The Castle - Boston

I attended an alumni event at this beautiful castle, and it truly exudes a sense of history as soon as you step inside. The back balcony offers a lovely view of the Charles River. Built in 1915 in the Tudor Revival style, this mansion is quite impressive. For those interested in learning more about it, I recommend visiting their website—it’s quite informative. I heard that many weddings and special events take place here. The appetizers and desserts served at our event were delicious. If you find yourself on the BU campus, this vine-covered castle is definitely worth a visit!

As a Boston University alum, my husband secured a significant discount on the rental fee, and the event coordinators were incredibly accommodating in helping us create a custom menu, allowing us to keep costs manageable. Having everything included—from food and staff to linens, tables, and chairs—was a major bonus; it saved us both money and headaches by keeping everything in-house. Our guests raved about the food, cake, and the ice cream sundae bar, which featured flavors we selected from Richardson's. The multi-room venue was just the right size for our 84 guests—cozy and intimate without feeling overcrowded. The venue's beauty meant we could keep decorating costs low. The staff executed a seamless transition from the ceremony on the landing to cocktail hour in the library (which extended into the lovely garden space), followed by dinner in the music room and dancing back in the main foyer. At the end of the evening, we had a grand exit onto the streets of Boston. Our guests could easily walk, drive, or take a cab to nearby hotels or homes. We got a few drunken cheers from college students on our way out, but since the castle is elevated above street level and away from the main campus areas, we managed to avoid any confusion with a frat party (though I suppose that’s part of the experience of getting married in such a student-populated city). A special shout-out goes to our day-of coordinator, Sophie Charron, who went above and beyond her duties. Planning our wedding from out of state, I bombarded her with numerous emails in the months leading up to the big day, and she was always quick to respond. On the day itself, she seemed to be everywhere yet completely out of the spotlight, expertly managing all the small details so that we could simply enjoy the celebration. Thanks to Sophie and everyone at the BU Castle for making our wedding day absolutely perfect!

The Castle is a beautiful venue for an event. In my many years at BU I've been here for a variety of receptions, lectures and concerts. There are beautiful light fixtures, gorgeous wood carvings, and great views of the Charles River. Also, not to be missed, in the basement, accessible by a separate side entrance is the BU Pub (see its separate page on Yelp).

My son and daughter in law recently used the castle for their ceremony and reception. It was a wonderful venue for the 50 guests the flowered garden, the elegant balcony overlooking the Charles, the roominess, the flow from room to room, the elegant decor. The food was very, very good from great crab cakes and mushroom stuffed profiteroles to pork tenderloin with pear jus and the most spectacular mashed potatoes (really! The wedding cake was beautifully done and totally yummy. Best of all, though, was the terrific coordinator, Christina. She oversaw every detail of the planning with quiet competence and tact, never overstepped, and was there every minute of the event itself. It was pretty wonderful to have a coordinator cry at the vows, and offer hugs at the end. She belonged at that moment to our family. Costs were very reasonable. The funniest part is that I got a degree from BU in the distant past, and never even knew this was available. Take a look I think you will like it.

However, the restrooms were somewhat small and strangely positioned, being located under the stairs and tucked away on the upper floor. I also noticed some historic artwork, including wood engravings, as well as likely valuable books in the library, but there was a lack of signage explaining these pieces. On a positive note, the location is easily accessible via public transportation, and there are several nearby parking lots and garages. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.