The Garden at the Hops Weddings
There are plenty of you engaged couples out there who like to wear sweatpants from time to time. For you, fresh brews beat wine or champagne all day. Pizza is a delicacy and you like your Saturdays laid back.
If all of this sounds appealing to you, then you should definitely consider a Garden at the Hops wedding at The Hops Company / THC in Derby.
This post contains images I captured while working for my friends Megan and Mark of Mermaid’s Reel.
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Vibe and Features |
Authentic beer garden experience, unique food experience with food truck approval |
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Guest Capacity |
200 |
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Location |
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Similar Venues |
The Overlook at Geer Tree Farm, Lyman Orchards, Pond House Café, BADSONS Beer Company |
Who It’s For
A wedding at The Garden at the Hops might be for you if some of the following sounds good:
History of The Hops Company
Owner Umberto Morale opened The Hops Company / THC in 2015 as a 300-seat, indoor-outdoor beer bar in Derby. The atmosphere was intended to be casual, the perfect destination for everything from couples on dates to big groups of beer lovers.
Multiple times over the years, The Hops Company received honors as Connecticut’s best beer garden from Connecticut Magazine, most recently in 2021.
The Garden at the Hops
Then, in 2018, The Hops Company expanded its event hosting capabilities on the rear of its property. This area became a semi-rustic hidden gem focused on beer, dubbed The Garden at The Hops.
This makes The Hops Company very unique among New Haven County locations for weddings, given its roots in craft beer. It’s definitely a top choice as a brewery wedding venue in Connecticut.
Ironically, The Hops Company sits on five acres of land which used to belong to former venue Grassy Hill Lodge.
The Garden at The Hops Venue Vibe and Features
Here are a few details about having a wedding at The Garden at the Hops:
Getting Ready at The Hops Company
Conveniently, The Garden at The Hops has space for one of you to get ready in. This takes place in a small house house on the property, over to the left of the main parking lot when you drive onto the property.
The interior is stark white with nice lighting, a departure from the industrial feel of The Hops Company beer garden itself. Similar to a venue such as Allen Hill Farm, however, you’ll find that this getting ready suite is pretty cozy. Therefore, you may want to consider handling most of your getting ready off site, such as at a nearby hotel.
The Garden at The Hops Building and Bar
When you enter The Garden at The Hops Company area, I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly struck by how cozy yet classy it is. Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice is the venue’s main building to the left. This part of the venue is called the Garden Room offers a full bar, rest rooms, and space for mingling and details. It measures 3000 square feet.
Having worked summer weddings at The Garden at The Hops, noticed that this indoor space is especially popular during cocktail hour. This is for the drinks served at the full bar, yes, but also for the cooler temperatures and chance to get out of the sun.
Ceremony Patio
The first time I photographed a wedding at The Garden at the Hops Company, the ceremony took place in front of an arch sitting on grass. It was super nice, but honestly felt a little incomplete compared to the rest of the wedding space.
Since then, however, a stone patio has been installed in this area where you’ll exchange vows. This new setup is much nicer (and safer), really bringing together The Hops Company’s greenery and stone theme.
Reception Tent
With a wooden dance floor surrounded by concrete and a gravel border, The Garden at the Hops’ reception tent is spacious and comfortable. It’s big, too, measuring about 90 by 50 feet.
The Rest of the Grounds
Wonderfully flat and easily walkable, the rest of The Garden at the Hops’ outdoor areas include:
- A beautiful lawn with trees as a backdrop
- An area with tasteful hardscaping, including cascading waterfalls
- Lovers of fire pits will appreciate The Garden’s setup, complete with comfortable furniture
The Hops Company Beer Garden
Although it’s a great spot with great beer, the THC Derby beer garden is not included as part of a standard wedding day. It’s still open to the general public during normal hours even when a wedding is happening.
Fortunately, you’re able to book The Hops Company beer garden for an afterparty. You two and your guests can party the night away at family style tables and order from the beer bar.
To top off your wedding experience here, The Hops Company beer garden does serve food. Currently, they’ve partnered with Zuppardi’s Apizza (a New Haven staple) to make and serve pizza on site. There’s also snacks available from the Grant’s Canteen arm of the kitchen.
Catering for a The Garden at The Hops Wedding
Perhaps surprisingly, Connecticut’s best beer bar doesn’t offer in-house catering for weddings at The Hops Company. This is definitely a good thing. The Hops Company has an experienced and dedicated team for weddings at The Garden which focuses on the wedding event itself.
For your special day, The Hops Company has preferred outside caterers which they partner with for weddings. For an additional fee, however, you can book your own chosen food truck for your wedding at The Garden at The Hops.
Let’s talk about your wedding day
I’m Terrence and I’m a wedding photographer specializing in telling wedding stories in a cinematic, movie-like way. Just click the button to learn more.
Again, the closeness to New Haven means that you’ll have great food options for your wedding catering at this venue. Also, your wedding afterparty at THC Derby will give you the chance to get great snacks from the beer bar.
Hotels Near The Hops Company
Located in greater New Haven in Derby CT, The Garden at The Hops has plenty of nearby hotels. A few choices are Hilton Garden Inn Shelton, Homewood Suites by Hilton Stratford, and Courtyard by Marriott New Haven at Yale.
Another great option near this beer bar venue is Hyatt House Shelton, which provides a complimentary shuttle service to the wedding venue if you reserve a block of 20 or more rooms.
Pricing for a Wedding at The Garden at The Hops
If you’ve made it this far, I’d say you’re making a great choice by continuing to consider having your wedding at The Hops Company. So here’s some pricing info:
- A ceremony fee of $750. This includes use of the arbor/arch and bench seating, a rehearsal, and pre-ceremony refreshments for guests.
- Rental of the getting ready suite costs $750 for the entire day or $350 for a half day.
- All in, sources state that a wedding at The Hops Company usually costs about $20,000 for the venue.
And while I always recommend that my wedding couples at least consider hiring a wedding planner, what’s nice is that The Hops Company sets you up with their planning software and coordinator team for your event.
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