Candlewood Inn Weddings
A Candlewood Inn wedding, on the surface, seems to be about just one thing: the water.
Connecticut has no shortage of beautiful wedding venues, but lakeside settings are surprisingly rare (despite having over 2000 lakes and ponds in the state). It’s as if Candlewood Lake itself knows this, causing it to make this location extra special.
If you’re drawn to to the idea of your wedding feeling calm and rooted in place, a lakeside celebration at Candlewood Inn speaks for itself. Here’s why…
This post contains images taken by me while working with Keane Eye Photography.
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Vibe and Features |
Panoramic lakeside views, classic ballroom style |
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Guest Capacity |
235 |
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Location |
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Similar Venues |
Aria, Connecticut River Museum, Branford House, Lake of Isles, Madison Beach Club, The Venue at Winding Hills, Interlaken Inn, The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station |
Candlewood Inn Video Tour
Some venues click faster when you can see them in motion. This short video tour of Candlewood Inn walks through the space so you can get a real feel for how your day might go.
History of Candlewood Inn
The history of this elegant CT wedding venue actually starts with its namesake, Candlewood Lake.
In the early 20th century, Connecticut’s big utility and electricity company decided that a new method of power generation was necessary. But what began as infrastructure eventually became atmosphere.
The solution was the creation of the state’s largest lake, Candlewood. To clarify, yes, this Brookfield, CT lake is humanmade.
In 1999, Candlewood Inn opened its doors as a private event space, leaning into what the location already offered: still water, open skies, and room for meaningful gatherings.
It’s a venue with a past, but one that’s learned how to stay present.
Candlewood Inn Venue Vibe
To put it simply, a Candlewood Inn wedding feels classic without feeling frozen in time. You can tell so far that, at its core, the venue is a waterside, banquet- or ballroom-style wedding venue.
Guests arrive through the front foyer, pause to admire the details and reception place cards, then naturally drift toward the bar as the energy builds. A few steps away is the big bar, where the venue staff will serve drinks (and late-night snacks) during your celebration.
Later on, cocktail hour will live right in the heart of the venue, with easy movement between the bar, the lake just outside, and the main dining room. Nothing feels cramped or chaotic though; it all flows well, especially with the expert staff who run the venue.
The ballroom itself is elegant in a clean, unfussy way. High ceilings, a generous dance floor, and white walls that catch and reflect daylight pouring in from the huge windows looking out at the lake. It comfortably hosts up to 235 guests without ever feeling overwhelming.
And speaking honestly, both as a wedding photographer and someone who’s visited the venue as a wedding guest, Candlewood Inn delivers on catering. The meals are consistently very good, which matters more than people like to admit.
Candlewood Lake Is the Point
Even though it’s a banquet-style venue, the lake is always present during a wedding at Candlewood Inn. You see it through the windows. You step outside and feel it immediately. It’s not just a conversation starter, it’s quite awe-inspiring.
Ceremonies typically take place on the lawn, with water stretching out behind you and nice landscaping to boot.
Warmer months invite lawn games, wandering conversations, or that quiet cocktail-hour moment where someone grabs a drink, sits down, and just looks out at the view. This is the vibe, and it works great.
Fairfield Caterers
Candlewood Inn is owned and operated by Fairfield Caterers. This makes it part of the same wedding venue family as the Fox Hill Inn mansion in Brookfield, Riverview in Simsbury, and The Waterview in Monroe.
Candlewood Inn Pricing Info
A Candlewood Inn wedding is priced the way most full-service CT venues are: structured, transparent, and tied closely to your food and guest experience. The venue’s peak season is spring through fall (May–October), where Saturday weddings start at about $200/person. During off-season months and on weekdays, the pricing dips as low as about $100/person (and the minimum guest count decreases generously).
The venue requires a minimum deposit of $1000 to secure your event. There’s a 20% “operational charge” assessed to every booking (it’s not a staff gratuity). They have extensive culinary options for you, so that’ll impact the final cost as well. Depending on how far in advance you book, your total fee will be broken up into $1000-$3000 payments up until six months before your CT lake wedding at this venue. Your final payment is due a week before your date.
Hotels Near Candlewood Inn
When planning your wedding at Candlewood Inn, it’s a must that you consider accommodations and getting ready. Some of the hotels near Candlewood Inn include Hampton Inn Danbury, Courtyard by Marriott Danbury, and Homestead Inn.
Airbnb and Vrbo rentals are also popular in the Candlewood Lake community (one such house rental is what’s pictured in this post). One more thing: booking a shuttle is a very good idea because the parking lot isn’t the biggest.
How Candlewood Inn Photographs
In my experience, some wedding venues look good in person but fight the camera all day. Candlewood Inn isn’t one of them; it’s effortless how well the property photographs.
Whether by design or the luck of mother nature (or maybe both), light and openness are two quiet strengths of the property. The lake acts like a natural reflector. The rear of the venue, between the building and the lake, faces west; this is ideal for sunsets. Inside, the white walls and tall windows keep images clean, bright, and dimensional into the evening of your reception.
The flow matters, too. Ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all live close enough that nothing feels rushed or fragmented. That means fewer interruptions, more presence, and more honest moments to photograph in between the “big” ones. Get yourself a solid getting ready location and then you’re golden.
When planned well, a Candlewood Inn wedding is a true classic.
Quick Candlewood Wedding Day Tips
If you’ve made it this far and are leaning more towards a wedding at Candlewood Inn, here are some quick planning tips for you:
About the Author
I’m Terrence, a wedding photographer who creates an artistically-engineered experience for couples in Connecticut and beyond.
Sharing honest, practical guidance to help couples feel confident, calm, and well-prepared is also part of my value system.
If that sounds like an approach you can get with, then you’re welcome to learn more through the links below.
Learn More About Candlewood Inn
Start your conversation with the venue using the links below.
Citations
I used the following references at different points in this post:
- “Protecting Connecticut Lakes,” Newport Daily News
- “Candlewood Lake,” Wikipedia
- “Creating Candlewood Lake – Today in History: July 15,” Connecticut History.org
- “Fairfield Caterers Difference,” Fairfield Caterers