Eolia Mansion Wedding Venue, Harkness Memorial State Park
Eolia Mansion in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT, is not only one of the better wedding venues in CT — it is also one of the premier photo shoot locations in the entire state. The gardens around the mansion have endless spots for pictures and the nearby beach offers even more photo opportunities.
The mansion is over 100 years old. It was built in 1907 for, you guessed it, the Harkness family and was taken over by the state of Connecticut in the 1950s. Because it is owned by the state, the prices aren’t as high as they typically are for a wedding venue of this style and pedigree. More on that later.
The official guest capacity is 150 guests which is perfect for mid-size weddings but there are also options for more intimate affairs.
Eolia Mansion truly shines during the peak wedding months from late May to early September when the natural colors take over and couples can host their ceremony and reception in the outdoor spaces and inside the mansion. In fact, they only offer evening weddings from Memorial Day until Labor Day. In the off-season, couples can choose day time or evenings for their wedding. The entire Harkness Park is enormous, about 230 acres with endless spots for wedding day photos!
How much does it cost?
Event rentals for weddings at Eolia Mansion start at $5000, but most couple tend to spend a bit north of that. Included are 7.5 hours at the mansion, additional hours can be added on for $1000 per hour. It is worth noting that the grounds are still open to the public at all times so might run into folks enjoying their day in the park.
That’s honestly a pretty great deal as most venues in Connecticut start at around $10,000-$15,000.
There is a wedding suite on site to get ready at. Chairs, tables, and tents are included, and the park offers staff during the event. Most other amenities and add-ons couple have to source themselves. It is best to get in touch to get a full picture of how they can help you have an amazing wedding day.
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