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Small Venue Suggustions Needed

erinlc133erinlc133 member
First Comment
in Connecticut
Hey Ladies! 

I just got engaged in July and I am trying to get this big ticket item locked down.  I am looking for suggestions for a reception venue.  I am not to stuck on a date - I am looking between late-April -June of next year.  I want to stay in CT and  I will have about 50 -60 people (so a 50 person min is all I can meet).  I am looking for simple elegant, but not over the top.  I know I have to be realistic because we are trying to do this on a budget.  I am looking to spend about $100/plate including everything. 

I thought about doing something like the Bradford House or Lord Thompson manor - but then I would have to hire a coordinator to pull everything together the day of the wedding, right? 

I also like the Barn but cant meet the person min. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Thanks!
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Re: Small Venue Suggustions Needed

  • ali79gerali79ger
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Mill on the River is a beautiful restaurant and thye have an gazebo on a large pond for the cermony - its beautiful, check it out!  I don't know if they have a 50 person minimum, but I've been to two weddings there right around 80 people.
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  • Karebear852k3Karebear852k3
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I had the same minimum problems for my wedding, since a lot of CT venues want at least 75-100+ minimums to make their money and fill the space.

    I got married at The Morgan Suites at Mystic Seaport.  It wasn't a grand elegant ballroom, but the rooms are 2 adjoined rooms on the 2nd floor of the Latitude Restaurant at the opening of the seaport.  They house between 40-70 people and they are quite lovely actually.  (I had about 47 people at my wedding, and a few more in the 50-60 range would have worked I think, but 70 I think would have been pushing it)I don't have my pro-pics back to show you, but it worked out well enough for us!

    You can PM me with any questions.

    Good luck!
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  • winterwendy12winterwendy12
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Lily Lake Inn has two very different rooms (I like the look of the fountain room, it's rustic, wood, fireplace, overlooking the lake). Worth checking out, because I believe they're pretty affordable. We wanted to get married there, but they have a 125 max, and we're a little over that.

    Good luck!
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  • daniellelmilczakdaniellelmilczak member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Maneely's in south windsor has a second, smaller banquet room. My friend went to a wedding there and RAVED about it. I had looked at Maneely's main room, but didn't choose it because of the price although I LOVED the woman we met with - she was super nice and accommodating. But I learned that if you're willing to work w/ things, you can work on price, ususally. The place we picked, we ended up doing 3 passed appetizers instead of 5 and nixed the sorbet between courses to bring our per person cost down $5 (hey, at 170 ppl, it's $850!).
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  • alexismurdaalexismurda
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was also going to suggest Lily Lake Inn's fountain room. Its perfect for a small wedding and very rustic. Definitely worth a look.

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  • calindicalindi member
    5000 Comments Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married at Branford House, and we went to see one where Emily's Catering was doing the food - and they honestly ran everything!  You don't need a coordinator if you hire Emily's, they were on top of every little detail, including placing flower petal swirls down the aisle and lighting all these little candles the bride wanted scattered all over the lawn!

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  • chbel32chbel32 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The Nutmeg in East Windsor has so many packages and you can customize them...even with tax and gratuity, you'll stay below $100/plate. Their large ballroom is a great size for a smaller wedding (we had 60 people), especially if you want a more traditional wedding venue. We also had our ceremony outside in their courtyard. It's worth checking out if you're hitting up the other places in/around East Windsor! :-)
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  • dannie134dannie134
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would suggest that you check out Stonecroft in Mystic (http://www.stonecroft.com/), they accomodate up to 75 guests indoors and I think it's a charming location, we would have considered it if our numbers were smaller.  I'm not sure what their prices are, but it might be worth contacting them - I've always loved the food when I've been there for dinner.

    I'd also suggest checking out the Bee & Thistle B&B (http://beeandthistleinn.com/), I've heard good things about them as well.  They're in Old Lyme, and it looks like their indoor space holds up to 65 people, which is perfect for you.

    Good luck and have fun planning!
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  • mwitter80mwitter80
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    This is not a traditional location by any means, but a very cool young hip one. Bespoke in New Haven, CT
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  • kallen1002kallen1002
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My friends got married last summer at the Mill on the River. Its was beautiful. They had the ceremony outside by the gazebo and the reception was under a tent they rented but theres also a room inside you can check out.  Or if your ok with going into Westerly you can check out places down by the beachs. Theres a few resturants that I heard are farily resonable in price just not sure their min requirements.
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  • Amylynn1022Amylynn1022
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would suggest Crystal Peak!! It is so pretty and affordable! their pictures do not do it justice at all!! Their packages can not be beat I swear to you!! We are having a full buffet reception on a Sat, with 10 kinds of unlimited hand passed hors dourves, 5.5 hour open bar, 4 kinds of hot dishes, 2 carving items, 2 potatoes, 2 vegetables, rolls, 2 kinds of salad, and a tray of passed desserts(think passed Venetian table) plus or wedding cupcakes served all for $70 a person!! that includes taxes and gratuity!!You cant beat that!! The food is too die for!!
    The ceremony area is so pretty!! I think the owners john and Jennifer really put a lot of love into the property and you can tell!
    They have a room that is made for weddings of 50-60 people so it would look great in the room.. It can accomadate up to 90 I think but your group would look right in the room. Plus is you have a wedding on a Fri or Sun its a discount from them!
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  • rswan412rswan412 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Tamarack Lodge in Preston, CT is a very intimate place- one of my friends got married here, and I loved it!
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  • erinlc133erinlc133 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you ladies so much!  this is really helpful - keep'em comin'!
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  • SaraW1980SaraW1980
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I second the Nutmeg in East Windsor! We had about 80 people at our wedding and that was the max that I would put in there. You should be able to stay well under $100 including all charges.
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