2020 was a doozy for all of us, which goes without saying, I’m sure. A bright spot of the year? Justine and Kevin’s intimate Jonathan Edwards wedding. Here we are, almost a year later, and our hearts are still full whenever we reminisce over the moments we shared with this couple and their loved ones!

Initially set for 200 guests under the big top, Justine and Kevin would eventually shift the way the year required. They adjusted to hosting about twenty dear friends and family, still under the gorgeous Sperry Tent at Jonathan Edwards Winery. Staring with a sweet ceremony in downtown Mystic, this couple made their mark on many that day! Taking the town’s streets as they walked to their ceremony, passersby felt the joy pouring from their day!

French Country Garden – Inspired Jonathan Edwards Wedding

By hosting a more personalized guest group, we could design a day more reflective of Justine and Kevin’s ultimate wish list. The palette we had was rich with pink tones in blush and coral with a healthy helping of neutral ivory, cream, and gold. Greenery was abundant and lush, as no garden-inspired winery wedding is complete without it! So, while scaling down, we leveled up the color, adding more celebratory tones of yellow, blue, and lavender. Hugging around the shades of pink and coral, the palette would match the vibrance that is Justine and Kevin together (a close second to their smiles)!

We’re suckers for long tables, so guests wined and dined around an extended farm table at this Jonathan Edwards wedding. The ultimate scene-setter as it sat beneath a canopy of romantic twinkle lights that wrapped around nearly every inch of our space. Making it completely unforgettable: the warmth of our guests exceptionally thrilled to be able to celebrate the love of our couple!

It’s near impossible to pinpoint our favorite detail. It may land between their beloved pup, Zeus, or the edible flowers detailed around the entire cake. Their reaction to the grand reveal of the tent may take the No. 1 slot; though, it’s neck and neck with the most amazing creative team ever!

 

Justine and Kevin, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are not only grateful to have been trusted with your day but also to celebrate you fully! It was a true joy to get to know you and see this come to life! Our hearts may never come down!

 

To see another amazing micro-weddings, visit us here! For more Jonathan Edwards weddings, feast your eyes here!

the all-star team!

Photography: Brooke Allison Photography
Ceremony + Reception Location: Jonathan Edwards Winery
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Flowers by Justine
Entertainment: Protegé
Catering + Cake: A Thyme to Cook
Cinema: DMO Films
Beauty: Brianna Adams, Izzy B
Lighting: Drape Art Designs
Rentals: PEAK Event Services, La Tavola Linen
Ceremony Location: St. Patrick’s Church – Mystic

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!

The Best Connecticut Venues for your Fall Wedding!

Part 1 and Part 2 of this blog series have given you a glance at some of the magic Connecticut offers for your wedding day. Now, it’s time to cozy up to one of the best seasons Connecticut has to offer: Fall! A Fall Wedding in Connecticut is as anticipated as any combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

Despite what those holiday commercials say, Fall is the most wonderful time of the year! From the warm days and cool nights, right down to the foliage. It is, in my opinion, the best time of year to take advantage of the great outdoors.

Fall Wedding Venue Must-Haves and Considerations

• Indoor Options or Tenting Capabilities: You’ll see this noted on every venue list because Mother Nature is a finicky woman! While Fall tends to provide more expected weather circumstances, it’s the one thing none of us can control. If your venue lacks an indoor space (many unique locations do!), be sure there’s room to place a tent on the property. Even if your plan is to go alfresco, a rain plan is always a good idea!
• Exclusivity: Just like summer, this is a coveted time of year! Make sure you understand how many celebrations your venue hosts on any given weekend or per day!
• Noise ordinance: As we’ve said in the Spring and Summer wedding venue list, be sure to take the cutoff time for music into account, especially if your Fall wedding will be taking place outdoors in any capacity!
• Availability: The Fall is the most popular time of year for weddings here in Connecticut. Between the perfect temperatures, relative lack of destructive weather, and the foliage… Those scrumptious colors that dress our trees are quintessential postcard images and highly sought after! If a Fall wedding is what you’re after, the availability of your potential venue is something that can go quickly.
• Ways to keep your guests warm: This time of year is when we begin to see the nights get a little cooler. Infuse ways into your design to keep your guests warm. These things can include a hot cocoa bar, late-night bonfire, or custom blankets for guests to grab-and-go!

Here we have it! Read on to begin falling in love with some of Connecticut’s greatest Fall wedding venues!

 

Smith Farm Gardens

Smith Farm Gardens is one of my favorite locations for a wedding in Connecticut, no less a fall wedding, because it’s comparable to having a home wedding without having to build the venue in your own backyard! Their well-manicured gardens and grounds are noticed the moment you step foot onto the property. It’s idyllic in every sense it can be!

Set on 15 acres, your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception can host within a list of beautiful corners of this property. The vegetable and flower garden, apple orchard, or the main house with its original posts and beams and massive fireplace inside! You can certainly toast with a large number of guests here as your event takes place 100% outdoors with the capacity for a tent! 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.

 

Audobon in Greenwich

The Audobon, specifically the Barn at Greenwich Audobon Center is idyllic for the lovers of a rustic aesthetic. This restored 1800s structure with its original exposed beams is perfect for a smaller, yet still lively guest group of 80 – 100 guests. Apple orchards and trails hug the property, offering unique opportunities to take advantage of the layout of your entire event!

For those with a philanthropic heart, the site fee goes to not only maintaining the inherent structure of the barn but also supporting a sanctuary for nature’s smallest creatures throughout the state!

 

Mayflower Inn & Spa

There is something picturesque about saying your vows with the colors in front of a pond filled with the reflection of the Fall foliage. Postcards couldn’t paint a better picture, though I’m sure a live painter could!

For smaller, more intimate celebrations, the Mayflower offers The Garden Room and The Tap Room which have been recently renovated to create a space you’ll never want to leave. For groups up to about 150, you can host your loved ones in their brand-new custom tent, tucked privately behind the spa alongside the property’s pond. Not only are onsite accommodations available, but this venue is also the perfect location for a full weekend buyout as there are personalized amenities to appeal to any type of adventurer! I love how easily this property lends itself to a destination wedding as the onsite offerings, most notably the spa and surrounding trails allow for enjoyable getaways no matter the interests of your guest group!

photo: Carla Ten Eyck // planning + design: Jubilee Events // floral: Blush Floral Design // tent decor: Drape Art Designs

 

Chatfield Hollow Inn

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. Imagine being snuggled in among all the colorful foliage, or having a small breeze carry some leaves around you and your guests during your vows. Just like a pretty snowfall without the cold and wet!

Along with the clear top tent on-site for up to 150 guests, 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 fall wedding!

photo: Carla Ten Eyck 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. Hugged by trees that provide a colorful splash of Fall foliage vibrantly welcomes guests to the property. The winery includes a tent for dining and dancing all night long for up to 200 of your friends and family. Additionally, their rustic barrel room is perfect for a smaller affair – even that back up rain plan we mentioned! Their tasting room and the wrap-around porch are the best way to take in the views of your entire wedding day in addition to enjoying their wine that is produced during this season.

Entering the Fall season reintroduces you to those sinfully-favorite foods that we all love to indulge in! Surrounding Jonathan Edwards Winery are several local farms that your caterer can partner with to create a one-of-a-kind farm-to-table dining experience for you and your guests!

photo: Robert Norman Photography // planning + design: Jubilee Events // floral: Just For You Floral Design // lighting: Ryan Designs

 

Gallaher Mansion

Having enjoyed the most amazing Fall wedding at the Gallaher Mansion, it’s no wonder why this venue sits comfortably on our list! The Gallaher Mansion provides a timeless setting and romantic views indoors and out. Open to hosting 100 guests inside the gorgeous stone monument or 200+ on their tented terrace, the Gallaher offers some rentals and several other amenities to help make the day your own!

Pro tip: take advantage of the side garden and sprawling lawn for photos or other moments of your wedding day to create a big impact for your guests!

photo: Anaise Prince Photography

South Farms

One of the most iconic farm venues in Connecticut, exclusively reserved for weddings and celebrations taking place onsite! Set a little more inland in Morris, South Farms is one of our favorite family-run farm venues! 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, plus 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 its clients and exceeds your wildest dreams!

 

Graybarns on the Silvermine River

Where luxury meets comfort! The Graybarns is the first venue I think of for the perfect intimate wedding. Able to accommodate up to 75 guests, you and your guests can enjoy a variety of settings throughout the property, including their courtyard, the barn, the tavern, and the porch. I anticipate seeing a surplus of more intimate events with our couples this year and beyond. This venue is the perfect location to make it your own for the weekend!

As if the venue wasn’t enough to love as is, they have the most flavorful and memorable menus to enjoy, something that certainly impacts the overall experience imparted on you and your guests! Their onsite accommodations make getting ready and other weekend events seamless and relaxing.

 

Winvian Farm

This storied estate offers multiple sites and venues on its unique property, prepared to host you and your loved ones with their onsite accommodations. This charming site is 113 acres of rolling lawns, stone walls, wildflower meadows and enchanted woodlands, all of which are in their full, lush, colorful state during the Fall, making an impactful statement for your wedding weekend experience!

With the level of opportunity of Winvian Farm, you can host more intimate celebrations to grander affairs with larger guest counts. I love how easily this property lends itself to a destination wedding as the amenities, most notably the spa and surrounding trails allow for enjoyable getaways no matter the interests of your guest group!

 

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 outdoor and indoor locations for your ceremony or reception. As an added bonus to the local wine you can enjoy, Chamard is responsible for your fresh culinary experience. While quiet and set back, the vineyard is not far from the center of town, so some noise ordinance rules may apply!

 

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!

There is something to love about each season in New England. Even if you hate the cold, you have to admit the magic found in the way the snow falls. It’s so peacefully quiet. And clean!! I don’t enjoy the Summer humidity one bit but being able to enjoy the warm sunlight hitting your skin or dipping your toes in the ocean can’t really be beaten. In the end, though, I am a Fall girl. I cannot get enough of the vibrantly colored leaves or the smell of wood stoves turning on to heat up the house. Needless to say, finding inspiration for Fall is a hobby! Designing Fall wedding color palettes sends our hearts soaring!

Lucky for us, Connecticut boasts a number of gorgeous venues to host your celebration, and, boy, do we adore a good Fall wedding! As we’ve been busy preparing for the rest of our 2020 (and 2021!) weddings, I want to give you all some ideas for building the perfect Fall color palette for your Connecticut wedding!

The Fall is the time for deep, romantic, saturated shades that you’ll find in that favorite sweater or Fall dish you’d prepare. If you would like to prepare the ultimate Fall fete, check out some of our fav autumn dishes here!

Fall Wedding Color Palettes: Earthy and Organic

beige // mustard // sage // evergreen // lipstick // deep plum // bronze

photographer: carla ten eyck // floral: sweet talk floral // beauty: catie bane // fashion: made with love, valentino tailors from the white dress by the shore

Fall Wedding Color Palettes: Wine Tones

taupe // ivory // blush // vintage pink // wine // chestnut

   photographer: robert norman photography // floral: blush floral design // rentals: peak event services

Fall Wedding Color Palettes: Moody and Dramatic

vintage ivory // gold // blush // wine // marsala // forest green

  photography: katie slater photography // floral: jakkelyn iris

 

Fall Wedding Color Palettes: Color Soaked and Whimsical

ivory // gold // vintage pink // magenta // lipstick red // thistle blue // plum

photography: laura dee // floral: just for you floral design // bridesmaids dresses: bella bridesmaids

 

Fall Wedding Color Palettes: Autumn Harvest

ivory // sunshine // peach // pumpkin // serenity // periwinkle // rattan

photography: robert & kathleen photography // floral: blush floral design // rentals: party rental ltd. // linens: la tavola linen

 

When it comes to your color palette and design, don’t hesitate to include the tones that speak to you. You can fit your beloved shades into any season and venue!

 

**all designs created by Jubilee Events

Liz & Jeremy’s Jonathan Edwards Winery Wedding

When we first met with Liz and Jeremy about their wedding at Jonathan Edwards Winery, color became the topic of conversation. We had to have it and it needed to make you smile! We wanted guests to feel the type of energy that you experience when you look forward to a night of merriment with your nearest and dearest!

As the planning process unfolded into the big day, not only had we succeeded in making their event colorful and bright, we celebrated two of the many qualities this couple and their family treated all of us to each step of the way. Never without a smile on their face or a level of excitement that made everyone giddy, this was a family that treated us as part of their own and allowed us to walk away with friendships as strong as ones we were able to witness that night.

The thing I love most about a vineyard wedding is that it invites this natural, organic, relaxed feeling into the day and design. It requires you to stop and embrace your surroundings, enhancing the overall experience!

The Wedding Ceremony

Our design began with a bright color palette that would complement the inherent nature of Jonathan Edwards Winery. Married in between the lush vines, Liz and Jer built a ceremony around what meant most to them and honored their history and future in the most beautifully personal way possible.

Alongside their close friend that officiated the celebration, Liz’s mom, Chief of the Mohegan tribe performed a sacred blessing ritual on their union, bound together tightly by an elected leader. Starting off their adventure with the love and support of their crew had never been so profound. You’ll see we’ve given a special nod below to Liz’s dad, our dear father of the bride. We just cannot get over how much he adores his girls and it certainly shows through these photos. We know if we’re smitten with these memories, then Liz’s family are easily carrying the same fondness in their hearts.

The Wedding Experience

Set under the big top tent at the vineyard, Liz and Jer treated their guests to a fresh, seasonally inspired menu courtesy of A Thyme to Cook. How lucky are we (rather, smart and well planned) to host such a beautiful day in the middle of the best time of year for colorful food! Through personal moments, creative touches, and nonstop dancing, we built a lifetime of memories in a single night, though the only thing that may top those were the smiles Liz and Jeremy shared with each other and with their crew all night long. I’ll never forget the way they looked at one another and can feel that happiness when I get wrapped up in their photos.

Liz and Jer (and the cutest, sweetest family around), thank you so much for sharing your love, your history, and your happiness with us! We will always think of you when we visit or celebrate at Jonathan Edwards Winery! You have a forever place there and in our heart! We wish you all that a million times more as you continue life’s adventure together. XOXO

To see more of our vineyard weddings, check us out here!

This wedding…! Tess, Jon, and their families are some of the best people you will ever meet! Their personalities were so wonderfully infectious, warm, and a pleasure to be around. They were the best people to work with and their guests mirrored their awesomeness. They lined up some of the best vendors across New England and, boy, did this become a night that will always be remembered!

From the moment Tess and Jon got engaged, they knew they wanted an outdoor wedding, which took place on a day full of sunshine and crisp pre-autumn air. Inspired by Tess’s signature earthy tones, the tables were lined with tall and plush blooms in natural greens, burlap, and plum purple spilling over candelabras and pouring out of iron lanterns from Blush Floral Designs. The rustic, wooden farm tables were dressed in romantic candlelight with the best, freshest fare from our favorites over at A Thyme to Cook. Many months later and guests are still raving about every detail of the day!

One of our favorite memories of the day was early on in the evening when we all witnessed the most beautiful sunset we have ever seen! The skies turned pink and orange and for just a brief moment, everyone took a minute to pause and take it all in. The night ended with a sparkler send off and, as Tess reminisces, they just make you feel like a kid again, and they also make for a really dreamy, almost fairytale-like moment running through them as husband and wife among all of their loved ones.

Tess and Jon, to you and your families, thank you for giving us the utmost pleasure of being a part of such a spectacular and memorable wedding and, more importantly, celebrating with an amazing group of people! We wish you all the best and a lifetime of happiness and beautiful sunsets. XO!

Credit Reel

Photography: Robert Norman Photography
Catering: A Thyme to Cook
Floral Design: Blush Floral Design
Videography: Oakjo Wedding Films
Stationery: The Write Approach
Calligraphy: FancyPrintsAC
Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Ceremony + Reception Musicians: Hank Lane Orchestra
Bride’s Dress: Jenny Packham
Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

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Britt and Peter’s wedding was held at one of our favorite wineries in the state, Jonathan Edwards in North Sontington. We try to make a trip there as often as we can since it’s such a beautiful and relaxing way to spend an afternoon. That’s exactly what Britt and Peter’s guests were treated to at their September wedding.

Britt and Peter wanted the event to be a reflection of their personalities, very casual and relaxed. They loved the rustic charm of Jonathan Edwards and wanted to dress the space for a wedding. We created a laid back vibe across the board– from the food to the decor. Guests got to enjoy a variety of food stations, which featured farm to table offerings. Keep reading to see images from the day captured by Iris Photography.

Want to see more Jonathan Edwards Winery weddings? Also check out Britt & Peter’s Save the Dates & Custom Bread Bags!

Vendor Reel:
Photography: Iris Photography
Hair and Makeup: Jennie Fresa
Florist: Blush Floral Design
Lighting: Shoreline AV
DJ: DJ Eko
Tent: Sperry Tents
Paper: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design

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