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I went to a great wedding at The Inn at Longshore in Westport.
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I went to a beautiful wedding at the Waters Edge in Westbrook. The view and sunset were amazing!
Being to a ridiculous number of wedding throughout CT.. i would have to say some of the best wedding were down at the shore line... Westbrook, etc have some fabulous wedding spots - BUT they are dam expensive!! While planning ours I would have loved nothing more than a wedding at the shoreline but ummm.. not for $110 a plate...
We are working on a budget of 10-15k and I was trying to stay around the $50 mark per plate.. with all that said.. our wedding reception is at La Trattoria in Canton. It had what we wanted to offer at our price range. You get the old-school italian hospitality when you walk in and the food is great.
Just to add my 2 cents... Aqua Turf in Southington has always been a huge hit for people to get married at but having lived in CT most of my life and attending proms, etc there.. there was NO WAY I was getting married there..
One place to stay away from (Disclaimer if anyone is having their reception there)... Mill on the River in South Windsor. I went to 2 wedding there (both in their lower reception room) and they were dark and the food was bad. they ran out of it, didnt have what ppl ordered, etc. I know ppl who love the place.. so it may be hit or miss.
Let us know where you decide... I love hearing from my CT Bees 
Sorry Aqua Turf people- I hated every wedding there. it's a factory and impersonal. I am getting married at Tumblebrook Country Club in Bloomfield in July and can't wait. They bend over backwards day after day for me.
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I agree with Perk - the Aqua Turf kind of feels like a wedding factor! I was married at the Fox Hill Inn in Brookfield. We were the only wedding taking place that night, which is what I was looking for. The owner that we originally spoke to was kind of cocky, but after we were sold on the location - that was the last time I spoke to him. The event coordinator and other people I actually worked with were awesome!
yay CT bees!
I am getting married at The Burr Homestead in Fairfield CT. We LOVE the history, the old colonial mansion and four acres of grounds. We are having the ceremony between two trees (an area that's not manicured and kind of woodsy), cocktail under a huge tree on the side of the house that we call the Sleepy Hollow tree and reception inside. It's walking distance to the train station and right by 1-95; so easy to get to. Also, they don't have a ton of weddings (no wedding factory), the coordinator is a *lovely* woman who knows the history, the grounds..she's a doll. The $ goes to parks and recreation which was important to us. $1600 for 8 hours. In Fairfield County, you can't beat that with a stick.
However this is the kind of venue where you have to be willing to do a lot of work and have vision. There is no furniture in the house. Ladies: I am sweating the details but I'm also really excited to see it all come together. The coordinator is the only person in the house so there's no extra help, hands, or resources. If you are a DIYer, it is a dream. You can rent a tent too but the inside is so special, I don't see why you would :)
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This is a great topic! I just got engaged on the 4th of May and I'm trying to figure out the best way to start...
Any thoughts on places to find a wedding gown? Best and Worst???
Hi AnamCara!! Congratulation on the engagment and welcome to the hive!
So, you are living in Ireland and getting married in Connecticut? Which part of CT?
Well I am getting married at the Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden and Stacey (wedding coordinator) is amazing. She is super cool and has kept hereues peeled for anything that might add a little more pop to the wedding.
Now the worse vendor was my original wedding planner - Jennifer Lynn Events. In the beginning everything was amazing until she stopped responding to my emails and not returning my phone calls. I checked her website and it was taken down. I tracked her down by calling the State Secretary and finding out other contacts for the company. I ended up having to threaten to sue (which I was planning on doing). To cut to the chase .... she moved out of state and left someone else in chage without ever notifing me. I was reimbursed all my money and my contract was voided with no penalties.
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@Perk - I hear ya! When I think Aqua Turf I think Prom!!
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Hi Future Puida - thanks for the lovely welcome!
I'm from West Hartford and planning for April 2010 right now (although that could change depending on FI's work) I live in Ireland (but I'm home in CT for the next few weeks) and we're planning to do a blessing and reception there after the wedding here. I've already booked the church (my home parish) but haven't made any plans for the reception b/c we haven't figured out the guest list yet. I'm not panicked but I'm definitely doing research!!!
im getting married on august 15 2009 and we had a really small budget of 8 to 9 thousand. i found a local reception hall about 1 mile down the road that some town churches built a few years ago, and since i had a good friend who was friends with the guy in charge there i was able to rent the entire reception hall for the night before for set up and the entire next day for 750 including an insurance policy for booze. if you are a diy girl this place is for you and i plan on getting a rental company (since it is really plain). in there to drap fabric, hang paper lanterns, rent chairs and linens. my catering is about 1000 for 75 people. it has high ceilings and flourescent lighting but it has a dimmer and i have high hope for transforming this place!
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Hi Bees,
I got engaged on May 02, 2009 and my wedding date is May 8th 2010. It's been a whirlwind but fun. We looked at the Burr...it is beautiful but a lot of work. Patsy the contact there is just so lovely.
The other place we really loved was the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Lynn is the contact there and she was WONDERFUL. there is a site fee but you can bring in your own caterer and they will work with you on everything, it's really great.
We decided on both the ceremony and the reception at the Maritime Aquarium in S. Norwalk. I'm only having 80 guests but it does fit lots more. The thought of having our wedding at an aquarium was so fantastic we couldn't say no. It's a bit on the pricier side due to site fees so my fiance an I are DIYing as much as possible.
Living in the New Haven area, I'm unfamiliar with S. Norwalk. If anyone has suggestions for inexpensive florists and hair/makeup...please post.
Thanks
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We had our wedding reception at Bank Street in Stamford. This is a former bank with beautiful architecture and vaulted ceiling. The were absolutely amazing to work with. Claudia is the coordinator and she did an incredible job organizing our day and following up with us all of the time. The night of the event, Ted, the manager, kept everything running smoothly. We never worried about a thing! Our reception was beautiful and we feel so lucky to have found them. Also, the food was absolutely delicious!
Thumbs up for Waters Edge in Westbrook, CT. My boyfriend and his family went their for drinks last summer at the downstairs bar and they had a wedding going on upstairs in one facility and I assume "after-party" for a rehearsal dinner down at the outdoor bar too. Beautiful, beautiful views off the water.
I can't remember the names of the specific venues where I attended weddings, but mystic has some beautiful venues. Also, if you are in that area, the Connecticut College Chapel is beautiful! I went to college there and saw many happy brides and grooms getting married there.
I'm a FOX HILL INN Bride :) 10/24/10! My cousin was married there and I also had my senior prom there. It was gorgeous! So far they have been great and we were able to work them down on the price. It looks like an old plantation mansion. They own the Candlewood Inn and 2 others... I think waterview and riverview?
Other vendors.. not sure if you have your photographer but we have Raw Photo Design and they are amazing!!!!! No one compares! Definitely our splurge but worth it! Very cool and unique shots
Our friend is DJing.. he owns EZ DJ near New Haven... he has great prices and does a great job. check him out!
If anyone needs dance lessons or first dance choreography shoot me a message! I do it for a side business- adance2remember.com
YAY for CT Brides! :)
Hey! I am getting married in Avon, CT & the reception is at the Avon Old Farms Hotel. Has anyone been to a reception here? Just thinking about decorating/music ideas. Thanks!
I love the Lyman Homestead in Middlefield, CT and The Barns at Wesleyan Hills in Middletown!
i'm getting married at the pine orchard yacht club. it's right on the shore in the thimble islands and its beautiful. not too expensive either and chris, the manager has been great.
here's a tip for photographers - find one you love and see if they have an apprentice - the price is cut in half and you know they will be up to par with what you want, because your photog wouldn't put their name on them if they weren't!
It is great to see so many other CT brides here. :)
We looked at a few venues but really weren't finding what we wanted. Luckily my fiancé’s family owns Early New England Homes, by Country Carpenters in Bolton. If you haven't heard of it you should Google it. They build post and beam homes and barns. We will be getting married in a wooded area at the model home and having the reception in a tent on the grounds. I also work for a catering company on the side called Gourmet Galley and we were able to get them. :)
Working for the Caterer I have see some really great places, as well as places that we went to see while looking for a venue.
Some places that I do like -
- The Barns at the Hills at Wesleyan, we really liked it but it seemed over priced and I wasn‘t sold on the food.
- I LOVE Saltwater Vineyards in Stonington. They are very pricy but if you can afford it, it is definitely my favorite place. The reception is generally inside in the old airplane hanger that has wine barrels around for added interest. Out back is the vineyard and it is sounded by an estuary. It is just amazing.
- I also really like the Brandford house at Avery Point. It is an old mansion on the amazing waterfront campus.
- Jonathan Edwards Vineyard is really nice too. The drawback there is that the event cannot start till after they close. I believe that is 5 PM and the music must be turned off by 10 PM. That can make for a short night.
- I like the Mystic Aquarium but it isn’t the look we are going for plus it is where we had prom and we are trying to stay away from that.
- The Glastonbury Colonnade is nice too, but I would only use this if you were getting married off site, in a church or something. It is affordable, has a great staircase to take photos on, has a water feature and the food is good too.
- I really like Waters Edge, but I feel like your wedding is just another wedding there. They could even have other weddings at Waters Edge on the same day L.
- The Eugene O’Neil theater is really nice too. Usually people have their reception in the sunken garden. It is really nice venue and Harkness is in the background.
That is all I can think of right now. I hope it is helpful to someone.
That is all I can think of right now.
Does anyone in CT have a good, in-expensive caterer? I'm getting married at the Branford House in Groton (eastern CT), but don't want to spend a fortune. Recommendations please!! Thanks!
I'm also getting married at Branford House and did the rounds of all the caterers in the area. In the end, I found Coastal Gourmet to be the best value for money and really the most flexible in terms of doing their best to keep us under our budget. Good luck!
Does anyone have any opinions on The Riverview in Simsbury, CT? I'm getting married in May and have had nothing but MAJOR issues with everyone there. Everytime I call I am assigned a new coordinator because the previous one quit. And they NEVER return my calls :( I am looking for something positive...
@plantains: I am getting married there in April! I am using Ciao catering. The guy Tom is amazing! So helpful, nice and very responsive. Tell him what you are looking for and your budget and he will come up with something that will work.
The name of his catering company gives the wrong impression. Its not necessarily Italian cooking. We did the tasting and it was great. He also owns two restaurants which is why he is so affordable (he buys in quantity and if you dont use some stuff he can bring it back and you dont pay for it)
http://www.ciaocateringtwosteps.com/catering.html
If you decide to contact him, PM me so I can give you my name so you can tell him I referred you and even give you my menu and pricing. It could help in your negotiations. He is negotiable and will make more than is on the online menu.
We contact and talked to a lot of people, but he was one of the few who responded in a timely and professional manner and was also the most affordable.
@lefeymw: & @plantains: Hi Ladies! Isn't the Branford House beautiful?! How many people are you having? lefeymw, are you planning on having your ceremony inside or out? I'm still unsure of the best set up for tables, as we are planning on slightly over 100 ppl and the main room only sits 100. Also, have you ladies thought about decorations? I'm planning on family photos above mantels and candels, but not sure about what else. I'd love to hear what both of you are planning!
How exciting to have so many Branford House brides on the boards!! I'm currently stressing out looking for a DJ. I have no idea what to do. I really need it to be someone who plays primarily R&B and hip-hop with some other stuff thrown in here and there. Any ideas that don't cost $3000 would be much appreciated haha. As for numbers, we are planning on having 120 people. I anticiptae that about 20 or so of those will be children so I will have them seated in oneof the adjoining rooms. I'm not really sure what the best floor plans are. For decor, I love candles on the matle and am doing the same. Family photos would also be a lovely touch. This wedding looks lovely, http://www.weddingchicks.com/real-weddings/8700/branford-house-groton-ct/
@plantains: I haven't found a dj either! We've been looking to find one that plays jazz, swing etc... I have a friend, James Winston who DJ's- aka DJ slim. He mostly plays at bars- http://www.facebook.com/#!/DJSlimJWinston?v=app_2344061033 hopefully this link will go directly to his Events page- that way you can check him out before hiring. Are you using the chairs that come with the location or are you renting? I think I'm going to do chair covers and sashes. Still debating about renting or buying... Keep me posted with anything else you decide to do for decor- i'm always looking for new ideas.
@plantains: Have you looked into CTParty Pros. Jason was fantastic at our wedding. He isn't one of these DJ's that plays music on the weekends. It is what he does for a living. We didn't pay 3000 for him either. I would highly recommend him.
It is crazy that there are so many Branford House Brides on here. :) I'm not one but I do love the place.
I love Gourmet Galley Catering and I know they do catering there too. I think they are a bit more than some other caterers that you can get but they are really good and personally I think it is worth it.
Oops, just saw your rec. I ended up booking with Jason Palermo for a very reasonable price so I'm excited. I'm now in negotaitions with the florist, and should hopefully sign that contract in the next couple of weeks.
I am getting married in 12 days at the Gershon Fox Ballroom. Totally excited! Anywho, saw the chit chat about a DJ. FI and I found this the hardest to make a decision about because how do you audition a DJ? We went to a wedding last October and the DJ was stinking awesome! Everyone was dancing huge array of music. Plus he's hysterical. His name is Josh and he is known as Mr.Musicman. www.mrmusicman.net.
He is not just doing the DJ'ing but included in his price is a photomontage on this huge screen he has during dinner and uplighting as well. He also has all of the equipment to project your monogram or whatever (you have to buy the personalized piece for this we paid $60) He's doing the ceremony music and has all microphone's and everything.
I just peaked at his website and it looks like his prices went up again, however this happened right before we booked him too and we told him we were planning on paying less because of what we heard the pricing was. So we got his more expensive package for the lower package price. You can mention me and maybe he would do the same for you. We're Melissa and John and getting married on the Gershon in December, I would assume that would be enough for him to think you know us haha.
Hey Ladies!! I have just started planning my wedding and have my heart set on the Branford House. It's such a beautiful spot to get married! Right now we are pricing out different caterers, it's unbelievable how expense they can be. Can't wait to be an offical branford house bride! 
How lovely to have another potential Branford House bride on the board! Good luck with all the caterers, they really are crazy expensive. I have to say though that of all of them, Coastal Gourmet were very good about doing everything they could to get down to the price we had in mind. They even threw in a couple of freebies for us.
I am a Dolce bride :) (Dolce, Norwalk CT) another amazing venue is Marquee CT.
Bad reception site...the aqua Turf :(
@Amandalu: hope im not too late.. dont get married there it was the 1st place i looked at and the venue was nice but the food was blah and the coordinator was soooo unprofessional!
im a ct bride! ill tell you the best and the worst EASY i interviewed them all ! well almost
venue-ANTHONYS OCEANVIEW ( food garden beach decor, newly renovated and awesome staff)
phtotgrapher- david frost for the classic wedding look
raw photo-more then double the price but more edgy
or eric foley also around the 5k price range but i love his work..not enough to pay 5k though :(
DJ-LOCAL MOTION!!! FABULOUS! DID AN AMAZING JOB AND GAVE US A HUGE DISCOUNT
FLOWERS BY DANIELLE- out of thousands of wedding flowers i only had an issue with 2 centerpeices but she is fantastic!
DON NOT BOOK Premeire limo, cosmopolitan limo or abc limo. Go with Encore limo pm me for detail
DO NOT go with luigis bakery in bridgeport unless you want stale cake with a half assed fondant job HOWEVER if your budget allows it Palmers bakery in Darien has an AMAZING white chocolate rasberry cake mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Naomi Martinez Salon in west hartford, great stylist-really overpriced ($80 a bm)
Victors videos (cheap and treats you like family) i have watched my wedding video over and over
dont go with any of the following venues all owned by the same ppl
NO-RIVERVIEW
NO-WATERVIEW
NO-CANDLEWOOD INN
NO-FANTASIA
NO-LA MIRAGE
NO-AMARANTES
A BIG YES TO BRIDAL TROUSSEAU for wedding gowns however alterations are hit or miss there. I should know i work there. but i know for a fact they dont overcharge you and tim knows his shit ONLY DEAL WITH TIM or jodi. ps lie about your wedding date by a few months bc they wait to order dresses. every shop does that.
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Help a girl out! What was the best venue/vendor that you found in CT? What was your worst!