{"id":9546,"date":"2024-01-18T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/new-micro-wedding-spot-in-somervilles-bow-market-offers-an-alternative-to-city-hall-the-boston-globe\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T03:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T08:00:00","slug":"new-micro-wedding-spot-in-somervilles-bow-market-offers-an-alternative-to-city-hall-the-boston-globe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/en\/new-micro-wedding-spot-in-somervilles-bow-market-offers-an-alternative-to-city-hall-the-boston-globe\/","title":{"rendered":"New \u2018micro wedding\u2019 spot in Somerville\u2019s Bow Market offers an alternative to City Hall – The Boston Globe"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cI was like, I trust you,\u201d Cronin said, of the conversation with Martin. \u201cCan we just book a time so we can tell our families?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By July 2023, when Cronin and Letellier got married, Dearly Studio was ready for business. The 342-square-foot room in a corner on the second-floor of the Bow Market building was equipped with a stage, a canopy of flowers above it, a bar, some room for witnesses, and a bunch of treats like stickers and ring pops to make the ceremony more fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Alex
Alex Cronin and Greg Letellier were among the first people to get married at Dearly Studio in Bow Market. Their friend Kelsey Ryan served as officiant.<\/span>Carlie Febo @ CarlieFebo.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Cronin and Letellier, the second couple to get married at Dearly Studio, said their vows in front of fewer than a dozen people. Then they joined a 40-person party waiting down the hall at culinary event space Wild Child.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have 100 people staring at me,\u201d Cronin said, of achieving her wedding goals. \u201cIt was kind of a meeting in the middle. We wanted something small and stress-free, and [my family] still wanted something they could be a part of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 a marketer, designer, and New Hampshire native \u2014 said this small-but-sweet vibe was her goal when she opened Dearly Studio late last June. She had the idea for the business after returning from Australia to the Boston area in 2021. She noticed that more people wanted fast wedding ceremonies, but they still wanted a photo-worthy event. Not Las Vegas, but something else.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Jusmine
Jusmine Martin, owner of Dearly Studio in Bow Market.<\/span>Blair Rutherford<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s this assumption that, OK, you\u2019re not going to get married at the courthouse, and you\u2019re not having this giant wedding, so you must be a kooky bride … so everything is neon and clashing colors.\u201d Martin was clear that she does not judge a kooky wedding \u2014 she swears neon can be classy \u2014 but at Dearly Studio, she\u2019s striving for a different tone. The palette is softer. \u201cThere\u2019s a sophistication, that\u2019s like a little bit of elegance there for for folks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Martin offers three wedding packages<\/a>. The Quickie, which starts at $300, is a 30-minute ceremony with treats. The \u201cAt Last\u201d is $1,300, and gets you an hour and more frills. The \u201cLove On Top\u201d is $2,400 and runs for two hours. All include an officiant, if you choose, to administer vows and legal document filing. There are also custom <\/b>package options. The studio sends automated checklists, telling couples what paperwork they need by when. You can also bring your own photographer, and any other vendors, or find some affiliated with the studio.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the business\u2019s first Valentine\u2019s Day, Martin has opened her entire schedule for free weddings. She plans to host at least six complimentary weddings on Feb. 14, lasting 20 minutes each. Champagne toasts are extra. She just opened the schedule (dearly.studio\/valentines<\/a>) for signups.<\/span><\/p>\n

Massachusetts wedding planner Sarah Narcus<\/a>, of Without a Hitch, said Martin\u2019s wedding studio speaks to a trend that started before COVID-19, but became more noticeable after so many people had to cancel or postpone big wedding celebrations. Narcus said more couples want small ceremonies that prioritize quality pictures and privacy. Maybe there\u2019s a separate party after, but the actual wedding \u2014 and recitation of vows \u2014 is for a few people, or even just the couple.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are almost never doing it for budget reasons; I think people jump to that conclusion. It is almost always because they want privacy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Katy
Katy Hutchinson and Miles Hovis had their dog as a witness at Dearly Studio.<\/span>Ben Schaefer (Silver + Salt)\/Silver and Salt Photography<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Martin said the intimate moments at Dearly Studio, even in half-hour ceremonies, result in a catalog of stories and memories. Couples have started signing the doorframe of the space, marking their history there. Martin remembers the couple who had to use ring pops in the ceremony because a loved one forgot the real ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bride Katy Hutchinson, who got married midweek in September, said she wouldn\u2019t have been able to bring her dog, Hedy, to City Hall, but that at Dearly Studio, Hedy was a witness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven my husband was surprised by how special it felt (my first \u201cI told you so\u201d of our marriage),\u201d Hutchinson said, by email, from her honeymoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"At
At Dearly Studio, people sign the doorframe after they get married.<\/span>Meredith Goldstein<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Martin said she knows her space won\u2019t be for everyone. Sometimes big is best.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a knock on the big wedding at all,\u201d Martin said, of what she offers. \u201cIf that makes you feel warm and seen and happy on your day, you should do that. But if it takes you out of your moment, which I think some people are finding … then why wouldn\u2019t you want to lean into what makes you feel whole and happy on your wedding day?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meredith Goldstein can be reached at Meredith.Goldstein@Globe.com<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n