Thanksgiving in Acton!

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With Acton being the scenic, New England town it is, Thanksgiving in Acton can conjure images of the traditional, American Thanksgiving. But before you sit down and give thanks with family and friends, what are your families doing the morning of Thanksgiving? If your involved in the cooking process, your most likely busy, but for everyone else, here is a blog highlighting some of the fun activities happening around town!

Thanksgiving Football

A tradition like no other. Occurring generally after the high school football season has ended, these rivalry games between neighboring towns are usually most seniors last chance to play in front of friends and families. The winner of the annual Thanksgiving game has bragging rights for every time they return home for the following years for Thanksgiving. The annual game between Acton-Boxborough vs Westford Academy will take place at 10:00 am at Leary Field in Acton, MA.

If you would rather throw the pigskin around with friends any family at a manicured field, the lower fields of Acton-Boxborough High School may be a viable option. Casual games of touch football are known to occur there on Thanksgiving with ample room for more than a few parties to share the field.

10th Annual 5k Turkey Trot!

While not on everyone’s agenda during Thanksgiving week, fitness conscious people need an excuse to eat all those calories from the day before! If this sounds like you, sign up for the 5k Acton Turkey Trot! This race annually brings in over 2000 participants and even more spectators cheering them on. The race starts at 10 a.m. and it is on the following day after Thanksgiving (Friday, 23rd ). Starting at the high school, customs are welcome, and part of the proceeds goes to helping the Acton food pantry and youth running groups!

Thanksgiving in Acton Ma

If you are traveling to Acton to attend a thanksgiving, we welcome you to our town. While turkey trots and high school football are not unique to Acton, MA, we are thankful for the community we are a part of and the traditions that have become a part of our Thanksgiving. If your first time in Acton, come by Exchange Hall and check out our outdoor Fall decorations! From all of us here at Exchange Hall we say Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

Tips for Planning a Fall Themed Sweet Sixteen

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Celebrating the “Sweet 16” birthday has become especially popular over the years. For parents, throwing a Sweet Sixteen party can quickly feel overwhelming—especially if you’ve never been through one yourself! Autumn is a great time for Sweet Sixteen parties. Here are a couple of tips for planning a fall-themed Sweet Sixteen.

Choose a Venue (Ideally Exchange Hall!)

If fifty (or more!) screaming, excited kids running around with soda and cake in hand sounds like a strain on your home, then you should choose a venue for your event to take place. This should be one of the first steps you take, since wedding receptions, award ceremonies, and other events will be competing for locations. In choosing a venue, make sure it fits your needs—double check how long you can be there and if they provide referrals for vendor services (like a DJ). We have experience in hosting sweet sixteens and birthday parties, and happy to help with your plans.

Embrace Fall Decor

If the sight of pumpkins and colorful leaves gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, translate that sensation into your Sweet Sixteen celebration. This can range from homemade save-the-date cards, displaying colorful pressed leaves and opting for tablecloths and table runners in vibrant shades of bordeaux and dark orange.

Are you planning an autumn-themed Sweet Sixteen? We’d love to hear what you have planned, and let you know how we can help. Contact Exchange Hall at 978-263-8500 for more information and assistance.

4 Tips for Planning a Fall Wedding

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According to the popular wedding website The Knot, four out of the five most popular wedding dates for last year’s 2017 were in autumn. September and October are great months for getting married! Not only are you less likely to run into weather issues, but you also get to take advantage of beautiful fall foliage for your photos and wedding decor.

Are you planning a fall wedding for this upcoming year? Here are a few important things to keep in mind.

Plan for the Weather

Outdoor weddings in early fall aren’t that unusual—it can be a great time to enjoy the natural scenery without sweating in a fancy jacket or dry-clean only dress. Fall weather can be unpredictable, though. Think about how charming it could look if all your bridesmaids have matching pashmina shawls. Another cute idea? Have a hot cocoa station waiting for your guests at the reception for a quick warm-up solution.

Make Use of Seasonal Decor

Pastels and springtime florals don’t lend themselves as well to autumn as rich hues of burgundy, ochre, and pumpkin orange. Make the most of fall’s incredible palette and incorporate seasonal decor into your wedding reception. Obvious examples include using gourds in lieu of flowers as centerpieces and opting for caramel apple-scented candles, but why not get even more creative? Have the flower girl throw colorful leaves instead of petals, and opt for bales of hay (covered with a soft cloth to prevent poking) that will serve as chic sitting areas at the reception.

It’s Hard to Say No to Apple Pie

The menu is a great place to fully explore the theme of fall. Many brides are exploring alternatives to the traditional wedding cake—why not have wedding pies? Apple, pumpkin, and peach are sure to be a hit. As for dinner, turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes are sure to be a home run. Additionally, here is the list of approved vendors we like to recommend to those considering using Exchange Hall!

Bottoms Up: Pumpkin Pie Sangria

Choosing a few signature drink mixes for your wedding reception can ensure your guests get their drinks quickly, while also adding a memorable touch to the evening. Drinks like pumpkin pie sangria, caramel apple mimosas, and cranberry sauce mimosas will have everyone saying your autumn wedding is unbe”leaf”able!

How will you take advantage of autumn for your wedding reception? Talk to the event experts at Exchange Hall for more ideas. They have plenty of experience—give them a call to see how their venue can be transformed for fall.

How to be a Fantastic Wedding Guest

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If you were able to attend numerous weddings as a child or young adult, consider yourself lucky. Some of us never get an invitation until our own friends start getting hitched. While most of the stress falls upon the shoulders of the bride and groom, there are certain standards to be met as a guest. Regardless of whether you’re a wedding veteran or newbie, check out our tips on how to be a fantastic wedding guest.

Promptly RSVP

It’s easy to get a wedding invitation in the mail, and then find that same invitation floating around your house, unopened, six weeks later. After opening the invitation, check your availability and RSVP shortly after. You should let the couple know of your decision regardless of if you can actually go or not. It’s simple to forget about responding if you can’t go, but know that your answer helps the couple keep on top of head count. RSVPing is the first, and easiest, step of being a guest.

If you have to cancel shortly before the wedding, do so. Give the couple a heads up to let them know you won’t be able to make it. Also, do not assume you can bring along whoever you want. If the couple intends for you to bring a guest, the envelope should be address to you and “guest”. It might seem obvious that only those specifically addressed are invited, but many guests fail to realize this and bring along a friend. Ultimately, it is the couple who decides the attendants of the wedding.

Getting the Gift

This is something you cannot forget. Technically, you have up to a year after the wedding to get a gift, but it’s much simpler to begin looking for one shortly after you have chosen to attend the wedding. If the couple has a wedding registry, you can find all the registry information there. If you have trouble locating where the couple is registered, don’t hesitate to reach out to either the couple or the bride’s mother or siblings.

It is not required that you buy a gift strictly from the couples’ registry, but it is a good place to start since they specifically chose those gifts themselves. The registry takes some of the guess work out of purchasing a gift too. Try to send the gift to the address on the registry instead of bringing the gift with you to the reception, fewer items for them to carry home is always nice.

The Reception

While you might be eager to get the party started after the ceremony, don’t be so eager that you completely bypass the receiving line. The receiving line gives you the chance to speak with and congratulate the couple, in addition to giving thanks to their family. The reception is typically the most fun and social aspect of the wedding, so enjoy yourself.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you attend a wedding. As a guest, your entire experience at the wedding should be relatively stress free. Just be sure to RSVP on time, choose a gift, and dress appropriately. Don’t forget to have fun too!

Office Space Available for Rent!

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Are you looking to rent office space in the Acton, MA, area? Good news! We have space available for rent right here at Exchange Hall, located at 2 School Street in Acton, MA. Check out the description of the space below. If you’re interested, please contact us at 978-263-8500.

Exquisitely renovated first floor, 2,095 square foot private office for professional or commercial business in South Acton, MA. $15 sq., plus utilities and cam. At Exchange Hall, there are three private and two semi-private offices (one with a private entrance), a large conference room, and a reception area. The building features restored interior detail finishes from the 1860’s, 11 foot ceilings, a grand double door entrance, three other entrances, two bathrooms, a kitchen area, and the building is handicap accessible. Up to 9,000 square feet of additional space available for $10 sq. and up. Our corner location offers excellent street visibility, and is walking distance to the MBTA commuter rail. Possible uses for the office include: law, mortgage, insurance, real estate, business or financial services. Gas heat and central air conditioning. The space is available immediately!