The management was amazing and helped us plan every step of the way. Her flexibility in scheduling is great as well as her response time. Plan your wedding wherever and whenever you want on the WeddingWire App. The staff was amazing, food was beyond perfect, and there are no words for Scott! Specialties: Planning a wedding reception, banquet, corporate event, or just need a special event venue to have your next meeting or holiday party, the Woodwinds on the border of Guilford and Branford CT is an Award winning family owned wedding reception hall and banquet hall in CT. With our beautiful landscaping and our renowned chefs we can make your wedding reception or special event a . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Connecticut Wedding Photographer. We had an amazing day. Vanessa met us and gave us a tour of the venue and then went over the options for the reception. From the timeless ballrooms to the exceptional cuisine, this manor is an ideal location for an event to remember. Absolutely amazing! 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. Our guests cant stop complimenting the food, the views, the EVERYTHING! Upon booking the venue they gave us a jar of Sunday sauce from the chef. The Branford House 1084 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, Connecticut 6340 visit their website Claim Your Profile Featured The Branford House Weddings A Classic Wedding for Amanda and John Groton, Connecticut Featured Articles BEHIND THE SCENES The Making of an Indian Fusion Wedding for Meredith and Eshaan NEW & NOTEWORTHY The Latest Wedding Venue News Gorgeous rooms, gorgeous grounds, gorgeous gardens. I cannot wait for my wedding day to arrive :). The best thing is that the place looks so good on its own that expensive/elaborate decorations are not needed :) Katherine and the day of coordinator were wonderful to work with and kept everything running smoothly. Outside patio stones are a bit uneven, but it is a very old house so that is not unlikely. The amount of attention to detail was fantastic. This place is beautiful! My bridal attendant the day of, Neka, was AMAZING. Its not only one of the best wedding venues in Groton, CT, but one of the best wedding venues in Connecticut. Edit. From the timeless ballrooms to the exceptional cuisine, this manor is an ideal location for an event to remember. They greeted us and helped us to have a night to remember from the moment we walked in until it was time to leave. ), and how smoothly the night went. It flowed perfectly and the venue was the perfect size for our 135 person wedding. Our guests enjoyed admiring the amazing architecture & strolling around to take in the serene ocean view. We can not thank them enough!! The cake was amazing as well and served in the same manner. rgeous fireplace, had a lovely cocktail hour by a master staircase, and enjoyed our dinner and dancing in the entire ballroom. The bar staff was so friendly and attentive. Ken and Randy made planning a breeze! 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. It is relatively inexpensive to rent and you can choose all the other vendors you want to work with. We originally booked the venue, pre-COVID, and were planning to Where do I begin? But from the minute we left our tour visit with Vanessa we knew we'd get married at The Woodwinds just as my sister did My experience with the Woodwinds was EVERYTHING!!!! Everyone loved the food from the hors d'oeuvres to the main course to the ice cream bar. We were SOOO happy that we chose the Branford House for our venue! They did an amazing job making our signature drink! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our special day so magical Vanessa gave us a tour of the grounds and informed us of every single detail we needed to know. The food is something to rave about. The food is excellent - our guests are still raving about the food. He kept everything on track and made sure the night went smoothly. I was upset but Ill say on the day of, seeing it all come together, Im happy everything was outside! Candice Milliard Candis Floral Creations, Beautiful setting on the water. It is right on the water. The inside is also amazing, with ornate wood walls, huge fireplaces, super tall ceilings and chandeliers. Everyone we dealt with throughout the entire planning process was great. Vanessa is accommodating and genuinely excited about each wedding. This venue is beautiful. Highly recommended! Just to the side of the lighthouse is a pretty rocky beach area that is perfect for romantic wedding pictures. The whole staff at Woodwinds is fantastic! Woodwinds was nothing short of amazing. I only researched other vendors because I didn't want guests to think I was just recreating my sister's wedding for myself. If you are thinking of getting married in a mansion in New England, this is the best choice for you. After booking, we continue to hear only great things about the staff at the Woodwinds from others that have attended weddings or been a part of weddings there. The Woodwinds were very detailed and attentive throughout the entire process. In-house event planning services can also be provided with wedding bookings at this magnificent venue. Vanessa, Ken, Michael, Sergio, truly everybody went above and beyond and it was clear how highly not only they value what they do, but how highly they value you having the day of your dreams. 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. The inside of the venue looks extremely chic as well, group shots on the staircase looked amazing! Working with you, they can create a personalized menu tailored to your desired tastes. Situated on Uconn's Avery Point campus in Groton CT, Branford House Weddings enjoy panoramic views of the ocean. The Branford House is an absolutely stunning location! We were all made to feel like royalty by Woodwinds. Highlyrecommend this. The staff at woodwinds made our dream wedding come true! The Woodwinds is such an amazing place to get married! The entire staff really worked hard to made our night perfect, and we could not be more grateful! What an absolute pleasure to have worked with a team who works so flawlessly. The Branford House is one of the most elegant seaside Connecticut wedding venues. Our entire day ran smoothly, no bumps at all. Even from afar, you can hear the wedding bells ring and the happy guests sing at Branford House Mansion. at you are able to have make me feel I can have a wedding without it being cookie cutter. From the planning stages with JoAnna to the execution of Scott and Antonella. Bethany & Bailey were fabulous to work with! The food, AMAZING, although as a bride it was hard to eat, but every single person can't stop complimenting the food. All our guests were absolutely blown away by the interior and Katherine is so professional and helpful. We had the ceremony outside on the lawn by the water, cocktail hour on the patio, and dinner and dancing inside. Vanessa was so thorough and answered every question we could think of! A picturesque cocktail hour and reception meal can be held on the stone patio and adjacent grass, perfect for those who have envisioned a waterfront mansion wedding. 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. During our initial meeting with Carmine, he made us feel so comfortable. Dina's at the Mont: 716.699.5330. This venue is timeless and the food is excellent! The staff was 2 steps ahead of us the entire time. With so much uncertainty for our special day, We were fi Im not sure there are any words that can even begin to describe how perfect the entire Woodwinds staff made our wedding day celebration! Carisa Lockery CR Socials Event Planning, If there ever was a must have location for a wedding venue, this is the spot. Everything went so smoothly, from the decoration dropoff, to rehearsal, to the big day. She is seriously a fairy godmother!! did sell us on choosing The Woodwinds as the best place to start our forever. The backdrop of the house and the water view made our wedding breath taking. It all made for such a magical day. They do a great job keeping things up. We couldnt be happier with our choice of venue. My friends and family said this was hands-down the best wedding - most elegant, most fun, gorgeous venue they had ever seen! There are some great catering companies in the area, including Coastal Gourmet, Morins, and A Thyme to Cook. The woodwinds was able to make my dream wedding come to life! Scott is one of a kind and went to great lengths to ensure that the day went smoothly. The entire night was so blissful I could go on and on and on about how absolutely perfect everything turned out. No where elsewill you enjoy this muchoceanfront property with grandeur. Wedding Menus & Packages for that special day on the CT Shoreline at The tour and actual booking were not stressful. Every Branford House Wedding centers around the Grand Ballroom with its massive fireplace, ornately carved wood walls, and a two-story ceiling. Everyone we worked with from sales, to day of coordinator, to servers, to the bridal attendant was absolutely f Our wedding was perfect. So, if you are planning a Connecticut mansion wedding and you want water views and a shoreline vibe, I highly recommend the Branford House. Every one of our guests mentioned how wonderful the evening was and it was one of the best weddings they have been to! I was blown away the first visit out there. 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). A Branford House wedding by the sea, complete with a live painter, live music, and fireworks made this mansion wedding an experience to remember. After we started touring venues my husband knew this would be the place right away. Vanessa has been so responsive and helpful throughout the process and we can't wait to work with the rest of the Woodwinds team for our wedding! The staff was beyond helpful and made us feel at home instantly. that was the most fun and best wedding they ever got to attend. My fianc and I knew right away when walking in that this was the place! The venue is affordable, elegant and beautiful. The patio is amazing too! And thats the truth! They are also super affordable! Have the wedding you have always dreamed about at Branford House Mansion. Outside, Branford House features patios, terraces, gardens, and a massive lawn with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. The woodwinds exceeded our expectations! The house, the lawn, the water view, the wrap around patio - everything at the Branford House is picturesque. We booked a little over a year early and was able to get the 2nd Saturday in August. need for such a reasonable price. From pictures to our cake cutting! This is such a stunning site for a wedding. We had two drinks waiting for us when we were done with our ceremony. I cant tell you the amount of compliments our family and friends gave the next day about this venue, the food, the people, everything was perfect! Im so happy we chose this venue for our big day. They made every thing perfect for our wedding! Woodwinds did a fantastic job at our wedding reception. The Firelight Room is designed to present you and your guests with an open, luxurious setting filled with thoughtful touches of quality. We're down for a bit but the team is working hard to fix this! Beautiful setting, gorgeous building, wonderful House Manager & staff. Minimal decor is needed at this venue due to the amazing architecture. The ability to work with any vendor (beverage must be done through Uconn) and 10 hour venue rental timeframe are two of the many factors we loved. Mr. & Mrs. Salato. Every question/request and accommodation was followed through. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of WoodWinds staff for helping making Devon and my day an incredible day to never forget. I would highly recommend this venue to get married and have your ceremony. Vanessa was amazing from the start up until the very end. *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. ~Robert and Brittany Mcsweeney. She made the experience enjoyable and showed us everything the venue had to offer without making us feel obligated to make a decision r Me and my fianc have been working with Vanessa! They very attentive to everyones needs. She is quick to respond to any My fianc and I absolutely love Vanessa from the Woodwinds. Scott was amazing throughout the whole wedding process. They all make you feel important! The grounds surrounding the stately Branford House mansion are breathtaking. We highly recommend The Woodwinds as a venue to host anyones upcoming event. Food, decor and beyond my wildest dreams. employee of the venue, owner of the venue, photographer). I would truly send everyone I know their way when looking for a wedding venue!! The venue is gorgeous inside and out. The 10 Best Wedding Venues in Groton, CT - WeddingWire Let me first start off by saying that the woodwinds staff was so accommodating & so Amazing! They were very disorganized seemed understaffed and overwhelmed. The guest loved the variety offered during the cocktail hour, they also loved being fed hot and flavorful food. We are so happy we choose the woodwinds and we cannot be happier to start our lives together as husband and wife and be able to relive the best day of our lives all due to the woodwinds staff! Our guests were completely wowed. person that could not be more excited to share everything they have at the woodwinds. I am so proud to be a Woodwinds bride! The venue is great for stations, sit-down or a cocktail reception. $5,600 starting price Get a personalized quote Bar $25 starting price Get a personalized quote About The Branford House Mansion is a historic mansion and wedding venue on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut in Groton, Connecticut. Haha. Not only was the wedding staff amazing, but the entire front office was more than accommodating. The tent was decorated so beautifully and the day was EVERYTHING we ever dreamed of! Curse because it's a lot of work! Not to mention affordable! Everything came out perfect. They were always so nice to answer my questions and they quite literally take care of EVERYTHING for you..Vanessa was so nice and guided me leading up to the day. I wouldnt recommend anywhere else to have a wedding or celebration. Built in the 19th century, this mansion has stood the test of time and proudly boasts the design of the Newport Mansions while displaying a perfect ambiance that is ideal for an unforgettable and one of a kind celebration. Thank you guys for making our dream day a reality! They were always quick to reply to any email questions and really accommodating with anything we needed/wanted (even creating a hot chocolate station!). The whole staff was so great. So very helpful, making what a stressful time planning that much more exciting and a breeze! Im happy with how everything was! Branford House Wedding. Scott is the best - with him around there is no chance of anything going wrong. Id always heard you never eat at your wedding but when we came back to our table there was so much food on our table it was amazing! We are so glad we chose Woodwinds for our special day! Beautiful place and outside area. hey run the event. guests loved the food. We couldnt have asked for a more perfect day!! The Branford House has a beautiful wood-paneled bridal suite with several large windows. nally able to have our wedding March 27 th 2021! Message this venue now to check their availability and receive more information. They were the absolute best. UConn can provide tent service, too, for additional fees. Thank you to Tony who always called to go over details and guidelines. We booked 2 years in advance. spring through fall), weekend weddings start from about $5000. We met with Vanessa and were really blown away. Erienne & Jeff After the ceremony with all of the ups and downs of my emotions, I was feeling a little nauseated so she got me ginger-ale to help settle my stomach. The price was right, their staff was kind and helpful, the food was delicious, and the grounds and inside were beautiful! Thank you so much to everyone at Woodwinds!! Having our wedding at The Woodwinds was the best decision my husband and I made. Our guests cannot stop raving about it all! Definitely fit for royalty. This was very stressful, as we were told when we booked our wedding that ours was the only one booked at the time for that day, and should there be a second wedding, the other couple would have to work around our schedule. In-house catering is provided by a team of chefs who can work closely with clients to create a fully bespoke and customized menu. The Branford House. Address: 40 Linden Ave Branford, CT 06405. Built in 1902 for Morton Freeman Plant, a local financier and philanthropist, as his summer home, Branford House is one of the premier mansion wedding venues in CT. We met Vanessa, who was friendly and organized, to show us the venue. Im not positive but I believe the snowman might have even been his idea when Neka went to talk to him to try and figure out a way to help relax me. This was a wedding that won't soon be forgotten and a venue that should be number 1 on everyone's list. Then we saw Woodwinds. The layout was also perfect for us - we had 125 guests, and the house is divided into three rooms. Everyone is still talking about the wedding and how amazing it was. Neka even swapped out the pens for our guestbook to ones that would work better on canvas before we had a chance to ask, and she showed up at our table with cough drops for me because she noticed I was getting over a cold. Branford House Wedding Cost The peak season rental rate (May 1 to Oct 31) for Branford House for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, is $5600. I am looking forward to hosting other events at the woodwinds! Since the venue itself is so beautiful, you really don't need to do much in terms of decoration and you can still have a beautiful wedding! We had our wedding at the Woodwinds in Feb. '21 and it was spectacular. Kevin Kelley Kevin Kelley Photography, Another gem that captivates guests with granite, mahogany and marble. day one. Branford House Weddings [CT's Best Venue on the Water] From our first tour with Vanessa to the last dance everything was beyond perfect. My mind was BLOWN after my husband and I had our first bite of cake and there was a damp napkin ready for our faces and a mirror so we could see if we had cake on them. Located on the University of Connecticut Avery Point Campus and just steps away from Long Island Sound, your wedding photographer will absolutely love this spot. ight away. Vanessa is awesome! Check out HoliMont Realty for information. When I just couldnt decide o Wwodwinds staff was amazing. We had snow on our wedding day, and the beautiful grounds made for some amazing pictures. erything would be taken care of for me on the big day. All the staff was amazing. These. The Branford House offers an elegant location on the Connecticut shoreline that creates the perfect ambience for a memorable special event. 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. I could not be happier with the venue! Sure enough, guidelines change and my reception was outside under the tent. The staff Is simply AMAZING. We couldnt be more happy with our wedding day! in everything and is so helpful with the planning. and the food is SO good! Katherine was responsive, and helped us to find a spot for the huge tent we put out on the back lawn. I also did not have to set up or take things down, I just had to show up, how incredible is that! We cant wait to get married at Woodwinds! They were friendly, understanding, affordable, and made the most magical day happen! We had toured 8 venues before we toured The Woodwinds. The food was absolutely AMAZING, everyone raved about the venetian table, I highly recommend it! My fiance had his own as well. The Woodwinds is a wonderful venue, gorgeous in appearance and efficient in throwing a magnificent party! This was clearly not the case. Not an understatement. My husband and I were in utter bliss the whole night. Woodwinds I was sold! This is just the beginning! She was easy to get along with, flexible, accommodating and just plain nice. You wont regret choosing this incredible venue! My husband and I remarked on the fact that we did not have to think much on the day of because everything was covered! They have several large suites available for getting ready. 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. WoodWinds is an esteemed wedding venue located in Branford, CT. A much sought-after location, this luxurious estate presents couples with an elegant setting for their special day. The Woodwinds know weddings! We had the dance floor and uplighting and it was all just PERFECT! Thank you so much Woodwinds, over. Our wedding was one of kind with the space and decor. ded and kept a watchful eye on us the whole night making sure we were taken care of and making sure everything ran smoothly! Vanessa has been very helpful in making our upcoming day both elegant and affordable which we really appreciate. Joanna created the most gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces, adding another ease to planning and coordination because she works for Woodwinds. Throw a feast outdoors beneath an enormous tent while overlooking the sea, and enjoy the panoramic views that go as far as the eye can see. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! I cannot say enough about Woodwinds. 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. We didn't bother looking at many more places after because we were very happy with what they offered. We are surrounded by luscious greenery which turns beautifully colorful in our fall season. Branford House Mansion | Venue - Groton, CT | Wedding Spot Oops! on. View Portfolio. Best Branford House Wedding Photos | Bridget + Thomas | STAK Studios They also gladly accommodated adjustments to our package. Unclaimed. My seating charts were a complete mess and I felt as though I worked at the venue instead of being the groom. was impeccable. venue and owners have great attention to detail. Scott has everything done on our wedding day and I couldnt have been happier. The woodworking on the walls, large windows, lovely chandeliers and overall rich and glamorous interior made for a lovely ceremony and striking photos. We are looking forward to tasting the food on our wedding 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. The first venue my fiance and I went to tour was Woodwinds. A ceremony inside will be nothing less than grand as you step down the oak-carved staircase and take everyone's breath away. We appreciate how smoothly rehearsal was, Scotts attention to detail and overall professionalism, and more importantly the staff on site were definitely paying attention to refilling our guests water glasses.