Ready for more venue details?? I know I am!
As a reminder, this was C&C's initial list of venues to visit:
The North House – Avon, CTStony Creek Brewery – Branford, CT
The Packing House at the Mill Works – Willington, CT
The Pond House Café – West Hartford, CT
Mill 1 at Open Square – Holyoke, MA
The Haley Mansion – Mystic, CT
Latitude 41 – Mystic, CT
Wood Acres Farm – Terryville, CT
The Mansion at Harkness State Park – Waterford, CT *a Cody find!
Round two of our venue tour is complete. I think it’s safe
to say Cody and I had a little more swagger walking into the second half of our
venues but it pales in comparison to my mother’s notoriously direct (cutthroat)
approach which was on full display during our day in Mystic (love ya Deb).
This was the venue that was suggested to us by several
people so I had wicked high expectations walking in. We also run by it every
year during the Hartford Half Marathon so it was excited to actually step
inside the place I’ve frequently pointed to in a dehydrated delirium around
mile 8. They have years of experience
doing weddings and recently added an outside patio that can accommodate cocktail
hour and outdoor ceremonies (for a fee).
Prices varies on the day, time of day, and time of year (they have an
separate winter wedding package). Catering in in-house and ranges from $72-$96
per person for plated dishes and $71-87 person for buffet. Both includes
dessert (custom cake) and coffee
services. Bar is separate, and for 5 hours open bar there is, you guessed it, a
range depending on the option you choose. $22-36 per person not including
add-ons and upgrades.
What we Liked:
Cody liked the look. High ceiling, big
windows, no painful carpet. The patio
overlooking the water would make a beautiful ceremony as well as their backup
inclement weather/winter weather ceremony plan in front of a fireplace.
What we Didn’t Like: I have to admit, it was more so me who walked
away feeling a bit deflated. I felt, as we sat in the car and plugged in the
address for lunch, that I had set myself to be disappointed. Dream venues are
like Santa. (spoiler children) They
don’t really exist. Cue the small violin.
We would have to settle. This is what people have been warning you about.
Pinterest isn’t real. GET READY TO SETTLE. Welcome to the real world, Caitlin.
Needless to say, I was pretty grumpy and pessimistic when we
rolled up to Mill 1. Well that evaporated within seconds when Maggie brought us
inside the reception space. I learned I
have no poker face. Cody literally had to reach over and close my mouth. High
ceilings, wood floors, exposed brick, NO CARPETS. I’m glad Cody was there to
ask questions because I was a complete idiot the entire tour because, again,
when I get excited my brain (and ears) shut off. Maggie and her husband have owned the space
for years and have been doing weddings for 6 years. They recently partnered with
Electric Café & Catering and the menu looks amazing. Various plated dinners and buffets are
available and range in price from $46-$65. Bar is separate and has various
tiers to select from.
They can accommodate ceremonies 90-150 and the location of ceremony
depends on the number of guests. The space we would need, Mill 4, is located in
a separate building from the reception space and is in a public area, however,
Maggie ensured us there has never been an issue and the tenants are respectful
and usually clear out by 4:30pm on Saturdays. Rental fee for the space is up to nine hours
and depends on day. There are fees associated with ad-on décor and use of
ladder for hanging anything. Generally
speaking, both Mill 1 and Mill 4 are beautiful blank slates.
What we Liked:
DREAM VENUES ARE LIKE SANTA. To be specific, Tim Allen “The Santa Claus” Santa.
Believing is seeing!
The space is exactly what we were talking about. Simple,
customizable, modern. INDUSTRIAL. Maggie was awesome. She recalled specifics of
many different weddings by the couple’s name awhich made me feel like she really
invested in the weddings at her venue.
What we Didn’t Like:
The only short falls we could figure with this place are the distance and no
setup/clean up decor. For the first problem, Cody and I quickly rationalized
it. Given how spread out our families and friends are, someone is always going
to be traveling no matter where we had it. The second is a topic Rachel had texted me the
day before regarding: needing a day of coordinator. Mill 1 will set up/break
down tables and chairs but the décor untouched. Per other brides, they have
said their caterers have set up their décor, however, since Mill 1 has an
exclusive caterer, that option is not there.
It opened up a whole new level of panic because DOC can get expensive,
as a DIY bride I may or may not have trust issues when it comes to decorations
and I don’t want to be setting up centerpieces the morning of my wedding.
Quite possibly the most elegant place we looked at. Holy
cow. Events are 5 hours long and the site fee for onsite ceremony and reception
is $3000. The food and beverage package
is currently quoted at $145 per person plus a 21% house charge and CT tax. With
the site fee and food/beverage package, you are getting four hours open bar,
champagne toast, linens, napkins, event coordinator, complimentary menu
tasting, complimentary overnight accommodations for bridge and groom, preferred
room rates for guests, and a farewell breakfast. Additional options included
rental of the Haley mansion guest suites ($2,500 per night LOL) or “VIP” rental
of the Haley mansion suites with breakfast, lunch, personal housekeeper, host,
and a welcome bottle of champagne in each room ($3,500 per night LOLLLL).
What we Liked: My mom graciously set up this venue tour.
We hadn’t looked into it much and I was pleasantly surprised at how much we
LIKED the space when we got there. Exclusive use of the mansion, available
rooms for guests at the Inn and in the Haley Mansion, a bar at Harbor House
within walking distance for the after party.
Climate controlled tent included, unique dance space (a gazebo!),
ceremony with a beautiful natural backdrop. Completely unexpected but I
actually loved this venue and started to question the industrial theme and
whether or not we needed to add more mansions to our list. The mansion is simple and elegant (little need to add more)and has experience
doing weddings (I think they boasted over 70 wedding last summer…don’t quote
me).
What we Didn’t Like: The price made us die a little on the
inside. Yes, you get a lot, but it leaves little room for us to have anything
more. Cody has also developed this thing about fearing outside ceremonies due
to the uncertainly of the weather so that was a turn off for him. The plan for inclement weather does not sound
terrible though so I feel like we could live with it.
**We made a “freestyle” pit stop (remember when I said my
mom was cutthroat?) at Red 36 which is a
BEAUTIFUL restaurant by the water than can accommodate events of 40-150. For a brief moment, we considered looking into
it but its just too small for us and what we want at our wedding. Might be a
cool spot for someone who wants a much less formal wedding though! **
“Tall ships, fresh air, and beautiful water views…” Welcome
to Mystic Seaport. There are several locations for receptions but the one we
looked at specifically was the River Room. It can seat up to 220 guests and has
both indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to wander. Cody and I loved the patio and the North
Lawn, which would be the ceremony site. It overlooks the Mystic River which is
another breathtaking natural backdrop. For ceremonies at the North Lawn, the
price ranges from $2,500-$1000 depending on the time of day and day of the
week. There is no fee for the reception
space as long as you hit and food and beverage minimum of anywhere from $1500
to $12500 again depending on day and time of year. They have plated and buffet style packages
that range $111-132 per person and plenty of neat add-ons (hello smores station
and late night pizza station). The packages include linens and napkins,
hurricane lantern centerpieces, wedding coordinator, complimentary use of Morgan
suites for rehearsal dinner, discounted
admission to Mystic Seaport for all guests over the wedding weekend, and a one
year membership to the seaport for the bride and groom.
What we Liked: The North Lawn. We did not love the River Room. It was too
nautical for us, but the North Lawn was breathtaking. We found out you can rent
a tent and have an outdoor wedding there but, of course, it is by far the most
expensive option of all the locations.
Jenna, one of the coordinators, was great for answering questions. She
also let us know about a cool option we might be looking into for our wedding –
live paintings!
What we Didn’t Like: I
thought I fell in love with this venue back when I attended Rachel’s Bridal
shower…funny story, I actually was pretty sick that day and spent the better
part of the time it took for her to open her gifts puking in the bathroom. After checking it out, I think it might have
been the sickness. And you have to rent
pretty much EVERYTHING. The standard chairs that come with the River Room are
ugly as sin so it basically sets you up to either need to rent separate chairs
through them or buy covers. Chairs are
not included in the site fee for a ceremony for the North Lawn so you have to
rent them as well. And a tent if it rains.
It adds up quick. Cody, my Mom and
I walked to the car wondering what is included in the amount of money you spend
to have a wedding there.
A Cody find! Eoilia the Mansion at Harkness State Park rental
fee of $4,450 includes exclusive use of the first floor of the mansion and
south courtyard tent for 5 hours, on-site wedding ceremony, bridal
suite, staff parking, table/chairs and
can accommodate 150 people. They have a
list of approved caterers to select from.
Why so little written? Well, when I spoke with the
coordinator she told me she was unavailable for a tour the day we were in
Mystic but encouraged us to come by to check out the mansion anyway. So we roll
up and discover there is a WEDDING going on. My mom was ready to pay the
parking fee and walk in but I ultimately said no. I know if I was my wedding
day and there was a complete stranger poking around the grounds during set up,
I wouldn’t be happy. I don’t want to accrue any bad bridal karma this early in
the game.
What happened to Wood Acres Farm, you ask? We decided not to check it out. Any guesses
why? (:
Ah! I bet I know why :) :)
**As a side note, every picture on these two posts has come directly from the venue's own website. So bear with me, some of these venues clearly need to go in and update their photos! I've been thinking about posting some "real weddings" from the different venues as a separate post. If you're considering any of these options there are some stunning wedding out there for you that might help you better understand what venue is a fit for you! The ones on these sites don't always do them justice.
Anyway. I can't wait to C&C to finalize their venue details (including their DATE).
xoxo
Ah! I bet I know why :) :)
**As a side note, every picture on these two posts has come directly from the venue's own website. So bear with me, some of these venues clearly need to go in and update their photos! I've been thinking about posting some "real weddings" from the different venues as a separate post. If you're considering any of these options there are some stunning wedding out there for you that might help you better understand what venue is a fit for you! The ones on these sites don't always do them justice.
Anyway. I can't wait to C&C to finalize their venue details (including their DATE).
xoxo
