A wedding party at The Lace Factory, an industrial wedding venue in Connecticut.

Nautical-Themed and Industrial Wedding Venues in CT

Depending on your aesthetic, it may be tough to find a wedding venue in CT with the right canvas for your style. The following is a list of nautical-themed and industrial wedding venues in Connecticut.

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. The inside is 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.

Website | Instagram

A couple enjoys a kiss at The Glastonbury Boathouse, an industrial wedding venue in Connecticut.
The Glastonbury Boathouse

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.

Website | Instagram

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.

Website | Facebook

A groom and his groomsmen at an industrial wedding venue in Connecticut with a steam train.
Essex Steam Train

6. Mystic Aquarium (Mystic)

Needing no introduction, visiting Mystic Aquarium is a as popular activity. Equally important, however, is that the aquarium is a nautical wedding venue in CT that’s very popular 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. The city of New Haven owns this industrial CT wedding venue, similarly 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).

Like Newport Vineyards, it has sort of a chic industrial feel to it. The 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.”

Venue Feature | Website | Facebook | Instagram

A wedding party at The Lace Factory, an industrial wedding venue in Connecticut.
The Lace Factory

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.

Website | Facebook

Find Your Wedding Photographer

Just use the links below to learn more!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *