10 Unique Wedding Venues in Connecticut

Photo: Anna Sawin Photography

From ballrooms to country clubs, there are so many types of wedding venues to choose from. But what if you’re looking for something a bit…different? Fortunately, there are lots of unique wedding venues in CT, including museums, restaurants, even retro theaters! If you’ve started the hunt for wedding venues in CT, be sure to think outside the box (or ballroom?) and check out some fun and different venues.

Check out a few of our favorite unique wedding venues in CT.

Photo: Bill Miller's Castle

Bill Miller’s Castle

It’s a castle—and a barn?! This Branford venue easily combines elegance with rustic flair, with its 30-foot ceilings, wooden details, five fireplaces, and crystal chandeliers. You’ll love the Old World feel (it was first built in the late 19th century) as well as the variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for your wedding ceremony and reception. This is an all-inclusive venue, and wins raves from couples. In fact, it won the WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Award for four years in a row.

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Photo: Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

Bushnell Center for Performing Arts

Couples with a flair for the dramatic will be thrilled to know that you can actually get married at Hartford’s famed theater! In fact, you can actually host your reception on stage! William H. Mortensen Hall or the Belding Theater are the premier wedding locations for receptions, and you can host your ceremony in the classic and elegant Seaverns Room with its incredible Old World architecture. We also love the Autorino Great Hall for cocktail hour or receptions. This dramatic, glass-enclosed room features an amazing glass sculpture by famed artist Dale Chihuly, plus a veranda overlooking the courtyard. The Bushnell can host events of up to 250 guests, and there’s in-house catering to make wedding planning a breeze.

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Photo: Jonathan Edwards Winery

Jonathan Edwards Winery

If you’ve always dreamed of marrying at a Napa Valley vineyard, this North Stonington wedding venue may be the perfect setting for your Connecticut event. The 20-acres of vineyards feature a variety of amazing photo-ops, and it’s a fantastic venue for tented weddings of up to 200 guests. The Tasting Room, deck and patio are fabulous spots for your cocktail hour, too. There’s also a more intimate space, The Barrel Room, where you can host smaller events, including rehearsal dinners.

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Photo: ROIA Restaurant

ROIA Restaurant

Vintage weddings are all the rage, and this downtown New Haven venue has all the old-school, Gatsby-style flair you’ll need. One of the coolest and most unique wedding venues in CT, ROIA Restaurant is located inside the Taft Hotel, which was first built in 1912. While the restaurant’s balcony is a popular space for smaller events of up to 110 guests, you can also rent out the entire space, which can host up to 250. Couples rave not only about the gorgeous space, but also the food!

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Photo: Pond House Cafe

Pond House Café

We love how this West Hartford venue mixes contemporary with classic. In the famed Garden Room, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide an outdoors-in feel at any time of year, and the brick walls and exposed beams give the space a unique modernity. There’s also a new outdoor terrace for cocktail hour. And since this restaurant venue is located in Elizabeth Park (America’s oldest public rose garden), you’ll have lots of amazing opportunities for gorgeous and scenic wedding photos!

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Photo: The Palace Theater

The Palace Theater

This fully restored 1920s theater is one of the most unique wedding venues in CT. Located in Waterbury, The Palace Theater can host larger weddings of up to 350 guests, and you have lots of gorgeous indoor spaces to choose from. There are three lobby spaces, as well as the ability to host your reception on the Palace’s stage. You’ll also find some incredible photo ops at this space, from the marble staircase to the red velvet curtains and more. This WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Award-winning venue wins major raves from couples, including one who said: “Our guests can't stop talking about it!”

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Photo: Connecticut River Museum

Connecticut River Museum

If you and your partner are history buffs, this Essex museum may be one of the best unique wedding venues in CT for your special day. It’s also great for couples who love the water, as its located right on the Connecticut River—and you can actually arrive to your wedding day via boat and take incredible photos right on the docks! You can marry on the Museum Lawn with its stunning water views, with a tented wedding reception to follow. Cocktail hour can be held in the Boathouse. This is a more intimate wedding venue, with a capacity of 150 guests.

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Photo: Silver Oak Mystic

Silver Oak Mystic

Located near Mystic Seaport, this lovely new restaurant is ideal for smaller wedding celebrations of up to 75 guests. From the stone fireplace to the relaxed feel, this is one of the coziest venues in CT. And if rustic is your style of choice, you’ll adore the custom-built farmhouse tables here! It’s also an ideal space for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and other pre-wedding events.

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Photo: Stafford Palace Theater

Stafford Palace Theater

If you’re planning a Gatsby-style or retro-themed wedding, look no further than this incredible Stafford Springs theater and Connecticut wedding venue. Aside from the fact that you can put your and your partner’s names on the marquee (so cool!), this recently restored vaudeville theater and music venue is sure to wow your guests. This venue can host weddings of up to 240 guests

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