Venue Help

mcgrathdanielle · December 2011

So... I am recently engaged and have no idea where to start?!!??!

Any ideas on a Venue.. We want to have an on-site ceremony outside with a nice view (gardens, lake, ocean, mountains) but then an inside ceremony. Must be elegant. Open to ideas

JenMatt121210 · December 2011

have you thought of the aqua turf or the river view

amymaysa · December 2011

We are getting married at the Riverview in Simsbury. There are views of the river and outside grounds for pics. The rooms are large and elegant and you have everything right there. We are also having our ceremony there.
They have been great to work with and we can't wait

mcgrathdanielle · December 2011

I will take a look at the riverview. Thank you Ladies

Mona8 · December 2011

Congrats on your engagement!

Waterview, Riverview, Cascade, and Woodwinds are all good options

EBDG · December 2011

saybrook point inn or waters edge

Laur110 · December 2011

Check out the Waterview in Monroe, CT.
I am biased though since that is where I am getting married.

mcgrathdanielle · December 2011

Ohhh Thank you all!!!

cmac3504 · December 2011

The Riverhouse in Haddam!

missmckenzie2 · December 2011

I Second the Riverhouse! The views are great and there is a nice area outside specifically for weddings, but I am a little biased because it is my venue.

But I also really liked the Waterview in Monroe and St Clements Castle they both have amazing outdoor areas that overlook the river.

calindi · December 2011

Branford House in Groton, CT! It's amaaaaazing! Big old Newport-style mansion with a sprawling lawn, a view of the ocean (well, the sound, but still), and a lighthouse on the property! It's also a steal, as it's a UConn property so they don't exactly have competitive pricing with similar venues in the area.

You have to hire your own caterer, but it's soooo worth it! And we came in well under our budget with everything combined.

They also don't charge extra to have the ceremony on site like a lot of places I looked at. Their contract is especially long, too. So you get 10 hours total, including set-up, but that's pretty comfy. For $4000, including tables & chairs (I'm renting nicer chairs, though).

phoenix307 · December 2011

I am using Fantasia the prices are great and the people were extremely nice and flexible with what we wanted in a package and have a cute little garden/waterfalls out back for pictures! But I also viewed the Riverview and loved them too and have been to weddings at Woodwinds and the food was outstanding! GL!

jaime10285 · December 2011

I'm getting married at Great River Golf Club in Milford outside at the gazebo and then the reception in their ballroom. You can also rent out the restaurant they have for a fee where you can have cocktail hour (otherwise it's in the ballroom where reception is) and then the place is totally private for your wedding.

rswan412 · December 2011

Agree with Branford house- beautiful! There is also a Mansion at Harkness Park that is beautiful. The Mystic Seaport has a gorgeous view of the mystic river also...do you have a theme/time of year? We can help you narrow it down as you go along...

Also, congrats on the engagement

jaime10285 · December 2011

Oh also The Inn at Longshore has beautiful views! It's harder to get summer dates so depending on when you're thinking of getting married this may be hard to do. Also can be pricey depending on the time of year.

darkoa1 · December 2011

Aqua Turf and Riverview are both beautiful!

Amanda1443994 · December 2011

St. Clement's Castle is amazing! (:

MoonlightSilver · December 2011

Congratulations on your engagement!

I would suggest you pick a budget and decide on an average guest list (ie, about 100 people) before looking at venues. I had my heart broken once or twice because I feel in love with a venue, but then we didn't meet the guest requirements at that stage in the planning or another one I only looked at the prices AFTER I decided I wanted to get married there... and they were way over my budget.

Carebear62584 · December 2011

Congrats! We are getting married at Woodwinds in Branford. We wanted to choose a place where no family or friends have gotten married. It was the only place we wanted to look at and fell in love so we booked a few days later and the price couldn't be beat! You have your choice of getting married in front of the waterfall (where we are), by the pond, or in the gazebo. If it rains they will move the ceremony inside for you. I highly suggest it, they've been very responsive and great to work with so far! Good luck!

Csam1983 · December 2011

Check out Farmington Gardens. I am getting married there next July! They are located right on Route 4 in Farmington and have beautiful grounds. Definitely worth a look IMO. Happy searching!

kls114 · December 2011

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Cascades!!!

Highly rec them! They are phenomenial to work with & gorgeous!!!!!

Talk to Domenic--he is amazing!

http://www.cascade-banquets.com/ordereze/intro.html

Karebear852k3 · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_venue-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:7df31a02-46a0-4863-b714-11fd985ddd32Post:7ca1ae9b-d675-49b1-b075-61eaf22f1673">Re: Venue Help</a>:
[QUOTE]Congratulations on your engagement! I would suggest you pick a budget and decide on an average guest list (ie, about 100 people) before looking at venues. I had my heart broken once or twice because I feel in love with a venue, but then we didn't meet the guest requirements at that stage in the planning or another one I only looked at the prices AFTER I decided I wanted to get married there... and they were way over my budget.
Posted by MoonlightSilver[/QUOTE]

Ditto this - decide on a budget for your wedding (are you and FI paying yourselves? Parents? Is Anyone contributing?) and figure out about how many guests you intend to invite. Many venues in CT have a bare minimum of around 100 guests (some may allow 75 on "off" days like Thursday or Friday/Sunday), especially the more standard venues. Then I would settle on an idea of when u want to get married, since prices can change drastically based on "on" season (wedding season is generally around April-September/October) VS. "off" season. The exact date ythat gets booked and becomes your "wedding day" will depend on the availability of the venue you ultimately decide to go with and the prices on particular days, but it's good to go into all this with at least the bare minimum of details figured out... And the quicker the better!!! Venues book quickly - I'm sure 2012 brides have already booked (by that I mean even next December's brides, even though that may seem far away it's a blink of an eye in "wedding time"), and probably 2013 ones,, too! I booked my venue in January 2009 for my June 2011 wedding and they were already booked for one of the dates I had considered...just as a heads up! Good luck and congratulations on your engagement - welcome to the wonderful world of wedding planning! :)

wineo929 · December 2011

I also agree with PP. Set the budget and the guest list first!

We're getting married at the Spa at Norwich Inn. They have a few options for ceremony sites (outdoor and indoor). The ballroom is so so pretty

Good luck!

herb0622 · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_venue-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:7df31a02-46a0-4863-b714-11fd985ddd32Post:6318eb0a-5dcb-4ba0-a053-a61644c09de6">Re: Venue Help</a>:
[QUOTE]I am using Fantasia the prices are great and the people were extremely nice and flexible with what we wanted in a package and have a cute little garden/waterfalls out back for pictures! But I also viewed the Riverview and loved them too and have been to weddings at Woodwinds and the food was outstanding! GL!
Posted by phoenix307[/QUOTE]
Ditto on Fantasia! We had our wedding there in October and they did a fantastic job! We loved the waterfalls and the garden areas!

Katred08 · December 2011

How about Amarante's in New Haven? It's right on the water and you can have a nice ceremony on the lawn (there's a pretty gazebo), right next to the ocean, and then go up to the deck for cocktail hour and then inside to one of the ballrooms for the reception. Really pretty!

Demea · December 2011

I am using the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour CT. So far I've been very happy with the staff and the many reception packages. They have a chapel and an outdoor pergola.

Ddiva5 · December 2011

another vote for the Waterview (Monroe)

Whtara10 · December 2011

Congrats! We are getting married at Lighthouse Point Park in new haven. It is has a gorgeous view since it's right on the beach and there are plenty of options on where to hold the ceremony. You do have to being in your own caterer but it's definitly worth it. I've also been to 2 weddings at waterview in Monroe and it really is gorgeous! Beautiful lake and great service!

mrsjdubbs12 · December 2011

I had a super tight budget but didn't want to skimp on my venue. I wanted it to be romantic and beautiful and offer a good deal. I chose Mill on the River in South Windsor and it was amazing. No ceremony fee to have the ceremony in the gazebo outside by the river...excellent food and service...great deal without being cheap. My pictures came out great and everyone had a blast and loved the food!

nikki2012 · December 2011

So it doesn't have a great view being in Hartford and all... but if you are looking for a place to do the reception and ceremony that is out of this world elegant go with the Society Room. That's what we decided for our Nov. 2012 wedding... We wanted view as well but the minute we walked into the SR we were set looking anywhere else. But i agree with other posts... BOOK NOW. Wherever you decide do it soon. We booked in Jan 2011 for Nov 2012 and there were already dates blocked out and taken!

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