Shelter Harbor Inn

When my husband (then fiance) and I went looking for a venue for our wedding, we quickly became discouraged. Many places felt too corporate or impersonal; others were great but way too expensive. We kept coming back to one of the very first places we visited: the Shelter Harbor Inn. We made an appointment with the catering manager, Jeff Houston, and went early so we could eat at their restaurant first, as a tryout. It was delicious; I still have fond memories of the lemon-basil creme brulee. Jeff met us in the restaurant and treated us to coffee and tea while we talked. He's a low-key guy, quiet and matter-of-fact, which I appreciated after the meetings we'd had with overenthusiastic event managers. He gave us a stack of menu options to look at and encouraged the brunch option we'd been considering--much less expensive, he said. He also steered us away from some options (like pastries from his own company) because we said we'd be getting a cake elsewhere and he didn't see the need for us to pay for extra desserts. (And, he said, they'd take care of cutting and plating the cake from the outside vendor--at no extra charge. Other places wanted $3-4 PER PERSON to serve a cake if it wasn't provided by them.) Again, completely refreshing after other event managers who kept pushing "enhancements." He held our date for us for no charge and told us we could hold the ceremony there at the inn for no extra charge. Mind blown yet again. Every other place we looked at as a reception site wanted $1,500-2,000 to hold the ceremony, which was an incredible amount for the informal 10-minute event we were envisioning.
When we finally finalized the menu, $45 per person got us 3-4 hors d'oeuvres (including smoked salmon); a custom-omelet station; breads and rolls; bacon and sausage; roasted potatoes; a bowtie-pasta salad with chicken, olives, and parmesan; fruit skewers with yogurt sauce; and spinach salad with strawberries (which my friend still mentions every single time I see him).
One of my friends described the day as a party with a wedding in the middle, which I think is perfect. The Inn's staff made sure everything was set up perfectly and that food and drinks never ran out. They were responsive to requests, friendly, and professional. It was exactly what my husband and I were hoping for.
If you're looking for a venue in Rhode Island, I highly suggest taking a look at the Shelter Harbor Inn. (I also suggest looking at them if all you need is a catering company.) There's a beach just down the road from them if you're looking for a slightly different location, and accommodations are wonderful (and come with free breakfast). I truly can't say enough good things about the place.