfield residents as “Union Hall.” The first floor of the building served as a community space for town meetings and other public gatherings until Topsfield’s town hall was built in 1873. After the Methodist Church joined with the Congregational Church in 1926, the Commons continued to serve as a space for activities like Girl Scout meetings, mason gatherings, and voting. The steeple, pews, and bell were removed in the 1950s. By the 60s, the interior was remodeled into its current state, with care to preserve as much of the original historic interior as possible.