The Best List of Wedding Venues in Connecticut
Contents
- Best Places to Get Married in Connecticut
- Main Categories of Wedding Venues in Connecticut
- A. Mansion/Estate Connecticut Wedding Venues
- B. Connecticut Artistic/Historic Venues
- C. Ballroom Wedding Venues in CT
- D. City/Urban CT Venues
- E. Golf/Country Club Connecticut Venues
- F. Connecticut Park/Garden Wedding Venues
- G. Connecticut Inn/Hotel Wedding Venues
- H. Barn CT Wedding Venues
- I. Rustic Non-Barn Wedding Venues in CT
- J. Industrial/Nautical CT Wedding Venues
- K. CT Beer/Wine Wedding Venues
- L. DIY Wedding Venues in CT
- Other Categories of Wedding Venues in Connecticut
Best Places to Get Married in Connecticut
The proposal is in the books, you’re engaged, and now you need a Connecticut wedding venue. Let’s see if I, a wedding photographer, can help a little as you look into places to get married in CT.
Here on this page, I’ve created the most complete list of wedding venues in CT that you’ll ever find. The venues are in categories based on my assessment of each venue’s primary feature or vibe.
Having photographed Connecticut weddings at many of the venues on this list, I’d love to hear from you! Please contact me to talk about your wedding.
This is one of many wedding resources on my website. My summarized wedding planning tips might also be useful to you.
Questions About Wedding Venues in CT
Further Breakdowns of CT’s Best Wedding Venues
If you’re looking for Mystic wedding venues or Hartford wedding venues, I have a pages for those. If you’re looking to minimize your venue costs, consider my affordable wedding venue suggestions or my elopement guide. Also consider these Rhode Island wedding venues if you’re still searching around in southern New England.
Main Categories of Wedding Venues in Connecticut
A. Mansion/Estate Connecticut Wedding Venues
1. Lord Thompson Manor (Thompson)
Without reservation, Lord Thompson Manor is one of the best wedding venues within the mansion/estate category. This property is an exclusive wedding destination situated in CT’s Quiet Corner. It accommodates parties up to 140.
A wedding in Lord Thompson’s house is reminiscent of an elegant house party. It has a huge yard, too, complete with a stone patio and plenty of room for lawn games. Certainly, you can have a dream wedding here as long as your event planning is on point.
Lord Thompson Manor is dedicated to you, hosting only one event per day. Also, the Quiet Corner of CT is ideal for a destination wedding, especially in the fall when the foliage colors arrive.
To that end, the outdoor ceremony site is just awesome in autumn. When you throw in the great in house catering, this event space becomes nearly a perfect venue for Connecticut wedding weddings.
Couples love this CT mansion wedding venue. As one reviewer says, “This venue was amazing from the first time I saw it…Highly recommend!”
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Pinecroft Estate (Thompson)
Also in Thompson is Pinecroft Estate. Featuring a post and beam barn built in the early 1800s, this property is a newer, intimate barn venue. Ceremonies can take place in the barn itself or outside in the property’s French River View Lawn. This red barn has huge doors that open up, welcoming your wedding of up to 125. What’s more, Pinecroft also has getting ready room in its Carriage House.
This nine-acre, countryside venue sits between the French River and West Thompson Lake. During an outdoor ceremony here, you’ll have water views with trees overhead. Its iconic red barn has stood the test of time since 1822. Painted a slightly brighter shade of red than many other Connecticut barn venues, it has huge barn doors and is very welcoming for your reception of up to 125 guests.
A guest reviewer loves it so much here that they’re considering having their own wedding at Pinecroft: “The most beautiful, spacious, decadent venue I have ever seen!…I will most likely go here for my wedding as well!” Another wedding attendee says in their review, “This place is pure magic. The management and catering are top tier, and the experience of a wedding here was second to none.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Eolia Mansion at Harkness (Waterford)
The sister venue to Branford House, Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park is located in nearby Waterford. This gorgeous historic mansion is located on 200+ acres and the portrait opportunities are literally limitless. Don’t forget to get down to the beach once you let loose during your reception.
One thing to note is that Eolia is located within Harkness and both of these are wedding venues. The former is a great mansion wedding venue that you can book (through the State of CT) and the latter is an excellent DIY, no-cost CT elopement option. Coupled together, this is definitely one of the best Connecticut wedding venues.
4. Waveny House (New Canaan)
Located in Waveny Park, New Canaan’s Waveny House is an early 20th century Tudor mansion under town ownership. The venue provides about 3000-plus square feet of beautiful rooms to enjoy, complete with handmade decorations and beautiful wood floors. Correspondingly, the grounds are awesome.
This CT wedding venue gives you the freedom to bring all of your own vendors, including a caterer. It can hold up to a maximum of 160 people for weddings and your booking comes with 10 hours of time.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Tarrywile Mansion (Danbury)
Fairfield County is a goldmine for beautiful sights, meaning that Tarrywile Mansion is right at home there. Opened as a Danbury community center in 1990, this mansion is a charming wedding venue located in a beautiful park which shares the same name. There are multiple ceremony sites on the property, accommodating up to 150 people.
6. GrayBarns on the Silvermine River (Norwalk)
An excellent choice for intimate weddings, the farm feel of GrayBarns on the Silvermine River began making people happy since the early 1800s. With this in mind, the venue has several smaller spaces to choose from, including a covered outdoor porch and a beautiful courtyard. This is one of the more ideal wedding venues in CT for intimate, rustic weddings. GrayBarns’ tavern, courtyard, porch, and barn spaces accommodate at most 40 guests.
Where things really shine, however, is the iconic Barn (yes, it’s gray). The property’s Inn contains several rentable rooms for reservation, too. Located just moments away from the Merritt Parkway, this intimate Connecticut wedding venue is easily accessible for people coming from New York.
Summing up how lovely this venue is, a reviewer says, “The setting is gorgeous, the menu was creative, the food was delicious and the staff was friendly and very attentive.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Smith Farm Gardens (East Haddam)
Originally a working farm in the 18th century, Smith Farm Gardens is now a beautiful wedding venue in the Route 2 and 9 corridor. This property features a main house with 12-foot ceilings and plenty of wooden features.
This venue definitely has a classic feel to it, with getting ready locations for both partners, antiques, and white paint (everywhere). Smith Farm Gardens continues the popular trend of historic properties reborn as an awesome place to get married in Connecticut.
A reviewer points out how much they love this wedding venue, saying, “The property is beyond beautiful. They have thought of every detail…I could not recommend Smith Farm Gardens more!!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Lounsbury House (Ridgefield)
Interestingly enough, Ridgefield’s beautiful Lounsbury House is actually the town’s community center. The local government owns this 19th century National Historic Site and a nonprofit operates it. The mansion is stunning and it’s grounds match. It can fit something like 150 people inside, where you’ll enjoy immaculately preserved historic beauty.
One reviewer points out that Lounsbury House was perfect for their smaller wedding, saying, “The Lounsbury House is the perfect location for an intimate wedding. We had about 45 people and it was the perfect size for us. The venue is beautiful[ly] decorated, modern but still true to its history.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Lion Rock Farm (Sharon)
For anyone looking for a mansion or estate wedding venue, Litchfield County’s Lion Rock Farm is the standard. This is most certainly a luxurious wedding destination. This working, sprawling farm estate even on-site lodging and provides a wonderful all-day wedding experience.
Tucked away in Litchfield County, Lion Rock is best described as a farm-estate wedding venue in Connecticut. Markedly, you’ll enjoy the use of multiple buildings and houses on this gigantic property, which is actually a working farm. The plethora of indoor and outdoor spaces gives you a lot of variety for your chic wedding plans.
This breathtaking wedding venue is ideal for a farm wedding with an opulent touch. It’s a great option if you have a high-budget affair in mind or are looking for a venue geared towards a wedding weekend, similar to Lord Thompson Manor.
More Details | Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. Interlaken Inn (Lakeville)
A country-style resort in Lithcfield Country, Interlaken Inn is sits beautifully between two small lakes right on the border with New York. This one is among the better weekend destination places to get married in Connecticut since it has plenty of on-site, overnight accommodations.
In addition to the 40 rooms in the main building, there are a few other lodging structures on site. You and your guests can easily make a weekend out of it, doing everything from basketball to kayaking at this awesome venue.
This 30-acre property is right next to Lake Wononscopomuc (now pause and say that five times fast). Your wedding ceremony can have the water as its backdrop. Fortunately, this is one of those wedding venues that can handle everything from intimate gatherings up to 220-person celebrations.
Interlaken’s expertise with wedding weekends is high. Says one reviewer who attended one, “Bonfire by the lake Friday night, wedding by the lake on Saturday and Sunday brunch. Service was lovely. Food was great! A wonderful place to be.” On the quality of the food here, another reviewer writes, “Best wedding venue I have ever experienced, equal to any NYC restaurant quality.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. Inn at Mystic (Mystic)
Easily one of the most desired wedding venues in CT, Inn at Mystic is lovely. Perched up on a hill at the top of the property is the famous Haley Mansion. Indeed, this place may also fit the bill as a wedding venue in Connecticut that’s on the water.
Larger outdoor ceremonies take place right by the the Pequotsepos River and you also have a clear view of Mystic Harbor from the bluff behind the mansion.
If you love Mystic (and who doesn’t, given that it has so many things to do), you must give this venue a look. Clearly, not only is this one of the best venues in the Mystic area, but one of the best wedding venues in CT.
More Details | Website | Facebook | Instagram
12. The Mansion at Bald Hill (Woodstock)
The Mansion at Bald Hill is a beautiful and historic venue located in Woodstock, Connecticut that would be the perfect setting for a grand and elegant wedding. The mansion, built in 1871, puts this property high among stunning wedding venues with Second Empire-style architecture. Beautiful gardens and rolling hills surround it.
What’s more, this one of few CT wedding venues that can accommodate ceremonies and receptions of all sizes, and has a capacity of up to 300 guests.
13. Stone Acres Farm (Stonington)
A working farm owned by the same company that operates some of Mystic’s finest restaurants, Stone Acres Farm is one of the best wedding venues in the CT estate category. On the one hand, it’s posh; on the other, it’s down to Earth.
Because the main house is so cool (and two partners can get ready in it), it follows that property itself is just perfect. Top this all off with their delicious, farm-to-table fare and you have the makings of a stylish wedding.
More Details | Website | Facebook | Instagram
14. Wadsworth Mansion (Middletown)
Wadsworth Mansion originated in 1901 as a private summer home. In the 1980s, renovations turned into a wedding and events venue. The National Register of Historic Places includes this mansion, which is also Connecticut State Landmark. As you can see, it’s a beautiful property with plenty of trees and privacy.
Not surprisingly, couples love it here. A reviewer says, “The venue itself is so stunning and offers so many spaces you can use, from the rose garden to the ballrooms and beyond. It allows for your guests to stay interested and makes it so easy to keep your entire event at one location. We can’t recommend The Wadsworth Mansion enough!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
15. Branford House (Groton)
Owned by the State of Connecticut, Branford House is another breathtaking wedding venue that can host small and huge weddings. In addition to the historic mansion, you and your guests will enjoy the sprawling backyard. Owing to its location at Avery Point, this venue gives you views of three lighthouses and awesome sunsets.
The water views at Branford House cannot be beaten. Another thing you might appreciate about this venue is that it requires you to choose your own caterer. This is great if customization and flexibility are important to you.
More Details | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Mansion/Estate Wedding Venues in CT
Gallaher Mansion, Hill-Stead Museum, The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, The Litchfield Inn
B. Connecticut Artistic/Historic Venues
1. Connecticut River Museum (Essex)
Also beautifully situated right on the water, Connecticut River Museum in Essex masters the art of simple, elegant weddings. Although it’s most popular for its outdoor weddings of up to about 150 people, this venue is also capable of serving you and your guests inside the museum itself.
It may interest you to know that Connecticut River Museum only hosts about five weddings per year. If being exclusive is something you care about, give this venue a look.
More Details | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Kehler Liddel Gallery (New Haven)
The contemporary Kehler Liddel Gallery in New Haven’s Westville area doubles as a 2000 square-foot wedding venue. Since this place is actually a privately-owned gallery, beautiful artwork will surround your wedding celebration. The venue apparently offers four- and eight-hour wedding packages to couples.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. The Bushnell (Hartford)
Naturally, The Bushnell is a CT wedding venue for performing arts and stage lovers. With its several halls and rooms, you can have a very impressive affair here. The stage lighting is a photographer’s dream. A large place, The Bushnell can accommodate weddings of up to 275 people. Exclusive catering partner MAX Catering & Events handles the food.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. New Britain Museum of American Art (New Britain)
New Britain Museum of American Art is another museum-type place to get married in Connecticut. This organization’s origins are in the early 20th century and many artistic works fill the museum. This venue offers its Sylvia Bonney Halcyon Lounge for intimate events of up to 50 people and its Stanley Works Center for seated receptions of up to 100.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Hill-Stead Museum (Farmington)
A beautiful mansion turned museum located in Farmington, Hill-Stead Museum now hosts weddings for up to 100 guests inside and 400 people outside. The grounds are exquisite, providing panoramic views of the 150-acre estate-style property. This venue encourages you to hire a wedding planner for your event here; this makes sense given all the great nooks and crannies Hill-Stead has for entertaining your guests.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury)
“The cultural destination in the center of Waterbury,” Mattatuck Musuem (also known as The Matt) contains tons of artistic beauty for weddings as intimate as 30 people up to those as large as 180 people in size. Featuring exciting architecture, there are multiple spaces and configurations possible. This includes a cool rooftop terrace.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum (Norwalk)
One of the more interesting artistic places to get married in Connecticut, The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is also a National Historic Landmark. It’s a museum in a mansion, the beautiful building and grounds can handle up to 150 for a seated reception, with multiple spaces and configurations possible.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Lyman Allyn Art Museum (New London)
Another Connecticut wedding venue specifically for art lovers, Lyman Allyn Art Museum is conveniently located in New London. The Four rental spaces on the museum’s property allow you to customize your wedding day experience. In addition to the indoor art collection, the outdoor grounds make this an ideal place to get married in Connecticut.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford)
Combining art with downtown Hartford, Wadsworth Atheneum is among the more unique places to get married in CT. Art lovers will rejoice in the beautiful Avery Court and various other halls and areas. Conveniently, this urban venue can accommodate intimate and large weddings alike, up to 350 people.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. Broad Brook Opera House (Broad Brook)
An actual live stage operation since 1892, Broad Brook Opera House hosts everything from comedy shows to 90s music cover bands. But this location also doubles as a wedding venue. This setting is great for intimate weddings for lovers of the performing arts.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. Palace Theater (Waterbury)
Probably the quintessential stage or theater Connecticut wedding venue, Palace Theater is like getting married on Broadway. To illustrate: this venue has three lobbies and even welcomes receptions on the actual theater stage itself. Of course, it also has all of the usual theater trimmings like gold leaf ceilings and velvet curtains.
Accommodating up to 225 people, this venue is the stage lovers’ dream venue. Weddings at Palace Theater get you nine of hours of total time, including five hours of actual entertaining and partying (the rest of the time is for setup and breakdown).
Website | Facebook | Instagram
12. Stamford Museum & Nature Center (Stamford)
Stamford Museum & Nature Center offers versatility: it’s two beautiful wedding venues in one (with closeness to New York City).
The European-themed Bendel Mansion is a former private residence from the 19th century, complete with multiple statues, a fountain, and ornate trimmings inside. On the other hand, the laid-back Knobloch Family Farmhouse is a new structure with a modern New England farm feel.
Both locations on the property can accommodate 150 people. Also unique among wedding venues in CT, Stamford Museum & Nature Center has everything from animals to water features for your wedding day.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
13. The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center (Waterford)
Located next door to famous Harkness, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is another great stage-themed place to get married in Connecticut. This is a big one, accommodating up to 300 people for your wedding day. And just like Harkness, you’ll enjoy beautiful water views of Long Island Sound during your wedding at The O’Neill.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Museum CT Wedding Venues
Essex Station, Mystic Seaport, Webb Barn
C. Ballroom Wedding Venues in CT
1. Saint Clements Castle & Marina (Portland)
Saint Clements Castle is a tried and true wedding venue in Portland, Connecticut with great roots. While it doesn’t have on-site accommodations for overnight stays, this venue functions like an estate in the sense that it’s a big sprawling venue with multiple areas to spread out into. If you’re picturing a fairytale wedding day, this might be the venue for you.
It has two ballrooms, a big ceremony lawn (ideal for outdoor wedding ceremonies), and a new marina portion right along the Connecticut River. The indoor and outdoor spaces give you a lot of flexibility. Accordingly, everything from large to small is fine here, with a capacity of over 600 people if you desire.
The closeness to downtown Middletown is one reason to give Saint Clements a good look. One bonus is that this city is one of Connecticut’s best on the food scene. This means that you’ll have plenty of options the night before for your rehearsal dinner.
The closeness to downtown Middletown is one reason to give Saint Clements a good look. A couple that I worked with said, “At the end of the day, we just loved the beauty, elegance and location of Saint Clements and having the gorgeous Inn at Middletown only 15 minutes away–it felt like the perfect duo. Not to mention the awesome strip in Middletown to keep everyone entertained leading up to and after the wedding with brunch, restaurants and more.”
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Anthony’s Ocean View (New Haven)
Face it: even though it’s on the coast, Connecticut isn’t popular for its beaches. Anthony’s Ocean View seeks to fix that with its human-made beach (complete with palm trees). This venue boasts four tasteful ballrooms from which to choose, as well as a pretty extensive menu.
One couple who wrote a review of Anthony’s says it was love at first sight with this CT wedding venue: “From the moment we stepped foot in Anthony’s, we knew that was where we were getting married.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station (Haddam)
The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station is an elegant, 300-seat ballroom on the western side of the Connecticut River. This venue has wedding amenities figured out, with optional extras like food served to your wedding party, sushi during cocktail hour, and plenty of late night snack options.
Where Goodpseed really shines, however, is outside. Correspondingly, you’ll enjoy awesome views of the river, including Goodspeed Opera House and the Haddam Swing Bridge.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Candlewood Inn (Brookfield)
A great waterfront place to get married in CT, Candlewood Inn has a lot going on. It borrows its name from Candlewood Lake, the state’s only human-made lake. From intimate gatherings to 300-person bangers, this venue has you covered in ballroom style.
Getting outside should be one of your goals; Instagram-worthy sunsets are popular here. It’s not often that stunning wedding venues in CT have an entire lake right next to them.
One great thing about this venue is that Candlewood Inn is located in a lakeside community in Brookfield. Therefore, this makes the venue a great destination wedding location if you’re up for renting some Airbnbs.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. WoodWinds (Branford)
Another ballroom venue, WoodWinds is remarkable because of its really nice outdoor spaces. Out back is a patio with a waterfall and plenty of greenery, perfect for smaller to medium ceremonies. Out front, larger ceremonies can take place on the front lawn. Around the side is a nice garden and patio area. This venue has some flair for sure.
Perhaps its most popular feature is the WoodWinds’ elegant staircase.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Birchwoods at Oak Lane (Woodbridge)
Birchwoods at Oak Lane is yet another great ballroom-style place to get married in Connecticut. The indoor portions of the venue give you two levels to enjoy with your guests, with three space options. Step outside for a ceremony by the pergola and portraits on the rolling hills.
One couple wrote a particularly glowing review, saying, “My husband and I are so happy that we chose Birchwoods as our wedding venue. Of all the beautiful venues we toured when we were wedding planning, Birchwoods was the best for many reasons…The ballroom is stunning with huge windows across the back wall and a beautiful backdrop outside.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. The Lake House (Walcott)
The Lake House is a beautiful ballroom CT wedding venue in Wolcott. Its two spaces, the Parlor Room and Grand Ballroom, can hold up to 150 and 300 guests, respectively. Better yet, as long as your wedding guest count reaches a specified minimum, then the entire property becomes yours for the day. Although the name may be a cute misnomer (this venue is technically next to a pond), The Lake House is an excellent ballroom choice.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Silver City Ballroom (Meriden)
Another former bank turned wedding venue, Meriden’s Silver City Ballroom is one of only a few places to get married in CT in this particular city setting. Huge windows, brass fixtures, and marble flooring adorn the indoor space. This venue really shines, literally, if a up-lighting and spotlights are your jam. And don’t forget to have couples portraits in the vault.
One reviewer had this to say about Silver City Ballroom in their review: “Absolutely gorgeous venue! So unique and original! Great spot for a wedding, and there’s so much to do around the area as well!” This is definitely true if you love restaurants and bars for before or after your wedding day.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Aria (Prospect)
If you could look up “ballroom venue” in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Aria there as the definition. This venue has wonderfully manicured grounds and immaculate everything else inside.
There are two big ballrooms (one of them is huge, actually, accommodating up to 500 people), plenty of restrooms, and getting ready suites. On the whole, the staff of Aria are experts given that the venue hosts so many Connecticut weddings each year.
Is Aria among people’s favorite places to get married in Connecticut? Absolutely, since it has over 800 reviews and nearly a five-star rating. And if you’re on a budget and don’t mind skipping a weekend wedding, consider booking a discounted weekday event with Aria’s romantic atmosphere.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. The Waterview (Monroe)
The Waterview is a modern ballroom venue in Monroe. It sits on a beautiful stretch of waterfront property and offers stunning views of Long Island Sound. This venue is quite big, offering wedding couples multiple options. Rumor has it that it can handle weddings of up to 700 guests (yes, 700).
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. La Bella Vista (Waterbury)
One of the state’s top ballrooms, La Bella Vista is an indoor and outdoor Connecticut wedding venue in Waterbury. One of the great things about this one is its versatility: it can comfortably host weddings from 75 up to about 300 people (depending on the day of the week and season).
La Bella Vista is apparently also known for its great catering. One reviewer says that to this day, “I am still getting calls and texts about the wedding and how amazing everything was, mostly complements on the food!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
12. Cascade Fine Catering (Hamden)
Hamden’s Cascade Fine Catering is another excellent ballroom option. Featuring an outdoor garden ceremony location and two ballroom options, the venue also has a single getting ready suite upstairs. Therefore, the venue can handle all-inclusive weddings as well as reception-only bookings.
Food options shine here, with plenty of dining package options prepared by the in-house executive chef. Having eaten here multiple times, I can honestly say that Cascade serves some very good wedding food.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
D. City/Urban CT Venues
1. Inn at Middletown (Middletown)
A small boutique hotel in down Middletown, Inn at Middletown is perfect for intimate city weddings. This hotel wedding venue is a former armory which now has two cozy event rooms separated by a unique staircase and mezzanine area.
One of the best things about Inn at Middletown is its downtown location. It’s easily accessible, has plenty of nearby parking, and is surrounded by restaurants and bars for pre- and post-wedding fun. This is a great getting ready hotel, too, given its closeness to other Greater Hartford wedding venues.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Goodwin Hotel (Hartford)
Another boutique hotel venue option is downtown Hartford’s historic Goodwin Hotel. It can handle anything from micro weddings up to 250-person gatherings. It has on-site dining and bar services make things ultra convenient. Of course, be sure to get outside for some cityscape portraits during your wedding.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Delamar West Hartford (West Hartford)
Home of the highly-rated Artisan restaurant (which is delicious), Delamar West Hartford is a posh hotel that hosts Connecticut city weddings in a hotel setting. You can enjoy the beautiful lawn, modern hotel interior, and then get out into downtown West Hartford if you so choose.
Centrally located in Greater Hartford, Delamar is also great because it’s so accessible and has plenty going on nearby.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. The Blake Hotel (New Haven)
A chic New Haven hotel, The Blake Hotel has about five event spaces available for Connecticut city weddings. This place prices itself on its reception capabilities as well as the nearby city views outside.
Guests love this place, with one reviewer noting, “Our room was perfect for what we needed and we could tell there were many thought out details that went into planning that you often don’t see at the big name hotels.” The Blake’s design expertise and aesthetic also extend to its wedding spaces.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Graduate New Haven (New Haven)
Graduate New Haven is another city hotel located in downtown New Haven, near Yale. This venue is perfect for a wedding on the more intimate side, with plenty of nooks and crannies for portrait opportunities.
Outside, the surrounding parts of the city are walkable and awesome for portraits as well. Chapel Street itself, where Graduate New Haven is located, is home to loads of great restaurants and other things to do.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Union League Café (New Haven)
Union League Cafe is a popular New Haven restaurant with great night life. However, it also doubles as a wonderful place to get married in Connecticut. It has a few indoor spaces for wedding activities, with guest count maximums ranging from about 25 to 80 for receptions.
The beauty of a city wedding here, of course, is amplified by the fact that you can get outside for awesome portraits. The Yale campus is right there as well as the huge New Haven Green. Not to mention New Haven’s great food options; you’ll look forward to your rehearsal dinner in the area.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. 19Main (New Milford)
Located in Milford, 19Main is another former bank turned Connecticut wedding venue. This little city venue is versatile, able to handle smaller weddings of around 50 all the way up to parties with 150 people. Unique and beautiful, 19Main is definitely one of the more memorable places to get married in Connecticut.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Hartford City Hall (Hartford)
Hartford City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Hartford, Connecticut. The building is a historic and architecturally significant structure that was built in the early 20th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a number of indoor spaces available for weddings of up to 200, including a grand rotunda and stairway.
Overall, Hartford City Hall is a wonderful place to get married here in Connecticut. Best of all, there are plenty of areas to explore in downtown Hartford during your wedding day here.
9. The Society Room of Hartford (Hartford)
Probably one of the top five or so best wedding venues in all of Connecticut, The Society Room of Hartford can easily handle over 100 guests. This former bank has everlasting charm, is simply elegant, and oozes with history.
Conveniently, parking is plentiful in this part of downtown Hartford and a couple of good getting ready hotel locations are very close to this wedding venue. For city lovers, getting outside for portraits on Pratt Street is a wonderful experience.
This place is stunning, especially if you’re drawn to a twilight-like aesthetic for your wedding. Couples I’ve worked with at this venue tend to bring up The Great Gatsby when I ask them about their desired wedding day feel.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional City/Urban Venues in CT
Kehler Liddel Gallery, Wadsworth Atheneum, Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Want to learn more?
Quick reminder: I’m a wedding photographer. When you’re ready, read more about me, visit my portfolio, or view my process and pricing.
E. Golf/Country Club Connecticut Venues
1. Wee Burn Country Club (Darien)
Wee Burn Country Club in Darien offers great views of “one of the premier golf courses in the northeast.” This is a high-end, wonderful wedding venue offering wedding couples full use of its clubhouse facilities for weddings. Their tented patio ceremony setup is beautiful and the getting ready accommodations are proper.
2. Farmington Polo Club (Farmington)
Farmington Polo Club has a full-on country club aesthetic to it, complete with a sweeping views of surrounding Farmington Valley. There are two ceremony site choices, the gazebo (240 guests) or pergola (170 guests). Then for your ceremony, this Connecticut wedding venue offers two indoor rooms (the larger of which accommodates up to 320 guests with a dance floor) or outdoor tents.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Rolling Hills Country Club (Wilton)
Sitting on 300 acres of wooded land in Fairfield County, Rolling Hills fits squarely into the country club category of places to get married in CT. Ceremonies on the front lawn are quaint and then things really turn up in the big ballroom. Of note is the exceptional service of the venue’s staff.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Lyman Orchards (Middlefield)
Lyman Orchards is a beautiful and picturesque venue located in Middlefield. Although this place is known for its fruit orchards, it also hosts outdoor tented weddings for up to about 300 people, depending on which portions of the venue you book.
One of the great things about this venue is its food. As a sister venue to The Barns at Wesleyan Hills (and also owned by Connecticut Wedding Group), it shares the same farm-to-table food philosophy.
What places Lyman Orchards among the best CT wedding venues, however, is the golf course backdrop. Lyman’s courses have lots of trees on them, but also golden reeds and even a covered bridge. It’s a great country club option.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Shenecossett Yacht Club (Groton)
Shenecossett Yacht Club is a private, member-owned yacht club located in Groton, Connecticut. The club sits on the west side of the Thames River in Groton and offers a clubhouse with a bar, a dining room, and a ballroom for about 100 people. It’s actually a neighbor to Branford House, which is right down the street.
7. Madison Beach Club (Madison)
Madison Beach Club is a private beach club located in Madison. It’s situated on a beautiful stretch of beach on the Long Island Sound and is a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, and other beach activities.
Additionally, there are multiple getting ready suites on site and the sizable reception hall stage in the clubhouse lends itself very well to booking a live band for your wedding night. Best of all? You’ll have your wedding ceremony on the posh, private beach looking out at the water.
More Info | Website | Facebook
8. The Inn at Longshore (Westport)
The Inn at Longshore is a popular venue for weddings and other special events due to its charming and historic setting. Out back, there’s a beautiful stretch of waterfront views of Long Island Sound.
A plus, The Inn at Longshore has some on-site accommodations. This will make getting ready convenient, as well as the convenience of staying the night of your wedding.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Glastonbury Hills Country Club (Glastonbury)
A private club offering weddings to all, Glastonbury Hills Country Club offers multiple rooms to couples. The Skyline is the biggest, offering views of the fairway for up to 350 people. The North and Maple Rooms offer more intimate settings.
10. New Haven Lawn Club (New Haven)
Taking Connecticut country club weddings to the next level, New Haven Lawn Club is luxurious. The club itself originated in the 19th century and is broken up into several sizeable rooms. The biggest, aptly named The Ballroom, can seat up to 250 for a reception. For more intimate weddings, The Lounge holds 70 for a reception.
This places oozes character, which is fitting given its home city of New Haven. One person whose wedding was here says in their review, “Everything you have read about the Lawn Club is true, it is a beautiful, unique all-inclusive venue with an amazing candlelit Art Deco feel.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. Lake of Isles (North Stonington)
Part of North America’s largest casino and owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s, Lake of Isles is yet another spectacular southeastern Connecticut wedding venue. Consider getting ready at one of the Foxwoods hotels right down the road and then enjoy your ceremony on the patio overlooking the lake. But the centerpiece is the awesome Pequot Village Ballroom, a really nice space that can hose up to 250 people.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Golf/Country Club Venues in CT
F. Connecticut Park/Garden Wedding Venues
1. Pond House Café (West Hartford)
Without doubt, West Hartford’s Elizabeth Park is is one of the state’s most popular. Therefore, Pond House Café’s location there makes it an attractive option amongst places to get married in Connecticut in a park setting. Your wedding of up to 150 is welcome here, where ceremonies on the patio and indoor receptions are common.
One reviewer who got married at this venue says, “The venue is lovely, and leadership has done a great job to make planning relatively stress free. They provide an excellent menu, and handle most of the details…” Having photographed and attended weddings here, I agree.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Lighthouse Point Park (New Haven)
Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven is home to Five Mile Point Light and is a wedding venue in its own right. It’s owned and operated by the City of New Haven and gets you access to the famous carousel on site.
3. The Cabin at Hilltop Garden at Wickham Park (Manchester)
Sitting at the summit of the “big hill” at Wickham Park is The Cabin at Hilltop Garden. With room for 150, this cabin is located in the beautiful expanse that is Wickham Park. You’ll also get an awesome view of the downtown Hartford skyline.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Eolia Mansion at Harkness / Harkness Memorial State Park (Waterford)
The sister venue to Branford House, Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park is located in nearby Waterford. This gorgeous historic mansion is located on 200+ acres of outdoor space; the photo opportunities are literally limitless. Don’t forget to get down to the beach once you let loose during your wedding celebration.
Waterford’s Eolia Mansion is the sister venue to Branford House, located about 25 minutes away in Groton. And similar to Avery Point, Harkness is huge and provides plenty of photo ops for your wedding.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Park and Garden Venues in CT
Harkness Memorial State Park, Haley Farm State Park, Waveny House, Tarrywile Mansion, The Whittemore at Vyne, Salem Herbfarm, Wooster Square Park
G. Connecticut Inn/Hotel Wedding Venues
1. Gwyn Careg Inn (Pomfret)
A winner of Yankee Magazine’s Best of New England award years ago, Gwyn Careg Inn is a historic mansion turned bed and breakfast surrounded by beautiful greenery. Located up in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, the venue really caters to its wedding guests.
They work with you on fully customizing your start and end timing and also dedicate the entire property to your booking. The grounds are beautifully manicured; the contrast between greenery and stone walls is stunning.
2. The Inn at Woodstock Hill (Woodstock)
The Quiet Corner’s The Inn at Woodstock Hill offers country weddings. Yet another 19th century property, this CT wedding venue offers great views, stone walls, and plenty of outdoor greenery. Depending on the time of year and whether you’re inside our outside, this venue can accommodate up to 150 people.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. The Simsbury Inn (Simsbury)
The Simsbury Inn is another hotel venue built in the late 19th century. With a classic charm, this venue can accommodate up to about 250 guests in its ballroom for your wedding day. The Simsbury Inn has a really nice and unique, greenhouse-like cocktail hour area. Couple in great service and you have a recipe for a really good place to get married in Connecticut.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Tiffany Juliet House (Glastonbury)
Tiffany Juliet House is a beautiful, 19th century Victorian mansion in Glastonbury is a great Connecticut wedding venue option for intimate gatherings near Hartford. Among the smaller or more intimate places to get married in Connecticut, it can accommodate celebrations of up to about 50 people.
5. Madison Beach Hotel (Madison)
Located right on the water in Madison, Madison Beach Hotel can host wedding receptions of up to 160 people. Ceremonies here are held outside right on the water, looking into Long Island sound.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Saybrook Point Resort & Marina
This venue likes to say, “where old-world glamour meets modern luxury,” which could not be any more accurate. Therefore, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina (formerly Saybrook Point Inn) is pretty exclusive indeed, offering great food and excellent water views (boats dock at the marina surrounding the property).
This venue can help you out for weddings of up to about 200 guests. Not only will you and your guests enjoy the resort, but the surrounding area has plenty of small town vibes to enjoy and is conveniently located right off of I-95.
Obviously, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina is another great candidate for a wedding weekend in CT. Ask your event coordinator to help you find some of the great shops and restaurants in the area, too.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. The Litchfield Inn (Litchfield)
Intended to be a replica of an old colonial New England estate, The Litchfield Inn is a small, but full-blown, chic hotel. It sits on 10 beautiful acres of land, making this a secluded and private CT wedding venue. This place is luxurious, from the ballroom to the outdoor grounds. It can accommodate up to about 200 people.
The catering is exclusively handled by David Alan Hospitality Group, who is well known for their wonderful eats.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Heritage Hotel (Southbury)
Great for all-weekend and/or destination weddings, Heritage Hotel in Southbury is an inclusive Connecticut wedding venue that can entertain you and your guests for days on end. the Stone Garden, Vineyard, and Timbers can handle 200 people. One of the more versatile places to get married in CT, this hotel also has small spaces for more intimate weddings. The spa, health center, and pool help you relax throughout.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Inn/Hotel Venues in CT
Inn at Mystic, Inn at Middletown, Goodwin Hotel, Delamar West Hartford, The Blake Hotel, Graduate New Haven, Candlelight Farms Inn
H. Barn CT Wedding Venues
1. The Barns at Wesleyan Hills (Middletown)
Probably this photographer’s favorite barn venue ever, and one of the best CT wedding venues, The Barns at Wesleyan Hills is splendid. It has a chic feel, awesome string lights adorning the dance floor, and nice grounds. It can hold 225 and offers indoor and outdoor ceremonies.
One thing to note: this venue only looks like a barn on the inside. Connecticut Wedding Group has done a great job in making this property one of the more charming wedding venues in the state. You’ll realize this as soon as you set foot inside the Big Barn.
The aesthetics (string lights to original hardwood floors), the service, and the location of The Barns are all awesome. And don’t sleep on the outside grounds, which consist of gently rolling hills and awesome willow trees. It’s so accessible that I strongly believe that most couples should at least consider it.
I am being completely honest when I say that I wholeheartedly believe that this is one of the best wedding venues for most Connecticut couples. Reviews of this venue show that plenty of people agree.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Tyrone Farm (Pomfret)
Located on 170 acres in the Quiet Corner, Tyrone Farm is an 18th century property offering a stunning wedding setup. Ceremonies take place outside under a granite pergola in the formal garden. For your reception, you’ll enjoy either the barn or stone terrace. For weddings up to 135 guests, Tyrone Farm serves wedding guests from May through October.
This Connecticut wedding venue is popular for its summer weddings. One guest notes in their review, “The most beautiful place to be married in CT in July. The grounds are impeccable and the flowers are all blooming beautifully!” Another points out, “Tyrone Farm is a beautiful estate and barn, a perfect location for a farm wedding.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. My Little Ladies Farm and Design (Quaker Hill)
Ready to get “Earthy Wild and Free”? My Little Ladies Farm and Design is a 5000 square-foot barn with Bohemian feels. Running weddings between April and November, this space can fit 150 people inside the barn and has multiple outdoor areas for ceremonies and portraits. What’s more, they also offer some nice interior design services (evidently for your wedding and beyond).
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Woods Acres Farm (Terryville)
“A country wedding at Woods Acres Farm is truly a one-of-a-kind event.” That statement says a lot about this Connecticut wedding venue located in Terryville. Its barn can accommodate parties up to 140 people and the venue has multiple, customizable packages to help you get your day right.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Stonehurst at Hampton Valley (Hampton)
“Unique and versatile, rustic, yet chic,” Stonehurst at Hampton Valley is among the more versatile places to get married in CT. That is to say, it’s actually comprised of two venues on one event space property.
The Mansion at Stonehurst and The Barns at Stonehurst each has its own accommodations and spaces. The former holds 120 people in a Swiss chalet-styled while the latter can accommodate about 300 people, but also affords you priority access to a couple of outdoor sites (a ceremony forest and the Little River).
Stonehurst is beloved by seemingly everyone who gets married here. One reviewer says, “Without a doubt the BEST wedding venue we could have ever dreamed of getting married at!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Allen Hill Farm (Brooklyn)
If you’re interested in exploring lesser known barn wedding venues in CT, it’s a must that you give Allen Hill Farm in Brooklyn a look. You can have a dream wedding here, complete with an outdoor ceremony and a seated dinner inside The Barn. One partner can even handle the finishing touches of getting ready on site (such as putting on your wedding dress).
As a wedding photographer, I was very impressed when I first worked a barn wedding here. To me, it’s certainly a more unique rustic wedding venue for your wedding day. The farm equipment sitting out in the open and the fire pit, as examples, add a great touch.
It seems as if Allen Hill Farm is one of Connecticut’s lesser known barn wedding venues. The secluded location, while one of its selling points, may have something to do with this. Nevertheless, its rustic barn makes it a perfect Connecticut wedding venue for your wedding day.
The centerpiece of your wedding here will be the red barn that holds up to 150 people. This place is great at night: you and your guests can literally run around the outdoor space and hang out by the fire pit.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Wrights Mill Farm (Canterbury)
Evidently the Quiet Corner is full of places to get married in CT. Wright’s Mill Farm is yet another, featuring 200 acres of chic New England aesthetic. This venue stands apart given that the barn is new, built in 2020. It can accommodate up to about 200 people. Get bored? Then just head outside to the waterfall. This place is a wedding photographer’s dream given its size and portrait location options.
Guests love it here. One reviewer says, “Absolutely a stunning venue with a feeling of exclusivity and escape…We celebrated the union of our closest friends and agreed that this was the most memorable wedding reception we’ve ever attended. Highly recommended.”
This wedding venue offers in-house catering which people love. One reviewer writes, “The food was great, drinks were fabulous, fun, friendly, and kind staff. If you want an amazing wedding THIS IS IT!”
Conveniently, Wrights Mill also offers some event planning help to you with your Connecticut wedding. They have add-on packages for an in-house DJ. Accommodating up to 210 guests for your wedding reception, you can’t go wrong at this spacious venue.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Webb Barn (Wethersfield)
Among some of the best Connecticut wedding venues are actual museums which host weddings and events. Webb Barn in Old Wethersfield is awesome choice in this category. It’s charm is almost unmatched.
As the name implies, Webb Barn is a barn venue which sits on a nice property with foliage and a garden. Private, beautiful, and accessible, it’s perfect for being outside and relaxing with your guests. The nearby downtown area is walkable if you want to get away for portraits, too.
This is a great wedding venue if an indoor-outdoor spring, summer, or fall wedding is your goal. Your wedding ceremony would typically be outside under a large tree. With cocktail hour hosted on the stone patio right outside the barn, guests can keep close or spread out.
Expectedly, you and your guests (for a capacity of around 135) will party the night away inside the barn itself. Webb Barn is good if you like good control: there’s no in-house catering, so consider an awesome food truck.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. South Farms (Morris)
Litchfield County strikes again, this time with The White Barn at South Farms in Morris. With great in-house catering, South Farms can host your 150-guest wedding with ease. A quick look at their social media shows that this barn wedding venue in Connecticut prides itself on its upscale take on farm weddings.
Not to preach, but as you’re planning your Connecticut wedding, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. South Farms apparently agrees, outright recommending on their website that couples hire a wedding planner for weddings at this farm venue.
Another one of our state’s wedding venues which offers something to the public, South Farms hosts some nice events. A reviewer says, “Thursday night socials are the place to be! Bring the fam and good vibes and you won’t be disappointed!” Another reviewer sums it up like this: “Absolutely gorgeous venue, helpful staff and amazing food.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. The Inn at Mount Pleasant (Torrington)
With the ability to hold 200 guests, a big red barn, and a bed & breakfast, The Inn at Mount Pleasant is a another great option in Litchfield County. One of the great things about this country venue is the high-altitude views.
A fall wedding here would be spectacular, especially because of the rustic barn and on-site bed-and-breakfast. This facility also prides itself on its wedding planning services, including an event coordinator a part of your booking.
After cocktail hour, you have a couple of options for your reception at Mount Pleasant. They’ll allow 200 for a tented party or you can head into the barn, which holds 150.
In addition to holding Mount Pleasant in high regards among wedding venues in CT, people love the owners. One person says in their review, “From our first walk of the grounds with the owner Maggie and her husband Bob, we knew this was our dream wedding location.”
Another reviewer points out, the service at Mount Pleasant is evidently very good: “We traveled from the West coast to be with our East coast friends in they’re wedding day and we were blown away at their hospitality.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Other CT Barn Venues
Kingdom of the Hawk, Salem Herbfarm
I. Rustic Non-Barn Wedding Venues in CT
1. The Overlook at Geer Tree Farm (Griswold)
If you love trees and views, get a load of this open-air ceremony location with a tented reception area. The Overlook at Geer Tree Farm has one-of-a-kind views for miles, perfect for a wedding.
Because of what it offers and how it’s situated, The Overlook is one of the most unique wedding venues in CT. It’s also great for couples who want to customize their wedding day. You get just the venue with no in-house catering (food trucks and bartending service are good ideas).
Couples and guests love it here, probably because the view takes your breath away. One reviewer notes, “The most beautiful and scenic venue I have ever come across and perfect for weddings…”
More Info | Website | Facebook
2. The Whittemore at Vyne (Middlebury)
Known primarily for its restaurant, The Whittemore at Vyne has great eats for weddings as well. Their Whittemore Room will hold 200 people while the Garden Room is very well suited to intimate weddings. There’s a single getting ready space here on the premises as well. Lastly, the outdoor grounds are awesome, with some unique fountain features and plenty of greenery.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Millpond Gatherings (Northford)
Sort of resembling a Colorado ski lodge, Millpond Gatherings is actually a wedding venue, steakhouse restaurant, and tavern all in one. Among the more unique places to get married in CT, the property is big. It’s a must that you take advantage of the chic, industrial feel of the indoor spaces.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Deans Mill Farm (Stonington)
A former livestock farm, Deans Mill Farm is now a dedicated Connecticut wedding venue as well as a bed and breakfast. It’s on the same property as an equestrian farm, which could make for some interesting portraits for sure. Intimate weddings are welcome indoors for gatherings of up to 50. Outdoors, the venue can accommodate a maximum of 250 people.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Green Haven (Pomfret)
Exclusively for micro weddings, Green Haven in Pomfret is a picturesque venue known for its greenery. The property is like one big, dreamy forest. It has multiple highlights, including a wooden arbor path and an orchard.
6. The Lodge at Maneeley’s (South Windsor)
Providing simple yet awesome weddings in South Windsor, The Lodge at Maneeley’s is well known for its great catering and indoor receptions for up to 250 people. This venue gets right to the point, which is making your Connecticut wedding great. The staff are on top of things and the location is easily accessible, yet tucked away for privacy.
Another great thing about Maneeley’s is its centralized location. Hartford, Wethersfield, Glastonbury, and Manchester are all just minutes away. This is a rustic venue without a barn. But if you really want one, the venue has partnered with a neighboring property on the same street that’s just a golf cart ride away.
A groom whose wedding I photographed here had this to say about Maneeley’s: “Our perfect wedding night came to life with the help of the entire Maneeley’s family. We would highly recommend and encourage anyone looking to have a wedding (or really any event) to check them out!”
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Sweet Hill Farm (Gales Ferry)
Another southeastern Connecticut wedding venue is Sweet Hill Farm. This property is probably most well known for formerly sharing space with Pop’s Ice Cream (which has since closed). But in the last few years, the owners starting offering weddings outdoors and within the greenhouses. It’s a simple, beautiful area for a country-style wedding.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. The Pavilion on Crystal Lake (Middletown)
Located on Crystal Lake in Middletown, The Pavilion on Crystal Lake is a nice waterfront venue that can accommodate 200-person events. What’s more, the venue is part of a great family of places to get married in Connecticut known for its awesome, farm-to-table food (same ownership as The Barns at Wesleyan Hills).
For your wedding ceremony, you can be in front of the gazebo right next to the lake. Unique among rustic wedding venues in CT, you’re enclosed by pine needles and protected from the sun. You’re typically indoors for your wedding reception. The Pavilion’s insides are reminiscent of The Lodge at Maneeley’s.
One guest puts it simply in their review, saying, “Attended this venue for a friends wedding and was very impressed. The outdoor ceremony area is great, tucked away up a short wide winding pathway through an arbor.” Another former guest points out in their review: “And the food was also excellent, I had something similar to a sirloin steak. It was perfectly cooked and fell apart as it should have.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Farmington Gardens (Farmington)
Farmington Gardens is a regal CT wedding venue with European accents. This family-owned venue strives for great service, promising a great experience for you and your guests. This is a bigger venue, with minimum guest counts depending on the day of the week. It’s one of few CT wedding venues that can accommodate weddings of over 300 people (in the Main Room).
Hosting only one wedding per day, this Connecticut wedding venue sits on six acres of land and is just beautiful. People who like landscaping will love it here, with all of its garden features.
One person who married here says in their review: “Farmington Gardens was absolutely beautiful for our November wedding. From the moment we walked in we knew this was the place. Everything from the staff, food, and décor, everything was perfect and couldn’t have asked for a better day!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. Candlelight Farms Inn (New Milford)
A beautiful and unique venue in the state, New Milford’s Candlelight Farms Inn offers a few configuration options for your wedding day.
With a Hangar wedding, up to 170 people will enjoy your party (yes, this is probably one of the only wedding venues in New England with a WWII era private airport). On the Farm, you can have up to 250 people. Also a functioning inn, this venue also offers a full weekend package for a destination-style affair.
Candlelight Farms Inn is among the wedding venues in CT which cater to more than just weddings. One reviewer mentions, “My boyfriend and I went to the Candlelight Farms for a gateway weekend, and we couldn’t have picked a better place. The farm is stunning and peaceful.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. Salem Herbfarm (Salem)
Garden-based and filled with eclectic charm, Salem Herbfarm is a pretty huge venue that has many configuration options for both your ceremony and reception. Perhaps greatest of all, it’s super unique (from a fire pit to several ceremony locations) and tucked away in a quiet area to boot. The Herbfarm is a promising, up-and-coming Connecticut wedding venue.
Couples who get married at this venue love the no muss, no fuss draw of the place. As a result of the property’s conversion from a farm to an event space, it’s perfect for outdoor wedding ceremonies, providing multiple areas to choose from. The stone patio is particularly popular due to the fountain backdrop.
Wedding receptions here can take place in the barn or the greenhouse. Consider food truck catering and booking the outside bar. Be sure to ask for the gas fire pit to be turned out for your guests, too.
This venue can handle big weddings of over 200, depending on how you decide to configure your day. One reviewer puts it nicely: “If you want your wedding to feel like the most magical day of your life – you’ve found your venue.” It’s also great how succinctly this review sums this venue up: “As good as it gets for a wedding. An absolute perfect place with the most perfect staff.”
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
12. Wood Acres Farm (Terryville)
Off the beaten path in Terryville, Wood Acres Farm is strong CT wedding venue deserving a look. Apparently, Wood Acres Farm hosts a great event. One reviewer notes, “Every detail was considered with perfection. From the bridal cottage where she and her bridesmaids dressed, to the pond side gazebo, to the very last dance of the night, was just that. Perfect!”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Additional Rustic CT Venues
GrayBarns on the Silvermine River, Interlaken Inn, Broad Brook Opera House, Stamford Museum & Nature Center
J. Industrial/Nautical CT Wedding Venues
1. Bill Miller’s Castle (Branford)
“Why rent a hall when you can have a castle?” That’s actually a very good question which Bill Miller’s Castle asks. It’s one of the more interesting places to get married in Connecticut. A former horse barn, the owners converted it into an event hall. It can handle a maximum of 250 people for weddings.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. The Glastonbury Boathouse (Glastonbury)
The Glastonbury Boathouse is a nautical-themed wedding venue sitting on the Connecticut River. Like Newport Vineyards, it has sort of a chic industrial feel to it, with white and green walls adorned by purposely visible mechanicals overhead. The outdoors are large, capped off by the awesome patio that leads down to the riverside.
3. Mystic Seaport (Mystic)
A versatile wedding venue in CT, Mystic Seaport is a versatile downtown spot. These days, the museum’s wedding offerings include The Boatshed and Lighthouse Point (Latitude 41 has closed its doors to weddings). The venue can handle 200 people for weddings. Options for rehearsal dinners and goodbye brunches (Spouter Tavern and Greenmans’ Landing, respectively) are available, too.
The centralized location near, on the Mystic River and near the bustling downtown, makes things very convenient, where there are plenty of Airbnb rentals and hotel options nearby.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. Mystic Yachting Club (Mystic)
Edged upon the western side of Mystic Harbor is Willow Point, home to Mystic Yachting Club. This venue provides some great nautical vibes; a yacht charter club, small shipyard, and tons of docked boats are all tastefully situated at this location. Exclusive catering by Lancer Hospitality for up to 150 guests earns this venue rave reviews.
5. Essex Station (Essex)
Essex Station is the wedding venue located at the historic Essex Steam Train & Riverboat site. Train and boat lovers would be in heaven here; it’s the only Connecticut wedding venue to feature both for its couples (this is evidently unique in the entire country).
You’re granted access to Pullman coach trains and the Becky Thatcher riverboat. Ceremonies can take place on land in the train yard or even on the Becky herself. In total, this venue can handle up to 150 guests, depending on the configuration.
6. Mystic Aquarium (Mystic)
Needing no introduction, visiting Mystic Aquarium is a as popular activity. Equally important, however, it’s also one of the most unique places to get married in Connecticut among animal lovers. The Aquarium’s exclusive catering partner is Lancer Hospitality, who also handles weddings at Mystic Seaport.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Canal Dock Boathouse (New Haven)
A newer venue, Canal Dock Boathouse began offering weddings in the summer of 2022. This space is owned by the city of New Haven and is similar in function to The Glastonbury Boathouse.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. The Lace Factory (Deep River)
The Essex area is home to The Lace Factory, a former factory turned wedding venue with an industrial charm. An attractive quality of this space is the window light: it spills into the main reception area from all angles thanks to the huge panes of glass. Their on-site Riverview Room is perfect for your rehearsal dinner (catering is exclusively provided by their sister company, Cloud Nine Catering).
What’s more, this venue is partnered with the nearby Essex Steam Train to give you the option to book some Pullman coach transportation. You can enjoy your wedding here of up to 225 people. One reviewer points out that their child’s wedding here was great, saying, “There was not one thing that i didn’t like. Everyone that worked there were extremely patient and professional.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Silver Oak (Mystic)
Self-identifying as “the Napa Valley of Connecticut,” Silver Oak that attempts teleports you to wine country. One of the newer places to get married in Connecticut, this venue’s history is touching. It’s a tribute to its late cofounder, who profoundly loved Napa Valley. This indoor space is adorned with hand-crafted furniture, original wood beams from an 18th-century farmhouse, and even contains an actual cabernet vine from California.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. The Pavilions at Penfield Beach (Fairfield)
Located right on a public beach by the same name, The Pavilions at Penfield Beach is owned by the city of Fairfield. It has a pair of industrial-style venues on the property, Penfield Pavilion (closed for renovations) and Jacky Durrell Pavilion. They can hold 300 and 125 people, respectively. A nice perk is that you can step outside right onto the sand.
K. CT Beer/Wine Wedding Venues
1. Stony Creek Brewery (Branford)
The home of the Cranky’s and maker of really great craft beer, Stony Creek Brewery is also a wedding venue which can host up to 150 people. One former groom says in his review, “From start to finish (and after), I couldn’t have asked for more helpful people or a cooler space in which to get married…Honestly, I could go on and on, but the thing that I’ll take away from the experience is just how well Stony Creek…took care of us that day, and we’re so grateful for it.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Preston Ridge Vineyard (Preston)
Located in southeastern Connecticut, Preston Ridge Vineyard is another popular winery venue in the state. This venue specializes in outdoor tented weddings in its beautiful vineyard, which affords you some great views of the horizon.
Preston Ridge sits on 60-something acres of land located in the Greater Mystic area of southeastern Connecticut. For weddings, they accommodate up to 150 people.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Jonathan Edwards Winery (North Stonington)
Perhaps the textbook winery of Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards’ sprawling property makes for a beautiful wedding venue in the Greater Mystic area. Sitting on 20 acres of beautiful land, this winery wedding venue can hold 200 guests outside for a tented affair or 75 inside its main building.
If you’re a wine lover (of course you are), be sure to get some photos taken in the wine barrel room.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. The Hops Company / THC (Derby)
Beer lovers, look no further. The Garden at The Hops is basically the hidden backyard of The Hops Company / THC. This place is a beer garden with a private, laid back, and super tasteful wedding venue tucked away. What’s really cool is that they fully support the food truck caterers of your choice.
Undeniably, THC is one of the best CT wedding venues for laid-back couples. A beer garden, THC already has a cool vibe going for it. They’ve transformed the rear of the property into a great little spot for weddings; there’s even space for one of you to get ready on site. Book your favorite food truck and you’ll be good to go at this venue.
More Info | Website | Facebook | Instagram
5. Saltwater Farm Vineyard (Stonington)
Voted one of the “50 most romantic wedding venues in the U.S.” by Brides Magazine, Saltwater Farm Vineyard. This property is a former World War II era private airport which converted into a CT Wine Trail shining star. It’s one of the more popular wedding venues in Mystic, attracting wine lovers in droves.
6. Stonington Vineyards (Stonington)
A founding member of the CT Wine Trail, Stonington Vineyards is known known for its white wines and scenic weddings. If an intimate, wine wedding is what you’re looking for, this venue has you covered for celebrations of up to 75 people. One cool thing here is the view: the property has a huge yard out front with sprawling sights to see.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Hops on the Hill (Glastonbury)
For true craft beer fans, Hops on the Hill is another brewery wedding venue option. Pick a food truck or two and you’ll be golden for your event here. The seclusion and privacy are really good plusses, too.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Kingdom of the Hawk (North Stonington)
Another one of the new places to get married in Connecticut, slated to open in the spring of 2023, is North Stonington’s Kingdom of the Hawk. The owners of Saltwater Farm Vineyard will be opening this venue. This is probably the most modern version of a barn wedding venue that anyone has ever seen here in the state: the building seems to be mostly metal and glass.
Sitting high up, it appears that the space is going to give couples great views and plenty of outdoor areas for gatherings and photos. As far as wedding venues in Connecticut go, this is another example of new meets old. Co-owner Michael Connery says, “I had a clear notion of what I wanted, in terms of a barn sensibility. That’s what drove it. But the key was to make it very contemporary.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
L. DIY Wedding Venues in CT
1. Your Backyard
A backyard wedding is such a good idea for your wedding day, especially if you’re on a tighter budget and/or you want total control.
2. Stonington Point (Stonington)
Perfect for elopements, Stonington Point is located at the literal tip of this southeastern Connecticut borough.
3. Local Ethnic Club or Nonprofit
Have a Polish Falcons of America or Lions Club outpost nearby? Reach out to them and see if you can rent their hall for your wedding.
Additional DIY Venues in CT
Harkness Memorial State Park, Wooster Square Park
Other Categories of Wedding Venues in Connecticut
A. Venues on the Water in Connecticut
Connecticut has a multitude of wedding venues on the water: Inn at Mystic, Branford House, Connecticut River Museum, Saint Clements Castle & Marina, Anthony’s Ocean View, The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station, Candlewood Inn, The Lake House, The Waterview, Madison Beach Club, Madison Beach Hotel, Inn at Longshore, Lake of Isles, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, The Glastonbury Boathouse, Mystic Seaport, Mystic Yachting Club, The Pavilion on Crystal Lake, The Pavilions at Penfield Beach
B. CT Wedding Venues with Interesting Architecture
The following places to get married in Connecticut are noteworthy for their architecture: Branford House, Lord Thompson Manor, Saint Clements Castle & Marina, Wadsworth Mansion, Silver City Ballroom, 19Main, Hartford City Hall, The Society Room of Hartford, Bill Miller’s Castle.
C. Dark CT Wedding Venues Places
These are good options if you’re looking for a darker, moodier venue: The Society Room of Hartford, Bill Miller’s Castle, The Barns at Wesleyan Hills, and Saltwater Farm Vineyard.
D. Small Wedding Venues in CT
You should consider the following venues for elopements and intimate weddings: Inn at Mystic, Inn at Middletown, Stonington Point, Haley Farm State Park, Harkness Memorial State Park, Green Haven, Wooster Square Park, Silver Oak, GrayBarns on the Silvermine River.
Find Your CT Wedding Photographer
I’d love to talk to you about how we can create some awesome wedding photos together. Just click below for more info.