The InterContinental Boston

Modern Waterfront Luxury on Fort Point Channel
For a chic and contemporary take on Boston luxury, the InterContinental Boston is a fantastic venue choice. This hotel sits right on Fort Point Channel, blending modern design with waterfront Boston history (it’s located on the very site of the Boston Tea Party!). We’ve had the pleasure of performing in the InterContinental’s sleek ballrooms many times, and we’re always impressed by the marriage of cutting-edge facilities with lovely harbor views. It’s ideal for couples who want a polished, modern Boston wedding venue that can accommodate large guest counts in style.
One of the InterContinental’s strengths is its versatile event spaces – the hotel has two primary ballrooms that can host weddings of different sizes. For grand weddings, the Rose Kennedy Ballroom is an absolute showstopper. This ballroom is 10,653 square feet of pure elegance – one of the largest in Boston – and can accommodate over 1,100 guests for a reception. We’ve played some pretty big weddings here, and the space handled it with ease. Despite the size, the design isn’t a plain convention hall – it has beautiful carpeting, modern chandeliers, and large windows overlooking Fort Point Channel and the Seaport area, so you still get a sense of place. When we set up our full band on the expansive stage in Rose Kennedy Ballroom, with intelligent lighting around us, it truly feels like a concert venue – we can go big with sound and lighting, which is a thrill. Yet, thanks to the room’s modern acoustical engineering, the audio remains clear (they’ve built these ballrooms with events in mind).
For smaller (but still sizable) weddings, the Abigail Adams Ballroom is a great option. This space offers about 4,992 square feet and can be divided or used whole. It comfortably fits up to ~300-500 guests depending on layout. The Abigail Adams Ballroom features the same floor-to-ceiling window aesthetic as its big sister, so your guests can enjoy views of the city skyline and water as they celebrate. We’ve noticed that even in the Abigail Adams, the InterContinental’s style comes through: contemporary lighting fixtures, sleek neutral decor, and top-notch tech.
This room is ideal for those who want a modern feel but don’t have a 600+ guest list. We find the intimacy of the slightly smaller space can lead to really energetic dance floors – when we have 200 guests tearing it up to “Don’t Stop Believin’” in Abigail Adams Ballroom, the excitement is palpable yet everything still feels sophisticated.
Now, whether you choose Rose Kennedy or Abigail Adams, you’ll likely utilize the prefunction spaces for your ceremony or cocktail hour. The InterContinental has a very elegant pre-function foyer adjacent to these ballrooms, with contemporary art and plenty of natural light. In fact, this pre-function space next to the ballroom can accommodate all your guests for a cocktail reception. We often set up a smaller sound system in the foyer to play some upbeat background tunes as guests sip cocktails and admire views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Some couples also opt to hold their ceremony in the ballroom (flipping it for reception) or in one of the InterContinental’s other event spaces, like the Harbor Room, which directly overlooks the water. We once played for a ceremony where the couple arrived by boat and walked right into an outdoor ceremony along the waterfront promenade – a grand entrance that only a venue like the InterContinental can allow (they literally “dock and wed”!).
From a band’s perspective, we love the InterContinental’s modern infrastructure. The stages are sturdy, the power supply is robust (critical for our equipment), and there’s even intelligent rigging points for extra lighting or decor. When the dance party hits, and our music is pulsing, those huge windows sometimes reflect the fun – you catch glimpses of the Boston Harbor Hotel across the channel and the city lights, reminding everyone they are in the vibrant heart of Boston.
In summary, the InterContinental Boston offers a contemporary luxury vibe with a waterfront twist. It’s spacious and stylish, perfect for grand celebrations or upscale intimate affairs alike. When we play here, we’re struck by how excited guests get – maybe it’s the modern glamour, or the fact that they can step outside to a waterfront terrace for a breather, then come back in to dance. If you want a blend of cutting-edge and classic Boston harbor scenery, the InterContinental delivers on both counts, and we’re always thrilled to bring our music to its beautiful ballrooms.