And Scott was the best!!! We showed up with my daughter, and she didn't blink an eye. A ceremony inside will be nothing less than grand as you step down the oak-carved staircase and take everyone's breath away. I LOVE this place. Everyone loved the food from the hors d'oeuvres to the main course to the ice cream bar. The Woodwinds was the PERFECT venue for our wedding. And thats the truth! will make sure we tell the masses that they should get married at the WoodWinds!!! The food was incredible, communication was fantastic every step of the way, last minute changes were never an issue for the staff; they just know what theyre doing. It was a nice surprise because it looked absolutely beautiful, almost as if we were married in a magical garden! Thanks to the entire staff for all your work! The Branford House has all of the beauty and elegance that you would see in Newport at a much more reasonable price. You simply cant beat its shoreline location and its grand aesthetic. The day came out better David and I got married on New Years Eve. They made our evening stress-free. dal assistant was incredible the day of! Vanessa set up an appointmen We recently booked our wedding for next October and we couldn't be happier with our decision! We highly recommend The Woodwinds to everyone for any event! They all made themselves available to us for anything we needed. We liked it so much, we booked our wedding there for next year! When I arrived at the venue before our ceremony, I was rattled and stressed not knowing the status of everyone/everything. person that could not be more excited to share everything they have at the woodwinds. Everything was above and beyond from the beginning. I love the fact that we booked with The Woodwinds! 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! Joanna, the venues Florist, did spectacular work on our arrangements, and was great to work with. I cannot say enough good things about them. So I would suggest booking early because this venue will not be available its too breath taking. The woodwinds is a beautiful place from the elaborate fountain out front to the lavish gardens and waterfall in the back. Prior to the day of, I had emailed Ken about 501 times with questions. During prime wedding season (i.e. 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. The patio and lawn are the best part of the venue so, if you can, maximize the time spent out there. Amanda was dressed in a timeless gown from White Dress by the Shore + her day was draped in exquisite florals from one of . My fiance and I looked at several places alongside our budget and there just wasn't one we "loved". We left the meeting feeling accomplished and booked the Woodwinds a few weeks later. Vanessa, Ken, Randy, and the entire day of staff provided exceptional service to make our wedding day the best. Our guests are still raving about the food, drinks, and service. This gave us plenty of time for our first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing all at the Branford House. The inside is also amazing, with ornate wood walls, huge fireplaces, super tall ceilings and chandeliers. THEY ARE THE BEST!!! She also made sure the wedding party was holding up and that made us feel taken care off! me how much they loved the food and that they were stuffed by the amount of food there was! ~Robert and Brittany Mcsweeney. The Woodwinds was beyond amazing! hey run the event. Have the wedding you have always dreamed about at Branford House Mansion. love the newlyweds There is a myriad of excellent locations for Branford House Mansion wedding photos. ! I am still in shock over how much was included in the price. The venue and grounds are absolutely beautiful, it truly reflects the TLC that the staff have put into it. Upon booking the venue they gave us a jar of Sunday sauce from the chef. My fianc and I knew we wanted to book our reception here as soon as we took our to Booking at Woodwinds was an absolute blessing! They have everything down from planning to executing! I think I sent Ken at least 40 emails leading up to our wedding date but he was always so pleasant, and answered every question quickly! In-house event planning services can also be provided with wedding bookings at this magnificent venue. Sergio you are fantastic at your job i cant say it enough! Walk around the side, and you might be able to catch a sailboat going by as well. Staff was waiting for us after the ceremony with cold towels, water, and appetizers. The Woodwinds is a wonderful venue, gorgeous in appearance and efficient in throwing a magnificent party! All things one would expect of every establishment, but something we didn't find after touring several. The grounds were impeccably manicured, and the planting selections were simply beautiful. I cant say enough good things about the Branford House. Wrong. And for anyone looking for an incredible venue, choose the woodwinds, you wont be upset!! Can we just stop for a moment to talk about how beautiful it is? They all make you feel important! in everything and is so helpful with the planning. On the ocean side of Branford House, the path to the lighthouse provide for a classic New England background for wedding portraits. Ken was also totally accommodating when we made several changes to our guest list and seating chart in the week leading up to our wedding due to last minute cancellations. Unique, Philanthropic & Unforgettable. The Branford House Mansion is a historic mansion and wedding venue on the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut in Groton, Connecticut. Branford House Weddings [CT's Best Venue on the Water] So far our experience has been great. They even made a special order of food since my son was so picky. n centerpieces, I called the main office and Kristy put me in touch with their in-house florist, Joanna. From our first meeting with Vanessa to our wedding day last Sunday everything was smooth as silk. This flexibility allowed us to have exactly the wedding we wanted. Their traditional Italian dishes offer a hearty banquet bursting with flavor. The venue is beautiful, especially for a winter theme in which I am having! The Woodwinds staff works with weddings often and their knowledge is evident in how t Woodwinds was PERFECT!! This venue is phenomenal, my guests cant stop talking about how delicious the food was and how gorgeous the atmosphere is! Mr. & Mrs. Homar 7.3.21. abulous and answered every question and fulfilled every request. This was a wedding that won't soon be forgotten and a venue that should be number 1 on everyone's list. During our First Looks and throughout the entire night, the staff ensured I had champagne in my hand, my husband had a gin and tonic in his, and we were fed and happy. You'll also notice that the quality and attentiveness of employees and organizers is top notch. After we started touring venues my husband knew this would be the place right away. Well, they were the only venue we physically looked at, thats how sold we were from the start. From the event planners, Vanessa, Ken, and Randy, to the chefs and wait/bar staff, they are all so invested in making your wedding day so easy going, memorable and special. It took over a year for my fianc and I to even chose a location. Address: 1084 Shennecossett Road Groton, Connecticut 06340. There was nothing like the views that the Branford House provided! 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 . The food was amazing and the cost was very reasonable. It was extra for my package but SO WORTH IT. The grounds were beautiful and we loved having the outside options for cocktail hour and the reception. DOMA ON MAIN - 33 Photos & 28 Reviews - 576 Main St, Branford, CT he site and speaking with someone! With room for up to 240 guests, it can be adjusted to suit your partys size. We cannot wait to have our ceremony and reception there next year. So very helpful, making what a stressful time planning that much more exciting and a breeze! 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. She fixed my dress, refilled my drinks, and more, all without me asking. Their service and booking process was exceptionally impressive! We could use any vendor we liked, and as the bride, we were able to get ready right at the house. Highly recommend! This palatial estate has a lawn that sweeps right to the Long Island Sound and can be tented. I am so happy she was there it took some of the stress off me. Handled everything!! Facebook: Owenego Inn and Beach Club Wedding Menus & Packages for that special day on the CT Shoreline at I couldn't speak higher of the staff and service we received the day of. My friends and family said this was hands-down the best wedding - most elegant, most fun, gorgeous venue they had ever seen! Ken was always helpful and responsive and had all the answers to our questions! When we met with her to set the date and go over the contract, she really went over every option to make sure we were getting everything we wanted. All our family and friends raved about the food and how nice the venue was, from the set up inside, to the grounds outside. At the end of the night, the staff had everything boxed and ready to go so we didnt Michael and I are extremely satisfied and content with the Woodwinds for our wedding on 9/30/17. By chance, we toured the day of a Halloween themed wedding And I am terrified of clowns. Outside patio stones are a bit uneven, but it is a very old house so that is not unlikely. If you don't know what that is.. it's a huge buffet of desserts! My guests haven't stopped raving about the delicious food, the phenomenal service, and the gorgeous grounds. Branford House Mansion - Venue - Groton, CT - WeddingWire --Stephanie & Andrew. The Branford House was voted the #5 best wedding venue in Connecticut by the experts. We would highly recommend you look into the Woodwinds. I would definitely recommend Woodwinds to other couples and we will be having more events here as well! I am still overwhelmed with joy knowing everyone there will make our day extra special. The Woodwinds Wedding & Events Venue - Branford, CT The entire night was spectacular! Upon visiting Woodwinds for our tour we were given a jar along with a box of pasta, a really nice touch if you ask me. The Woodwinds made our day so special and we cannot thank the staff enough the entire planning process all the way through the event! THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of WoodWinds staff for helping making Devon and my day an incredible day to never forget. However, the ceremonies were taking place in the same spot. I can't thank everyone enough. guests loved the food. t WoodWinds was phenomenal. We booked 2 years in advance. As for the day of the wedding, the entire staff was amazing! She did very well with my difficult bustle and was patient even when I was not. The rental fee is $5,000 for a reception and ceremony and includes 10 hours of event time including set up and clean up time. It was a Saturday in October, as most weddings are. Scott, Antonella and the entire Woodwinds staff went above and beyond for our December 9, 2017 wedding. My bridal attendant, Kim, fanned me while wearing long sleeves and long pants under the hot sun! that was the most fun and best wedding they ever got to attend. Woodwinds was nothing short of amazing. Walking into the venue and seeing the garden room and the flower centerpieces. thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. This venue can provide a long list of talented local vendors for your convenience. I had guests raving about the different appetizers and our Venetian table!! Joanna created the most gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces, adding another ease to planning and coordination because she works for Woodwinds. The only negative was that they tell you, you can take home food for those that dont attend. We booked Woodwinds because we loved the environment, but I would recommend Woodwinds because they are professionals who will do anything and everything for you. We dont have any complaints about the whole evening. Thank you so much to everyone at Woodwinds!! LOVE THEM!!! Our guest are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how great the food was! They worked with my budget, were incredible with the planning and the food was amazing. , stmas theme. I'm only upset that there weren't any appetizers included in the leftovers because I was having too much fun to eat any. These. From start to finish, this team was nothing but amazing!! I am so glad that we could have a backup plan work out so well. The packages were amazing. With a capacity of 200 guests you can spread out over three beautiful rooms or enjoy the expansive grounds. You're guaranteed to get beautiful photos on this site. We look forward to working more and more closely with Vanessa and the entire staff as we approach our big day! I highly recommend it. Randy even fanned me when I started sweating. Thank you so much for all you do woodwinds team! We had a wonderful winter wedding here and walking down the staircase to get married in front of the main fireplace was like something out of a fairytale. Its much nicer than a hotel room for getting ready or for putting the dress on. 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. 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. All our guests were absolutely blown away by the interior and Katherine is so professional and helpful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our special day so magical venue and owners have great attention to detail. I love the mantle and the staircase inside and the way it looks like a castle. He had gone to two other weddings at the Woodwinds and showed me the Woodwinds venue, and I instantly fell in love. What an absolute pleasure to have worked with a team who works so flawlessly. Everyone I know says how stressful wedding planning is, and I honestly have to say mine wasnt bad because of the wonderful team at WoodWinds. Bringing their world-renowned talents to this location, they have created a welcoming, open venue filled with charm. He was the key to our successful day! 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. Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. This wedding can accommodate up to 600 guests, presenting you and your loved ones with ample space for your elegant event. They made every thing perfect for our wedding! They loved how everything was organized and put. We are looking forward to working with Vanessa and the Woodwinds team as our big day gets closer! I will be telling everyone to use the Woodwinds! This venue is timeless and the food is excellent! n the venue we worked with Ken & towards our big day we also worked with Randy! Big thank you to the rest of the woodwinds staff for all their help! 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! They had a mini snowball fight outside while making me a snowman to try to make me laugh. Majestic Woods - Clymer, NY - Wedding Venue - Eventective Its impressive and magical all at the same time. Carrying my dress around the grounds as we took pictures, held my shoes when I couldn't bare them anymore and brought food to our table at dinner to make sure we ate, I think I told her at one point I was leaving my husband for her! The venue is great for stations, sit-down or a cocktail reception. The staff here was phenomenal to deal with especially with how stressful it all can be, they answered all our questions and always got right back to us when called or emaile My fianc and I are thrilled to be having our wedding ceremony and reception at the Woodwinds on 10/13/18. Randy and Ana were absolutely wonderful. We got married in the Garden Room Saturday and every moment of our reception was perfect. Really cannot say enough good things about this venue. I would recommend verifying with the Woodwinds if there will be another ceremony taking place on the same day, so you can verify the times of the second wedding, and give yourself enough of a time cushion should the first wedding be running behind, and your wedding is the second of the day. tions we've had so far. three years and The Woodwinds has been nothing but helpful in making sure we were cared for as we work together from separate states. The Branford House | Wedding Venues | Groton, Connecticut Situated on Uconns Avery Point campus in Groton CT, Branford House Weddings enjoy panoramic views of the ocean. Our wedding day was a dream come true thanks to the entire Woodwinds team! was amazing. We received many compliments on the food, and the venue itself looked beautiful. Our guests said We had our wedding at Woodwinds on 9/18/22 and it was nothing short of a dream! I wish I could relive the night! We fell in love with the place. You all rock! They really take your worries away and make the process stress-free. Our event had a really nice, flexible timeframe to mold to our wedding day's needs & Katherine was lovely to work with. guided us though the entire day. The Woodwinds was so accommodating and professional when having to postpone our wedding. I cannot wait for my wedding day to arrive :). I HIGHLY recommend Woodwinds! The A/C is an added (and wonderful) modern addition to this gorgeous setting. The Firelight Room is designed to present you and your guests with an open, luxurious setting filled with thoughtful touches of quality. Bill Miller's Castle is a wedding venue located in Branford, CT. o when looking for venues, we needed a place surrounded by trees. They were the absolute best. The Woodwinds know weddings! We got so many compliments on how beautiful the venue was, but also how amazing the food was as well! 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. Sincerely Jae & Eddie. ! Branford House Exterior It all made for such a magical day. Thank you to all of the staff, but especially Sergio who ensured everything We had our wedding at WoodWinds on 9/2/22 and I wish I could go back and do it all over again!! day one. Plan your wedding wherever and whenever you want on the WeddingWire App. Plus, you can bring your own vendors/caterer in, which very few other sites in the area allow. A spiral stairwell and stunning marble fireplace. . The price was right, their staff was kind and helpful, the food was delicious, and the grounds and inside were beautiful! The Woodwinds exceeded our expectations. They couldn't believe how good everything was! Ken and Randy made planning a breeze! Our guests were impressed by the venue and the great detail in the woodwork inside is it's own artwork. to reach even after the booking process. Randy was there every step of the way answering endless emails and countless phone calls and he never once was annoyed by it. 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 staff is amazing and accommodating! Each room has an amazing fireplace which is perfect for those chilly Connecticut evenings. Katherine was great to work with from start to finish. If there ever was a must have location for a wedding venue, this is the spot. The staff was 2 steps ahead of us the entire time. The night was so beautiful and my husband and I were well attended to all night. You will feel like royalty. Scott is one of a kind and went to great lengths to ensure that the day went smoothly. Our guests loved the food, and it was served so quickly and efficiently! We had our wedding at the Branford house on Saturday, 4/23. Scott is of course amazing, he en WoodWinds was phenomenal in every aspect of our reception. It was so nice to finally re My husband and I got married on July 6th at The Woodwinds. Both the interior and exterior of the Branford House Mansion will impress your guests because every detail has so much precision and thoughtfulness. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! I really liked the atmosphere! They transitioned from visible to invisible as need be. The Branford House in Connecticut - Wedding Reports Katherine was responsive, and helped us to find a spot for the huge tent we put out on the back lawn. Caitlyn was my maitre d and she too was very attentive of my husband and I she kept us fed and hydrated in between all the pictures and video takes. Ana kept our drinks/food coming the entire night! It truly is the BEST of the BEST! The staff is amazing, friendly, low-key and flexible. Shooting Bridget and Thomas's wedding in the gothic Branford House Mansion was a lot of fun. I highly recommend the Woodwinds for your wedding venue. Along with the amazing packages they offer, she really Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers & Parties, Flower Girl Dresses and Ring Bearer Outfits. This rental fee drops to about $3000 for weddings after Thanksgiving up to spring. Everyone at the Woodwinds were very attentive, pricing was within our bud My husband and I do not enough have enough words to express the gratitude we have for the whole staff at The Woodwinds. hedule, but the woodwinds made the process very pleasant! 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. Erienne & Jeff Message this venue now to check their availability and receive more information. Tented receptions on the lawn of the Branford House are simply breathtaking. 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. We met with Vanessa and were really blown away. I went to a wedding there years ago and it absolutely blew my mind. They were the only vendor we would've felt horrible saying "we've decided to go with someone else" to, mostly because they were extremely helpful, genuinely caring, and very accommodating. Randy makes sure that your wedding day is fun instead of stressful and he absolutely is responsible for our wedding going off without a hitch! The waterviews are gorgeous and would recommend this venue when you can show the beauty outisde as well! Inside the house, you can take advantage of the intimate decore and design with its grand staircases, fireplaces, and ballrooms. Randy made sure everything went well throughout the entire event! Thank you! But I think well worth it in the end because the even will truly be "you". If you plan for less than 200, you can really maximize the indoor space dancing in one room, cocktails in another and dining in anotherthe options are plenty! 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. I was upset but Ill say on the day of, seeing it all come together, Im happy everything was outside! Absolutely amazing! *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. nt where I was like crap, day is ruined the entire team at Woodwinds is incredible. We had both our ceremony and reception there. Everyone made sure myself and my groom had not questions or needs at any point. if i could give more than 5 stars i would! Your email address will not be published. The night was flawless. Italian. My husband and I were in utter bliss the whole night. The staff at Ocean Blue Catering and Branford House are very gracious and wonderful to work with. See hours. They made everything so easy, and walked us through all the steps to prepare for our big day. Candice Milliard Candis Floral Creations, Beautiful setting on the water. She goes above and beyond to try and fulfill the needs of all the couples and is very easy Booking this as our venue was the best decision we made! We can not thank them enough!! We chose the Renaissance 3 package and oh.my.gosh. 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! Thank you guys for making our dream day a reality! Could not have chosen a better place. Just a bit further away is Downtown Mystic, which has many lodging options like the Whalers Inn, The Inn at Mystic, and the Hilton Mystic. You guys did that! He made sure the everything went smoothly, was extremely friendly and on top of everything. You will not be disappointed choosing to have your special day here.