A Summer Celebration at the Boston Public Library
Alison & Matthew’s Boston Public Library wedding brought together one of the city’s most iconic venues, an all-star vendor team, and a crowd that came ready to celebrate. From the courtyard ceremony to late-night dancing in the Abbey Room, this was one of those events that blended elegance with a genuinely fun, easygoing atmosphere — a perfect fit for East Coast Soul.
Preparation & Load-In
BPL weddings involve a unique set of logistics, and we worked closely with venue coordinator Faith and production assistant Sydney to get everything in place. Load-in started on Blagden Street with a steep ramp leading into the building, followed by transporting gear to the Abbey Room on the second floor. Since the Courtyard was unavailable until 5:00pm, we set the dance-floor system first, then moved to ceremony/cocktail hour gear once the space opened.
A key detail at the BPL: nothing gets plugged in until the building electrician gives the green light. Once evening access began, we connected power, checked routing in both the Abbey Room and Bates Hall, and coordinated dinner PA setups for toasts and playlists. With a 205-guest wedding and multiple performance locations, early organization made all the difference.
Ceremony in the Courtyard
The ceremony took place in the BPL’s legendary Courtyard — one of the most beautiful settings in the city. ECS provided both sound reinforcement and an acoustic guitar performance. Guests arrived to a warm mix of Leon Bridges, Ray LaMontagne, and similar soulful prelude selections.
The processional featured “Into the Mystic”, followed by the bride’s entrance to Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love.” After a heartfelt ceremony, Alison & Matthew recessed to “Atlantic City” by The Band as applause filled the courtyard.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktails remained in the Courtyard, where a tenor sax/guitar/bass trio set a relaxed, classic atmosphere — swing standards drifting into classic soul. With perfect evening weather and the fountain running, it was truly a standout BPL cocktail hour.
Dinner in Bates Hall
Guests transitioned into Bates Hall — one of the most iconic rooms in the entire venue — for dinner, introductions, and speeches. The evening kicked off with the wedding party entering to Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher.” Alison & Matthew followed with a loud, upbeat welcome into the room.
Their first dance was Bruce Springsteen’s “If I Should Fall Behind”, played from a recording and lightly shortened for pacing. Afterward, Alison’s father offered a warm welcome toast before dinner service began.
During dinner, a small instrumental trio — alto sax, keys, and bass — kept things upbeat and soulful, matching the couple’s request to lean into fun, feel-good energy rather than quiet background music.
Toasts & Parent Dances
Once the first course was served, toasts began, featuring both Maids of Honor and the Best Man. With two mics and a full Bates Hall PA, everything sounded smooth and clear across the large space.
After dinner, everyone headed back into the Courtyard and Abbey Room area for parent dances:
- Bride/Father Dance: Van Morrison — Tupelo Honey (recording, shortened)
- Groom/Mother Dance: Stevie Wonder — You Are the Sunshine of My Life (recording, shortened)
A quick cake cutting followed — announced but intentionally low-key — and then guests moved into the Abbey Room where the band was ready to launch into the full dance performance.
Main Dance Set in the Abbey Room
At 10:05, we kicked off the night’s main performance, and the dance floor filled immediately. Alison & Matthew had one major request: “Any song that gets people dancing and having fun.” With a crowd this energetic, that gave us the perfect amount of freedom to read the room and lean into whatever would keep the floor packed.
Some highlights from the must-play and request list:
- Soul Man
- I Wanna Dance With Somebody
- We Found Love
- Shut Up and Dance
- Shout
- Bruce Springsteen — Born to Run
A major moment came 2–3 songs into the set with the Hora — a full 5–7 minutes of high-energy dancing, chair lifting, and cheers as the Abbey Room went absolutely wild.
Guests kept the floor full straight through the end of the night. With BPL’s strict 12:30am cutoff, we announced the last song at 12:20, left room for an encore, and wrapped with the same energy the night started with.
Final Thoughts
Alison & Matthew’s BPL wedding was the perfect mix of elegant spaces, heartfelt moments, and a reception that turned into a full-on dance party. Their guests brought nonstop energy, and their trust in us to “play to the room” made the night flow naturally from start to finish.
Congratulations to Alison & Matthew — thank you for inviting East Coast Soul to be part of such an incredible celebration at the Boston Public Library!
