There are some pretty unique wedding venues in Connecticut. As a wedding photographer, I can definitely say that a unique venue can make a difference in your photos.
I’ve even photographed weddings at a bunch of them, and I can say that it is a totally inspiring to shoot at a gorgeous venue with lots of character. Some of these venues require more DIY than others, so it really depends on how involved you want to be in the planning.
Restaurants can be awesome because food, tables, and tableware are all included. Locations that let you bring in all your own vendors can be great if you want to really personalize everything.
Read on to see some of these unique wedding venues in Connecticut, and click some of the photos to see full weddings at each!
The New England Carousel Museum
Who wouldn’t want to ride on a carousel after a couple of beers? The second floor ballroom holds 230 for a sit down dinner with dance floor and 400 for a cocktail party. If you have a Carousel Museum wedding you can make the vibe really fun and whimsical.
95 Riverside Ave, Bristol, CT 06010
http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org/
Image courtesy of the New England Carousel Museum
19Main
I photographed a wedding here this past fall and it was super awesome. Located in New Milford, CT, 19Main used to be a bank, so a lot of the original details like the vaults are still around. They also have rooms on site for getting ready in, with gorgeous natural light.
Photo by Parenthesis Photography
The Washington Club
The natural light is so pretty that you could easily go simple with just some colorful flowers, or lanterns.
92 Green Hill Rd, Washington, CT 06793
http://www.washingtonclub.net/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=38&ssid=100051&vnf=1
The Twisted Vine
This restaurant is a former bank, built in 1892. It’s also said to be haunted, which I think is a plus.
285 Main Street, Derby Connecticut
http://twistedvinerestaurant.com/
The Lace Factory
Constructed in 1875, this industrial building has tons of space, brick construction, and a courtyard. You can also take a steam train there. A Lace Factory wedding can be elegant, casual, or boho.
161 River St, Deep River, CT 06417
http://thelacefactory.com/
The Hill-Stead Museum
The Hill-stead Museum is one of my favorite places to shoot weddings. Not only is the garden amazing, but the interior and areas for getting-ready are stunning as well. It has a super cozy, historical feel to it. If you like beautiful gardens and history, a Hill-Stead Museum wedding might be for you! Click the photo below to see more from Chris + Amy’s wedding at the Hill-Stead Museum.
Photo by Parenthesis Photography
Apricots
This place is a good intimate wedding venue in Connecticut. It would be perfect for a casual summer wedding. Since it’s a restaurant, all the food is taken care of in-house.
1593 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032
http://apricotsrestaurant.com/wedding_general_info.aspx
The Burr Homestead
The Burr Mansion was rebuilt in 1791 and hosted major wig-wearing hotties such as George Washington, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and John Adams. Click the photo below to see Stefanie and Ryan’s Burr Homestead wedding.
739 Old Post Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Beardsley Zoo
It’s a zoo, it has a carousel, and you can play with the otters. What more needs to be said? They have a few different locations that host weddings and capacity depends on which you choose. The popular carousel house seats 180.
1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610
http://www.beardsleyzoo.com
The Carousel at Lighthouse Point Park
This is one of my favorite venues to shoot at. It’s right on the water in New Haven, and there’s a carousel. So you have the beach feel, but the fun and casual vibe from the carousel. Your friends and family can ride the carousel during the reception. It’s just such a fun spot! If you want a playful yet elegant wedding, a Lighthouse Point Park wedding might be a good choice. Click the photo below to see more from Fawn and Evan’s wedding at the Lighthouse Point.
2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT 06512
http://www.ctvisit.com/listings/lighthouse-point-park
The Keeler Tavern Museum
I’m obviously partial to the Keeler Tavern Museum, because it’s where I got married. A Keeler Tavern Museum wedding means a beautiful brick-wall garden, lots of flowers and foliage and a bright and cozy garden house where you can have your reception. It’s good for weddings of up to 90 or so, although a smaller guest count will leave more room for dancing. Be ready to roll your sleeves up and DIY, or get a planner. The plus with this venue is that you can completely customize everything and choose your own vendors.
132 Main St, Ridgefield, CT 06877
http://keelertavernmuseum.org/gardens/gardenhouse2/garden-house.php
Bank Street Events
If you’re having a wedding with maybe 100+, a Bank Street Events wedding could be amazing. Built in 1912, the architecture and detail is gorgeous. Definitely a possibility for an art deco/1920s theme wedding. Seats 200 and has in-house wedding planner, catering, and bar. (read my interview with Bank Street Events here)
Bank Street Events in Stamford
65 Bank St, Stamford, CT 06901
bankstreetevents.com
Dudley Farm
Cozy barn venue with animals!
2351 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT 06437
http://www.dudleyfarm.com
The Maritime Aquarium
Might be worth having an Mystic Aquarium wedding here just for the jellyfish room. It’s seriously awesome.
10 North Water Street Norwalk, CT
http://maritimeaquarium.org/
Looking for unique wedding photography to go with your unique venue? Take a look at some of my galleries below.
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