Venue: Roger Williams Park – Casino and Bandstand
The second part in the series on Roger Williams Park… the Casino!
Part II: The Casino
The Casino is one of the first buildings you see when entering Roger Williams Park. This beautiful historic building was fully restored and has been converted into event space. Surrounded by trees and forty acres of land (aka great photo space!) it is a great venue.
(these are the chairs that come with the venue rental, and the table isn’t ready yet, so ignore the decor for the moment) As guests approach the front door there are sprawling, wraparound porches on the first and second floors. When the weather is nice guests can enjoy cocktails out here, or even just appreciate the grounds. If you have a string quartet I may suggest placing them out here in an attempt to draw guests outside in lovely weather.
Immediately as you enter the front door the large, open parlor is perfect for cocktail hour or a ceremony. The fireplace is something to highlight with candle or floral decor, but definitely needs some lighting. Because the entire casino is surrounded by wraparound porches, and the decor of the first floor is so dark, the natural lighting inside is a bit diminished.
When it is time for dinner guests will be invited up this staircase…
…where they will catch the first glimpse of the space that awaits them!
My eyes were immediately drawn to the rich ceiling of the space, and then back down to the coordinating chairs. At night, the chandeliers cast a nice glow and compliment the ceiling decor. At the left of the photo is the stage, which can be used for head tables or a band.
The stage is being set for two head tables for the bride, groom, and bridal party, as well as a cupcake table (just on the right).
The second floor of the Casino spans the entire width and length of the building, seating 150 for dinner and dancing.
The Bandstand
If you walk around the Casino you will spot the bandstand, an option for an outdoor ceremony.
Paved stairs and walkways lead to the bandstand, allowing guests to easily move between one space and the next. If the weather permits, utilizing this space for the ceremony would allow you to host cocktails in the first floor and veranda of the Casino. I would decorate the railing of the bandstand with floral decor and seat the guests around the base of the bandstand — it will be beautiful and intimate.
How close is the Bandstand to the Casino? This picture was taken from where the guests would be seated, so very close.
For more information on the Casino and Bandstand read more at the Casino’s website and information page.
So far we’ve explored two very different venues at Roger Williams Park: one trendy and one historic. Next, we will take a look at the Botanical Gardens.
Have a great week!
Cheers,
__Jessica






[...] me that I have one last installment of the Roger Williams Park venues. We’ve featured the Casino and the Carousel so far, but of the three main wedding spaces in the park my favorite is the [...]