He made every bit of the planning process SO much easier. Thank you, Vanessa! d it was the complete opposite. Thank you WoodWinds. The staff were so attentive to our needs and our guests', and Randy and Ana were amazing! 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. In fact, Kathryn went out of her way to connect me with the bride and groom who were renting the location for the next day to see if we could share the tent - once up and once down rather than the tent company having to come in and out twice - saved both us and the wedding party for the next day a lot of money! We had both our ceremony and reception there. If you like boats and are up for a little walk, the edge of the campus overlooks the Shennecossett Yacht Club just across the water. Award Winning Wedding and Events Venue wedding packages and menus at WoodWinds 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. I highly suggest The Woodwinds are your wedding venue :). We chose the Renaissance 3 package and oh.my.gosh. There were times we even felt like she might be a mind reader because she would get us things before we even asked for them! Either the first wedding (ours was the second of the day) was running behind schedule, or there was an issue with/lack of planning on the Woodwinds part, because our guests started arriving before the first wedding was even over, and our guests thought they missed our wedding! All our guests, almost a year later, continue to rave about the food and how great it all really was. You will not be disappointed choosing to have your special day here. The entire night was spectacular! They are true professionals. Unclaimed. It took over a year for my fianc and I to even chose a location. Overview: Branford House is a historic mansion located on the University of Connecticuts Avery Point Campus in Groton, CT. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! She was always so responsive to my emails, always answered any questions and was so extremely helpful when we worked with her. Its also a great place for wedding portraits if you have a special vehicle to arrive in! Amanda was dressed in a timeless gown from White Dress by the Shore + her day was draped in exquisite florals from one of . Randy made sure everything was perfect which it truly was! There are some great catering companies in the area, including Coastal Gourmet, Morins, and A Thyme to Cook. More importantly the QUALITY of the venue, food, beverages, services, etc. The staff was absolutely amazing and all of our guests were raving about the food and quality of service. Everyone raved over it. The uplighting, the tables, the decor, every little detail was done just as we had planned and discussed. Randy was an expert on our wedding day; he took care of everything and made sure that we hadn't a care in the world! 18 Creative Personalized Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Love, How to Get the Perfect Wedding Photographs: 4 Easy Tips, Chat With Other Brides That Are Planning Their Connecticut Wedding. We sincerely thank everyone that helped make our day so special! 5 Gorgeous Wedding Venues in Branford, CT (2023) The setting was nothing short of romantic; big enough to fit all of our loved ones but also small enough to feel intimate. This one-of-a-kind setting is ideal for couples that want that fairytale aesthetic for their special day. I would highly recommend this venue to get married and have your ceremony. They made everything so easy, and walked us through all the steps to prepare for our big day. Scott, Antonella and the entire Woodwinds staff went above and beyond for our December 9, 2017 wedding. My only wish is that it could have lasted longer! The stress blew out the window, and my excitement for the day took over. The Branford House is a beautiful location for a wedding. However, the ceremonies were taking place in the same spot. When my now husband & I locked in this venue, we worked with Vanessa. We are surrounded by luscious greenery which turns beautifully colorful in our fall season. My bridal attendant who I unfortunately can't recall her name was an absolute gem! Kim made sure I didn't want for anything all night. The price point was fair and their packages pack a great value. Chef Antonio and his team take pride in the exceptional cuisine they offer to couples for their wedding day. Between the award winning food, cost per person, immaculate grounds, and the beautiful ballroom, the venue harmonized with our We are so happy we made the decision to book with the Woodwinds! The entire staff really worked hard to made our night perfect, and we could not be more grateful! us almost in tears. We are currently working together with her to pull our Christmastime wedding off! I am so happy she was there it took some of the stress off me. They set up all my decor and made sure we had everything we needed. My husband and Where do i even start? Highly recommended! Bill Millers Castle | Reception Venues - The Knot We knew this was the place for us the moment we walked into the main room! From the timeless ballrooms to the exceptional cuisine, this manor is an ideal location for an event to remember. venue and owners have great attention to detail. s still raving about the food; people could not get enough of it!!! They all made themselves available to us for anything we needed. The staff is great and have been very helpful with all of our questions! he site and speaking with someone! Candice Milliard Candis Floral Creations, Beautiful setting on the water. I only researched other vendors because I didn't want guests to think I was just recreating my sister's wedding for myself. We had an unexpected blizzard which caused a few glitches that caused the wedding to start about 45 minutes late and I was beginning to stress out. Woodwinds I was sold! The food options are incredible and there will be something for everyone! I worked with Katherine who is responsive and kind and easy to work with. Our guests are still talking about the food, and how delicious it was! 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). The backdrop of the house and the water view made our wedding breath taking. Thank you woodwinds for all you have done so far!! The booking process was fun and easy. have 300+ attending. First, they were so responsive to all of our phone calls and emails throughout the year and a half of our planning process. They made sure the night went so smooth without a hitch. Seriously from the first visit until our wedding day, every single person we interacted with a we just had our wedding here last night and I have to say, it couldn't have been any more better! So very helpful, making what a stressful time planning that much more exciting and a breeze! The bar was top tier and the waitstaff amazing! And thats the truth! So many options with so many different price points. The outside ceremony space was gorgeous and intimate. For a more outdoor feel, the Garden Room presents stunning views of the grounds, with three elegant patios available to you. We are looking forward to tasting the food on our wedding day. Randy was an excellent event planner. When we met with Vanessa to tour the venue and talk about everything they had, we were sold. We met with Vanessa and were really blown away. Thanks again! I cannot say enough good things about the venue, food, and staff, incredible!! Everyone made sure myself and my groom had not questions or needs at any point. These. My fiance, parents, and I met with Vanessa to take a tour of the venue on 9/16/17 . Could not have chosen a better place. Sign up on The Knot to reach more couples and book more weddings! We had an amazing day. I am not kidding when I say she is a pro and a saint. The ambiance, the food, the setup, the staff, every little detail was top notch. From our first tour with Vanessa to the last dance everything was beyond perfect. Branford House weddings are special because the house has so much to offer couples who are looking for wedding venues in CT. Branford House offers a few options for your on-site ceremony. Thank you for making this process ao easy! Branford House has both indoor and outdoor event spaces where you can host your wedding celebrations. If you are thinking of getting married in a mansion in New England, this is the best choice for you. Woodwinds | Reception Venues - The Knot With a capacity of 200 guests you can spread out over three beautiful rooms or enjoy the expansive grounds. Overall our family and friends were extremely impressed with Woodwinds! Everything was above and beyond from the beginning. Ken made the planning process super easy and was always prompt with answers to any questions We had the most amazing wedding here! The staff was amazing, food was beyond perfect, and there are no words for Scott! we might have had. The Branford House | Wedding Venues | Groton, Connecticut We want to thank the staff for everything! The staff is amazing, friendly, low-key and flexible. Our wedding was one of kind with the space and decor. Our guests enjoyed admiring the amazing architecture & strolling around to take in the serene ocean view. Everyone we worked with from sales, to day of coordinator, to servers, to the bridal attendant was absolutely f Our wedding was perfect. ornate woodwork and amazing exterior architecture make this location stand out in a grand elegance. Working with you, they can create a personalized menu tailored to your desired tastes. Everyone that attended our wedding i We are beyond pleased with the service we received at WoodWinds. I'm only upset that there weren't any appetizers included in the leftovers because I was having too much fun to eat any. Blessing because you can choose anything you want and find cheaper options. A Jubilee Event: Morgan & Matt's Glam Summer Mansion Wedding at The They were friendly, understanding, affordable, and made the most magical day happen! Let me first start off by saying that the woodwinds staff was so accommodating & so Amazing! View Portfolio. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for an indoor/outdoor venue with a beautiful view of the ocean!! The timely,attentive responses to emails loaded with questions were noteably impeccable and we found the venue to be very flexible and accommodatin Booking our Wedding at the Woodwinds couldn't have gone easier. Our wedding there was all I had imagined & more. Then we saw Woodwinds. I highly recommend the Woodwinds for your wedding venue. Branford House Mansion | Venue - Groton, CT | Wedding Spot Oops! The in-office coordinator was so patient in answering my many questions over the last 2 years of planning (& postponing) and we are so grateful for all of his help and the detailed notes he kept to ensure our wishes were met! I can honestly say that while planning a wedding for 250 guests, I did not stress once, and this is all due to them. We are so happy to be married and thank you so much! Neka, was constantly by our side providing the best service and everything we needed. nally able to have our wedding March 27 th 2021! 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 front door to the mansion is a great place for family photos as its shaded and cooler in the afternoon and easy to get to for grandparents. This gave us plenty of time for our first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing all at the Branford House. I cannot wait until my wedding and I will definitely write a review after ward. She was more helpful than my bridesmaids and I am very grateful. Neka adjusted my dress and train before my procession and at the altar so I looked flawless. The Woodwinds has an amazing team who decorated everything, kept us on schedule the whole night My husband and I recently got married on June 15th at Woodwinds!! Deborah Dempsey A Gala Affair, Please fill out email, subject and message, #5 best wedding venue in Connecticut by the experts, Wedding at Home: Main Points You Should Know About, 17 Great Small Party Venues in Connecticut. All my guests loved the architecture. She is quick to respond to any My fianc and I absolutely love Vanessa from the Woodwinds. Every person we worked with from booking through the day of our wedding was organized, happy, helpful, and professional. Weve gotten so many compliments on how beautiful the wedding was, thanks in large part to the wonderful holiday decorations; how great the food was--from cocktail hour and dinner to our late-night donut bar; and how wonderful the wait staff and bartenders were. Katherine was very easy to work with, and we loved that we could work with any vendors we wanted. Address: 1084 Shennecossett Road Groton, Connecticut 06340. You all rock! He had gone to two other weddings at the Woodwinds and showed me the Woodwinds venue, and I instantly fell in love. It was awesome!! An ideal setting for special moments, beneath a tent billowing with sea breezes as your guests look on and sailboats glide by. I had just heard great things and it seemed like a beautiful place where ev We loved woodwinds for our wedding! If you are planning a larger wedding (100+ guests) then you may want to consider having your ceremony outside on Branford Houses sprawling lawn. As a former caterer, I noticed the little details and am happy to return for future events. Each and every one of you were fundamental to making our night fabulous! We left the meeting feeling accomplished and booked the Woodwinds a few weeks later. Spectacular Cake time Pamper Coffee rose I do S'more? Our guests are still raving about the food! Our guests loved the food, and it was served so quickly and efficiently! Most venues require a high minimum count. And, if you are feeling adventurous, you can even have an epic photo session on the rocks along the edge of the sound. 4 years ago. She was so welcoming and knowledgeable. From the meeting to the rehearsal and the wedding. 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. Walking into the venue and seeing the garden room and the flower centerpieces. ob really shines. This place is beautiful! Ken answered all of our questions promptly and enthusiastically. He did such an amazing job with everything. The Branford House has all of the beauty and elegance that you would see in Newport at a much more reasonable price. 1st dance Toast She also was great for a quick second tour for me to show my immediate family as well. And it was all so delicious. and Ken were 5 star with helping us all the way up to our special day. Our private estate property can hold more than 275 guests for weddings and various private events. Any questions I had they were answered within minutes! Historic/Landmark Building, Mansion, Outdoor. 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. From start to finish, Woodwinds was perfect. The food is excellent - our guests are still raving about the food. I received a huge number of comments regarding the excellence of the food. Sergio was our maitre d and he was amazing. They did an amazing job making our signature drink! My bridal attendant the day of, Neka, was AMAZING. The building itself is gorgeous, and the views are breathtaking! Located in picturesque Branford, Connecticut, Bill Miller's Castle is an extravagant family-owned banquet facility near the Connecticut shoreline. With a few flowers and a couple of candles, our event was in the most beautiful of settings! Everything was exactly how we dreamed it would be. tions we've had so far. 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. Sergio you are fantastic at your job i cant say it enough! She also made sure the wedding party was holding up and that made us feel taken care off! n Vanessas office signing our contract the next week. ked through the doors. Vanessa was wonderful to tour and book with. But I think well worth it in the end because the even will truly be "you". If you are looking for a place to stay during your wedding weekend, there are some options for rent right here at HoliMont. Mr. & Mrs. Salato. Randy then took over and it was so smooth! Bill Miller's Castle was . Our guests were impressed by the venue and the great detail in the woodwork inside is it's own artwork. From our initial tour with Vanessa, beginning our planning with Kenneth, to our final plans with Randy- ever We just had our wedding at Woodwinds on 11.18.21 and Im so glad we did! 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. When we had first taken a trip to WoodWinds 2 years ago while we were searching for a venue, we couldn't find one thing we disliked! Joanna created the most gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces, adding another ease to planning and coordination because she works for Woodwinds. The booking process was painless and we would recommend it to anyone!!! Randy & Kim are amazing! The day after the wedding, they had all of the decor packed up and about 10 trays of food. all the staff has been super communicative and helpful in any way. All the venues in CT are beautiful and welcoming but the process can be intimidating. They have everything down from planning to executing! It was so nice to finally re My husband and I got married on July 6th at The Woodwinds. The Woodwinds is a wonderful venue, gorgeous in appearance and efficient in throwing a magnificent party! We had the dance floor and uplighting and it was all just PERFECT! at you are able to have make me feel I can have a wedding without it being cookie cutter. - Amplified music OK indoors and outdoors, - Alcohol must be served by licensed bartender/caterer, Price this venue to get your customized estimate, no strings attached. It was a Saturday in October, as most weddings are. Everything came out perfect. Randy made our wedding day go exactly as planned. I can't wait to have another reason to go back! Our day was absolutely amazing! This is such beautiful venue. Its the best in CT & the best in New England! we honestly could not have asked for a more perfect day! Wedding Menus & Packages for that special day on the CT Shoreline at The Branford House. They worked with my budget, were incredible with the planning and the food was amazing. They also gladly accommodated adjustments to our package. We also appreciated them quoting a single figure that included tax and gratuity so there were no hidden fees we didnt expect. Scott the wedding coordinator from start to finish, We had the most amazing wedding at the Woodwinds. WoodWinds was bought by award-winning chef Antonio . I feel like thats not even the best word to use. After going to several venues, we didn't have to look any further after visiting the woodwins, I'd get married here every year if i could I wouldnt recommend anywhere else to have a wedding or celebration. Let me just say, this place is AMAZING! Within 5 days we booked and we could not be happier!! Choosing Your Honeymoon Package: Should You Go All-inclusive? They were so quick to get me and my husband whatever we needed. Bill Miller's Castle is a wedding venue located in Branford, CT. A special bit of recognition needs to go to Scott, the wedding planner. I didnt want my wedding night to be over. Vanessa is accommodating and genuinely excited about each wedding. So much delicious food!!! did sell us on choosing The Woodwinds as the best place to start our forever. The night was so beautiful and my husband and I were well attended to all night. It was the b Booking our wedding at Woodwinds has been a wonderful decision. The cake was amazing as well and served in the same manner. Randy was awesome when we got down to the home stretch and did great running the event the day of. Erienne & Jeff But Id like to end this with the feed back we got back from our wedding guest and this has to do with the food! Thank you so much to everyone at Woodwinds!! We had our wedding at the Branford House Mansion on 7/17/15 and it was absolutely perfect. Intimate Wedding in A Castle | Branford House Groton, CT - YouTube It was truly breathtaking. We showed up with my daughter, and she didn't blink an eye. questions or inquiries you may have, and spent a lot of time with my mom and I during the initial meeting to ensure that we were comfortable and happy with the package she we were choosing. *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our special day so magical 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! This rental fee drops to about $3000 for weddings after Thanksgiving up to spring. For events hosting more than 200 guests, Branford House staff suggests a tent on the lawn. Scott is one of a kind and went to great lengths to ensure that the day went smoothly. that we toured because we were sold! The Woodwinds is in high demand for good reason! They have several large suites available for getting ready. Thank you to Tony who always called to go over details and guidelines. Thanks to the entire staff for all your work! Our ceremony was set up for outside on the lawn facing the water, but the storm that rolled through forced us to re-evaluate our plans and we moved everything inside. There is so much more that she did that I can share but it is just too much to make someone read. Thank you! had all the best things: a thoughtful + sweet getting ready time, a quintessential, new england church service + a historical venue with ocean views. telling all of my soon to be married friends to book with the woodwinds. They were very flexible and accommodating. He was so nice about everything and quick to respond! :) My husband and I are still on cloud 9! Thank you for making our day the best day ever!! Branford House Weddings [CT's Best Venue on the Water] who is super sweet and knowledgeable! wedding setting. me how much they loved the food and that they were stuffed by the amount of food there was! Or, if preferred, you are welcome to invite your own desired vendors to this esteemed location. We loved the option that people could go outside and down to the water if they wanted to. Curse because it's a lot of work! Thats genius! The amount of attention to detail was fantastic. The patio is amazing too! When you book with this venue, you immediately feel like a part of the WoodWinds fam. The Branford House is an absolutely stunning venue. However, that didn't deter us. 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. If this continues to be an issue, please let us know how you landed on this page and we will look into it. person that could not be more excited to share everything they have at the woodwinds. Ken and Randy made planning a breeze! If there ever was a must have location for a wedding venue, this is the spot. First and only place you need to look for your next venue for any event! Every one of our guests mentioned how wonderful the evening was and it was one of the best weddings they have been to! Find a venue Its a mansion on the water, what can I say. The day of, Randy was a master at running the show, honestly, not one thing went wrong. Your email address will not be published. It is perfectly situated in every way. You guys did that! The price is affordable compared to other venues and you get a bang for your buck! I was blown away the first visit out there. Menu options are fantastic and so reasonable, good quality for a fair price. I also highly recommend sneaking out for a few sunset photos if at all possible! It was nothing short of amazing, and we could not thank the entire staff enough for their hard-work and kindness throughout the entire event. I can't thank everyone enough. Randy and Ana were absolutely wonderful. We got married in the Garden Room Saturday and every moment of our reception was perfect. The woodwinds exceeded our expectations! We had our ceremony on-site and had to be indoors due to weather, but it was so easy to make the last-minute change and we were happy there was a pretty room with a fireplace to use as our backdrop. 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. will make sure we tell the masses that they should get married at the WoodWinds!!! Haha. I cannot imagine what other venues must be like since they don't have Randy or Ken in their office--both of these men went above and beyond for us! We couldnt be more happy with our wedding day! Everyone here knows what they are doing and my bridal attendant was amazing she was there for everything I needed even just holding my drink while I took pictures! Nothing. i wish i could relive my wedding day over and over again because of all of you! When I just couldnt decide o Wwodwinds staff was amazing. though we were bummed we knew we were in good hands. I am so glad that we could have a backup plan work out so well. he entire crew for the great care we received, and a special thanks to the two lovely ladies that helped me bustle my dress on two separate occasions. 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!!!! When we first toured the venue, we loved how classy the facility was and their beautiful outdoor grounds/ceremony locations. The night was flawless. The Branford House in Connecticut - Wedding Reports o when looking for venues, we needed a place surrounded by trees. I cannot say enough good things about them. We lucked out with the best weather and were able to have our ceremony outside on the lawn. From there, you can look out over the great lawn, lighthouse, and ocean. Our guests are still raving about the food, drinks, and service. in everything and is so helpful with the planning. From the impressive grand entrance with Austrian Crystal chandeliers to the majestic marble fireplace of the Firelight room, this venue exudes elegance. Chef Silvio's Sunday Sauce is a must!! It was exactly what we envisioned and when I tell you that nothing went wrong. They made our evening stress-free. Our guests all had a great time in this space--the cocktail hour especially was a hit. Majestic Woods - Clymer, NY - Wedding Venue - Eventective Branford House Mansion Groton, CT 4.5 55 Reviews View more information 55 Reviews 4.5 out of 5.0 Recommended by 89% of couples Quality of service 4.5 Average response time 4.1 Professionalism 4.6 Value 4.7 Flexibility 4.5 Awards 55 5 User photos Sort by: Taylor Married on 10/16/2021 5.0 Quality of service 5.0 Responsiveness 5.0 Professionalism 5.0 ~Robert and Brittany Mcsweeney. 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. Mr. & Mrs. Homar 7.3.21. abulous and answered every question and fulfilled every request. Everyone loved the Branford house and all it's grandness. Everything they do is professional and perfect. Its a gorgeous stone mansion that rivals those youd see in Newport. guided us though the entire day. DOMA ON MAIN - 33 Photos & 28 Reviews - 576 Main St, Branford, CT Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. We personally thank Joanna for her beautiful and delicate touch while making all center pieces and bouquets, Ana Brizuela and Randy Bensey, who are absolutely wonderful!