The State Room in Boston is at the very top of my list of favorite wedding venues. While I spend many weekends at rustic barns and traditional country clubs, there is something truly electric about a city wedding. The architecture, the glass, and the steel create an energy that you just cannot find anywhere else. As a Longwood Venue, the State Room is known for impeccable service and high-end catering, but for me, it is all about the aesthetic.
This is a clean and modern venue that acts as a blank canvas. It offers endless options for adding your own style and decor into the space. I love being in the room when guests start arriving because you can hear the audible “WOW”s as people enter and see the view for the first time. If you are planning a 2026 or 2027 wedding and want the quintessential Boston experience, here is everything you need to know from a photographer’s perspective.
The Iconic View: The Great Room
When people talk about the State Room, they are usually talking about the Great Room. It is the flagship space of the venue and for good reason. Perched on the 33rd floor of Sixty State Street, it features 21-foot floor-to-ceiling windows that offer an unmatched view of the Boston harbor and the city skyline.
The scale of this room is massive. It has the capacity for over 500 guests for dinner and dancing, yet it somehow manages to feel intimate when the sun goes down and the city lights begin to glow. I have seen many different setups in the Great Room. You could have one long “king table” for the wedding party directly in front of the windows to frame the couple against the Custom House. Alternatively, you can leave the view completely open and arrange guest tables around a central dance floor to maximize the sense of space.
The Flow of the Evening: Mezzanine and Beyond
One of the best features of the State Room is the vertical layout. Usually, cocktail hour is held on the mezzanine level which overlooks the Great Room. This is a strategic win for photography. While your guests are enjoying drinks and appetizers above, I can capture wide-angle shots of your reception decor perfectly set up below before anyone touches a centerpiece or moves a chair.
When it is time for the reception, your guests head down the grand staircase into the Great Room. This transition creates a sense of ceremony and excitement for the rest of the night. It also provides one of the most epic entrance opportunities in the city.
State Room in Boston
Ceremonies in the Great Room
I especially love photographing wedding ceremonies in the Great Room. The lighting changes significantly depending on the season and time of day. In the summer, the sun often hits the Custom House in the background, making the brickwork glow. In the winter, ceremonies often take place after dark, which gives you the sparkling city lights as your primary backdrop.
The technical challenge for a photographer here is the glass. Those 21-foot windows are beautiful, but they act as giant mirrors once the sun goes down. You need a photographer who understands off-camera flash and how to position lights so that you don’t end up with a big white “pop” reflected in your ceremony photos. My goal is always to keep the city visible while making sure you are perfectly lit.
The Grand Staircase Entrance
The grand staircase is a favorite feature for many of my couples. You can choose whether you want to make your grand entrance by coming down the stairs or by entering from the floor level. Coming down the stairs is undeniably epic and makes for incredible photos. If you choose the stairs, my best advice is to take your time. If you are wearing heels, make sure your new spouse has your hand firmly. Not only does this keep you steady, but it also allows me more time to capture that “just married” glow as you descend toward your cheering friends and family.
I have seen couples decorate these stairs with everything from overflowing floral installations to dozens of glowing pillar candles in glass hurricanes. Both looks are stunning and add a lot of texture to your entrance photos.
Photography Pro-Tip: The Mezzanine View
The first dance is always a highlight of the evening, but at the State Room, it becomes a cinematic moment. During the first dance, I often slip back up to the mezzanine to capture the moment from directly above. This perspective shows off the true grandeur of the space. It captures the couple in the center of the dance floor, surrounded by their guests, with the massive city skyline as the backdrop.
Whether the sun is setting and turning the sky pink or it is late at night and the city is a mosaic of white and gold lights, this “birds-eye” shot is usually a favorite in the final gallery. It perfectly illustrates the scale of your celebration.
Wedding Toasts and the City Backdrop
Toasts are another part of the night where the State Room shines. Standing at the front of the room with the Custom House and the harbor behind you makes every speech feel like a monumental occasion. Because the room is so large and the ceilings are so high, the sound is actually quite good for a modern space, and the photos of your best man or maid of honor silhouetted against the city are always classic.
The State Room Dance Party
I don’t know exactly what it is about this venue, but dance parties at the State Room are always wild and fun. Maybe it is the energy of being 33 floors up or the way the lights reflect off the windows, but the dance floor here is always packed. The modern, open layout means there are no pillars or walls blocking the view, so I can move freely around the floor to capture those candid, high-energy moments of your friends and family celebrating.
Logistics and Planning Tips
When planning a wedding at Sixty State Street, there are a few logistical things to keep in mind.
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Parking: Being in the heart of the Financial District, parking can be tricky for guests. The garage at 60 State Street is the most convenient option, but I always suggest couples encourage their guests to use rideshares if they are staying at nearby hotels like the Marriott Long Wharf or the Omni Parker House.
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Photography Locations: While the inside of the State Room is incredible, you also have access to some of the best portrait spots in Boston just outside the front door. Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, and the waterfront are all within a five-minute walk. We can get those classic “Boston” street photos before heading up to the 33rd floor for the luxury experience.
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The “Wow” Factor: If you really want to lean into the city vibe, consider a blue hour ceremony. That specific time between sunset and total darkness creates a deep blue sky through the windows that is absolutely stunning in photographs.
Why I Love the State Room
Ultimately, I love the State Room because it represents the best of what Boston has to offer. It is sophisticated, it is historic (given the views of the Old State House), and it is undeniably modern. It is a venue that rewards couples who want to put their own stamp on their wedding day. Whether you want a minimalist black-tie affair or a lush, flower-filled garden in the sky, the State Room can handle it all with style.
If you are looking for a photographer who knows the “ins and outs” of Sixty State Street and can handle the unique lighting challenges of a glass-walled skyscraper, I would love to chat with you. I have shot many weddings here and I never get tired of that “audible wow” from the guests.
