Weddingbee boards

::long post ahead:: 

While I appreciate your intent to have a less expensive wedding in New Haven, I must advise you--the whole state is notorious for having really, really high wedding costs.  I live here in the Have, and recently one of the local TV news stations talked about how the costs of throwing a wedding here are much higher here than many places (probably thanks to towns like Greenwich and Westport).  Fortunately, New Haven is like an island oasis and can accomodate multiple budgets (a friend of mine is actually planning her wedding here for November).

A couple things to keep in mind:

• Try to not be in the height of the season, and you'll get a better price
• April tends to be gorgeous here, if you like the image of budding trees.  Right now, a number of trees are in full bloom and again it looks really pretty as well!
• If you're looking for a fall wedding, the trees tend to lose their leaves in mid to late October

In terms of actual venues, I would suggest La Mirage (can't say anything about it, but they advertise on I-91 and might be a nice solution), and Lighthouse Point--there's a restaurant (don't know the name, but the view is amazing as it goes out to Long Island Sound) and they tend to have good rates in November.

I'm not sure about Yale's wedding policy, but the building where they have catered events is known as The Commons and is a war memorial.  It's completley gorgeous and there are plenty of great photo ops inside the building and out.  A word of caution, though, about Yale in general--the blue tarps tend to go up the second the kiddies leave, so if you're thinking of a summer wedding, there's usually a good chance that scaffolding may play a part in some of the immediate facilites.  That said, there are SO MANY AMAZING buildings that are close by that it shouldn't be a big deal.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions--I've lived here for a few years now, and I'm very well acquainted with this town!  Good luck!  :-)