We might sound like a broken record, but it’s worth saying over and over again: we love tented weddings! Tented weddings are a trend we’ve seen double in the wedding world, and it’s one I hope continues. The level of personalization this setting lends to couples celebrating such a milestone moment is the beginning of what makes them so special!

What’s not to love about weddings under the big top?! The list goes on and on, but for us, it starts with the fact that tented weddings tend to take place at a location deeply personal to the couple. Oftentimes our tented weddings take place at home, the most special of locations. We also plan weddings at iconic venues where the tent further enhances the property for an unforgettable fete. Either way, the location of your reception carries significance to your story and relationship. This is what opens the door to thousands of design possibilities. Seeing where it began and where you ended up is one of the most gratifying processes you’ll be a part of!

Tied with the meaningful location is the ability to personalize the overall experience for you and your guests, and experience matters! Straight from the mouths of guests at past events, the most memorable celebrations they’ve attended are those reflective of the couple they’re honoring. Incorporating your story and who you are into the design of the space makes it intrinsically more successful. Not to mention impactful for your loved ones! It’s what leads to memories everyone carries with them for years to come.

Start Planning Your Tented Wedding

Now, we consider ourselves experts when it comes to tented weddings. The finer nuances that come along with this style of celebration are something we’re known well for. We crave getting our hands dirty with logistics, complemented further by our custom designs, tailored to each of our couples celebrating their journey. It’s true: take a peek at some of our favorite weddings and designs here. No two are alike!

Have you been considering planning a tented wedding? Maybe you’re a little overwhelmed by where to start, and that’s perfectly normal! There’s a plethora of information out there, so we rounded up a few myths and truths to consider as you begin planning your fete. Check out our handy blog post – Tips and Tricks for Hosting Your Home Wedding in Connecticut – that will surely get you started on the right foot. Even if your event won’t be held at home, there is plenty of pertinent information related to a successful tented soiree!

Now, to show you just how much we LOVE a good tented wedding, we’ve rounded up our Top 5 favorite tented weddings from years past! It was nearly impossible to narrow down this too-good-to-be-true list, but we did our best. Check them out, and follow the links to read the full story for each day! They’re sure to leave a mark on your heart the way they did ours!

Our Top 5 Favorite Tented Weddings by Jubilee Events

1. Organic Summer Wedding in Washington, Connecticut

This one will always have my heart, and there’s a good reason why it’s listed first on this list and first in our galleries! This summer bash is one of the first among many of our home, tented weddings, and it was an easy one to infuse our couple into. Taking place in the bride’s family’s own backyard, we positioned the ceremony around the notable Oak tree, which was later incorporated in much of our stationery. The moment guests stepped onto this property, they were hugged by the love everyone shared for the couple, and that kind of energy is infectious!

After the ceremony, guests sipped and noshed fresh bites around the pool. This area was so lush and relaxing that it was all too easy for guests to immerse themselves in their experience. Following everyone’s favorite hour, guests transcended down the hill to our clear top tent, inviting them into this modern, organic garden-inspired fete we had created!

I will say that this tented wedding took place at the tail end of August, so many people would be wary to have a clear top tent for fear of creating a greenhouse effect. We knew just how to eliminate that possibility, ensuring the canvas was decked with a smattering of fans, so delicate no one noticed anything but the cool breeze. Of course, we took into account where the sun set and its position in the sky come dinner time! As I said, we understand the finer nuances of an amazing tented celebration!

The only thing cooler than the breeze lightly sweeping through guests was the couple themselves, cutting a rug on our dance floor, which happened to be their tennis court. That’s right! And we got to paint it blush pink! I’ll never forget the excitement surrounding that conversation.

photos: Carla Ten Eyck // floral: Blush Floral Design // lighting + tent decor: Ryan Designs

2. Colorful Backyard Bash in Newtown, Connecticut

Truth: I don’t know where to begin when sharing this day with you! There were so many moments, not just on the wedding day but throughout planning that make your heart burst. The first being when I met the bride, Nicole. I pulled into the driveway circling her childhood sunshine-yellow home as she burst out the front door with purple hair. She was the warmest and kindest soul and I knew instantly that this was going to be an insanely amazing day! I couldn’t even prepare myself!

When we first spoke about the design, Nicole and Mark said they wanted it to be “a colorful explosion of Princess Peach’s castle.” Some may question this, but to me, this was all a part of who Nicole and Mark are, and infusing couples into their design is the epitome of how we create!

There isn’t a color scheme we’ve met that we didn’t like but I’ll say I just adored how their palette makes me feel. Between the strands of colorful ribbon, partnered with the vibrant buds literally bursting from our tables, this is a treat for the eyes! Color has a way of inspiring energy and happiness, and their day was in no short supply of joy. This will forever be one of my all-time favorite tented weddings. I am eternally grateful to Nicole, Mark, and their family for granting me the opportunity to bring it to life!

photos: Emily Kirke Photography // floral: Botanique // tent: Greenwich Tent Co. // tent decor: Drape Art Designs

3. Romantic Shoreline Mansion Wedding at the Branford House in Groton, Connecticut

Another warm, generous, kind, beyond easy-to-love couple and Father of the Bride, which means an even more amazing shoreline celebration! You’ll notice we aren’t hesitant to add a splash of color into our tented weddings, and this design was no exception. Inspired by a painting in her dad’s Stonington, CT home, our bride wanted a fete that carried a romantic, warm twist on a nautical aesthetic.

Swagged throughout our Sperry Tent was fabric in berry tones, blush pink, and soft ivory to bring in some vibrant summer tones. Our draping set the stage for the lush floral chandelier, surrounded by more classic crystal chandeliers that watched over guests as they danced throughout the evening.

Our tent was set on the back lawn of the iconic Branford House, which we enjoyed for cocktail hour and, later on, an after-dinner lounge and bar scene. The mansion is every bit regal and romantic with the right levels of drama. Our canvas top was finessed with the same aesthetic as we designed our home for the evening. As gorgeous as the Branford House is, the back lawn is a bit uneven. To ensure everyone’s comfort, we worked with our company to create a platform for our flooring, allowing a level surface. This is one of the most important first steps when building your tented wedding and this is why we add significant time into our planning duties to ensure every detail is correct. It’s also exactly why we partner with some of the best tent companies around!!

photos: Carla Ten Eyck // floral: Blush Floral Design // tent decor + lighting: Drape Art Designs

4. Elegant Green + White Home Wedding in Bridgewater, Connecticut

This tented wedding is a truly special one! Our gorgeous couple and most fabulous mother of the bride gave us carte blanche to do what we do best! Created an entire experience around the couple complete with all the touches we knew would make a thoughtful impact on everyone in attendance.

This entire family is one of the kindest and most generous, which made sense that their venue came about from a friend who offered their home and the barn onsite for everyone to enjoy that evening! We wanted a green and white palette, touches of gold, and a transformation to our tent as unforgettable as the hilltop views from our ceremony setting. Check, check, and check!

When it comes to home, tented weddings there are many ways to create a sensible and fun flow to the day, but they all come equipped with a potential challenge or consideration that could negatively impact your day. Having backup weather plans is a must, and oftentimes this means extra tents on standby allowing you to protect people and things. When Mother Nature is on her best behavior, there’s plenty of room to wow guests with your surroundings, tucking the tent against your home or lush garden. Or, in this case, set atop a hill overlooking the entire town. Imagine the miles of Fall leaves just starting to color? Books don’t even write it this good!

photos: Ali + Julie // floral: Hana Floral Design // tent: Greenwich Tent Co. // tent decor + lighting: Drape Art Designs

5. Berry-toned Fall Wedding in Hamden, Connecticut

What do you get when you combine a love for fall colors, a sense of whimsy, and a literal lifetime of memories spread throughout your wedding location? This wedding right here!

Taking place in the bride’s own backyard, our Sperry Tent was tucked perfectly beside the pool house her dad and hubby built by hand. We added some magic by covering our canvas top with twinkle lights, covering every inch and adding bounds of romance as the night wore on. Highlighted by the ambiance were all of our fall hues – a mixture of warm berry tones coupled with cool blue shades throughout our floral decor, stationery, and table details! The pictures speak a thousand words!

One logistic we had to consider with this wedding: cocktail hour was going to take place right beside our reception tent. No matter how close these events take place, we always like to opt for a grand reveal of the tent – and our clients agree! We also want our couples and their families to get the first glimpse at their tent, untouched from bags, jackets, and shoes that may grace the chairs and floors. For Jordan and Mike, we created a draped wall around the perimeter of the tent, allowing guests to immerse themselves into cocktail hour while coming together for a jaw-dropping moment when we removed our temporary wall.

photos: Carla Ten Eyck // floral: Blush Floral Design // tent: Greenwich Tent Co. // tent decor + lighting: Drape Art Designs

BONUS!!

We told you: impossible to narrow down the list. For a little added eye candy, here’s our last favorite for this post!

Peach-Inspired Summer Tented Wedding at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut

Inspired by this late summer fruit, our design was knocked out of the park! You’ll look at these photos and fall in love instantly. Why wouldn’t you? This day was fresh, bright, and it encompassed a quintessential summer wedding vibe!

What you can’t see in these photos are all the blood, sweat, and tears – primarily the second two – that went into managing the weather bestowed upon us that weekend! The day this wedding took place was the day Hurricane Irene showed up in town. While she wasn’t one of the more damaging storms, she certainly left her mark!

High winds coupled with torrential rain are not only the least ideal scenario for a tented wedding, it can become entirely unsafe and damaging to the property and surroundings. The evening before, the Jubilee Events team worked together to contact every single vendor and guest to shift the wedding several hours earlier. Everyone enjoyed the day, completely untouched by what was to come later, and once the last sip of champagne was had, we bid guests a safe adieu and we deconstructed the wedding in a blink of an eye. Breaking down a wedding is always a sad finish, but this one certainly gave us a sense of accomplishment as everyone was imparted with the right memories for this weekend!

photos: Carla Ten Eyck // floral: Blush Floral Design

We hope you enjoyed these tented celebrations as much as we did – in creating them, celebrating them, and reliving them! Even more, we hope you are excited about planning your own tented wedding! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! XO

We’ve shared our favorite venues for Spring, Summer, and Fall weddings but now it’s time to celebrate those winter wedding venues! Winter in Connecticut is as cold as it is beautiful! A quintessential winter wedding is cozy, warm (on the inside), and hopefully embraced by an enjoyable amount of snow. While winter weddings may not be the most popular inspiration you’re used to, there is so much to love about this time of year. Plus, there are plenty of venues throughout Connecticut to host your day!

Winter Wedding Venue Must-Haves and Considerations

• Indoor Options for All Wedding Moments: With the warmer weather, there’s more flexibility to host your ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception entirely outdoors. Winter in Connecticut encourages those moments to happen exclusively inside, so make sure your venue has a layout to create a distinctive area for all you’ll be including onsite.
• Guest Capacity: With having your event indoors, be sure that you’re assembling your guest list accordingly. Even if your venue says it can easily accommodate 200 guests, you may want to consider less if you’re hosting your ceremony and reception onsite!
• Ease of Guest Travel: As much as we hope and wish for snowfall to create the perfect setting for your winter wedding, it can easily damper travel plans. Consider nearby hotel accommodations or rooms onsite to ensure everyone can safely celebrate your nuptials!
• Off-Season Dates: Though most winter wedding venues offer dates all year round, some offer off-season pricing during the winter months.

Get cozy and read on to some of Connecticut’s greatest Winter wedding venues!

Jubilee’s Top 10 Winter Wedding Venues in Connecticut!

Branford House

One of our favorite Connecticut wedding venues is the Branford House in Groton. Though easily associated with the perfect summer wedding location, the inside of this mansion with its warm wooden walls is the perfect location to host a more intimate number of guests. The inside boasts three separate yet all ornately elegant rooms, so it’s easy to host your ceremony and reception with a more intimate guest count. Should you opt to celebrate with a few more loved ones (around 100), then one room is perfect for cocktail hour and dancing while the other two comfortably seat your guest tables!

If your budget allows, looking into a custom frame tent that will warm guests for dancing and cocktail hour. Imagine the sprawling lawn settled with snow around you!

photo: Alicia Ann Photographers // beauty: Larissa Lake and Co. // floral: Flowers by Justine // bride + confections: Sugar Therapy

The Goodwin Hotel

My favorite modern wedding venue, located right in the heart of downtown Hartford! This boutique hotel is equipped with a healthy list of hotel rooms ranging in all sizes and styles. It’s easy to want to stay cozy in any of these rooms, especially once you see the bathtubs some of them boast.

With its notable onsite restaurant and café, the hotel is known for its culinary team and head chef, so the food and beverage portion of your evening will be something everyone will rave about! Equipped to host up to 200 guests, there are separate spaces for your cocktail hour and reception with plenty of churches or unique venues (check out the Old State House here) to host your ceremony!

photo: Carla Ten Eyck Photography // Fashion: The White Dress by the Shore + Valentino Tailors // Beauty: Catie Bane

Eolia Mansion

This Waterford shoreline mansion embodies an old-world charm with multiple rooms to host your guests. This venue has four rooms within the mansion, suitable for hosting 85- 100 guests if you were to have your cocktail hour in the grand foyer. Though there are ceremony options outdoors, in the event of a normally brisk day, you’ll want something to warm your bones.

The inside walls are adorned in white with touches of gold for added elegance. These are two shades I find best to inspire a winter wedding design, but I say do what you love!

Gray Barns

The Gray Barns on the Silvermine River is a haven set in Fairfield County. Tucked back in the woods a bit, this venue sits beside – you guessed it – the Silvermine River, offering a tranquil escape from your day-to-day. There are multiple locations on the property to host your event, including the Inn, Tavern, and Barn, allowing your guests to immerse themselves in the experience you’ve created! This venue is especially perfect for the more intimate guest counts, ranging from 25 – 75, which we’ve all come to love this past year!

The Gray Barns is just as much known for their culinary components as they are for the thoughtfully curated accommodations they offer. Imagine getting ready for your wedding beside the fireplace while the snow falls down around you outside. *Chef’s kiss*

Lord Thompson Manor

If you haven’t gauged through this list by now, Connecticut offers some of the best estates and manors for your winter wedding venues! Lord Thompson Manor is no exception as it provides its couples with multiple locations for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and dancing as the evening wears on. It’s set in the northwest corner of the state, quiet and serene and so well manicured you will wish you actually lived here. Enjoy an intimate number of guests or up to 150+ for your celebration.

The elegant manor offers plenty of room for you and some of your loved ones to stay, directly at the manor and in their Cottage House, set back in its own world so this becomes your home away from home for your full wedding weekend!

The Loading Dock

One of the best industrial venues I’ve come across and it’s right here in our own state! The Loading Dock, with catering by the esteemed Abigail Kirsch, is the perfect setup for your modern winter wedding! There are several rooms including the Gallery, Ballroom, Sanctuary, and arcade, all with their own aesthetic to offer guests a distinctive, yet cohesive experience throughout your event.

This venue is located right downtown in Stamford, exceptionally close to hotels and other festivities to enjoy!

Jonathan Edwards Winery

Jonathan Edwards is best known for its lush vineyard overlooking the idyllic Sperry Tent. Did you know they also have a Barrel Room set in the lower level of the tasting room?

It’s the perfect location to carry your rustic, organic aesthetic design throughout. As normal you will enjoy cocktail hour in the tasting room, overlooking the dinner scene hugged by actual walls of real wine barrels. There’s nothing better on a cold day than that perfect glass of red wine, and Jonathan Edwards has plenty to boot! Set in North Stonington, it’s a short drive away to all of Mystic’s boutique hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, allowing you to make it a full weekend getaway!

Chamard Vineyard

Connecticut is home to a list of notable vineyards, and Chamard in Clinton is one of the best. This space is perfect for an intimate winter wedding celebration, offering space for 30 – 50 guests! Their barn, bistro, wine cellar, Red Barrel Room, Tank Room, and Crush Pad are all cozy locations for your gathering! So, you know the wine will never run out!

photo: Robert Norman Photography // lighting + draping: Ryan Designs

The Warehouse at FTC

Another industrial wedding venue favorite! The Warehouse at FTC is particularly hearty in size, granting the opportunity for gatherings large and small. This beauty is located in the heart of downtown Fairfield right across from the train station. We love a venue that’s easy to get to, and travel to and from this one is a cinch!

The Hangar at Danbury Airport

One of the coolest venues with the most unique personality by far is this one! On the Marc curates the incredible menu for your guests, whether it be 250 for a sit-down or up to 650 for a casual celebration. The beauty of such a large space, and one so unique, is that you can tailor it to your needs. Get creative with draping and decor to create distinctive spaces for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and the dance floor!

Winter may secretly be our favorite season for the perfect venue setting! Truth is, Connecticut has so much to offer in this department, that you can’t go wrong when finding a venue that fits your style and story best!

I will never forget Morgan and Matt’s summer mansion wedding at the Branford House! First and foremost, the Branford House is one of our all-time fav venues, having hosted some of our most memorable love stories. There’s not one corner of this venue that isn’t magical. Between the confident stone structure that greets you at the top of the hill to the ornate wood and marble details carved into the walls and fireplaces within.

In addition to our picturesque setting, this day started as bright, warm, and stunning as Morgan and Matt are. Right at the end of their ceremony, a storm rolled in, and everything but the Wicked Witch of the West came pouring out of that sky. I like to think it was Morgan’s dad popping in to say hello! Thankfully, it came as soon as it went, not diminishing the celebration in any way!

Morgan and Matt are easily the two most stylish people I’ve ever met. I swear every time I met with them, I left with notes on how to improve myself. They’re also two of the loveliest souls you’ll ever get a chance to encounter, which was proven by the liveliest, most supportive, and wonderful guest list we’ve ever partied with!

The Design of a Summer Mansion Wedding: Modern Meets Glam

Now having the level of style they possess, our wedding design had to pack the same level of oohs and aahs. Morgan is a glam girl at heart and so many of our decisions were easily made as we took inspiration from our couple. For a Branford House wedding, you need to add some softness or pops of color to balance out the inherent wood of the venue. Our mixture of round and long tables were dressed in gold leather linen. Yes — leather! It was so sophisticated and sexy, I’m still not over it! Each table was then dressed with a tall candelabra statement arrangement of lush white flowers and candles. Pops of gold, acrylic, and white leather laced the rest of our details, from stationery to furniture, all the way to our chandeliers overlooking the dance floor.

Right outside the Branford House mansion was our bar (the most gorgeous bar ever!), and our dance floor. My favorite thing about the mansion is that there are so many ways to customize it and utilize the space. The only thing I could wish for was a bit more room as this group was tearing up the dance floor! Some of my favorite moments can be seen on the dance floor in the photos below.

There is nothing quite like a summer mansion wedding, and I invite you to enjoy the story below! Be sure to enjoy the video at the end from True Color Productions. It’s a tear-jerker, but so worth it!

Morgan and Matt, I wish you two a lifetime of happiness and adventure. I am confident that your date of 8.18.18 holds some type of infinite love and good fortune, and there are no two more deserving people than you!! XO

credit reel

Photography: Jennifer Sullivan Photography
Ceremony + Reception Location: The Branford House
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Victorian Rose Florist
Entertainment: CZone Entertainment
Catering: Gourmet Galley
Stationery: Coral Pheasant Stationery
Beauty: Kiss + Makeup
Lighting + Draping: Drape Art Designs
Rentals: PEAK Event Services, Big Top Rental, *designer8, Nuage Designs
Cinema: True Color Productions

The Best Venue Perfect for Your Connecticut Summer Wedding!

You’ve started to warm up to the ideas open to your location with Part 1 of this blog series, but now it’s time to turn to the summer season for the best Connecticut summer wedding venues! Pun completely intended by the way.

As you curate your list of potential Connecticut wedding venues, keep in mind the different factors this wedding season holds. Summer weddings go hand-in-hand with warmer and brighter days so it’s one of the best times of the year to take advantage of the outdoor setting. With this, consider the higher than normal temps that may exist during the day and early evening. We’ll go into a little more detail about what you want to keep in mind when preparing for your summer wedding!

Summer Wedding Venue Must-Haves and Considerations

• Tenting Capabilities: Who doesn’t love to be outdoors during summer?! While rain is always something to plan for in any venue with outdoor elements, you also want to be sure to protect you and your guests from extreme heat. You’ll be thankful when you can enjoy being dressed up in your finest and dancing the night away without being sidelined by high temps. If you’re looking to host 100% of your event outdoors, be sure the property has room to host this many tents (reception + a rain backup plan), or one area large enough for an extended size that you can creatively split into two spaces.
• Exclusivity: With more couples looking into Summer for their big day, you may find that your venue hosts more than one wedding in a day. If being the only event onsite is important to you, be sure to ask the sales manager what their event schedule is.
• Noise ordinance: Like we mentioned under our list of Spring venues, it’s important to take note of the noise ordinance of your wedding location to coordinate the end time appropriately. You should be dancing to the very last beat as planned!
• Holiday weekends: Many of our favorite holidays fall right within the summer months (Fourth of July, Labor Day, even Memorial Day weekend which is the unofficial kick-off for summer for me!). Understand and budget for some added costs for hosting a holiday weekend event. This can be higher venue fees, rental delivery fees, or accommodations for your vendor team to avoid traveling back and forth long distances during heavy traffic weekends!

Now on to the good stuff! Below is a list of 10 venues fit for your summer wedding, all ranging in styles, settings, guest capacity, and more!

Chatfield Hollow Inn

Words and photos cannot properly do this space and its team justice! We’ll have a special blog post coming up on this newer Killingworth venue next week as it’s the perfect space for guest counts up to 200. Also known as the Chatfield Hollow B+B, this natural oasis offers a variety of ceremony locations. Choose between their two ponds, fruit orchard, grassy meadows, or birch grove to start. Along with the clear top tent onsite, the property — including their charming inn — belongs to you the entire weekend. With fully functioning flower and food gardens, you have the opportunity to bring the freshest details to your menu or decor, found right on site. The amenities and care this location provides is unparalleled and ideal for a variety of design approaches for your summer wedding!

photos: carla ten eyck photography

Stone Acres Farm

Stonington hosts a number of the best destination venues for you and your guests, many of which you’ll see below. Set on 65 acres of family owned property, Stone Acres Farm hugs its guests in the most natural and romantic views. Imagine your ceremony in their historic formal boxed gardens set in front of their farm house, which hosts an intimate group of 30 guests, followed by dinner on the vast lawn perfect for a tented wedding up to 250. You’ll fall in love with the area, but even more the owner as soon as you visit the space!!

Saltwater Farm Vineyard

Another Stonington favorite, Saltwater Farm is the perfect location for the rustic, but perhaps even the industrial couple! Ceremonies are typically set in the middle of their wide sprawling vines — lush, peaceful, and romantic. Of course, these views don’t get lost should you host your ceremony indoors in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the winery’s hangar. Designed with an upstairs and downstairs location to comfortably accommodate dinner and dancing for up to 200 guests, as well as cocktail hour and the ceremony if needed. Plus, two bars, because a wedding on a vineyard always calls for a glass (or two!) of wine.

photos: tim correira photography

Jonathan Edwards Winery

Located in North Stonington (not to be confused with the beautiful town of Stonington), Jonathan Edwards offers all the lush, rolling greens that a vineyard should. The winery includes an on site tent for dining and dancing all night long for up to 200 of your friends and family or their rustic barrel room for a smaller affair — even that back up rain plan we mentioned! Their tasting room and wrap around porch for cocktail hour is the best way to take in the views of your entire wedding day location and helps to take advantage of the entire space.

photos: robert norman photography

Heritage Homestead

Years ago, we had the pleasure of doing the first wedding set on this family owned property, a fully functioning farm with miles of the BEST views of the Quinnipiac Valley! Located more in the center of the state in the country town of Northford, Heritage Homestead sits on acres that are perfectly set up for a tent for up to 150 guests or an outdoor ceremony. The property also houses a barn pavilion for 120 guests for a sit down meal or as a back up ceremony location, enclosed in the case of inclement weather. Good weather? The walls can come right off, giving you a front row seat to the gorgeous views surrounding you. For your event, you have the entire space for your weekend to ensure a flexible day of timeline and set up schedule for your vendors to bring your vision to life!

photos: carla ten eyck photography

Branford House

A Jubilee Event favorite, the Branford House is a part of the UConn campuses, set on acres of grass that meet the Long Island Sound. This luxuriously built, stone mansion is comprised of three rooms, each with rococo ceilings and an ornate fireplace set against the rich wood walls — the Great Room’s marble fireplace heights itself at two stories tall! Between the rooms, you can sit a total of up to 200 guests, though depending on your floor plan, you might find it a bit more comfortable at 150 – 165. On a perfect summer day, or for guest counts exceeding 200, the lawn is perfectly prepared for that sailcloth tent you’ve been dreaming about!

photos: carla ten eyck photography

Gallaher Mansion

Some of the best summer wedding venues sprawl along the Connecticut shoreline areas. The Gallaher Mansion in Norwalk is no exception as it provides a timeless, elegant setting and romantic settings indoors and out. Open to hosting 100 guests inside the gorgeous stone monument or 200+ on their tented terrace, the Gallaher offers some rentals to help develop your look and several other amenities to make it your own!

Smith Farm Gardens

How could we not mention this idyllic country spot in our summer collection?! If you’re looking for a home wedding without the worry of structuring an entire venue at your own home, then Smith Farm Gardens is the best location to consider. Hugged by lush gardens, there’s a noticeable sense of peace when you step onto the property. When it comes to one of the most important details of your wedding — the food — Smith Farms lets you pluck right from their own garden. It doesn’t get fresher than that! To top it off, there are stunning onsite accommodations in the house, which is perfect for getting ready and hanging with your favorite people once the last song has been played. You can certainly host up to large number of guests here as your event takes place 100% outdoors with the capacity for a tent!

South Farms

Set a little more inland in Morris, South Farms is one of our favorite family-run farm venues! This barn is iconic and once you step foot on the property, you’ll know exactly why! Not only do they offer the parlor, hayloft, bull room, and stone barn, but they are working up their brand new Garage, opening the opportunity to their couples to host just under 50 guests all the way up to 175. Whether rustic, natural, or industrial, this space offers so much to their clients and exceeds your wildest dreams!

Chamard Vineyards

Another popular vineyard, but this time located right in Clinton. Whether you’re hosting an intimate celebration of 30 guests up to a bash of 150 of your loved ones, the vineyard has several locations for your ceremony or reception, both outdoor and in. As an added bonus to the local wine you can enjoy, Chamard is responsible for your freshly prepared culinary experience. While quiet and set back, the vineyard is not far from the center of town, so some noise ordinance rules may apply!

As you follow this list, you may notice many of these summer venues include working farms and wineries that contribute you to your event day menu. One of the best parts of summer is freshly grown food. Developing your menu with local, seasonal fare elevates the experience of one of the most important elements of your day and it has a resounding affect on all of your loved ones!

Let’s face it, there’s just no way to narrow it down to only ten venues. There are a few you will see double dipping across the seasons, but they’re too perfect to leave out. Because Connecticut has a proud list of venues, there are far more outside of this top 10 here that not only offer picturesque views signature to Connecticut, but their outstanding teams are just as excited for your day as you are!

Happy 2020 friends!! Now that we are in a new decade and a new year – one that is sure to go unmatched, by the way – we wanted to talk about Pantone Color of the Year: Classic Blue. Now, when they first announced this color we didn’t have much feeling. Truthfully, we were hoping for something vibrant as we have dubbed this year one for color! The more we thought about it, the more we warmed up to it, so here’s a few ways the Jubilee Events team celebrates the color Classic Blue!

1. Fashion

photo: carla ten eyck // floral: blush floral design // beauty: larissa lake and co.

photo: alicia ann photographers // suit: aldo’s house of formals

photo: alicia ann photographers // dresses: jenny yoo

photo: carla ten eyck // tuxedos: tom ford

Blue is a go-to color for our fashion picks! It’s classic, as the Pantone color name implies, but it’s flattering and fitting for those warmer season weddings. Our eyes certainly pop for a blue suit with a black lapel!

2. Stationery

photo: carla ten eyck // stationery: coral pheasant stationery

photo: carla ten eyck // stationery: coral pheasant stationery

photo: carla ten eyck // stationery: coral pheasant stationery

stationery: coral pheasant stationery

Blue provides a strong presentation for stationery and used in abundance or as an accent, it rounds out any design!

3. Table Design

When I think Classic Blue, my mind instantly flies to the tables we’ve designed. This is where the Pantone color proves to be timeless and versatile!

photos: carla ten eyck // linen + rentals: party rental ltd.

4. Linens + Rentals

photo: brooke allison photography // lounge furniture: gather and lounge // linens: la tavola linen

photos: carla ten eyck // linen + rentals: party rental ltd.

This Pantone color of the year is perfect for linens and rentals! Not only do they make accent pieces, like flowers, candles, and table details really pop, but they also hide any food or drink mishaps perfectly well!

5. Decor + Other Fun Details

photo: orchard cove photography // floral: blush floral design

photo: carla ten eyck // napkin: coral pheasant stationery

photo: carla ten eyck // cake:

If the Pantone Color of the Year is part of your color palette, then there are endless possibilities for your design elements. Through signage, custom cocktail napkins, displays, cake and confections, and more, this color will bring your aesthetic to life!

See more of our favorite Pantone color inspired weddings here!

Ocean Themed Wedding Invitations

Paper is a serious obsession of ours because you can do practically anything with it!! Size, color, texture — and that applies to each facet of your paper suite. While these are just the start to how your invitations or day of paper is created, inspiration can derive from more than just your color story. Cue the design bells! And these ocean themed wedding invitations from Kara & Victor’s wedding are stunning!

Ocean Themed Wedding Invitations: Details

Kara and Victor’s invitation suite below was a perfect nod to who they are. They were a stunning introduction to where they would be hosting their nearest and dearest for their Connecticut wedding. It started with a painting, one that Kara passed every day in her Stonington home. There was something about the way it made her feel, it’s essence giving way to this peaceful, untouched atmosphere that invites you to soak up the moment.

Though our day of design was packed with warm summer tones, we balanced it out with pops of Pantone’s serenity and navy focused as an ode to the shore. The script and feel emulated the wedding decor as being classic and sophisticated with whimsical touches of floral notes on the RSVP envelope and card. The best part?! That beloved envelope liner you see was just that of the painting Kara adored, seguing into the perfect wedding day setting at the Branford House!

Thanks to Nichole from Coral Pheasant Stationery for tapping into our girl’s brain to put into paper form just what she experienced each morning.

Interested in seeing more of our clients gorgeous wedding invitations? Check out our archives!

I’m excited to share with you the gorgeous Gatsby inspired wedding of Nicole and Patrick at The Branford House Mansion in Groton, Connecticut! We had the opportunity to work with an all-star team of creatives to bring to life their vision and details (full list below the images). The day began for Nicole and her bridesmaids at The Steamboat Inn in Mystic and for Patrick and his groomsmen at The Salty Dog for fresh shaves. The ceremony was held at a gorgeous church in Waterford, decorated by Yumiko at Hana Floral with large gold candle pillars down the aisle with floral wreaths and greenery. A drink station greeted guests outside with darling jars full of refreshing lemonades.

After the ceremony, guests were shuttled by Trolley to the magnificent Branford House– which we completely transformed for Nicole and Patrick. It was truly breathtaking! A large urn of beautiful flowers greeted guests at a table with a linen handmade of flowers by Yumiko and her team, while Emily’s staff served up trays of champagne. Guests enjoyed lawn games on the great lawn, amazing food stations, a mojito bar, and blissful entertainment by Lapis Luna of Elan Artists.

The interior of the Branford House was spectacular– every room brimming with elegant flowers, purple linens, gold flatware, and exquisite paper details.

Some of my favorite details of the day were the gorgeous floral designs by Yumiko of Hana Floral Design– they were brimming with beautiful, big blooms in shades of purple, white and blush. Every piece of floral on this day was just so gorgeous and Yumiko and her team really did a fabulous job! Rick and his team at Emily’s catering customized a fantastic menu for Nicole, Patrick and their guests– and really showcased their culinary expertise with a beautifully displayed raw bar on blocks of ice, a summer shack food station with fresh and local ingredients, and several paired and customized trays of passed alcohol and appetizers. Nichole of Coral Pheasant did a remarkable job on the paper– laser cut, die cut, gold foil and letterpress was everywhere from the RSVP card to the menus at each place setting.

A heartfelt thank you to my team for being so spectacular on this day. They, along with all our amazing vendors, truly did a wonderful job and we couldn’t be more thrilled for Nicole and Patrick. Enjoy! x

CREDIT REEL

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Design, Planning, Coordination & Rentals: Jubilee Events
Catering: Emily’s Catering
Reception Venue: The Branford House
Floral Design: Hana Floral Design
Tent: Sperry Tents Marion
Tent Lighting & Bars: Ryan Designs
Paper Story: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design
Calligraphy: MM Ink
Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Co. and Naomi’s Salon
Cake: Sylvia Weinstock
Additional Lighting: Shoreline AV
Entertainment: Elan Artists
Dance Floor: Chase Canopy
Favors: Ladurée
Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music
Gown & Veil: Kenneth Poole via Saks
Videographer: Vantage Point Films
Cigar Roller: CT Cigar Company

You saw Part I of Jenn and Nitin’s gorgeous wedding day and, now, prepare your hearts for Part II! Julie, Jazz, and Ryan of Carla Ten Eyck Studios were on hand again to capture every perfect piece! Inspired by the fall season and our morning ceremony, we dressed the Branford House in rich colors of red, yellow, orange, and purple. The energy from that morning carried over to our evening ceremony and even doubled as the night got started!

Jenn and Nitin celebrated their vows facing the Long Island Sound, and recessed to tossed confetti and well wishes from their guests. Watching the sun set over their first dance was nothing less than magical. Every detail of that night left guests in awe—from Jenn’s stunning wedding dress handmade especially by her sister, Steph Chudy, to the incredible and lively dance party that brought everyone to their feet, from the to-die-for macaroons that Jenn’s friend and owner of The Love Confection conjured up, to the handmade floral pots that Jenn’s mom designed. (This family and their creative genes, I wish I could have them dressing me and designing my home!) I’m not sure I can look at the photos of Jenn in her dress tiptoeing around the lawn without an excited squeal escaping. I know I’m not the only one!

Jenn and Nitin—thank you does not cover how much we all appreciate the chance we had to work with you on your absolutely amazing wedding day! We wish you all the best and send all of our love. Looking forward to a  date to taste all of your favorite treats next time we’re in the city! XOXO

Credit Reel

Photography: Julie, Jazz, and Ryan; Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Planning, Design & Coordination: Jubilee Events
Catering: Emily’s Catering
Floral Design: Just For You Floral Design
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Branford House, Groton, CT
Dress: Steph Chudy
Stroopwafels: The Good Batch
Marshmallows: Whimsy and Spice
Wedding Day Paper: Coral Pheasant Stationery; Programs designed by the Bride and Groom
Musicians: Golden Scroll Soloists
Macaroons: The Love Confection
Hair + Makeup: Dana Bartone & Co.
Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo
Bride’s Accessories: The White Dress by the Shore

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