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weddings, bat/bar mitzvahs, meetings, events, galas, classes, workshops, photo shoots and more...

converted historic theatre with a urban loft vibe

Olio, located in Peabody, MA is a transformed 1912 theatre building. It has been converted into a 21st century event space to service all of your needs. It was built in the Colonial Revival style that was typical of the era.  Mother/daughter team Sarah Narcus and Ellen Basch purchased the building in 2018 and set to work to bring the historic building up to present day code: including replacing plumbing, electric, HVAC and making it ADA, and fire safety ready.

Contact Info

43 Main Street

Peabody, MA 01960

978-595-1091

info@oliopeabody.com


Olio has several different recommended floor plans and Sarah and her team can help guide you through the options to best suit your needs for the day. The space is rented 'as is' and you can pretty much use it as a blank canvas to make your wedding and event dreams come true.

olio

peabody

wedding

ma

venue

The details:
holds up to 500 people depending on the layout
ada accessible / ramp for vendors for easy loading
onsite prep room for caterers
no bar minimums or hidden fees

intimate weddings, elopements, and large event space 

special 2020 rates:  elopements starting at $1000

olio located in Peabody, ma

Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Meetings and Parties, Fundraisers and Galas, Photo Shoots, Trade Shows and Expos, Classes, Workshops, and Retreats

Sarah is extremely proud of what her family has created with Olio. 

I can attest that the lighting in this space is absolute perfection for a photographer. The natural light streams through the floor to ceiling windows and bathes the room in a soft light. If you're looking for drama, you've come to the right place. Olio is a unique space that has a loft-like experience located just outside Boston, but without the headache of parking and traffic downtown and exorbitant pricing. 

I was able to interview Sarah to get to know a bit more about her venue and her answers are below. If you're looking for a beautiful modern-industrial space then look no further than Olio located in Peabody, MA.

"This venue was built with a lot of heart. It was created directly out of my experiences working at hundreds of other venues so it's optimized for weddings and is truly unique, both in its history, design, and style."  sarah narcus, owner of olio

Sample floor plans

as seen in

i had the incredible opportunity of working with sarah on this creative shoot featuring work by:
petals on petals (floral design) www.petalsonpetals.com
bridal gowns by : bre budryk www.brebudryk.com/2020-collection
jenny luu (hair and makeup) jcluu.com
models: shiva rezaie and hannah contreras

Question: Are there changing areas for the bride, groom or wedding party?

Answer : There is a private office that is used as a hospitality room for the client during events. Couples typically do their hair/makeup/getting ready at a nearby hotel or airbnb and arrive onsite ready to party.




Question: Do you have a list of preferred caterers?

Answer: https://www.oliopeabody.com/vendors




Question: Tables and chairs are included, but where do I get linens, silverware/glassware? Do those typically come with the caterer or do I provide those?


Answer: The caterer takes care of bringing everything you need. They may own the inventory or they may rent it from an event rental company, offering the client unlimited options for design.





Question: You mentioned no hidden fees: can you elaborate/clarify? Cake cutting/corkage fees?

Answer: Just the rental fee. Because we are a rental-only space, we offer the space to our clients "as is" and clients can take it from their with their planner, designer, or caterer in terms of how they want to design and serve food, etc.





Question: Can we bring our own wine, beer or champagne? Hard liquor? Are you licensed to provide alcohol service? Bar minimum? Bar staff fee?

Answer: Bar services are provided through your caterer, which makes food and beverage service a breeze. Couples work with the caterer to determine the bar menu as well as to source the alcohol. There are no bar minimums at all.





Question: Do you have any décor pieces (lighting, arbors or vases, etc.) that we can borrow from?

Answer: We don't maintain an inventory of any decor, but are happy to make recommendations for lighting, florists, etc.




Question: Can we use candles/confetti/sparklers/fireworks/animals/lawn games/bounce houses/food trucks/insert your own fun-but- potentially-dangerous liability here?


Answer: Some yes, some no. We are one of the few venues that does allow live flame onsite, as long as it's enclosed in glass. Bounce houses are welcome, as are lawn games and friendly pets. The only "rules" around the property involve safety (ie no sparklers) and leaving the space as you found it, damage free (ie no confetti as it is impossible to clean up). If you have a fun/crazy idea, send it my way!





Question: Do we need to hire security?

Answer: There is no requirement for private events to hire security at this time. If you wanted to hire security, we can provide the information on how to do that.





Question: Is the municipal lot parking nearby typically full or is it easy to find parking?

The municipal lot across the street always has capacity. There are actually more than 500 parking spots within walking distance of Olio, including street, side streets, and the municipal lot. We are fortunate to have parking in abundance, though many guests who are attending a private event choose to take an ride share or cab to our venue. Those are plentiful as well, as we are right in a downtown environment.





Question:  Is there a safe space to put the money box or gifts during the reception?

The hospitality room/office remains locked at all times. That being said, we recommend having a friend, family member, or coordinator who is respomsible for any valuables.

 




Question: Do you recommend a nearby overnight accommodation for out of town guests (besides Marriott Peabody – more fun and unique like Olio?)? Is there any affiliation? Discounted group rates?


Answer: Due to our location, we are fortunate to have more than a dozen hotels within 15 minutes of Olio. The closest is the Peabody Marriott and I know that they do offer discounts on room blocks to Olio couples. In downtown Salem, just a few miles away, there are some amazing boutique and historic hotels, as well as waterfront properties. If you travel the other direction, towards Peabody/Danvers/Saugus and Route 1, you'll find all of the branded hotels. There are also terrific airbnb options nearby that service the robust tourism industry in Salem.





Question: How is the electricity in the building? Outlets/power for DJ etc?

Answer: Upgraded! 3-phase power which means plenty to go around for everyone.





Question: How many weddings do you book in a day?

Answer: Just 1 event per day.





Question: Do I need wedding insurance?

There are two types of wedding insurance: cancellation and liability. Neither are required, but both are recommended. 






Question: How hard is it to load-in and load-out of your venue? Is there an elevator? Ramp/loading dock?

Answer: Easy load in for vendors! At our back vendor entrance, we have a ramp and stairs for load in, so guests arrive through the front door and vendors have their own access.





Question: What does the lighting look like? Is it dimmable?

Answer: Our hanging pendant lights are all dimmable. Many couples love that look, and some choose to supplement with string/bistro lights, uplighting, or hanging chandeliers.




Question: If guests come too early, where can they wait? Are they kept out of the room? What is the protocol?

Answer: If guests arrive before the room is finished being set up, we have a foyer space as guests arrive where they can wait that is completely seperate from the main event space. If they are VERY early, they can also walk around and explore the shops and sights downtown in Peabody.





Thanks for your time Sarah!


For a list of suggestions, check out Yelp, or Tripadvisor. I personally highly recommend The Peabody Essex Museum. Also of note: Salem is just one town over.

q&a

Owner of Olio peabody: Sarah Narcus (and her adorable baby daughter)

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- Anna and ron

Honestly, Bella Wang is a UNICORN!! The photos are just so creative and beautiful! Some of our favourite photos are of an ordinary background but Bella just frames it into something magical. We loved how she played with light and shade and just made us look so extra amazing (like a Wong Kar Wai movie, and we are not photogenic!). I also appreciated that she helps ‘edit’ our poses (reminding us to stand a little straighter, roll our shoulders back, chins up, etc). I can really see a difference in the output of the photos when I compare this to our wedding photos overseas and that really matters when you spend so much energy and your wedding budget that something little like this really enhances how the photos look. In saying that, the candid photos are also really beautiful too! On top of that, we were just so incredibly lucky that Bella and Ed are also the nicest people to work with, they are flexible and spontaneous (our wedding was in the winter, we wanted ‘urban’ photos in Chinatown which is usually crowded and chaotic but you can’t tell by looking at the photos!!). They were super patient as we took welcome photos with all our 200+ guests! Bella is also super prompt with her delivery dates and very responsive to emails. This was our second wedding with much less formalities (no ceremony, no wedding party) since we already had our first wedding overseas but the photos just gave our second wedding so much of its own unique character. We were going for a 1920s Shanghai vibe with a modern twist and she just really nailed the brief! Bella is one of a kind photographer and we honestly can’t say enough about how amazing she is! We’re so happy with our photos!!

one of a kind

- Holly and frankie

I highly recommend Bella! I had met her about 7 years ago at a first birthday party and liked her work but words can't express how amazing she is now. 7 years later she did my wedding and her photos left me speechless. We have so many amazing photos that we can relive for years to come. Bella captured every detail of our special day. Her pictures are absolutely stunning and I've had a few people ask if some are magazine covers because they look too good to be true. I couldn't have asked for anything more and I'm so grateful for Bella and making our day so wonderful. Thank you!

they look too good to be true

- patrick and kerri

Bella photographed both our engagement and wedding. We would recommend her for any type of project without hesitation. Her photos are incredible - she has a natural talent for finding unique angles and really knows how to use light to create the right atmosphere for a given photo. She suggested most of the locations and poses we used in our photos, and our favorites are ones we never could have thought up on our own. She also seems like she could work with a wide range of personalities, from more traditional (or boring) customers like ourselves to people who like wackier or more theatrical photos

without hesitation

- liz + Devin

When we got engaged in early 2017, we did not waste a minute before contacting Bella! Planning a wedding from NJ was difficult but Bella made it so easy. We knew immediately upon meeting her that we wanted to hire her for our wedding day. On your wedding day you definitely want a team of photographers that you feel totally comfortable around as you spend basically the whole day with them! Bella and her husband were amazing. Not only were our photos stunning but they made us feel comfortable being ourselves, which allows for the most natural photos. I would gladly work with Bella again when we start a family someday!

comfortable being ourselves

- amanda + Charlie

Bella helped make our wedding perfect and memorable, and also helped us have the most beautiful engagement photos. They are photos we’re going to have for the rest of our life, and we could not have asked for someone to do a better job. She was affordable, extremely professional, and went above and beyond what we expected. I highly recommend Bella, and we will be going back to her for any baby/family photos we get taken in the future!

went above and beyond