Connecticut Wedding Venues
The best places in Connecticut to get married at!
Hooray! You’re engaged!
Looking for the right wedding venue in Connecticut? Even though planning a wedding is exciting and fun, it can also be a bit stressful. There are hundreds of decisions to make — like choosing where to have your wedding ceremony and reception. You could argue that it is the biggest one in the entire wedding planning process.
Your wedding venue, for example, will dictate how your pictures come out. Luckily, we have a lot of beautiful wedding venues here in Connecticut.
Check out a few of my favorites below!
Who am I?
Kari Bjorn Photography is a film and digital wedding photography studio in West Hartford, CT. My work is moment-driven, vibrant, and focused on honest storytelling. Serving Connecticut and most of NY and New England!
What to do before booking your venue
Before booking your wedding venue or even scheduling visits, it’s a good idea to visualize your day from start to finish in as much detail as possible. I know many brides-to-be already have mood boards when they get engaged — but it is super helpful to refresh and write down what truly matters to you and your partner.
Hiring a wedding planner or a part-time coordinator at this stage is a fantastic idea. From a photographer’s standpoint, some venues offer a lot of natural light whereas others are darker and moodier, and will need additional lighting. Neither is better, it is just a matter of what you feel is right for your wedding day.
Estimate your budget
You should consider your budget at the beginning of the planning stage and take it from there. I’d reach out and ask the wedding venue owner what the average spend is in addition to their packages. Look at the list of add-ons and consider if they will are really necessary.
Once you have your wedding vision and budget, it is time to look at what season you prefer and your ideal dates. Does a crowded dance floor matter a lot to you? Then booking a Saturday is pretty important, for example.
Estimate the size of your guest list
We’ll look at this in detail a little later but having a ballpark estimate of your guest list will help you narrow it down further.
Look at the reviews
You should look at the reviews, and not just on Google. Everybody can leave a review on Google, but The Knot and Wedding Wire have reviews, mostly from previous clients, and they tend to be very honest.
Size matters, obviously!
You don’t want a venue that is too small! But bigger might not be any better. A venue that is way too big can result in it feeling empty. Generally, being at around half to two-thirds capacity will be good. Look at photos from previous weddings the venues have had and ask what the guest count was, simple!
Shape matters too
It is not only size that is important when choosing your wedding venue. Some older and historic places have many rooms and that will ultimately divide your wedding reception up. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you probably shouldn’t choose one like that if you want to keep it intimate and have your guests mingle throughout the day.
Does it have an indoor ceremony option?
Many brides-to-be want to have an outdoor ceremony. If that’s you, it is worth noting that choosing a venue that can accommodate your ceremony inside should it rain heavily on your day is going to keep a lot of stress and anxiety away in the days and weeks before when you will be refreshing the weather app multiple times a day.
How much is a wedding in Connecticut?
The average price of a 100-150 guest wedding in Connecticut in 2024 is close to what it was before Covid, or about $35,000. The Wedding Report says the average one in 2019 cost about $35,100 and $32,700 in 2022. It is probably safe to assume that the average wedding will be around $40,000 in 2025.
What's the best season for an outdoor wedding?
Late spring until autumn is the best time for an outdoor wedding in Connecticut. Late April to early June has the mildest weather. In the fall, you can expect equally nice weather from mid to late September into early October. If you have your eye on a date that falls within these ranges and you want a Saturday wedding too, get booking now!
When to book your venue
This depends a lot on which season and the day of the week you are getting married on. A Saturday in spring, summer, or fall will get booked much faster than a weekday in January, those are usually free until the last minute, to be honest.
If you want a wedding on what will be a popular date, then I’d recommend booking your venue at least 15-18 months out, just to be sure. Most couples with popular wedding dates book me for photography about 12 to 15 months out, just so you get an idea.
The more popular your desired venue is, the earlier you should reach out. Generally speaking, earlier tends to be better.
Wedding venue packages
Most wedding venue packages in Connecticut start around 9 am in the morning and typically end close to midnight. Some offer weekend long rentals as well. You should expect to be able to have a rehearsal in the week of your big day and some even offer engagement photos on site after you have booked with them.
What’s included in packages varies but there are many options for all budgets and visions. Wedding packages on Saturdays are extremely popular — especially in spring and fall when the weather is nicest here in Connecticut — so they are usually the most expensive ones. Having an elopement on a weekday can be an affordable option if that’s more your thing.
Related: 15 romantic Connecticut date night ideas and top 5 Branford wedding venues
The Pavilion on Crystal Lake
The Pavilion on Crystal Lake in Middletown, CT, has been one of the premier wedding venues in Connecticut for the last few decades. Waterfront charm is one of their slogans, and that’s precisely what you’ll get! The venue is ideal for mid to large sizes weddings and has many amenities, ensuring you won’t have to travel much on your day.
Pricing: wedding packages start at $20,000
Capacity: Up to 210 guests
Amenities
Outdoor Ceremony Area
Bridal Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Reception Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Cocktail Area
Eolia Mansion
Eolia Mansion in Harkness Memorial State Park is definitely one of the best affordable venues in Connecticut. They offer evening weddings starting at 5 PM from Memorial Day until Labor Day and then have two time slots for weddings between fall and spring. An afternoon and evening wedding.
The mansion was built in 1907 and taken over by the state of Connecticut in 1950. This makes it a more affordable option, when compared to venues with similar qualities. Harkness Memorial State Park is huge and has many options for wedding photos, over 200 acres worth of options!
Pricing: Starting at $5,000
Capacity: Up to 150 guests
Amenities
Outdoor Ceremony Area
Wedding Dressing Room Suite
Handicap Accessible Throughout
Tented Reception Space
Outdoor Event Space
Amphitheater Ceremony Space
Park Staff On Hand
Chairs, Tables, and Tent Provided
The Riverview is a luxurious wedding venue on the Farmington river in Weatogue, CT — just a few miles northwest of Hartford. The venue is nearing its 20th birthday and has served couples from all over the Northeast since 2008. It has both a modern and classical feel with both indoor and outdoor spaces available.
Pricing: full day wedding packages start at $10,000
Capacity: up to 500 seated guests
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoor Space for Cocktail Hour
Bridal Suite
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Reception Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Wifi on-site
The Riverview
The Mansion at Bald Hill
This historic Connecticut landmark has somewhat recently been transformed into a wedding venue. The Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock, CT is equally perfect for large gatherings as well as intimate elopements and micro weddings. They offer packages and catering to fit every bride and groom.
Pricing: peak season packages start at $3500. Off season packages start at $1750
Capacity: up to 275 guests
Catering: starting at $60 per guest
Amenities
Outdoor Ceremony Area
Handicap Accessible
Bridal suite
Indoor Reception and Ceremony Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Spaces in the Mansion Garden
Wifi
Catering and Multiple Menu Options
The Society Room of Hartford
Looking for a nearly 200 year old building with a 30+ foot tall gilded ceiling that used to be a bank? Then The Society Room of Hartford is your place! This all-inclusive venue in the heart of New England has all the warm tones for a late-fall or winter wedding. The only thing missing is the outdoor space.
Pricing: Between $12,000 and $16,000 for a 100 guest wedding in peak season
Capacity: up to 300 guests
Amenities
Ballroom Ceremony Area
Bridal Suite
Groom’s Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space on 2 Levels
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Reception Area and Bar
Stage Area for Live Bands
Wifi
The Waterview
The Waterview on Lake Zoar in Monroe is probably one of the most popular wedding venues in Connecticut. It has beautiful views of the lake, a very spacious grand ballroom and my favorite, multiple options for ceremonies and receptions, based on guest count.
Pricing: Packages start at $10,000, most couples spend around $13,000 to $17,000
Capacity: Up to 300 guests
Amenities
Indoor and outdoor ceremony areas
Lakeside event spaces
Bridal Suite
Groom’s Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Spaces
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Reception Area Bar
Wifi
The Barns At Wesleyan Hills
This all-inclusive and elevated barn wedding venue is one of the most popular venues in Connecticut. The Barns at Wesleyan Hills offers everything from furniture rentals to an in-house culinary team! The venue is ideal for mid to large sized weddings and has both an outdoor and indoor ceremony areas.
Pricing: all-inclusive packages start at $25,000
Capacity: up to 225 seated guests
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Bridal Suite
Event Coordinator
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
In-House Staff
Outdoor Ceremony Space
Reception Area
Wifi
Station 97 on Main
Here’s another historic venue, this one has a bit more of an industrial and raw vibe. Station 97 on Main in Centerbrook, CT is an old witch hazel factory with many of the original parts still in place. The red brick alone is 100 years old! The venue perfect for smaller and mid size weddings and perfectly located between New Haven, Hartford, and New London.
Pricing: starts at $3800
Capacity: up to 100 guests
amenities
Bridal Suite
Event rentals
Liability insurance
Wheelchair accessible
Indoor Ceremony Space
Industrial Outdoor Spaces
Not looking for a venue yet? Check out the top Connecticut proposal locations.