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. Our guests loved the food, and it was served so quickly and efficiently! The terrace and lawn were recently renovated and look gorgeous. 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 Woodwinds made our day so special and we cannot thank the staff enough the entire planning process all the way through the event! Vanessa met us and gave us a tour of the venue and then went over the options for the reception. *it wouldnt allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. DJ: Entertainment Unlimited Makeup: Indigo Makeup Artistry Wedding Dress + Bridesmaid Dress Boutique: Melissa Ashley Bridal Wedding Dress Designer: Lillian West Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Classic Tuxedo of Boston Minimal decor is needed at this venue due to the amazing architecture. We fell in love with the place. Sergio was amazing in helping my vision for decor come to life, he listened attentively in our meeting when I dropped off the items I wanted set up for the reception. When we first toured the venue, we loved how classy the facility was and their beautiful outdoor grounds/ceremony locations. Sergio was our maitre d and he was amazing. I had guests raving about the different appetizers and our Venetian table!! The front door to the mansion is a great place for family photos as its shaded and cooler in the afternoon and easy to get to for grandparents. I both cannot think of a moment our drinks got empty or our food plates werent filled due to the staff being so on top of everything. The ability to work with any vendor (beverage must be done through Uconn) and 10 hour venue rental timeframe are two of the many factors we loved. Everyone loved the venue and kept saying how beautiful it was. The venue also allows you to bring in all your own vendors - a blessing and a curse. Built in 1902 for Morton Freeman Plant, a local financier and philanthropist, as his summer home, Branford House is one of the premier mansion wedding venues in CT. They couldn't believe how good everything was! Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. Im so happy we chose this venue for our big day. First and only place you need to look for your next venue for any event! Vanessa and Ken were so easy to contact and willing to meet with us whenever we had any questions. We are looking forward to working with Vanessa and the Woodwinds team as our big day gets closer! We couldnt be more happy with our wedding day! Scott was amazing throughout the whole wedding process. The venue is gorgeous inside and out. Outside, Branford House features patios, terraces, gardens, and a massive lawn with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. Vanessa gave us a great tour and overview of what their options include. From our first tour with Vanessa to the last dance everything was beyond perfect. I cant wait to see our professional pictures! Everyone raved over it. If there ever was a must have location for a wedding venue, this is the spot. Our day was absolutely amazing! They were on top of everything at every moment. For me this was really important due to one of my family members was in the hospital. From the event planners, Vanessa, Ken, and Randy, to the chefs and wait/bar staff, they are all so invested in making your wedding day so easy going, memorable and special. If you plan for less than 200, you can really maximize the indoor space dancing in one room, cocktails in another and dining in anotherthe options are plenty! Our entire day ran smoothly, no bumps at all. Candice Milliard Candis Floral Creations, Beautiful setting on the water. ur. The Branford House was voted the #5 best wedding venue in Connecticut by the experts. Walking into the venue and seeing the garden room and the flower centerpieces. You can dress this venue to the max or you can leave it as is and it will stand on it's own. The backdrop of the house and the water view made our wedding breath taking. Scott did a great job managing the day and checking in with us to make sure everything was perfect. ess and easy! 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! From arrival to departure everyone was so very attentive and made sure our entire time went smoothly. us almost in tears. So many places to take gorgeous pictures. Everyone we worked with from sales, to day of coordinator, to servers, to the bridal attendant was absolutely f Our wedding was perfect. This is hands down the best value for your money! venue and owners have great attention to detail. get, the staff was so helpful, polite, even the chef was super nice! From the meeting to the rehearsal and the wedding. Located on the Connecticut shoreline, the venue offers panoramic ocean views, sprawling grounds, and elegant event space, making it the ideal setting. Woodwinds I was sold! We wish we could relive that day over and over again. The venue is affordable, elegant and beautiful. The staff at Ocean Blue Catering and Branford House are very gracious and wonderful to work with. During prime wedding season (i.e. the food was amazing, our guests had nothing but good things to say about the staff and food. Katherine was responsive, and helped us to find a spot for the huge tent we put out on the back lawn. I would certainly recommend this venue for those looking to have a unique wedding experience some place other than a banquet hall. Our ceremony was held on the front lawn at the gazebo. The house, the lawn, the water view, the wrap around patio - everything at the Branford House is picturesque. I am still in shock over how much was included in the price. We booked 2 years in advance. Randy was an expert on our wedding day; he took care of everything and made sure that we hadn't a care in the world! Katherine always got back to us quickly with answers to any questions we had and was very helpful when we decided last minute to put a tent up on the patio. g to our needs. ~Robert and Brittany Mcsweeney. You're guaranteed to get beautiful photos on this site. We couldnt have asked for a more perfect day!! There was never any pressure to book them or spend money on a pricier package. She made sure my lipstick was on point, held my dress, got us drinks and rly anything we needed! The Suppa family consistently receives numerous awards for excellence in food and service for both their facilities; such as the CT Specialty Food Associations award for his line of sauces. Our wedding day was a dream come true thanks to the entire Woodwinds team! It was a nice surprise because it looked absolutely beautiful, almost as if we were married in a magical garden! I highly suggest The Woodwinds are your wedding venue :). This venue is phenomenal, my guests cant stop talking about how delicious the food was and how gorgeous the atmosphere is! During our First Looks and throughout the entire night, the staff ensured I had champagne in my hand, my husband had a gin and tonic in his, and we were fed and happy. We are very excited to have our wedding there is coming march! The day came out better David and I got married on New Years Eve. Scott, Antonella and the entire Woodwinds staff went above and beyond for our December 9, 2017 wedding. We are so glad we chose Woodwinds for our special day! Our guest are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how great the food was! We are currently working together with her to pull our Christmastime wedding off! s still raving about the food; people could not get enough of it!!! But I think well worth it in the end because the even will truly be "you". A little tricky for some guests to get to, but an overall convenient location for those craving pics of oceanside nuptuals (like we were). Theres a lot I can say about the woodwinds and the amazing job they did for our event! Its not only one of the best wedding venues in Groton, CT, but one of the best wedding venues in Connecticut. Both the interior and exterior of the Branford House Mansion will impress your guests because every detail has so much precision and thoughtfulness. It was over 90 degrees, and we got married by the waterfall and had our reception in the beautiful garden room. No where elsewill you enjoy this muchoceanfront property with grandeur. Everything was exactly how we dreamed it would be. We could use any vendor we liked, and as the bride, we were able to get ready right at the house. The bridal attendant Kaytlin was so sweet, I had an issue with the bustle of my dress and she got down on the ground and made it work. She goes above and beyond to try and fulfill the needs of all the couples and is very easy Booking this as our venue was the best decision we made! The guest loved the variety offered during the cocktail hour, they also loved being fed hot and flavorful food. Let me first start off by saying that the woodwinds staff was so accommodating & so Amazing! Nothing. Vanessa was so thorough and answered every question we could think of! Katherine was great to work with from start to finish. Sincerely Jae & Eddie. Randy then took over and it was so smooth! I cannot wait until my wedding and I will definitely write a review after ward. We had toured 8 venues before we toured The Woodwinds. The venue is spectacular - beautiful stone mansion on the water with a gorgeous lawn and stone patio. My fianc and I knew right away when walking in that this was the place! We know it was a difficult task because there was construction going on, but she got it done! They loved how everything was organized and put. n Vanessas office signing our contract the next week. There were times we even felt like she might be a mind reader because she would get us things before we even asked for them! She even quickly and quietly dealt with a few guests from the other room who crashed our buffet. 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. I can honestly say that while planning a wedding for 250 guests, I did not stress once, and this is all due to them. We booked Woodwinds because we loved the environment, but I would recommend Woodwinds because they are professionals who will do anything and everything for you. The building itself is gorgeous, and the views are breathtaking! The Branford House is one of the most elegant seaside Connecticut wedding venues. She was so helpful along the way, answering all of my My fianc and are so excited to get married here next year! The staff is amazing, friendly, low-key and flexible. The woodwinds exceeded our expectations! The first wedding went until at least 5:10 pm, and we were told that our guests could arrive as early as 5 pm for our 5:30 pm ceremony time. Creating heartfelt, moment-driven photographs for relaxed, laid-back couples who want to enjoy their wedding day. In addition to all this, the price was competitive. A picturesque cocktail hour and reception meal can be held on the stone patio and adjacent grass, perfect for those who have envisioned a waterfront mansion wedding. Fast forward to March of 2020 our big day ended in a reschedule. They all make you feel important! The Branford House offers an elegant location on the Connecticut shoreline that creates the perfect ambience for a memorable special event. From my initial visit with Vanessa, to us saying I do, it was superb!!!!! DOMA ON MAIN - 33 Photos & 28 Reviews - 576 Main St, Branford, CT 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. Absolutely incredible! I didnt want my wedding night to be over. OH and I cannot forget the amazingly delicious venetian table!! I will be telling everyone to use the Woodwinds! 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! Everyone that attended our wedding i We are beyond pleased with the service we received at WoodWinds.