Mill 1 at Open
Square:
A Diamond in the
Urban Chic Rough
Our continuous hunt for all things fabulous and budget
friendly, has led us on a new journey to locate wedding venues that will give
DIY Brides that “something special yet affordable” vibe you’ve been longing
for. I mean let’s face it, no matter what you do in life, sometimes it really
is all about location, location, location. We select our homes, our jobs, our
coffee shops, our fav hang out spots; based on a location that we’re near or an
area that we know and love. And that same idea also takes effect when shopping
for a wedding venue.
One might be surprised to discover beauty and upscale excellence
in the midst of an industrial and urban landscape in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Yet, that’s exactly what we’ve uncovered at Mill 1 at Open Square!
Long gone are the functioning paper mills that dot Lyman and
Dwight Streets. All that stands are the historic buildings built originally in
1848, now ingeniously restored to accommodate office space for fifty businesses.
Open Square opened fifteen years ago, providing a canopy of character for
retailers, a café, and a bridal salon. When we sat down with Sales &
Communications Director, Maggie Bergin, we learned a tremendous amount about
the event space nestled inside of the urban exterior.
Mill 1 is the brainchild of Maggie’s husband, John Aubin. It
was developed four years ago to take advantage of a particular niche that the
Holyoke area lacked as far as event space goes; uniqueness.
Like most cities, there are tons of venues that have
probably been in business for forever, providing services many times over to
you and your family for every celebration under the sun. But that’s the
problem! They all look alike, the food tastes alike, and they’re all priced
alike! And most people you know have been there, done that! Who wants “been
there, done that” for their wedding??? Uh, no one! If your Great Aunt Helen remembers
your christening taking place at the neighborhood venue, it’s time to broaden
your search for your wedding. So look no further!!!
Mill 1 is the epitome of urban class, and industrial chic. John
Aubin is a master craftsman, having designed the space. He refurbished the
original milled maple floors and returned the exposed ceiling to the grandeur
of 1848. During our tour, I asked Maggie, what was the best physical feature of
the space; basically, what did most brides fall in love with. One step through
the door and I knew…..brides fall in love with everything!!!
An elegant bar made of recycled cyprus wood greets you at the entrance. Amazing windows and views give way to a rustic interior of brick and maple wood beams. Modern lighting adds dimension, while chiseled spots of time and history are exposed on some of the doorways and surfaces to add character.
And although its beauty is what hooks you, Mill 1 is also
smart! Winner of Wedding Wire’s Brides Choice Awards for Best Ceremony &
Reception for the past two years, the staff strives to excel in customer
service, professionalism, and to go beyond expectations. When I asked Maggie
what makes this venue stand out from the rest, she simply responded, “We love
working with people, we love working with our vendors, we love working with
couples.” They pride themselves on
loving all couples, no matter the race, religion, sexual preference, or
physical ability. They make sure everyone receives the care and attention they
require for an amazing experience at Mill 1. Bottom line, Maggie stated, “We
just love love, and we’re honored to host so much of it in this space.”
From a DIY Bride perspective, Mill 1 stacks up on the
affordability scale as well. Rental of
the space varies between $1,200 and $2,100 depending upon the day of the week
that you select. Most brides who rent the space are “Pinterest brides”
according to Maggie, so they’re on a budget. That means, if you work your DIY
planning magic right, you can afford to rent the space as well as everything
else that goes along with getting a blank canvas and having to bring everything
in…caterer, linens, décor, etc.
They are definitely flexible in terms of scheduling set up
and decoration time, as long as their rental hours permit. And for your
protection, they require that your caterer is licensed and insured. I mean, you
gotta love the care and concern that’s placed even in their regulations and
restrictions!
And now down to the nuts and bolts of DIY Bride planning:
the Amenities. What else can Mill 1 offer the DIY Bride in addition to a
fabulous rental space? Rental includes a Ceremony/Cocktail Hour space, so you
can have the much desired one location wedding that most budget brides need to
save money on transportation. Their website offers an extensive Preferred
Vendor List, which is priority number one! At your finger-tips info on vendors
that have worked the space before is priceless! Amazing photo ops is high on
the list as well. The place screams trendy urban chic from wall to wall and everywhere
in between! Using the building’s character as your backdrop, eliminates the
need & expense required to travel to a different location to capture the
memories of a lifetime. Mill 1 is also very close to major highways for
convenience, and we spotted a few hotels in the area for your guests to recover
from their “love” hangover.
When asked what improvements or changes are in the future
for Mill 1, Maggie mentioned possibly adding an outdoor space, like a balcony,
in the next year or so. But their primary focus right now, is securing an
exclusive caterer for the space. Since we all know bundles are king, Mill 1
plans to incorporate a caterer into the rental price of the space! Can I get a
Amen from all my DIY Brides?! A caterer that you don’t have to find yourself!
What?! That saves you time, effort, energy, and money!
All in all, I knew I loved Mill 1 just from seeing pics
online, but now that I’ve toured it, I completely adore it. As a decorator, I’d
give up my tablet and clipboard for a chance to deck this hall! LMBO! But its
beauty can’t ever compare to the people behind the scenes that enhance your
experience to the fullest.
If you’re shopping venues in the CT and Western, MA area,
you NEED to take a look at Mill 1 at Open Square! The hour drive from Hartford
is well worth the trip for a unique, affordable, mind-blowing wedding space. A discovered
diamond in the urban chic rough.