Glen Manor House

Glen Manor House is a historic French chateau-style estate and wedding venue in Portsmouth, RI, set on 33 acres of gardens on the banks of the Sakonnet River. Built in 1923 and modeled on the Petit Trianon at Versailles, with grounds shaped by the famed Olmsted Brothers, it is best known for waterfront lawn ceremonies under a towering oak and receptions in grand interior rooms with marble fireplaces, chandeliers, and a covered terrace over the water. Often described as a more private and affordable alternative to the Newport mansions, it hosts weddings of up to about 175 guests and suits couples after old-world elegance on Aquidneck Island.

What makes Glen Manor House a standout Rhode Island wedding venue?

This is a genuine chateau, not a stand-in. Completed in 1923 for the Taylor family and modeled on the Petit Trianon at Versailles, the house brings tall chimneys, stone arches, marble fireplaces, ornate molding, and a circular staircase, all on 33 acres of gardens laid out by the Olmsted Brothers along the Sakonnet River. Couples marry on the waterfront lawn beneath a towering oak, with the river and distant sailboats behind them, then move to a covered terrace and loggia for cocktail hour over the water from May through October, and into the Ballroom, Dining Room, and Library for dinner and dancing. Two prep suites handle getting ready, and the grand interior rooms double as a seamless all-weather backup, so the day flows rain or shine. Because the period architecture and established gardens are the decor, couples customize far less than they would in a blank-canvas space, and golden hour off the water gives photographers a dream. Many call it Newport County’s best-kept secret: comparable to the great mansions nearby, but more private and more affordable. A grand, multi-room historic interior paired with a waterfront lawn rewards production that complements the period detail and bridges indoors and out, which is where Black Diamond comes in.

How does Black Diamond produce events at Glen Manor House?

A historic chateau with marble fireplaces and chandeliers calls for lighting that complements the period detail rather than overpowering it, and sound that carries a lawn ceremony into a terrace cocktail hour and a reception spread across several rooms. We bring custom uplighting tuned to the architecture, and we run sound built for that indoor-outdoor flow. Our DJ and MC talent keeps the floor moving, photo booths and live musicians fill the terrace and gardens, and our photography and videography team captures the chateau facade, the gardens, the circular staircase, and the Sakonnet sunset, with aerial coverage of the estate where permitted. Video screens are on hand for photo montages and corporate programs.

Common questions about weddings at Glen Manor House

Where do ceremonies take place? On the waterfront lawn under a towering oak with the Sakonnet River behind you, with the grand interior rooms as the all-weather backup.

How many guests can it hold? Up to about 175 across the estate, with roughly 150 seated indoors and the gardens and terrace adding room in the warmer months.

Who handles catering? Food, bar, and day-of coordination run exclusively through Russell Morin Catering & Events, so Black Diamond focuses on entertainment and production: lighting, sound, DJ and MC, and photography and videography.