This regal house was built in the nineteenth century in the style of the famous Newport mansions. Claim Your Profile. bride, CT, groom, photographer, Portraits, Tent, Tent Wedding, wedding, weddings. My family and guests were raving about the venue as well which makes me feel like I pulled off the best wedding most of my guests have ever been to! the LI Sound and the backdrop of the stunning mansion. My favorite modern wedding venue, located right in the heart of downtown Hartford! Fun fact: she and her now-husband, Alex, grace the cover of Beth Chapmans second book, The White Dress Destinations.. When we got engaged, I knew we needed to get married there! Romantic Branford House Wedding in Groton, CT. If you havent gauged through this list by now, Connecticut offers some of the best estates and manors for your winter wedding venues! They moved out in 1967, leaving the land to the state, which allowed UConn to establish its campus there. We lucked out with the best weather and were able to have our ceremony outside on the lawn. Branford House Wedding. The schoolhouse now features lodging and dining areas while the auditorium now serves as your wedding and reception area. We went with David Alan Hospitality Group, and they 100% nailed it. Everything else can truly be customized at the venue making it work this minor inconvenience. The interior of Branford House consists of three rooms (PDF warning) on the first floor. Major General Israel Putnam, who chose the site that is now the park as the winter encampment for his men during the winter of 1778/1779, during the American Revolutionary War. Blog . Keep everyone in good spirits by offering fleece blankets as they arrive at the venue . Instead of having just the 1 hour cocktail hour on the patio, think about extending cocktail hour and doing intros and dances out there before heading inside for dinner. Available for Rent. Imagine getting ready for your wedding beside the fireplace while the snow falls down around you outside. After Mortons death in 1918, the mansion passed through his children to the State of Connecticut. d looking out at the sound. The Washington, D.C.-based duo opted for a wintry black-tie wedding harkening back to the grand affairs that transpired in their wedding venue's heyday. Guest can select the caterer, music, color scheme, and more to ensure the event is a reflection of their personality and taste. I have no idea what the room closest to the office is, as I just attended a wedding there- so looking AT branford house, from the driveway, the room all the way to the left was where the candy buffet and food was, the middle room had the tables and the last room was for the ceremony and then for the DJ and Dancing. Paranormal investigators spin haunting tale about a historic house in It is a beautiful venue with breathtaking views and can fit over 100 gu Branford House was an absolutely beautiful venue that was perfect for our ceremony and reception. The Branford House was absolutely beautiful and we were able to get ready on site, making it a very smooth day. (sorry ladies) I got over the not so cute bathroom quickly when friends said, you tinkle and leave. There was a slight chill in the air, because summer had put its' warm self down for a rest until next year, yet the sun still cast a glow around . Learn how your comment data is processed. *Chefs kiss*. Rachel Girouard Photography has been documenting love and creating timeless memories since she picked up a camera. The Grand Ballroom and East and West Wing rooms can accommodate up to 200 guests. This is a nice area for a few couples portraits on your wedding day. After missing out on St. Patrick's Day celebrations two years in a row due to COVID concerns, Tommy Sullivan's made a week out of the holiday in 2022, with whiskey promotions, bagpipe . es are the reasons why I was eager to book the venue, and they really shined on our wedding day. I loved how tables and chairs were included in the price and the house was your all day (we were there for about 13 hours from set up to take down Branford House Mansion helped create the wedding of my dreams. It was the only thing that really frustrated me on my wedding day. The Branford House is located in Groton, Connecticut on the campus of UConn Avery Point, which rents it out for events. The Branford House wedding era began in 2001 when UConn renovated the mansion and started renting it out as an event space. On the Marc curates the incredible menu for your guests, whether it be 250 for a sit-down or up to 650 for a casual celebration. The patio and lawn are the best part of the venue so, if you can, maximize the time spent out there. With the assistance of the events coordinator, every couples' nuptials will be planned according to their liking, style, and preference. So when it came time for him to be away from mom and dad for a long weekend, it was no surprise that he chose The Crate Escape. This is such a stunning site for a wedding. They have a requirement that you hire UConn Catering for any alcohol, and their service is very overpriced and lacking in selection. Venues - Catering by Christine As couples and their wedding party draw nearer, its architectural brick beauty becomes clearer. They don't let you swap selections. LOL. Definitely recommend! A quintessential winter wedding is cozy, warm (on the inside), and hopefully embraced by an enjoyable amount of snow. The state bought it for about $50,000; it cost $3 million to build. As the weeks have rolled by and the renovations take place, we've grown confident that The Lake House is going to be one of the most premiere . Additionally, we received rental of the house for the whole day, and were allowed to bring in any vendors we wished. Parking can be a bit tight. The texture and character of the building provided a beautiful backdrop without much need for decoration. The inside boasts three separate yet all ornately elegant rooms, so its easy to host your ceremony and reception with a more intimate guest count. Katherine was very easy to work with--she was responsive and helpful and very accommodating. The Branford House also doesn't allow you to use their chairs on the lawn, so you'll have to rent your own if you want an outdoor ceremony. This venue offers services for wedding ceremonies, receptions, engagement parties, bridal parties, and rehearsal dinners. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, the Branford House manager told us that she would be present for the wedding to help answer questions as vendors were setting up. Ashley and Dylan celebrated their beautiful wedding day at the gorgeous Brandford House in Groton, CT. Imagine the sprawling lawn settled with snow around you! A wedding in our impressive European Country Manor will reflect your personal vision. The Branford House Mansion is a historic mansion and wedding venue on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut in Groton, Connecticut. Wouldn't have picked a different location!! . The beauty of such a large space, and one so unique, is that you can tailor it to your needs. I highly recommend working with a coordinator and a caterer who are familiar with the BH due to its crazy layout and kitchen situation. With her blonde wavy tresses, channeling a breathtaking beaded lace dress, Bridget seemed to have just stepped out of a black and white movie. Branford House. Branford House was built in 1902 for Morton Freeman Plant, a local financier and philanthropist, as his summer home; he named it after his hometown of Branford, Connecticut. Just wish that there was more of a "bridal room." Katherine was incredibly accommodating to our quirky needs for the ceremony and reception. Apart from all the glitter, the day was a roller coaster of emotions filled with happy tears, especially for Bridgets dad (watching their father daughter dance photos brings it all to mind again). During prime wedding season (i.e. We had an outdoor ceremony overlooking the water and an indoor reception. Beyond the bar, Branford House was inflexible when it came to scheduling our rehearsal time. But don't let that deter you - this place is amazing otherwise! A notice of cancellation must be received by the Branford House Manager in writing no later than 12 months before the date . I have only seen a few pictures from my wedding so far as it was almost only 3 weeks ago but they are amazing thanks to this beautiful property inside and out! we got lucky with our amazing caterer, as we saw them in action when visiting the mansion. If you use the house properly then you can really create such an intimate and exquisite wedding. WoodWinds was bought by award-winning chef Antonio . Alex and Liane had a brisk winter day as the setting for their long awaited wedding. The Branford House at UConn's Avery Point campus was built at the turn of the 20th century as a summer home for local financier and philanthropist Morton Plant. Overall, 10/10 would do again! If you have a wedding larger than 100, I would recommend renting the tent out on the lawn. we took the suggestion of the bar underneath the Portico/stone patio and the dancing in the room right next to it. The reception was inside the mansion and it is a beautiful, unique option. The Branford House manager also scolded my mother-in-law and wedding party for bringing drinks to the bridal suite. There are several rooms including the Gallery, Ballroom, Sanctuary, and arcade, all with their own aesthetic to offer guests a distinctive, yet cohesive experience throughout your event. Lord Thompson Manor is no exception as it provides its couples with multiple locations for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and dancing as the evening wears on. Back to Table of Contents. I am so glad we picked the Branford House for our Fall wedding in CT. This gave us plenty of time for our first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing all at the Branford House. The venue and venue coordinator are amazing! So beware- if you pay for a champagne toast they may change the plan and not tell you. One thing to stress here is this: the Branford House backyard is huge. If you get a good day as far as weather, which we did, it makes for the most gorgeous and relaxing wedding experience you can imagine. The Gray Barns on the Silvermine River is a haven set in Fairfield County. This venue has four rooms within the mansion, suitable for hosting 85- 100 guests if you were to have your cocktail hour in the grand foyer. As couples and their wedding party draw nearer, its architectural brick beauty becomes clearer. There were even fireworks across the sound from Ocean Beach Park that we watched from the patio! Back To Home. it's very "busy" and authentic in itself. The only complaint we have about the facility is the bathrooms - they are okay and certainly functional but not terribly nice. you don't need to splurge on flowers or heavy decorations. This new venue captured our attentions immediately when we heard the words "19 acres and a private lake.". This space is perfect for an intimate winter wedding celebration, offering space for 30 50 guests! Madison . It fit our 110 guests with no problem and with tons of room to spare! It is a historic venue so you need to keep that in mind when booking as other br My husband and I got married at Branford House in April of 2022. My husband and I almost canceled the meeting but luckily we didn't. Weve shared our favorite venues for Spring, Summer, and Fall weddings but now its time to celebrate those winter wedding venues! Overall, I'd highly recommend this wedding venue to other couples! East Haven Ready for Winter Storm North Branford Breaks Ground on Long-Awaited New Police Facility . The venue does absolutely nothing for you, except provide a person to be on hand to have the place open, direct traffic and close the place up at the end. I was not disappointed having heard so many great things about this Newport mansion wedding venue. A winter wedding is always beloved by us, so we wanted to highlight this special one from The Branford House Mansion in Groton, Connecticut. Your email address will not be published. The property originally included Shennecossett Golf Course about a mile away (interesting tidbit: Shennecossett Yacht Club is right next door to Branford House and also hosts weddings). Eolia is available for weddings, private parties, seminars, conferences, luncheons and teas. The Branford House Mansion is a stunning building that captivates attention from afar. All of that being said, Branford House was incredibly affordable and saved us a ton of money when it came to our wedding budget. they loved the separate rooms, another waste of stress i had. A winter wedding at The Branford House at Avery Point UCONN in Groton CT where the Winters get married? i saw a bride do one and it just didn't flow. Classic Wedding Inspiration: An Iconic, Monochromatic Look, Tips and Tricks: Hosting a Home Wedding in Connecticut. This boutique hotel is equipped with a healthy list of hotel rooms ranging in all sizes and styles. Contact Branford House Mansion in Groton, with weddings starting at $4,884 for 50 guests. This ballroom-type area is super unique and fancy. In addition to many of images youve already seen throughout this post, here are some more of my favorite photos from Kristin and Robs beautiful Branford House wedding. Also, sometimes it was hard to get in contact with the main point person regarding questions. Try for off season for a cheaper price. Branford House has both indoor and outdoor event spaces where you can host your wedding celebrations. These two have a bond like no other, Dylan's larger than life personality a. Although it was more expensive for our May wedding, it was well worth it for such a beautiful and memorable place. Victoria and Jack had less than this, but it felt like a perfect party energy. We used the other smaller room (near the portico) for our dance floor and it all flowed well. Stephanie & Billy's Branford House wedding in Groton, CT / Avery Point! Equipped to host up to 200 guests, there are separate spaces for your cocktail hour and reception with plenty of churches or unique venues (check out the Old State House here) to host your ceremony! Branford house wedding pictures. I was told that they would not allow me to book any rehearsal time at the venue until 14 days before the wedding. Because they kitchen is in the basement, they said it was very challenging. It is smaller inside than it appears outside, so it's not great for a wedding larger than 125ish (I had 100). Below is a list of some great and best waterfront wedding venues in CT. 1. They put the bottles behind the bar and didnt tell us. Inside is dark and gothic, which was kind of my wedding theme. Harlakenden sat on a bluff overlooking the Connecticut River. This flexibility allowed us to have exactly the wedding we wanted. I liked that the couple followed this fun wedding tradition giving their guests one more reason to smile and joke. However, the place is very self serve. d it but only for the couple who wants to and has the time to find separate catering etc because nothing is really included in the price besides table and chairs. Gorgeous DIY Wedding at The Branford House | Connecticut Wedding Photographers February 1, 2019 Katherine Loiselle We first met Kelsey and her mom at the Mohegan Sun Bridal Expo last winter (we'll be back again this February, so stop by and say hi at our booth!!!!) Katie & Steve's Beach Engagement Session at Napatree Point. our cocktail hour and a half started at 5pm. The venue is absolutely beautiful and we ended up with a late-summer afternoon wedding on the lawn as the sun set and sail boats quietly coasted in the water. "He had to ride back to his house 100 yards up the street, and he later told me it took two more tries to get through. and couldn't wait for her and Alan to get married! So if you're heart is set on a seated, plated dinner, this is probably not the best venue, unless you do the tent. The woodwork is incredibly intricate too, which makes for exceptional photo opportunities. Credit: Justin and Mary. UConn can provide tent service, too, for additional fees. Get cozy and read on to some of Connecticuts greatest Winter wedding venues! This venue is especially perfect for the more intimate guest counts, ranging from 25 75, which weve all come to love this past year! The reception was held at the Branford House, also in Groton. The Grand Ballroom and East and West Wing rooms can accommodate up to 200 guests. It was a Saturday in October, as most weddings are. hence my beach theme going out the window. Smaller gatherings can take place on the aforementioned west wing patio, which is covered. 274 reviews of The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark "Grand opening and as you would expect some operational flaws. Therefore, Branford House is a convenient destination wedding venue. As other reviewers have mentioned, you rent the space and then bring in outside vendors. They acted as venue coordinators pretty much (Dave was AWESOME!) Ready to start the conversation about your own wedding at Branford House? The Branford House was amazing and more than anything I could have dreamed. Amanda was dressed in a timeless gown from White Dress by the Shore + her day was draped in exquisite florals from one of . If your budget allows, looking into a custom frame tent that will warm guests for dancing and cocktail hour. Bridget and Thomas, a radiant and very chic couple, decided to go for a winter wonderland wedding and, even if it was freezing cold outside (think Arctic cold, to get a feel of it), they did not really seem to mind. The state bought it for about $50,000; it cost $3 million to build. The historical society maintains the house, located at 124 Main St., as its headquarters. We had a wonderful winter wedding here and walking down the staircase to get married in front of the main fireplace was like something out of a fairytale. Branford House - University of Connecticut | Reception Venues In my opinion, the best thing about Branford House is that they let you hire the caterer of your choice - a huge cost savings!