Katherine who runs the house can be tough to get a hold of at times and a few days before my wedding we had some miscommunication but everything went off without a hitch. USE VENDORS WHO HAVE WORKED THE MANSION SEVERAL TIMES! A Branford House wedding by the sea, complete with a live painter, live music, and fireworks made this mansion wedding an experience to remember. Acclaimed African-American painted John W. Hardrick painted this life-size portrait of Wilson native Dr. Joseph H. Ward circa 1932. It has old world charm with amazing architecture and beautiful fireplaces. We were able to do our ceremony on the lawn, cocktail hour on the patio, and dinner and dancing inside the Branford House. Try for off season for a cheaper price. Another industrial wedding venue favorite! As couples and their wedding party draw nearer, its architectural brick beauty becomes clearer. It sits on the Connecticut shoreline and offers a sophisticated setting for milestone celebrations. We had our wedding reception at the Branford House in November 2022, and it was absolutely stunning!! This beauty is located in the heart of downtown Fairfield right across from the train station. Indoor use of furniture is included, but extra and/or outdoor use of furniture costs extra. It is a unique venue if your looking for something more than your typical ballroom. Below is a list of some great and best waterfront wedding venues in CT. 1. Then reach out to their staff today! Some other options that couples can avail of at The Branford House Mansion include: Wedding of our dreams at the Branford House! es are the reasons why I was eager to book the venue, and they really shined on our wedding day. This is especially pleasant when its from another wedding vendor. This one is partially covered, making it a great location to exchange vows for more intimate weddings. 20 Likes, 1 Comments - White Traditions Bridal House (@whitetraditionsbridal) on Instagram: "Long sleeves are the perfect touch for your winter/spring wedding " The only minor inconvenience was the bar. With its notable onsite restaurant and caf, the hotel is known for its culinary team and head chef, so the food and beverage portion of your evening will be something everyone will rave about! Back to Table of Contents. So, you know the wine will never run out! The mansion's stately entryway and grand oak staircase offer memorable backgrounds for wedding photography. 295 West Ave. . That window of time was too close for comfort, and we ended up scheduling our rehearsal at a separate venue to make everything work logistically. The staff actually did some decorating for us ahead of time which was very nice of them. The inside walls are adorned in white with touches of gold for added elegance. If you want to feel like royalty, this place will do just that. It brings us joy to help folks tie the knot, and we have wedding spaces that rise . Ladybug Designs Wedding and Event Florals, History Around the Corner: UConn-Avery Point campus turns half a century old,, Outdoor/indoor, waterfront historic mansion, three lighthouses on view, As its owned by the State of Connecticut, Branford Houses staff are generally UConn employees, One of the better mansion wedding venues in the state, it offers year-round weddings, with outdoor covered and outdoor open-air ceremony options, The property is suitable for small and big weddings, with a maximum of about 500 people (thats not a typo; Bethany Lagenbach, Branford Houses event space manager, let me know that theyve hosted that many guests for an all-outdoor wedding in the past), If youre open to an outdoor dance floor (the venue has two sizable, paved patios), then 200 guests can fit inside for a Branford House wedding reception, Reasonably speaking, a little under 200 guests can be seated inside the mansions first floor for a Branford House wedding reception (its a good idea to speak with your, Choose your own caterer, subject to the venues rules, This includes a tasting for the two of you to check things out before you decide on food, Current policy dictates that youre locked into UConns Department of Dining Services for your bar/alcohol service, Since Branford House is on Connecticut state property, the public is technically allowed to be on the wedding venue grounds (but not in the mansion), Regarding overnight accommodations, there are several hotels in Groton, Connecticut that would probably require some Uber rides (and dont forget nearby, Branford House isnt technically in Mystic, its located in Groton (downtown Mystic is 15 minutes away, Stonington Borough is 20 minutes away), Lovers of small-band live music will love Branford House; this wedding venue is conducive to musicians and even has a piano on hand, Despite how glamorous your Branford House wedding can be, its actually an. Whether you're looking to learn something new, solve a . Definitely recommend! However, the place is very self serve. Given how expensive the venue was and that they already owned the chairs, this extra charge was a little surprising. you aren't locked into food choices or other weddings happening. Picking our wedding venue took my husband and I over six months. ). Mortons architect wife, Nellie, designed the mansion, which was actually named after Branford, Connecticut. Your email address will not be published. We fell in love with this venue the second we stepped inside, and We got married at the Branford House in October. The only complaint we have about the facility is the bathrooms - they are okay and certainly functional but not terribly nice. if it rains, a good caterer will know what to do. Everything went very smoothly and she had great recommendations for vendors! In the previous photo, you can see two of the three lighthouses (Avery Point on the left and New London Ledge on right, way off in the distance) which are viewable from Avery Point. enue is a problem. My favorite modern wedding venue, located right in the heart of downtown Hartford! Lockwood Matthews. Rooms were clean but bathrooms could be a bit more upscale as the price of a night stay . Overall, 10/10 would do again! We hired shuttles (DATTCO) from the hotel (Hampton Inn Groton) we and a majority of our guests were staying at and it worked out great. Its easy to want to stay cozy in any of these rooms, especially once you see the bathtubs some of them boast. d looking out at the sound. 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. Smaller gatherings can take place on the aforementioned west wing patio, which is covered. The inside of the mansion is beautiful and really doesn't need much additional decoration. Overall, I'd highly recommend this wedding venue to other couples! 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. The interior of Branford House consists of three rooms (PDF warning) on the first floor. Speaking of being outside, the waterscape views of Long Island Sound are epic. I cant wait to see our professional pictures! Sticking out into Eastern Point Bay (right next to Long Island Sound) is the regal Branford House. The inside is so gorgeous that you can go really light on decor and it will still looks amazi We got married in off season and the venue was PERFECT! Required fields are marked *. Click below to read more about my offerings or to head directly over to my contact page. This classic + traditional wedding. They have a great deal with a beautiful location and all day rental (you will be the only group there on your day!) Therefore, Branford House is a convenient destination wedding venue. Unfortunately everything else about this v Branford House was the venue of my dreams! Find wedding inspiration that fits your style with photos from real couples, Sit back and relax with travel info + exclusive deals for the hottest honeymoon destinations. BRANFORD While some saw the enormous stone house as a historic treasure in the center of Pine Orchard, others said they were happy to see it torn down. decided to go for a winter wonderland wedding and, even if it was freezing cold outside (think arctic cold, to get a feel of . Learn more here. If you have a wedding larger than 100, I would recommend renting the tent out on the lawn. This venue is located right downtown in Stamford, exceptionally close to hotels and other festivities to enjoy! Below are some favorites from the seaside wedding day. I do recommend calling her with most needs and then following up with an email if it is urgent and you are unable to get in touch. Hire a pro to do the hard work for you and enjoy the planning and your wedding day. Only downside was, we paid for a champagne toast, and it was never delivered. So beware- if you pay for a champagne toast they may change the plan and not tell you. ests inside comfortably. Branford House Wedding Amanda + JohN . All of that being said, Branford House was incredibly affordable and saved us a ton of money when it came to our wedding budget. Liane wore a gorgeous silk crepe Hayley Paige wedding gown. of the ocean and gives you various options for ceremony and picture spots. The house is open to the public on Saturdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. from June 1 until Oct. 31. (The third is New London Harbor, off to the right/west in this view.). But there were also lots of smiles, like during the funny speeches delivered by Thomass family that made everyone laugh wholeheartedly. We chose the Branford House because if it rained, we'd still have a stunning facility. When they returned they had some additional family and friends they wanted to celebrate with. like my husband said, we can bring our children back here. it's very "busy" and authentic in itself. There is such beautiful architectural detail that having a great photographer is really worth the cost (we hired Joshua Behan and the pictures are terrific). We had a beautiful Friday evening summer wedding, and our guests were absolutely floored. The price of the venue has gone up slightly but is still pretty reasonable relative to other options. We had the ceremony outside on the lawn by the water, cocktail hour on the patio, and dinner and dancing inside. We love a venue thats easy to get to, and travel to and from this one is a cinch! If you havent gauged through this list by now, Connecticut offers some of the best estates and manors for your winter wedding venues! The Branford House at UConn Avery Point was built in the 19th century, modeled after the famous Newport mansions, and offers an elegant location on the Connecticut shore that creates the ideal atmosphere for a memorable event. It was the only thing that really frustrated me on my wedding day. A picturesque cocktail hour and reception meal . I went to a wedding there years ago and it absolutely blew my mind. WoodWinds was bought by award-winning chef Antonio . Brian + Manu Branford House Groton CT Wedding DJ, Uplighting & Photobooth Brian and Manu had multiple weddings starting with a large one in India. The street address of UConn Avery Point is 1084 Shennocossett Road, Groton, CT 06340 USA. The bride and groom truly have an opportunity to create that special wedding at Waveny House. A winter Branford House wedding in Groton, Connecticut. Fun fact: she and her now-husband, Alex, grace the cover of Beth Chapmans second book, The White Dress Destinations.. The house is so elegant and beautiful it needed little decoration. So if you're heart is set on a seated, plated dinner, this is probably not the best venue, unless you do the tent. Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. If youre having your reception inside, there are some challenges as its separated into three rooms and is unlike many traditional venues. A mixture of natural wood farm tables and plum dressed tables held a colorful array of . The venue is absolutely beautiful - three stone fireplaces (one for each room! i'm sorry but it's a castle.. built in 1901 with gigantic marble fireplaces and wood walls carved by Italian artisans. I cant say enough good things about the Branford House. Required fields are marked *. Our Weddings Team is ready to help you plan your special day. The Branford House Mansion is a historic mansion and wedding venue on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut in Groton, Connecticut. The Branford House is SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL. Next is the East Room, which is just about 850 square feet. They do mandate that you use UConn Catering bar services, which was frustrating at times. This regal house was built in the nineteenth century in the style of the famous Newport mansions. hence my beach theme going out the window. This venue is especially perfect for the more intimate guest counts, ranging from 25 75, which weve all come to love this past year! Set in North Stonington, its a short drive away to all of Mystics boutique hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, allowing you to make it a full weekend getaway! to the fact that it is an old mansion, be prepared that there are three separate rooms to have your guests in, which some people are bothered by. Its the perfect location to carry your rustic, organic aesthetic design throughout. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I wouldn't let that stop you from having your wedding here but my advice is to make sure to pay extra for the champagne or else your guests will have empty glasses for the dinner toasts. Hosted on the coast at the Branford House in Groton, Connecticut, we constructed a tent on what started out as the rainiest day of the month. Ultimately, the night of, they did a great job and our guests were very happy. You don't need to go overboard with holiday . n. We were lucky and the weather was absolutely perfect! Plus it was really inexpensive to rent! Embrace Fireplaces. Allison & Curtis' Branford House Wedding Wedding . If you're looking for something new to read this winter, 13 local authors have put out a variety of books to keep you entertained throughout the frosty season. they know the electrical outlets, how to do lighting, where to do the first dances, how to maneuver the kitchen downstairs and how to make flowers flow. Inside and outside, it is clean and beautiful. I was not disappointed having heard so many great things about this Newport mansion wedding venue. The bridal party got ready on site, but it is good to note that no mirrors were provided and it was a good thing we had thought to bring our own. Like a couple of acres huge, just wide open to water views directly behind the mansion. 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. Ballroom, Beach, Waterfront, Estate, Garden, Historic Venue, Tented, Food & Catering, Rentals & Equipment, Tents. The mansion has rules for them, too, as well as a kitchen for them to use. From our elegant Sugar River Ballroom, to our intimate Woven Label room to our outdoor, riverside Sullivan Green, we have many spaces to create the day of your dreams. The only reason I give this place four stars instead of 5 is because the bathrooms are hideous (think public school bathroom) and the venue manager, Katherine, can be pretty tough to get in a hold of. Thank you to Bethany and our vendors for making it such an incredible day! 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. From the patio of a historic mansion, you can enjoy a panoramic ocean view, sailboats drifting past, and sparkling lawns. Woodrow Wilson spent several weeks in the summers of 1913 through 1915 at Harlakenden, a country estate in Cornish, N.H. Wilson leased his summer White House from Winston Churchill - the American Winston Churchill, a writer who lost a race for governor of New Hampshire in 1906. The staff is responsive and helpful. Would we have chosen to use them? I was nervous about the three different rooms but we used the large main room and one smaller room for a sit down dinner. Modeled after the famous Newport mansions, it was named after Plant's hometown of Branford, Conn. Though easily associated with the perfect summer wedding location, the inside of this mansion with its warm . Staff is very under developed from lack of training I expect. The schoolhouse now features lodging and dining areas while the auditorium now serves as your wedding and reception area. The inside and out side are both gorgeous so if it does rain on your big day you really aren't missing out! The Branford Mansion's official Web Site is averypoint.uconn.edu/branford . The day was magical! I think they do over 20 weddings there a year! Food is a bit pricey for the quality and service. and made the venue really shine and flow well. Embrace the Season. 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. Overall we were extremely happy with the location and cannot wait to see the pictures. the LI Sound and the backdrop of the stunning mansion. However, they swiftly broke it down after cocktail hour. We used UCONN catering and guests STILL talk about how good the food was. When we first saw the Branford House we fell in love with its beautiful views of the ocean, lovely stonework and amazing ornate wood filled rooms. Although they provided excellent service, it did add on quite a bit to our budget. The staff is helpful and responds quickly, and the location is perfect. I loved the view of the ocean and the sunset. One of the best industrial venues Ive come across and its right here in our own state! 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! For larger wedding events, a tent on the lawn provides a beautiful outdoor venue . Excludes weddings.) The Branford House Mansion chosen by Bridget and Thomas for their nuptials is a stunning location on the Connecticut shoreline which created the perfect ambience for a day to remember. Shane and Margarita traveled from North Dakota, as did the Maid of Honor, since they're all stationed there for the military. It is a beautiful mansion on the UConn Avery Point Campus. So, when Kristin and Rob reached out to me based on my own JPs, Marie Tyler Wileys, recommendation, it was awesome! Our owner and fearless leader, Beth Chapman, styled Liane for her wedding day and provided with day-of dressing services. We were lucky enough to have our ceremony on the lawn , cocktail hour on the patio during sunset, dinner in the main room and a band/dancing setup in the wing. A picturesque cocktail hour and reception meal can be held on the stone patio and adjacent grass, perfect for those who have envisioned a waterfront mansion wedding. We had an outdoor ceremony overlooking the water and an indoor reception. I liked that the couple followed this fun wedding tradition giving their guests one more reason to smile and joke. As youll see in the linked floor plan, the L-shaped Main Room is about 1000 square feet. Katherine was very easy to work with--she was responsive and helpful and very accommodating. The most amazing wedding venue! It can truly not be beat! we paid for EVERYTHING ourselves so we had to watch our $$. (Although you do have to bring in all your own vendors, which can add up). is so large, it still had a close, romantic feel to it.