Menu options are fantastic and so reasonable, good quality for a fair price. I'm so glad he did because it was so beautiful. The natural stone exterior, elegant decor, and spacious outdoor lawn areas will make you and your guests feel like you're stepping back in time. Its the only mansion of its kind that sits right on the shores of the Long Island sound. We were married in April 2015 inside the mansion in front of their grand fireplace. The management was amazing and helped us plan every step of the way. During prime wedding season (i.e. We also appreciated them quoting a single figure that included tax and gratuity so there were no hidden fees we didnt expect. *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. They were on top of everything at every moment. Even after the wedding they were still so nice and so helpful.. We were SO HAPPY that we booked them. The evening went absolutely PERFECT. The booking process was fun and easy. We met Vanessa, who was friendly and organized, to show us the venue. Despite all of the wonderful things I can say about Woodwinds, we are undoubtedly most grateful to Neka!! The day of, Randy was a master at running the show, honestly, not one thing went wrong. Vanessa has been very helpful in making our upcoming day both elegant and affordable which we really appreciate. All the staff was amazing. Whether it was bustling my dress or making sure my drink was never empty. Randy & Kim are amazing! The guest loved the variety offered during the cocktail hour, they also loved being fed hot and flavorful food. HoliMont Main Office: 716.699.2320. Randy made our wedding day go exactly as planned. Katherine was responsive, and helped us to find a spot for the huge tent we put out on the back lawn. You're guaranteed to get beautiful photos on this site. t WoodWinds was phenomenal. , stmas theme. She carried my dress around during photos, put drinks in our hands, and even bustled my dress so that my mother could enjoy cocktail hour! I would so do this again but only at the WOODWINDS!!!! 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 We invite you to visit and enjoy our property in the beauty of Clymer. Ken made the planning process super easy and was always prompt with answers to any questions We had the most amazing wedding here! Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. I knew when we first toured that The Woodwinds was my first choice, and only choice really. ing for. erything would be taken care of for me on the big day. need for such a reasonable price. I truly can't put into words how magical our wedding night was. My fianc and I knew right away when walking in that this was the place! The day was perfect. easy. For those looking to party, the casinos (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods) are just 30 minutes away. sured my husband and I ate a full delicious meal, he kept me updated on the plans for the night, and even had a compact mirror so I could check my teeth after cutting the cake. My bridal attendant, Daleska, was extremely helpful. Unique, Philanthropic & Unforgettable. The inside is also amazing, with ornate wood walls, huge fireplaces, super tall ceilings and chandeliers. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of WoodWinds staff for helping making Devon and my day an incredible day to never forget. It's a gorgeous stone mansion that rivals those you'd see in Newport. Upon booking the venue they gave us a jar of Sunday sauce from the chef. She was so helpful along the way, answering all of my My fianc and are so excited to get married here next year! 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!! 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. I cannot say enough good things. I highly recommend it. I had questions leading up to my big day, and all I had to do was call and got the answers I needed. The Branford House Mansion comfortable accommodates for parties of no more than 200 guests. The bartenders were fabulous, I rarely saw a line at the bar, and for the small moments there was one, if they saw me coming my drink was being made and ready for me by the time I got up there. AMAZING LOCATION!!!!!! The Woodwinds were very detailed and attentive throughout the entire process. Bringing their world-renowned talents to this location, they have created a welcoming, open venue filled with charm. These. From the first day we met with the Woodwinds (Vanessa who is a pleasure) The Woodwinds made our day so special and we cannot thank the staff enough the entire planning process all the way through the event! And for anyone looking for an incredible venue, choose the woodwinds, you wont be upset!! They took care of everything! They were always so nice to answer my questions and they quite literally take care of EVERYTHING for you..Vanessa was so nice and guided me leading up to the day. 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! 4 years ago. Inside the house, you can take advantage of the intimate decore and design with its grand staircases, fireplaces, and ballrooms. The Branford House 1084 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, Connecticut 6340 visit their website Claim Your Profile Featured The Branford House Weddings A Classic Wedding for Amanda and John Groton, Connecticut Featured Articles BEHIND THE SCENES The Making of an Indian Fusion Wedding for Meredith and Eshaan NEW & NOTEWORTHY The Latest Wedding Venue News Kathryn Pollard, Director of The Branford House at Avery Point, UCONN, Groton, CT - the most helpful persons I have ever dealt with while planning an event. us almost in tears. ou all for making the wedding of our dreams come true and for making me want to relive the day over and over! We couldnt be happier with our choice of venue. I worked with Katherine who is responsive and kind and easy to work with. Highly recommended (already). Me & my husband did not get to eat..no worries the team packed us food to go! The food was great. All our family and friends raved about the food and how nice the venue was, from the set up inside, to the grounds outside. The food was incredible the drinks were great the staff made you feel welcome all around an amazing time had by all. I will be telling everyone to use the Woodwinds! And, if you are feeling adventurous, you can even have an epic photo session on the rocks along the edge of the sound. Our guests said We had our wedding at Woodwinds on 9/18/22 and it was nothing short of a dream! Wedding of our dreams at the Branford House! They were so quick to get me and my husband whatever we needed. For events hosting more than 200 guests, Branford House staff suggests a tent on the lawn. They have the best staff of any venue we have ever been to, everyone was unbelievably helpful. Branford House features a bridal suite so you can have your hair and makeup done onsite as well as store away any of your personal items during the day. When we first saw the Branford House, we knew we wanted to get married there, and it turned out to be the most perfect day. Sergio was our maitre d and he was amazing. Over the top! This venue is stunning. I am so grateful to you , Randy, Ken and Tony. The day of our wedding everything was executed perfectly, the food, decor and flow of the night was great. You will feel like royalty. WoodWinds was the first place we looked at after getting engaged and we knew right then and there we were going to book there. This is just the beginning! Vanessa is always happy to answer questions no matter how big or small. Scott is of course amazing, he en WoodWinds was phenomenal in every aspect of our reception. Having our wedding at The Woodwinds was the best decision my husband and I made. I would certainly recommend this venue for those looking to have a unique wedding experience some place other than a banquet hall. We are in complete awe over how wonderful our wedding was. Its also a great place for wedding portraits if you have a special vehicle to arrive in! We had our wedding at the Branford House Mansion on 7/17/15 and it was absolutely perfect. This flexibility allowed us to have exactly the wedding we wanted. 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 grounds were beautiful and we loved having the outside options for cocktail hour and the reception. I knew I wanted to have our reception at woodwinds pretty much from the moment we were engaged. We look forward to working more and more closely with Vanessa and the entire staff as we approach our big day! Edit. The only negative was that they tell you, you can take home food for those that dont attend. However, the ceremonies were taking place in the same spot. Overview: Branford House is a historic mansion located on the University of Connecticuts Avery Point Campus in Groton, CT. 100% reccomend this venue! Then we saw Woodwinds. It was a Saturday in October, as most weddings are. Neka even swapped out the pens for our guestbook to ones that would work better on canvas before we had a chance to ask, and she showed up at our table with cough drops for me because she noticed I was getting over a cold. We had snow on our wedding day, and the beautiful grounds made for some amazing pictures. Or, if preferred, you are welcome to invite your own desired vendors to this esteemed location. As a CT Wedding Photographer for over 10 years, Ive had the pleasure of photographing numerous CT wedding venues and, for a mansion wedding, Branford House is my top recommendation. The food was amazing and the cost was very reasonable. who is super sweet and knowledgeable! We knew this was the place for us the moment we walked into the main room! You will not be disappointed choosing to have your special day here. Ice cream? Compared to another similar location also owned by the State of Connecticut, and also located right on Long Island Sound - we absolutely hit the jackpot with The Branford House. 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. Our wedding there was all I had imagined & more. My husband and I were in utter bliss the whole night. The only complaint I have is that it's Let me start off by WOW. It took over a year for my fianc and I to even chose a location. It flowed perfectly and the venue was the perfect size for our 135 person wedding. I really liked the atmosphere! It was exactly what we envisioned and when I tell you that nothing went wrong. Xo. Amanda was dressed in a timeless gown from White Dress by the Shore + her day was draped in exquisite florals from one of . :) My husband and I are still on cloud 9! Once we saw the woodwinds and how they operated, it was a no brainer. The woodwinds has wonderful packages we went with one that offered a cake from a local bakery and a Venetian table first off our cake was amazing and our guests raved about the food and the extra desserts. We met with Vanessa and were really blown away. You can't beat the beautiful stately exterior, stunning dark woodwork inside, and those ocean views - all of our guests loved it and it had the classic romantic ambience that we were looking for. So much delicious food!!! We know it was a difficult task because there was construction going on, but she got it done! The food was absolutely AMAZING, everyone raved about the venetian table, I highly recommend it! questions and emails, making the process seamless. Any questions we had were answered in email or over the phone right away. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Connecticut Wedding Photographer. Its much nicer than a hotel room for getting ready or for putting the dress on. Our wedding was perfect thanks to everyone at Woodwinds!! Majestic Woods NY is located near Findley Lake, within 15 miles of beautiful Clymer, NY. Randy made sure everything was perfect which it truly was! The backdrop of the house and the water view made our wedding breath taking. I got married a few days ago and was able to get ready on site. I cant wait to see our professional pictures! Not only was the wedding staff amazing, but the entire front office was more than accommodating. hey run the event. So far our experience has been great. My bridal attendant, Kim, fanned me while wearing long sleeves and long pants under the hot sun! Blessing because you can choose anything you want and find cheaper options. Your email address will not be published. The night was flawless. Scott was amazing throughout the whole wedding process. Please check back in a few minutes. It is relatively inexpensive to rent and you can choose all the other vendors you want to work with. We loved the option that people could go outside and down to the water if they wanted to. Your email address will not be published. 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! Woodwinds I was sold! The venue is spectacular - beautiful stone mansion on the water with a gorgeous lawn and stone patio. From the meeting to the rehearsal and the wedding. For the entire year and a half of planning (during a pandemic nonetheless) Vanessa, Ken, and Randy were responsive, kind, SO FUN, and comforting. It was ideal. The day after the wedding, they had all of the decor packed up and about 10 trays of food. Our guests were impressed by the venue and the great detail in the woodwork inside is it's own artwork. Thank you to all staff from the bottom of our hearts! 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. The Branford House. We were so pleased to be able to have our wedding at the Woodwinds. Italian. From our first meeting all the way until the wedding, I knew we were in good hands. This was very stressful, as we were told when we booked our wedding that ours was the only one booked at the time for that day, and should there be a second wedding, the other couple would have to work around our schedule. I highly suggest The Woodwinds are your wedding venue :). She is quick to respond to any My fianc and I absolutely love Vanessa from the Woodwinds. Ever since we booked with Woodwinds, any vendor we have contacted had nothing but good things to say about the exceptional staff. 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. lling me it was the best wedding they have been to in years and the food was amazing as well! We know many people who have used the Woodwinds for their weddings and they were very happy with the service, food and helpful staff for their big day! The end of my wedding planning, I was getting very nervous because I didnt want last minute changes. My Bridal Attendant, Neka, was PHENOMENAL!! The setting was nothing short of romantic; big enough to fit all of our loved ones but also small enough to feel intimate. We are definitely happy with our decision and know we can count on Vanessa and the staff if any questions arise before our special day. We were SOOO happy that we chose the Branford House for our venue! For a more outdoor feel, the Garden Room presents stunning views of the grounds, with three elegant patios available to you. Around the side of the mansion is a terrace area with stone columns that is great for family or bridal portraits when the light is good. I cant say enough good things about this place! We can not thank them enough!! Booking Woodwinds was an easy decision for us and we couldnt be happier! Our guest are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how great the food was! rgeous fireplace, had a lovely cocktail hour by a master staircase, and enjoyed our dinner and dancing in the entire ballroom. They were very flexible and accommodating. We are so happy to be married and thank you so much! It was the b Booking our wedding at Woodwinds has been a wonderful decision. With a capacity of 200 guests you can spread out over three beautiful rooms or enjoy the expansive grounds. We ended up having a ridiculously stormy day for our wedding and because of the beautiful architecture and features inside, we were still happy because it felt like we were in an old castle. 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. nally able to have our wedding March 27 th 2021! Not just the dinnersbut also their many appetizers! Check out HoliMont Realty for information. The wrap-around terrace is amazing and affords a great view of sailboats. So very helpful, making what a stressful time planning that much more exciting and a breeze! My friends and family said this was hands-down the best wedding - most elegant, most fun, gorgeous venue they had ever seen! 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. So despite being assured multiple times before hand that we would get the food, we never did because everything was sent out. 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. My train was constantly fluffed, everyone was smiling in all pictures, and he made sure we got to eat! Randy and Ken were awesome and made the night go smoothly! Sergio you are fantastic at your job i cant say it enough! Thank you vanessa for working with us. The venue is great for stations, sit-down or a cocktail reception. It was literally the best wedding. We got married on Dec. 14th, 2019 and the decor was one of my favorite parts, perfect for our Chri O. M. G. What a magical day. I was upset but Ill say on the day of, seeing it all come together, Im happy everything was outside! I had just heard great things and it seemed like a beautiful place where ev We loved woodwinds for our wedding! September 7, 2018. sonality. And the venue itself is SO pretty inside and outside. The woodworking on the walls, large windows, lovely chandeliers and overall rich and glamorous interior made for a lovely ceremony and striking photos. Ken was always helpful and responsive and had all the answers to our questions! Randy was there every step of the way answering endless emails and countless phone calls and he never once was annoyed by it. 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! They set up all my decor and made sure we had everything we needed. The staff were so attentive to our needs and our guests', and Randy and Ana were amazing! Our guests are still raving about the food! Choosing Your Honeymoon Package: Should You Go All-inclusive? Everyone loved the food from the hors d'oeuvres to the main course to the ice cream bar. 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. What better place to say I Do than on the rocky shores of the Long Island Sound! OH and I cannot forget the amazingly delicious venetian table!! So, if you are planning a Connecticut mansion wedding and you want water views and a shoreline vibe, I highly recommend the Branford House. They were always quick to reply to any email questions and really accommodating with anything we needed/wanted (even creating a hot chocolate station!). t for us to come see everything and it was game over after that. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! She did very well with my difficult bustle and was patient even when I was not. My wedding was beyond flawless, I would recommend Woodwinds and Scott to any and everyone! Branford House Wedding. Even from afar, you can hear the wedding bells ring and the happy guests sing at Branford House Mansion. Erienne & Jeff The peak season rental rate (May 1 to Oct 31) for Branford House for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, is $5600. in everything and is so helpful with the planning. Nothing. 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. But I think well worth it in the end because the even will truly be "you". The house, the lawn, the water view, the wrap around patio - everything at the Branford House is picturesque. wedding setting. Our We had such an amazing time! Hopefully soon we will be able to attend another event with there, but for now we will continue to spread the good word about The Woodwinds to all of our friends & family. Every one of our guests mentioned how wonderful the evening was and it was one of the best weddings they have been to! Neka adjusted my dress and train before my procession and at the altar so I looked flawless. They have been nothing short of wonderful, flexible, nice and open. I cant say enough good things about the Branford House. Thanks to the entire staff for all your work! All of our guests raved about the food and the bartenders. much love, Josh and Savannah. We highly recommend the Branford House (plus, the cost of renting the mansion goes towards the university's educational programs, so that was a nice added bonus). The entire night was so blissful I could go on and on and on about how absolutely perfect everything turned out. Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. From there, you can look out over the great lawn, lighthouse, and ocean. We are so happy with everything with all of The Woodwinds staff! 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! We couldn't be happier with everything. European Country Manor Setting in Branford, Connecticut is the recipient of numerous awards each year for their excellence in food and service. From the impressive grand entrance with Austrian Crystal chandeliers to the majestic marble fireplace of the Firelight room, this venue exudes elegance. Scott did a great job managing the day and checking in with us to make sure everything was perfect. 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. Thank you to WoodWinds for being just the best ever during this entire process. Each and every one of you were fundamental to making our night fabulous! The personalization th My fianc and I just recently booked our wedding here for next summer! They were so easy to communicate with. Sign up on The Knot to reach more couples and book more weddings! It is right on the water. Vanessa made my fianc and I feel very confident about booking with them, offering her expertise about weddings in general, which was very helpful. The uplighting, the tables, the decor, every little detail was done just as we had planned and discussed. There was nothing like the views that the Branford House provided! My fiance and I now have our special day set for August 2018 and I cannot wait to spend our day at the Woodwinds! I am so proud to be a Woodwinds bride! We would highly recommend you look into the Woodwinds. Everyone that attended our wedding i We are beyond pleased with the service we received at WoodWinds. I would truly send everyone I know their way when looking for a wedding venue!! Vanessa was so accomodating when I scheduled a last minute tour and even squeezed us in just two days later to see it again! We couldnt be more happy with our wedding day! 2 minutes later she returned to me with a mini snowman in a tin container. Creating heartfelt, moment-driven photographs for relaxed, laid-back couples who want to enjoy their wedding day. Everyone made sure myself and my groom had not questions or needs at any point. The service was impeccable. Kathleen was very helpful, easy to get ahold of, and very accommodating for the many times I went with a vendor to look at the space to help map out where we're setting everything up. A big advantage of hosting a Branford House Wedding is the fact that it is not an all-inclusive wedding venue. We had the ceremony outside on the lawn by the water, cocktail hour on the patio, and dinner and dancing inside. Both the great lawn, and the large boulders that stick out of the great lawn are the best spots for the quintessential photo with the mansion in the background. We left the meeting feeling accomplished and booked the Woodwinds a few weeks later. We cannot wait to have our ceremony and reception there next year. Vanessa was so thorough and answered every question we could think of! Katherine was very easy to work with--she was responsive and helpful and very accommodating. He made sure the everything went smoothly, was extremely friendly and on top of everything. Theyve only given my bride 1 hr to get ready on site and any woman can tell you thats not enough to have makeup done and do final touches. Originally built in the 1880s as a barn, this structure features lofty ceilings, crystal chandeliers, a large dance floor area, and five antique. Their traditional Italian dishes offer a hearty banquet bursting with flavor. Ken answered all of our questions promptly and enthusiastically. I couldn't be happier on our decision and have no doubt my wedding will be "The Wedding" to be at. Katherine, the manager, is amazingly helpful and wonderful too. We had two drinks waiting for us when we were done with our ceremony. of the process with last minute RSVP cancellations, they were extremely diligent in making sure the presence of any food my husband was allergic to was completely non-existent and the day of the wedding they truly went above and beyond.