Wedding venues
Wedding Venues on the Water in Connecticut
Connecticut's shoreline, lakes and rivers offer open horizons and reflected light. This guide covers eleven waterfront venues couples consider and how to plan photo and film around water.
Discuss waterfront wedding coverage
Tell us your date and the waterfront venue you are considering, and we will talk through photo and video coverage.
What to look for in a waterfront venue
A waterfront venue is more than a view. For photo and film, check these:
- Direct water access or an open water view
- Which way the ceremony area faces, for sunset or morning light
- More than one portrait location
- Indoor and outdoor flow in case of weather
- Bright or neutral interior tones
- Ceremony and reception backup options
- Drone rules and nearby airspace
How water shapes photo and film
Open horizons and reflected light give soft portraits near sunset, and water adds movement to film. Wind and glare are the trade-offs: we plan audio for breezy ceremonies and place portraits to avoid hard reflections.
A common planning approach is to schedule portraits roughly two hours before sunset on clear days. The exact time depends on the date and venue.
Candlewood Inn
Candlewood Inn in Brookfield is described on Candlewood Lake with a west-facing ceremony lawn, a private dock and a lakeside walkway.
The ballroom is described with white walls and large windows, and a capacity of up to 300 guests.
- West-facing lawn for sunset light
- Dock and walkway for portraits
- Bright ballroom
- Confirm capacity, dock access and drone rules
The Waterview
The Waterview is described on 10 acres overlooking Lake Zoar, with large indoor spaces and a ballroom with a wall of windows facing the lake.
An earlier version of this guide mentioned very large guest counts. Confirm capacity directly.
- Lake-facing ballroom windows
- Gardens, walkways and lawns
- Sunset ceremony options
- Confirm capacity and drone rules
The Inn at Longshore
The Inn at Longshore in Westport is described on the Long Island Sound with sailboats, lawns, a shoreline and a ballroom with white columns and large windows.
It is described with an on-site inn, which can help with getting-ready coverage and guest rooms.
- Shoreline portraits
- Lawn for cocktails
- Ballroom with large windows
- Confirm lodging and drone rules
The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station
The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam is described above the Connecticut River with docks, a carriage-house entrance, views of the Goodspeed Bridge and a ballroom with high ceilings.
A capacity of up to 300 guests and a covered patio are mentioned in the earlier guide.
- Dock and river portraits
- Carriage-house arrival
- Covered patio for rain
- Confirm capacity and covered areas
Discuss waterfront wedding coverage
Ready to talk it through? Send us the details of your plans.
Madison Beach Hotel
Madison Beach Hotel is described on the shore with ocean views, a beach, a waterfront lawn, a rocky shoreline, a veranda and on-site rooms. Its ballroom is described with large windows.
- Lawn and shoreline for portraits
- Ballroom with windows
- Veranda and on-site rooms
- Confirm beach access rules and drone rules
Club Getaway
Club Getaway is described as a lakeside property with 300+ acres of forest and mountainside, docks, wooded paths and fire pits. Its lodge is described with vaulted ceilings and string lights.
- Lake ceremony setting
- Wooded paths and docks for portraits
- Lodge for evening
- Confirm ceremony areas and drone rules
Guilford Yacht Club
Guilford Yacht Club is described with views over the Long Island Sound, tidal marshes and a private marina. A Great Lawn is described for tented celebrations of up to 350 guests, with a terrace and a ballroom with a vaulted ceiling.
- Marina and marsh views
- Great Lawn and terrace
- Vaulted-ceiling ballroom
- Confirm membership and guest policies
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport Museum is described with historic ships, cobblestone paths, docks and views of the Mystic River. Reception spaces such as the Boat Shed and Thompson Exhibition Building are described with high ceilings and wood textures.
- Ships and docks as backdrops
- River-side ceremonies
- Historic buildings for receptions
- Ask the museum about photo and video access rules
Owenego Inn
The Owenego Inn in Branford, known as "The O", is described on the Long Island Sound with a ceremony lawn above the water, nearby rocky coastline and a reception pavilion with open sides. A capacity of 200+ is mentioned in the earlier guide.
- Lawn above the water
- Rocky coastline nearby
- Open-air pavilion
- Confirm capacity and weather plan
The Glastonbury Boathouse
The Glastonbury Boathouse is described on the Connecticut River with a modern building, large windows, a riverside walkway and open grounds, near Hartford.
- Riverside walkway for portraits
- Modern interior with large windows
- Open grounds
- Confirm indoor and outdoor layout and rules
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina is described with marina views, a terrace, a boardwalk and docks, rooms for guests, and event spaces including the Lighthouse Suite and a ballroom.
- Marina boardwalk and docks
- Terrace ceremonies
- Several indoor spaces
- Confirm lodging, spaces and drone rules
Couple portrait examples from Legend
Actual Legend couple portraits, including one at a beach at sunset; not venue-specific coverage
Couple portrait at sunset 
Couple portrait in the garden
Common questions
What months suit waterfront weddings?
Warmer months are typical. Light and sunset time change through the season, so we plan the timeline for your date.
Is it windy at shoreline venues?
It can be. We plan audio and portrait locations with wind in mind.
Can we use a drone at a waterfront venue?
It depends on the venue's rules, local airspace and weather. Ask the venue early and we will plan around the answer.
Do waterfront venues have rain plans?
Ask each venue what covered or indoor space it offers for your date. We plan portraits around it.
Discuss waterfront wedding coverage
Tell us your date and the waterfront venue you are considering, and we will talk through photo and video coverage.