A Guide to Wedding Venues in Western Connecticut
If you are getting married in Western Connecticut, it’s important to know your options. This guide gives you a selection of the best venues in the area. They offer beautiful settings in Danbury, Brookfield, Litchfield, Monroe, Southbury and Torrington areas such as lakeside, mansions and gardens. One is sure to be perfect for your dream wedding day.
Deciding what you want:
In choosing your Western Connecticut venue, you must first decide what it is that you are looking for. Identifying your vision will help you choose your wedding location in a more expeditious manner.
Ask yourself these questions:
– What is your personal style? Classical, modern or more casual?
– What is your perfect setting for your wedding and/or reception? Will you need your reception site to double as the ceremony site?
– How many people do you intend on inviting? How many do you estimate will come?
– Do you have a specific date in mind? If not, have you narrowed it down to a timeframe?
– What Western Connecticut roadways would you prefer to be near such as Route 84 and Route 8?
Narrowing your selection:
Now that you’ve established your vision, it’s time to narrow the choices. Look at the list of Western Connecticut wedding venues below and consider which fit your vision most accurately. Try to select 2-3 locations as potentials for your big day. This will give you a good start on locating the right venue for your wedding ceremony and/or reception. You may also want to include alternate locations such as a family members backyard, if they are large enough to accomodate your wedding. And don’t forget to include your future spouse and your families so they at least get to comment on your choices.
Visit the locations:
Visit several potential wedding locations and learn more about their pricing packages, services and dates available. Be sure to go with a list of pertinent questions in hand such as how long you can have the location for and any additional costs. Take notes, and even pictures, so that you can go over your choices later. If you have a specific date in mind, now is the time to see if they are available.
Bear in mind whether the location is a good or better than you expected. Also, pay close attention to the attentiveness of the staff during your visit. It’s important that you are comfortable with the people who will be pulling your wedding together for you on that big day. Inattentiveness is never good.
Select the location:
Once you have all the information necessary, decide which location best fits your vision within your budget. Be sure to book as early as possible as dates tend to fill up far in advance. A non-refundable deposit will likely be required in order to lock in your selected date. Some venues do, for a fee, allow that charge to be refunded though, but that fee must be paid up front.
Once the Western Connecticut location is selected, you can move on to other important tasks such as setting a menu, choosing flowers and booking entertainment and photographers.
Western Connecticut Wedding Venues:
The Candlewood Inn
506 Candlewood Lake Road, Brookfield, Connecticut 06804
Tel: 203.775.4517
Location: Situated right on Candlewood Lake, this facility offers both indoor and outdoor weddings. If you choose outdoor, ceremonies can be held overlooking the lake. It has a very cozy but elegant feel to it. And the dock and gazebo are great for pictures. It’s located about five minutes from Route 84 and Route 7.
Food Selection: Fairly large. You choose eight hor d’oeuvres from a selection of about 20, and then appetizers, sides, main dishes and salads from a generous selection as well. The glazed filet mignon and brie wrapped in phyllo with raspberry sauce are divine. And best of all, if it’s not on the menu, they will find a way to make it for you.
Perks: Beautiful lakeside setting; indoor or outdoor ceremonies, everything done on premises and cake is included in prices. They also do all the set-up. Valet parking available.
The Fox Hill Inn
257 Federal Road, Brookfield, Connecticut 06804
Tel: 203.775.0089
Location: If you are going for grand, then this is the venue for you. It has a classic design reminiscent of buildings like the White House or the classic homes on the Bayou. This would be spectacular for the classic-loving couple.
Food Selection: This venue is run by the same company as The Candlewood Inn and Waterview. Likewise, they share a similar, if not the same, menu. There’s a good number of things to choose from and everything is included in the price, including the tiered cake. They will customize the menu to your specifications as well.
Perks: Staff in tuxedoes, indoor or outdoor ceremonies possible, everything done on premises including the cake. Plus, they do all the set-up. Valet parking available.
Waterview
215 Roosevelt Drive (Route 34), Monroe, Connecticut 06468
Tel: 203.261.0915
Location: This new and very modern facility is located on Lake Zoar in Monroe. It has a very unusual and unique design that is unlike any other facility in the area. The backdrop of the lake is great for photos.
Food Selection: Similar to Fox Hill Inn and the Candlewood Inn, there is a good selection for the several courses offered and the staff will work with you to customize the menu to your preferences.
Perks: The Waterview looks huge when you are driving up to it, so if size matters to you then this could be the place. Granite dance floors and massive ceiling heights. It’s definitely massive. They can accommodate up to 750 guests. And they do all the set up for you. Valet parking also available.
Cornucopia Banqueting Hall
371 Pinewoods Road, Torrington, Connecticut 06790
Tel: 860.489.5446
Location: This hall is located in a tranquil section of Torrington, a little off the beaten track. It’s got a pretty lead up and both indoor and outdoor areas good for photos.
Food Selection: There is a wide variety of dishes available for brunches, luncheons, dinners and buffets. Your bill is based on what you order with sliding scales for more expensive items.
Perks: Outdoor areas available for use, but you have to do the set up there yourself. Choice of several rooms.
Litchfield Inn
Route 202 (P. O. Box 798), Litchfield, Connecticut 06759
Tel 860.567.4503
Location: This beautiful and elegant location is in the heart of Litchfield. The great lawn is a wonderful lead-up to the hall itself. And best yet, there are rooms for rent in the upstairs so you needn’t go far after the wedding.
Food Selection: The wedding offerings are known as Bistro East. The selection of foods is large and get larger and fancier depending on how much you are willing to pay.
Perks: Beautiful location off the beaten path. Guest rooms available. Great indoor and outdoor locations for photographs.
Dolce Heritage
522 Heritage Road; Southbury, Connecticut 06488
Tel: 203.264.8200
Location: Dolce Heritage isn’t just a banquet hall or a great reception venue – it’s a destination. The property includes more than 100 guest rooms, banquet facilities, a golf course and a spa.
Food Selection: The menus they offer online are not as extensive as other facilities in the area, however they may have special menus for weddings that provide more selection. The items on the menus available include simple but elegant selections such as Pan Seared Chicken Breast with a Garlic Demiglass.
Perks: If you have a large amount of guests coming from out of town, this would be a great place. Not only can they stay there, but they can bask in luxury too.
The Amber Room Colonnade
1 Stacey Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06811
Tel. 203.748.3800
Location: Though the lead-up to the Amber Room Colonnade isn’t as impressive as some other facilities in the area, it is still very nice. There are flower gardens, trellis bridges and other areas outdoors for nice photos. This family owned and operated facility offers a choice of two rooms divided by a soundproof barrier, or the option of combining the two rooms to accommodate more people.
Food Selection: A large selection at good prices, comparable with the Candlewood Inn, Fox Hill Inn and Waterview.
Perks: They are a full-service hall, which could save you a lot of time. They will work with you on menus. The minimum to book is only 75 people, which is great if you have are planning a smaller wedding (many other places require a minimum of 100 or more).
