Herb Lyceum offers fragrant weddings for spicy lovers

On most weekends, spring through late fall, the Herb Lyceum at Gilson’s in central Massachusetts is filled with wedding parties, enjoying the beautiful location in the small rural town of Groton, some 50 miles northwest of Boston.

The Gilson family has operated this four-acre farm since the 1800s and it’s been an herb farm since 1989. During the season, the Gilson’s daily life here takes a backseat for wedding bookings, so that families and friends can make themselves at home and celebrate in the private sunken garden, or the newly renovated greenhouse, designed especially for bigger parties of 150 guests.

Additionally, the beautiful 1800s-built barn-like carriage house caters for more intimate gatherings of around 30 guests.

Outside of wedding bookings, the gorgeous old barn is where seasonal communal chef’s whim dinners are held, hosted by chef and restaurateur Will Gilson, who grew up here.

However, “the wedding business takes over the farm every weekend, once June hits,” he said. “This is the perfect setting for the rural, intimate wedding.”

The Herb Lyceum’s wedding business is an extension of Gilson’s duties heading five restaurants and cafes in Cambridge, Mass.

But, this is where the James Beard Foundation-nominated chef’s cooking career began at age 16, when his father, David, opened the Herb Lyceum’s barn as a dining venue in 1999, and he volunteered to be chef.

Gilson caters to most tastes and dietary restrictions, but a typical menu, designed using the farm’s herbs and seasonal produce, might include appetizers such as fried oyster lettuce wraps, truffled arancini or artichoke-and-pea falafel with minted yogurt, enjoyed with drinks as guests mingle by the fire pit and sunken garden in front of the barn (reception pricing starts at $40 per person).

The family style sit-down dinner includes, after a choice of starters, entree choices like semolina orecchiette with pesto, pecorino and kale; pan-roasted organic salmon with sauteed greens and salsa verde; and grilled hanger steak with herb butter, zucchini and truffle jus.

Drinks are worked out with the beverage manager, who will curate wine, beer and cocktails to suit budget and tastes.

Wedding packages include the rental of the grounds for five hours (close friends and family have access to the venue for the entire day), staff, an event planner on site, cutting and presentation of your cake, rentals of two sets of chairs (one for the ceremony, one for the dinner), linens, flatware, glassware and a very posh portable restroom.

For lodging, Groton is best known for housing some of the oldest prep schools in the United States and also for its Groton Inn, founded in 1678 and deemed to be America’s oldest inn until it burned to the ground in 2011.

A new one, replicating the original’s Colonial white clapboard style has since gone up, adding handy lodgings for the Herb Lyceum’s wedding parties.

“We’re in the business of creating great memories,” Gilson said of his work. That includes for family and friends — several years ago, when Gilson married his wife Molly, he knew he had the perfect venue to celebrate. “Marrying my wife in the place I grew up was the perfect day,” he said.

Wedding pricing for 150 guests at Herb Lyceum starts at $75 per person plus food and drinks.  Receptions start at $40 per person, dinners at $65 per person plus beverages. A 5% admin fee, tax and rentals of any additional items are extra.

Groton Inn room rates start at $189 per night.