questions and emails, making the process seamless. Vanessa was a lovely host and made us so excited about the venue! Ken answered all of our questions promptly and enthusiastically. Not an understatement. They were so easy to communicate with. Sergio was our maitre d and he was amazing. Ana kept our drinks/food coming the entire night! We can not thank them enough!! ding going on the day of our wedding on the other side of the venue. It truly is the BEST of the BEST! However, Sergio came to the rescue and suggested we use the Fireplace Room for our ceremony. We didn't bother looking at many more places after because we were very happy with what they offered. They were right by our side making sure my husband and I had all of our needs met. All things one would expect of every establishment, but something we didn't find after touring several. We are so happy with everything with all of The Woodwinds staff! For me this was really important due to one of my family members was in the hospital. By clicking 'Send', I agree to WeddingWires Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Chef Silvio's Sunday Sauce is a must!! The food was also spectacular. From the meeting to the rehearsal and the wedding. The patio and lawn are the best part of the venue so, if you can, maximize the time spent out there. She also made sure the wedding party was holding up and that made us feel taken care off! When I just couldnt decide o Wwodwinds staff was amazing. Her flexibility in scheduling is great as well as her response time. The Branford House was voted the #5 best wedding venue in Connecticut by the experts. Definitely fit for royalty. Everything went off without a hitch. The staff at Ocean Blue Catering and Branford House are very gracious and wonderful to work with. Any questions I had they were answered within minutes! They brought us drinks, etc. Vanessa made our tour fun and she was very helpful when we made our final decisi We visited Woodwinds as our first venue since we got engaged. Bill Miller's Castle is a wedding venue located in Branford, CT. We had the dance floor and uplighting and it was all just PERFECT! Situated on Uconn's Avery Point campus in Groton CT, Branford House Weddings enjoy panoramic views of the ocean. Your email address will not be published. Thank you so much guys!! If this continues to be an issue, please let us know how you landed on this page and we will look into it. My train was constantly fluffed, everyone was smiling in all pictures, and he made sure we got to eat! They loved how everything was organized and put. They made every thing perfect for our wedding! Branford House Weddings [CT's Best Venue on the Water] The mangers of the After a long process of going through venues in our area and having trouble making a decision, my fiance suggested I visit the Woodwinds based on their stellar reviews and I'm so glad he did! Ken was very reassuring during the peak of everything and was helpful! This palatial estate has a lawn that sweeps right to the Long Island Sound and can be tented. Outside, Branford House features patios, terraces, gardens, and a massive lawn with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. So much delicious food!!! The packages were amazing. This venue is the BEST around! Sure enough, guidelines change and my reception was outside under the tent. The price is affordable compared to other venues and you get a bang for your buck! These. that we toured because we were sold! Having an on-site getting ready option is really nice convenience for brides and their bridal party making your logistics of the day much simpler and less stressful. The personalization th My fianc and I just recently booked our wedding here for next summer! With a capacity of 200 guests you can spread out over three beautiful rooms or enjoy . Woodwinds did a fantastic job at our wedding reception. My husband and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect venue. Your email address will not be published. The food was great. he site and speaking with someone! Branford House Weddings | Brave Hearts Photography Despite being on grounds opened to the public, our event at The Branford House Mansion felt very private. They had a mini snowball fight outside while making me a snowman to try to make me laugh. My fiance had his own as well. My bridal attendant, Kim, fanned me while wearing long sleeves and long pants under the hot sun! Prior to the day of, I had emailed Ken about 501 times with questions. he made sure everything ran smoothly, my center pieces and wedding decor were perfect and that everyone was where they needed to be; he was so attentive to us. It was a nice surprise because it looked absolutely beautiful, almost as if we were married in a magical garden! I am so glad we chose to get married here and am forever grateful for their hard work! Thank you, WoodWinds, for making our big day absolutely amazing! Woodwinds | Reception Venues - The Knot employee of the venue, owner of the venue, photographer). For those looking to party, the casinos (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods) are just 30 minutes away. Katherine was very easy to work with--she was responsive and helpful and very accommodating. From there, you can look out over the great lawn, lighthouse, and ocean. We absolutely have no doubts on having gone with different venue. The staff is amazing and the food is superb! I genuinely can't say enough good things about the entire staff at woodwinds, I wish I wasn't so in love with my husband so I could do it all over again! Branford House - University of Connecticut | Reception Venues Its a lovely nautical background for photos. Thank you again for such an amazing day. Even from afar, you can hear the wedding bells ring and the happy guests sing at Branford House Mansion. When my now husband & I locked in this venue, we worked with Vanessa. Our wedding was the most beautiful day thanks to the staff at Woodwinds. No where elsewill you enjoy this muchoceanfront property with grandeur. They all make you feel important! The name says Nicole, but this is Nathaniel, her fianc! We had both our ceremony and reception there. We had the ceremony outside on the lawn by the water, cocktail hour on the patio, and dinner and dancing inside. Everyone I know says how stressful wedding planning is, and I honestly have to say mine wasnt bad because of the wonderful team at WoodWinds. The uplighting, the tables, the decor, every little detail was done just as we had planned and discussed. This is such beautiful venue. me how much they loved the food and that they were stuffed by the amount of food there was! Chef Antonio and his team take pride in the exceptional cuisine they offer to couples for their wedding day. They have no way of tracking who does not attend the wedding even with all the paperwork you have to turn in stating who sits where, and the food options. It's great for a summer wedding (like hours), but we did see gorgeous photos of inside weddings during the winter holidays. She was so helpful along the way, answering all of my My fianc and are so excited to get married here next year! This was a wedding that won't soon be forgotten and a venue that should be number 1 on everyone's list. Thank you guys for making our dream day a reality! They were the absolute best. The tour and actual booking were not stressful. My husband and Where do i even start? If you are thinking of getting married in a mansion in New England, this is the best choice for you. My Take As a CT Wedding Photographer for over 10 years, I've had the pleasure of photographing numerous CT wedding venues and, for a mansion wedding, Branford House is my top recommendation. Thank you for making this process ao easy! You'll also notice that the quality and attentiveness of employees and organizers is top notch. Absolutely incredible! had picked an incredible place. We would highly recommend you look into the Woodwinds. A month later and I still get comments how spectacular everything was. Katherine was great to work with from start to finish. They were very disorganized seemed understaffed and overwhelmed. ob really shines. much love, Josh and Savannah. Award Winning Wedding and Events Venue wedding packages and menus at WoodWinds Creating heartfelt, moment-driven photographs for relaxed, laid-back couples who want to enjoy their wedding day. Randy then took over and it was so smooth! For a more outdoor feel, the Garden Room presents stunning views of the grounds, with three elegant patios available to you. Vanessa gave us a great tour and overview of what their options include. Italian. Tony, Scott and the whole woodwinds staff was wonderful. Flanking the ballroom are the equally exquisite East Wing and West Wing rooms. Gorgeous rooms, gorgeous grounds, gorgeous gardens. The staff was beyond helpful and made us feel at home instantly. We had two drinks waiting for us when we were done with our ceremony. She was more helpful than my bridesmaids and I am very grateful. Katherine was very easy to work with, and we loved that we could work with any vendors we wanted. Guests are stillreeling over the place! He was the key to our successful day! I was blown away the first visit out there. *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. Majestic Woods - Clymer, NY - Wedding Venue - Eventective We highly recommend the Branford House (plus, the cost of renting the mansion goes towards the university's educational programs, so that was a nice added bonus). After a few emails I finally spoke with Vanessa, who I understand couldn't compensate for all meals for those that didn't come, but was able to find a way to help me give my family member a little experience of the wedding that she missed. A Branford House mansion wedding is truly in a class by itself. From the planning stages with JoAnna to the execution of Scott and Antonella. The woodworking on the walls, large windows, lovely chandeliers and overall rich and glamorous interior made for a lovely ceremony and striking photos. The only complaint I have is that it's Let me start off by WOW. They have everything down from planning to executing! The woodwinds exceeded our expectations! The bartender was great and had an awesome per AMAZING! Pricing was well worth what you get and they made payments easy. Just a bit further away is Downtown Mystic, which has many lodging options like the Whalers Inn, The Inn at Mystic, and the Hilton Mystic. All Around great day! and Ken were 5 star with helping us all the way up to our special day. The amount of attention to detail was fantastic. ing for. LOVE THEM!!! Bill Miller's Castle - Venue - Branford, CT - WeddingWire Check out this years best local pros, chosen by couples like you. Our guests are still talking about the food, and how delicious it was! All our guests were absolutely blown away by the interior and Katherine is so professional and helpful. I am so proud to be a Woodwinds bride! erything would be taken care of for me on the big day. telling all of my soon to be married friends to book with the woodwinds. Let me first start off by saying that the woodwinds staff was so accommodating & so Amazing! The grounds were gorgeous for pictures and the decor inside was very elegant. The WW did a great job for our 9.30.22 wedding. This wedding can accommodate up to 600 guests, presenting you and your loved ones with ample space for your elegant event. Went. I'm so glad he did because it was so beautiful. A large bluestone patio stretches the entire length of the mansion. The venue can be rented for 10 hours. Our wedding there was all I had imagined & more. We are very excited to be working with Woodwinds for our wedding. Historic/Landmark Building, Mansion, Outdoor. Scott is of course amazing, he en WoodWinds was phenomenal in every aspect of our reception. It was awesome!! have to worry about anything! JEFF LUNDSTROM PHOTOGRAPHY 203.585.3643 INFO@JEFFLUNDSTROMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM. The Woodwinds was so accommodating and professional when having to postpone our wedding. Branford House Mansion Reviews - Groton, CT - 55 Reviews - WeddingWire hedule, but the woodwinds made the process very pleasant! From our first meeting all the way until the wedding, I knew we were in good hands. Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. The staff was personal and professional. Joanna, the venues Florist, did spectacular work on our arrangements, and was great to work with. I cant say enough good things. All the venues in CT are beautiful and welcoming but the process can be intimidating. You will feel like royalty. My wife went to school in Newport, RI and wanted the Newport feel without making our guests stay in hotels for Newport prices. The Branford House is an absolutely stunning venue. The Woodwinds exceeded our expectations. If there ever was a must have location for a wedding venue, this is the spot. She was so helpful and down to earth throughout the whole tour. Before the night arrived, we found that the Woodwinds offered a great value package compared to other local venue spaces. WoodWinds was bought by award-winning chef Antonio . Walk around the side, and you might be able to catch a sailboat going by as well. The Branford House will let you select your own caterer, DJ, florist, etc. The reception space is beautiful, with high ceilings, neutral colored walls, and a lot of space so it doesn't feel over-crowded which is exactly what I was look WoodWinds helped make all our wedding dreams come true. Minimal decor is needed at this venue due to the amazing architecture. I cant say enough good things about the Branford House. Its the only mansion of its kind that sits right on the shores of the Long Island sound. I am still in shock over how much was included in the price. They took care of everything! The house has everything you could hope for, from a great kitchen for the catering staff to a beautiful room for the bridal party to get dressed in, and the fireplaces are stunning. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Situated on Uconns Avery Point campus in Groton CT, Branford House Weddings enjoy panoramic views of the ocean. Sign up on The Knot to reach more couples and book more weddings! . We invite you to visit and enjoy our property in the beauty of Clymer. She was so welcoming and knowledgeable. Whether it was bustling my dress or making sure my drink was never empty. have 300+ attending. We were all made to feel like royalty by Woodwinds. The bridal attendant Kaytlin was so sweet, I had an issue with the bustle of my dress and she got down on the ground and made it work. During prime wedding season (i.e. Everyone loved the food from the hors d'oeuvres to the main course to the ice cream bar. Our guests said We had our wedding at Woodwinds on 9/18/22 and it was nothing short of a dream! g to our needs. Inside the house, you can take advantage of the intimate decore and design with its grand staircases, fireplaces, and ballrooms. Our guest are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how great the food was! The staff was amazing, food was beyond perfect, and there are no words for Scott! It's a gorgeous stone mansion that rivals those you'd see in Newport. Branford House has both indoor and outdoor event spaces where you can host your wedding celebrations. Your Wedding Dreams Come True at WoodWinds, Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding , Vow Renewal Ceremony. Randy & Kim are amazing! Kevin Kelley Kevin Kelley Photography, Another gem that captivates guests with granite, mahogany and marble. Their foresight came in handy throughout the night, and it was really great to be able to trust them so we could enjoy mingling with our guests. ked through the doors. We fell in love with the place. person that could not be more excited to share everything they have at the woodwinds. The management was amazing and helped us plan every step of the way. ight away. This venue is stunning. Message this venue now to check their availability and receive more information. The A/C is an added (and wonderful) modern addition to this gorgeous setting. 1st dance Toast You can have your ceremony inside in the East Room, the center Grand Ballroom, or outside on the patio off of the West Room. Branford House | Wedding Venues | Groton - David Allen Catering t. Our wedding day was great and went too quickly. Its also a great place for wedding portraits if you have a special vehicle to arrive in! The service was impeccable. Mr. & Mrs. Salato. We lucked out with the best weather and were able to have our ceremony outside on the lawn. Get married here, you won't regret Woodwinds was the first and last venue I looked at I just felt a great vibe and good food was a must for me and I heard the chef was amazing. 5 Gorgeous Wedding Venues in Branford, CT (2023) A Branford House wedding by the sea, complete with a live painter, live music, and fireworks made this mansion wedding an experience to remember. See hours. They even made a special order of food since my son was so picky. Randy was awesome when we got down to the home stretch and did great running the event the day of. ou all for making the wedding of our dreams come true and for making me want to relive the day over and over! venue and owners have great attention to detail. Katherine always got back to us quickly with answers to any questions we had and was very helpful when we decided last minute to put a tent up on the patio. The Branford House offers an elegant location on the Connecticut shoreline that creates the perfect ambience for a memorable special event. We had our wedding at the Woodwinds in Feb. '21 and it was spectacular. I love the fact that we booked with The Woodwinds! Woodwinds however, can accommodate both the small and the large wedding. If you don't know what that is.. it's a huge buffet of desserts! The first wedding went until at least 5:10 pm, and we were told that our guests could arrive as early as 5 pm for our 5:30 pm ceremony time. I booked the woodwinds a couple of months after our engagement. Walking into the venue and seeing the garden room and the flower centerpieces. Everything came out perfect. It it an absolutely beautiful setting. They very attentive to everyones needs. I am so grateful to you , Randy, Ken and Tony. He had gone to two other weddings at the Woodwinds and showed me the Woodwinds venue, and I instantly fell in love. *All of our catering is done through Dina's at the Mont. For events hosting more than 200 guests, Branford House staff suggests a tent on the lawn. Located on the Connecticut shoreline, the venue offers panoramic ocean views, sprawling grounds, and elegant event space, making it the ideal setting. Over the top! It was over 90 degrees, and we got married by the waterfall and had our reception in the beautiful garden room. We look forward to working more and more closely with Vanessa and the entire staff as we approach our big day! Intimate Wedding in A Castle | Branford House Groton, CT | Connecticut Wedding Film - YouTube Ashley and Dylan's story was held at the incredible Branford House in Groton, CT. Branford House Mansion | Venue - Groton, CT | Wedding Spot We showed up with my daughter, and she didn't blink an eye. So friendly and professional. There is so much more that she did that I can share but it is just too much to make someone read. Scott has everything done on our wedding day and I couldnt have been happier. My bridal attendant was amazing, kind and so helpful! Instead of having just the 1 hour cocktail hour on the patio, think about extending cocktail hour and doing intros and dances out there before heading inside for dinner. rgeous fireplace, had a lovely cocktail hour by a master staircase, and enjoyed our dinner and dancing in the entire ballroom. Im happy with how everything was! Our guests couldnt say enough great things about the food and drinks, you know its good when people get up for seconds and thirds everything was delicious! The day of our wedding everything was executed perfectly, the food, decor and flow of the night was great. We had a smaller guest list, and Woodwinds made it still such a special day for us! Unfortunately it is hard to find what you are looking for when your'e planning a wedding on a budget, but luckily Vanessa was able to work with me and we ended up booking our wedding that same day! We had a wonderful winter wedding here and walking down the staircase to get married in front of the main fireplace was like something out of a fairytale. Woodwinds was nothing short of amazing. Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. The most amazing wedding venue! had all the best things: a thoughtful + sweet getting ready time, a quintessential, new england church service + a historical venue with ocean views. The staff that worked our event made our experience a dream and for that I am thankful! Its much nicer than a hotel room for getting ready or for putting the dress on. I would highly recommend booking your wedding here :). The grounds were impeccably manicured, and the planting selections were simply beautiful. We are in complete awe over how wonderful our wedding was. Our guests enjoyed admiring the amazing architecture & strolling around to take in the serene ocean view. Vanessa made my fianc and I feel very confident about booking with them, offering her expertise about weddings in general, which was very helpful. Nika our bridal attendant was always there to take care of anything we could possibly think of, as well as spoiling our bridal party with drinks and appetizers during our pictures. They handled every call, email and question I had with enthusiasm, they accommodated every unexpected change we needed at the end We got married at The Woodwinds on 12/22/18, and it couldnt have been a more perfect day! Despite how glamorous your Branford House wedding can be, it's actually an affordable CT wedding venue. It is perfectly situated in every way. The house manager is most helpful, and she helped ensure that the planning and big day went smoothly. They are also super affordable! Phone: 203-488-3805. Thank you! we honestly could not have asked for a more perfect day! DJ: Entertainment Unlimited Makeup: Indigo Makeup Artistry Wedding Dress + Bridesmaid Dress Boutique: Melissa Ashley Bridal Wedding Dress Designer: Lillian West Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Classic Tuxedo of Boston As someone who had one picture in my head of what the ceremony would look like for 2 years, I was a little upset about not being able to use the waterfall outside. Our friends and family could not stop talking about how amazing the food was! Randy and Neka were on top of everything. The Branford House in Connecticut - Wedding Reports Everyone we worked with from sales, to day of coordinator, to servers, to the bridal attendant was absolutely f Our wedding was perfect. We're down for a bit but the team is working hard to fix this! So many options with so many different price points. Randy was there every step of the way answering endless emails and countless phone calls and he never once was annoyed by it. I thought I had odd requests during drop off but Randy didn't bat an eye, nothing affected him and he made me feel like I wasn't as crazy as I sounded to myself. The terrace and lawn were recently renovated and look gorgeous. Tented receptions on the lawn of the Branford House are simply breathtaking. Each room has an amazing fireplace which is perfect for those chilly Connecticut evenings. I cannot say enough good things. Thank you so much to everyone at Woodwinds!! This is just the beginning! He made sure the everything went smoothly, was extremely friendly and on top of everything. Randy made sure everything was perfect which it truly was! For an indoor reception, the Grand Ballroom and the East and West Wing rooms comfortably accommodate up to 200 guests for a full-course dinner or buffet. They had everything set up, to a T, where i just walked in and started crying at how perfect everything looked and how they set up for me. With a capacity of 200 guests you can spread out over three beautiful rooms or enjoy the expansive grounds. We look forward to working with the rest of the team as we count down the days! There is a myriad of excellent locations for Branford House Mansion wedding photos. We highly recommend The Woodwinds to everyone for any event! I had my wedding here last night and cant even begin to express my appreciation for the wonderful staff who made my wedding so amazing. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! The price point was fair and their packages pack a great value. 28 Branford House Weddings ideas | branford, house, wedding - Pinterest View Portfolio. The staff were so attentive to our needs and our guests', and Randy and Ana were amazing! My husband and I remarked on the fact that we did not have to think much on the day of because everything was covered! I had just heard great things and it seemed like a beautiful place where ev We loved woodwinds for our wedding! get, the staff was so helpful, polite, even the chef was super nice! Sincerely Jae & Eddie. Scott the wedding coordinator from start to finish, We had the most amazing wedding at the Woodwinds. They were always quick to reply to any email questions and really accommodating with anything we needed/wanted (even creating a hot chocolate station!). Woodwinds was the last venue We recently got married at this location on March 23. Scott was so helpful the entire night and really made us feel like we didn't have to worry about a thing! It was a huge help having a caterer that had worked the venue, as the kitchen is in the basement so when making our seating arrangement, I knew in advance where there would be extra traffic coming in and out. With room for up to 240 guests, it can be adjusted to suit your partys size. omments from our guests about how delicious the food was! So, if you are planning a Connecticut mansion wedding and you want water views and a shoreline vibe, I highly recommend the Branford House. Not to mention affordable! Most venues require a high minimum count. We sincerely thank everyone that helped make our day so special! lastly, being very detailed, and a control freak to wanting everything to look just right, after meeting up a few days before the wedding to drop off: favors, and gifts, Ken gave my maid of honor and myself permission to come the morning day of the wedding to make sure everything was set up and right. Sergio who is our day of coordinator helped us rehearse and laid out my decor for me the exact way that I wanted it he also helped me to enjoy my wedding by letting me know when things needed to be done (cake cutting, toasts etc). A little tricky for some guests to get to, but an overall convenient location for those craving pics of oceanside nuptuals (like we were). Mr. & Mrs. Homar 7.3.21. abulous and answered every question and fulfilled every request. All of our guests loved it and said it was so unique! My fianc and I are currently in the process of planning our wedding and the staff at the Woodwinds have made it that much more of a pleasurable experience. It seemed that the wedding next door was interfering with our own which is why I believe thing were so disorganized.I did not feel this venue made our special day worth while.