Can’t Miss Burlington Wedding Weekend Activities

Are you looking for a wedding experience that is unique and special? Look no further than Burlington, Vermont! This beautiful city offers couples the perfect mix of outdoor beauty and urban amenities to make their Vermont wedding unforgettable. With picturesque mountain views, vibrant cityscapes, and the backdrop of Lake Champlain, Burlington is an ideal destination for couples seeking a one-of-a-kind wedding experience all weekend long.

We recently sat down with Sabiha Mujkić , ECHO’s Event & Retail Specialist, to map out the perfect Burlington wedding weekend itinerary. We know these ideas will help you have an unforgettable celebration!

Michael Tallman

A Unique Burlington Wedding Venue

One of our favorite Burlington wedding venue is ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.  A staple for families throughout the green mountain state, ECHO is a science and nature museum located right on the Burlington waterfront.

This one-of-a-kind venue offers a pristine lakefront location and breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the Adirondacks outside, and sparkling aquariums and elegant spaces for ceremonies, dining, and dancing inside.

Portrait Gallery
Portrait Gallery

“Our team takes care of every detail from start to finish and makes it our priority to support as many local businesses during the process,” says Sabiha. “For example, we work with Sugar Snap catering, who offers delicious and original farm to table catering.” Think: Vermont made cheeses at cocktail hour, signature drinks with maple syrup, and lots of Vermont beer options at the bar.

Plus, you and your guests get exclusive access to the entire museum for your event, which is a truly unique experience! 

And, a wedding at ECHO directly supports Vermont communities and education, which is something to feel good about!

Michael Tallman

A Burlington Wedding Weekend Itinerary

Burlington is Vermont’s most bustling city, with a variety of activities to choose from. In fact, there are so many things to do in the Queen City that it’s almost impossible to list them all, but here are some of our top recommendations! 

Burlington Wedding Activities for Nature Lovers

It’s no secret that Vermont is beautiful all four seasons! That also means that there is always something to do outdoors. 

Spring & Summer Activities

The crown jewel of Burlington is Lake Champlain, which you can paddle board, kayak, sail or swim in. You can also take a scenic bike ride alongside the lake on the famous Burlington bike path. (North Star Sports offers both regular and electric bikes in case you can’t bring your own.) This is a great idea for guests looking to explore more of Vermont’s natural beauty at their own pace.

In the neighboring town of Colchester, the bike path turns into the Causeway, a path that runs through Lake Champlain with unforgettable views on both sides. If you’re feeling up for it, the path goes all the way up to the Champlain Islands, where orchards, like Hackett’s, and wineries, like Snow Farm Vineyard, are waiting to be explored. (Spoiler alert: It’s worth it!) Just be sure to check the ferry schedule as you’ll need to take a quick ride between the Causeway and the Islands.

A quick car ride will get wedding guests to some incredible hiking options in the area, such as Oakledge Park and Red Rocks, both located in Burlington’s South End. These parks are also great spots for swimming in the summer.

In Burlington’s New North End, the Intervale Center has scenic community gardens and walking paths to explore. The Intervale holds a weekly concert series in the summer, complete with food trucks.

For something truly unique, you can book a private charter boat to take you and your loved ones around the Lake. Sabiha shares that while most couples take advantage of ECHO’s lakefront views for their ceremony, some couples opt to have a private wedding ceremony out on the lake before celebrating their larger reception at ECHO. This can be an amazing beautiful, and intimate experience for a couple looking to do something unique!

Fall Activities

If you’re looking for a manageable peak to conquer, Mount Philo, located in Charlotte, Vermont will do the trick. This hike is gorgeous all year round but especially in the fall. On your way to this state park, you’ll also drive through the towns of South Burlington and Shelburne, which are both filled with their own charm! There are also lots of craft fairs that take place throughout the state during this time of year, filled with tons of local makers!

Lucky Strike Studio
Owl's Iris Photography
Sam Simons

Winter Activities

If you’re visiting in the winter, pack your layers and suit up because we don’t hibernate here! There is something truly beautiful about freshly fallen snow. From ice skating to cross country skiing, snowshoeing or skiing and snowboarding – there’s plenty of activity within Burlington, or only a short distance away. Some of Vermont’s best areas and mountains to explore are less than an hour away from Burlington. We suggest checking out Leddy Park, Cochran’s ski area (yes, that famous Olympic family!), Smuggler’s Notch, Stowe or Bolton Valley.

Afterwards, warm up with hot chocolates or maple lattes on Church Street Marketplace! (More on this iconic spot below!)

Hannah Lux Photography

Burlington Attractions for Food, Beer, and Entertainment

Burlington is a dream destination for foodies, music fans, and beer lovers!

Truly there are too many restaurants to name in a single article. Burlington is foodie paradise, with new locations opening all the time! One resource we recommend for checking out local options (and finding out about new spots) is Love Burlington.

For beer, one of our favorite pockets of Burlington, is Pine Street, which is home to Zero Gravity, Burlington Beer Company, Citizen Cider and Queen City Brewery. Pine street is also home to Burlington’s Farmer’s market, which takes place every Saturday in the spring, summer and early fall. There’s also Truck Stop on summer Fridays, complete complete with rotating food truck vendors and live music.

Foam Brewers and Spot on the Dock are two more can’t miss spots in the summer, offering unparalleled views of the lake and yummy refreshments. For a unique evening, hit up the arcade bar Archives. Or check out Lincoln’s or Deli 126, two speakeasies, each with their own charm!

Looking to catch a show? Burlington has excellent entertainment available year round, from the Vermont Comedy Club, to the The Flynn Theatre, or Higher Ground. 

Church Street Marketplace

Of course, no trip to Vermont is complete without a walk on Church Street, Burlington’s pedestrian only street, filled with local boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. It’s home to the Burlington Jazz Festival and Festival of Fools events in the summer, and decorated oh-so-dazzling for the holidays come winter. It’s truly a must-see for every Burlington visit! 

Getting to Burlington

There are a few travel options when it comes to arriving or leaving Burlington, Vermont, making it a great spot for a destination wedding! The Burlington International Airport (BTV) is Vermont’s largest airport, serving northern New England and offering commercial, private and charter flights. (If you’re used to very large and bustling airports, this one may be a breath of fresh air!)

Burlington is also easy to get to by car. Interstate I-89 will help most New Englanders and New Yorkers make their way back home. Lake Champlain even has boat ferries that can transport you across the lake and over to upstate New York, which can cut down on driving times depending on your destination.

Planning Your Dream Burlington Wedding 

We hope these ideas get you as excited to explore Burlington as we are! Thank you to Sabiha and the team at ECHO for sharing insights for this article. You can learn more about ECHO in the vendor guide. 

BEST OF 2021: Location

Vermont may be a small state, but we have an impressive, long list of beautiful locations to get married! From the shores of Lake Champlain to the tops of the Green Mountains … and everywhere in between… there are a variety of venues to set the stage for your romantic wedding. Here are a few of the best places couples exchanged vows in 2021.

Love this story? We’re sharing our “semi finalist” picks on Instagram. Go check it out for even more inspiration!

Mountains Majesty

Sparkling waters and sweeping mountain views make The Equinox Resort’s pond one of the most romantic, majestic to tie the knot. (Photo: Kelsey Regan Photography)

The barn and firepit at dusk at Lareau Farm Inn in Vermont

Home Away From Home

With lodging on site, a cozy firepit, and plenty to explore, the Lareau Farm Inn makes you feel like you’re at home – if you’re home was really, really cool. (Photo: Hannah Photography)

Lakeside & Lovely

With views overlooking Lake Champlain, sparkling aquariums and more, ECHO is a unique, modern setting for a true Vermont wedding. (Photo: Madison Anne Studio)

Backyard Bliss

From getting ready at the elegant Inn at Burkyn to a lovely backyard celebration, this wedding in the mountains is a total stunner. (Video: Beyond Bliss Films)

Bride and groom walking down country road in Vermont in the fall

Falling For You

With rolling hills and colorful foliage, Sterling Ridge Resort sets the scene for a truly lovely Vermont wedding. (Photo: Cait Borgault Photography)

Garden Romance

A gorgeous barn and colorful, sprawling gardens …it’s no wonder Farmhouse Flowers is one of the best backdrops for a Vermont wedding! (Photo: Danielle Allendorf)

 

Riding High

If you fell in love with Vermont for the skiing, you are going to love Sugarbush Resort‘s mountain top ceremony location and iconic “Just Married” chair lift sign. (Photo: Jenna Brisson)

 
Bride and groom walking up a hill at sunset with dramatic clouds and mist

Edge of the World

How breathtaking is this image? It looks like the couple is in the middle of an epic, romantic movie (but really they’re at private home in Shelburne, Vermont). (Photo: Ben Hudson Photography)

Into the Woods

This couple tied the knot under a canopy of trees at The Inn at Weathersfield before celebrating dinner in the quaint, romantic Inn. (Photo: Kate Seymour Photography)

 
Bride and groom on the lawn at VT historic estate

Bridgertons in Vermont

The Hildene’s splendor and elegance is unmatched and the views are unparalleled. It’s definitely one the best! (Photo: Juniper Studios

 

Perfect Pairing

The rolling hills and vineyard at Maquam Barn and Winery are the perfect pairing for a romantic wedding. (Photo: Danielle Allendorf)

 
 

Thank you to everyone who submitted for the Best of 2021 series! Don’t forget to check out our “semi finalists” on Instagram, and sign up for our newsletter to get each Best of post emailed to you weekly this month!

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Quick recap: what is Vermont Weddings Best of 2021 Series?

A little backstory if you’re unfamiliar: we started the Best of series last year (2020) to highlight some of the amazing work by the talented teams in the Vermont wedding industry. It’s an opportunity to both celebrate a year’s worth of weddings and inspire couples who are planning a future Vermont wedding. (A quick note on the word “best”: the intention isn’t to make this a competition between weddings, but to share a small, but representative, sample of the weddings in Vermont this year.  To that end, please know that we love each and every wedding that was submitted, and the final picks are carefully chosen based on a variety of factors to create a compelling series.)

Here’s what you can expect:

All December, we’ll be rolling out inspiring stories in various categories:

Plus, because the submissions were just THAT good, we’re sharing our “semi finalist” picks for each category on Instagram. That means you’ll want to follow us to see even more highlights, and come back to the blog each week to see the “best” picks in each category.

We recommend signing up for our newsletter – we’ll send you an email each week with the highlights so you won’t miss a thing. (Going forward we only send 1 – 2 emails a month.)