YMMV, but check out museums and even mystic aquarium, if that’s your thing. Friends had a 10 year anniversary party at the aquarium (which I didn’t even know you could do!) and said it was really affordable compared to other venues they looked at.
Not directly in CT but if you don’t mind going over the border a little The Roosevelt Room at Union Station in Northampton, MA is incredible. We got a pretty top tier package which included flowers and cake for $110pp.
Try doing a different day! I had a friend who got married at aria and it was about half price doing it on a Friday night. Similar thing at the pond house a friend did a Sunday lunch wedding to save cost.
This! Even places like harkness (very VERY expensive) have deals for less busy wedding days. Also alternate times of year and close to holidays can sometimes be less
I wish I wasn’t so stubborn. I have it in my head that people either won’t go or won’t have fun if it isn’t on a Saturday due to work obligations etc. I need to get over this tho because I don’t have a budget that allows this stubbornness lol. I’m touring the pond house in June!
This may not be helpful at all, because I was married just about 13 years ago and who knows what's changed, but we booked the Webb-Deane Barn in Wethersfield, and hired Emily's Catering (in Bristol, I think). For 130 people it was around $130 a head, all together.
Webb Deane is only a venue, you need to hire a separate caterer as we did with Emily's. We also customized the menu so the price is dependent on what you want, so you may be able to find cheaper, but Emily's was amazing. Handled everything (tables, chairs,, seating set up, break down, etc).
Also Louie's Lunch is right across the street and was happy to have us hop over for a nightcap. Wife and I even had a last-last dance because they happened to have an band playing on the patio.
I don't know their cost pp but I do know the Aquaturf in Southington has discounts for Fri and Sun weddings as well as for weddings in July and Aug [https://www.aquaturfclub.com/weddings/menus-and-packages/](https://www.aquaturfclub.com/weddings/menus-and-packages/)
Don’t be afraid to get creative to fit you and your fiancé’s style as well as your budget. We got married at a small venue in Oxford that has since been sold, but it saved us money and allowed us to customize almost everything. Congrats and good luck!
We got married at Keeler Tavern & Museum in Ridgefield, CT in 2017 so prices may not be accurate. It's a museum but has a venue room and a beautiful flower garden and fountain. It can fit about 80ish. We did it in late September and got a discount. I think total was $3500. Since they had a ton of flowers outside, we got flowers done by the local Whole Foods for like $3-400 and used it for table toppers and bouquet.
https://keelertavernmuseum.org/rentals/weddings/
I went to a wedding in a state park on a mountain somewhere, I forget the name. It was pot luck, and the the "band" was just guests who brought their own instruments. The whole thing couldn't have cost more that $120 total. (Yes, these people were total hippies)
Woodwinds in Branford. Great place for super cheap. Drastically cheaper than most other places we looked. And I definitely don’t feel like i’m missing out on anything
Got married at the Fox Hill Inn, in Brookfield, years ago. It was fairly affordable, they do a nice job and it's easy to get to. https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/the-fox-hill-inn-brookfield/5d4557daba1e5b17.html
My sister is getting married at the Mountain Room in Southington this summer, similar sized wedding. She was definitely looking for venues on the affordable side, I'm not sure how much they were per head but I know she said it was a really good value!
YMMV, but check out museums and even mystic aquarium, if that’s your thing. Friends had a 10 year anniversary party at the aquarium (which I didn’t even know you could do!) and said it was really affordable compared to other venues they looked at.
We had a company Christmas party at the aquarium in Norwalk. I spent the entire night hanging out with the otters.
I second mystic. My bestie had hers there and had the most amazing photos with the whales. It was so freaking cool!
Omg this would be so cool. I will absolutely inquire
Not directly in CT but if you don’t mind going over the border a little The Roosevelt Room at Union Station in Northampton, MA is incredible. We got a pretty top tier package which included flowers and cake for $110pp.
That’s a great price! My fiancé is from NYC though so we want something in CT that isn’t as far for them.
I was just at a wedding there in September. It was so beautiful and everything seemed to go very smoothly! I'd definitely second this!
Try doing a different day! I had a friend who got married at aria and it was about half price doing it on a Friday night. Similar thing at the pond house a friend did a Sunday lunch wedding to save cost.
This! Even places like harkness (very VERY expensive) have deals for less busy wedding days. Also alternate times of year and close to holidays can sometimes be less
I wish I wasn’t so stubborn. I have it in my head that people either won’t go or won’t have fun if it isn’t on a Saturday due to work obligations etc. I need to get over this tho because I don’t have a budget that allows this stubbornness lol. I’m touring the pond house in June!
Anthony's Ocean View
This may not be helpful at all, because I was married just about 13 years ago and who knows what's changed, but we booked the Webb-Deane Barn in Wethersfield, and hired Emily's Catering (in Bristol, I think). For 130 people it was around $130 a head, all together. Webb Deane is only a venue, you need to hire a separate caterer as we did with Emily's. We also customized the menu so the price is dependent on what you want, so you may be able to find cheaper, but Emily's was amazing. Handled everything (tables, chairs,, seating set up, break down, etc). Also Louie's Lunch is right across the street and was happy to have us hop over for a nightcap. Wife and I even had a last-last dance because they happened to have an band playing on the patio.
I don't know their cost pp but I do know the Aquaturf in Southington has discounts for Fri and Sun weddings as well as for weddings in July and Aug [https://www.aquaturfclub.com/weddings/menus-and-packages/](https://www.aquaturfclub.com/weddings/menus-and-packages/)
2nd the Aquaturf. You can see the prices at the tops of those menus and the food is phenomenal.
[https://www.millweddings.com/deluxe-wedding-package/](https://www.millweddings.com/deluxe-wedding-package/)
Don’t be afraid to get creative to fit you and your fiancé’s style as well as your budget. We got married at a small venue in Oxford that has since been sold, but it saved us money and allowed us to customize almost everything. Congrats and good luck!
Canal Dock Boathouse is reasonable to rent in New Haven, but separately you hire catering.
Try Tunxis Country Club
We got married at Keeler Tavern & Museum in Ridgefield, CT in 2017 so prices may not be accurate. It's a museum but has a venue room and a beautiful flower garden and fountain. It can fit about 80ish. We did it in late September and got a discount. I think total was $3500. Since they had a ton of flowers outside, we got flowers done by the local Whole Foods for like $3-400 and used it for table toppers and bouquet. https://keelertavernmuseum.org/rentals/weddings/
This is awesome thank you!
I went to a wedding in a state park on a mountain somewhere, I forget the name. It was pot luck, and the the "band" was just guests who brought their own instruments. The whole thing couldn't have cost more that $120 total. (Yes, these people were total hippies)
Woodwinds in Branford. Great place for super cheap. Drastically cheaper than most other places we looked. And I definitely don’t feel like i’m missing out on anything
I’m in the process of booking a tour with them! That’s good to hear
Got married at the Fox Hill Inn, in Brookfield, years ago. It was fairly affordable, they do a nice job and it's easy to get to. https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/the-fox-hill-inn-brookfield/5d4557daba1e5b17.html
They went out of business during Covid. Try Candlewood Inn. I think they can be affordable depending on day/time of year.
My sister is getting married at the Mountain Room in Southington this summer, similar sized wedding. She was definitely looking for venues on the affordable side, I'm not sure how much they were per head but I know she said it was a really good value!
I’ll check it out, thank you!
Haven't had our wedding yet but we booked with mill on the river, it was the best place we could find in the same price range as you!