Common Ground Center

Common Ground Center is a nonprofit retreat and camp facility set on a 473-acre property in Starksboro, Vermont, about 30 minutes from Burlington. The grounds include forests, open fields, hiking trails, and a two-acre swimming pond, with views of the Hogback and Green Mountains — a backdrop couples often plan around, with many choosing September or October dates for Vermont's fall foliage. For weddings, couples can use the Hay Barn, a renovated barn with exposed beams and a cathedral-like feel for indoor ceremonies; the Dining Hall, the largest facility on site, which seats up to 165 guests and features a bamboo dance floor and a screened porch for cocktail hour; and open fields that accommodate up to 200 ceremony guests. The Eco-Lodge offers a year-round option well suited to small winter weddings. Overnight guests can stay across the property in twenty off-grid cabins, tent platforms, or the Eco-Lodge's eight private-bath guestrooms. A fully equipped commercial kitchen and wood-fired brick oven give couples the flexibility to hire their own caterer. The site is 100% solar-powered, and Common Ground Center — a nonprofit multi-age arts, education, and outdoor recreation center — also hosts youth camps, family camps, and retreats throughout the year.