Amanda and Lee’s Gallaher Mansion Engagement Session
When Amanda and Lee booked me for their wedding, they said they really wanted to have an engagement session in near their home base in Norwalk, Connecticut. The photos from this #blacklove engagement session will show you why Gallaher Mansion is just awesome for both weddings and couple’s sessions!
About Cranbury Park
Just massive at 225+ acres, Cranbury Park is located in the northern part of Norwalk. This is about 40 minutes south of New Haven on I-95, heading towards New York City. A New York native himself, Lee is easily able to take Amanda with him when he heads back home to see family and friends.
Cranbury Park is home to tons of trees (some of which are rare to Connecticut), wide open fields, and wooded walking/hiking trails. It even includes an 18-hole disc golf course. There’s plenty of parking, which is free to Norwalk residents (nonresidents pay about $10).
Gallaher Mansion: Historic Wedding Venue
When you visit, you’ll notice that Cranbury Park is a lot like Harkness Memorial State Park. In addition to the park aspect is the mansion one: Harkness has Eolia Mansion like Cranbury has Gallaher Mansion. I learned during Amanda and Lee’s engagement session that the latter is also perfect as a wedding venue for either a mansion or garden theme.
Built sometime around 1930, Gallaher Mansion’s namesake is industrialist Edward Beach Gallaher. Like many other historic municipal buildings in the state, this mansion is well taken care of. In 2021, the City of Norwalk received millions of dollars from the State of CT to put towards renovations.
The work is still ongoing as of summer 2023, meaning that Gallaher Mansion weddings are on hold for now. In the meantime, however, the mansion’s exterior and the rest of Cranbury Park are awesome for a couple’s session, date night, or just something fun to do together in CT.
Learn More
To get in touch with the City of Norwalk for a wedding at Gallaher Mansion, I recommend visiting their website or sending them an email directly.
I’m so excited for Amanda and Lee’s upcoming big day at one of Hartford’s best wedding venues, Pond House Café.
If you’re working on planning your own wedding and engagement session, I’d love to connect with you! Just use these links to learn more.
