The CT Art Trail Offers Unique Wedding Venues Across the State

May 13, 2013 - PRLog -- As Connecticut enters wedding season, many stops along the Connecticut Art Trail have a busy few months ahead. From garden weddings, to celebrations among striking modern exhibitions, the Art Trail has a variety of wedding venues suited to different needs and visions. Whether you are planning a small wedding, a large celebration or something in-between, the Art Trail may have the perfect venue for you. For more information visit http://arttrail.org/

A Dreamy Garden Wedding

For those looking for auniqueoutdoor space, Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT offers a variety of gardens and lawns for both small and large weddings.A1901 Colonial Revival houseset on 152 pastoral acres overlooking the Litchfield Hills, Hill-Stead Museum is a National Historic Landmark withfive distincteventspaces,both indoor and outdoor. Themuseum itselfwas built by pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle as a home toshowcaseher father’s Impressionist art collection, which includes paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, James M. Whistler and Mary Cassatt. Thecenterpiece of the property isthe famous 1920 Sunken Garden designed by American landscape architect Beatrix Farrand. Whether you want a tented wedding, a celebration under the sun or stars, or even an indoor retreat amid some of the world’s most famous Impressionist art pieces, Hill-Stead Museum offers it all.

A Charming Country Wedding

If your vision includes a classic country setting, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT is a great venue to consider. Located on the banks of the Lieutenant River, the Museum offers a captivating setting for weddings of up to 150 people. Weddings can take place along the river, in tents along the garden terrace or in one of the Museum’s small barns. The Florence Griswold Museum was a favorite painting location for many Impressionist artists who enjoyed painting “en plein air” because of its beautiful grounds, setting and views; all qualities that make the Museum an ideal wedding venue today.

For a more intimate rustic country wedding, the Greenwich Historical Society offers a unique space in the Hugh and Claire Vanderbilt Education Center. This old barn has been transformed into a special venue, perfect for couples that want to celebrate in a space full of history. Just steps from the Bush-Holley House, this old barn was originally builtcirca 1860.Today, the space is perfect for a small wedding with a country feel, and is very easy to get to from New York.

A Theater Themed Wedding

If you’re a theater-lover or performer, a theater-themed wedding may be the perfect fit for your special day – and the Mattatuck Museum may have just the right venue for your vision. Located in Waterbury, CT, the Mattatuck Museum collects and exhibits American art, with a specific focus on local Connecticut artwork. In addition to a variety of unique exhibitions, the Museum houses a spacious performing arts center, complete with a sophisticated sound and lighting system, a theatrical setting of rich mahogany paneling and a large stage. The room can accommodate 180 guests for a seated reception and offers everything you need to stage your theatrical wedding vision. The performing arts center is also a flexible space that can betransformedto accommodate any wedding theme. The Museum also offers space in galleries and their outdoor garden for wedding ceremonies and receptions if you want to expand beyond the theater.

An American Masterpiece Wedding

The New Britain Museum of American Art offers one of the most unique wedding venues in the state. Weddings can be held in the 2,010- square-foot, cherry-paneled Stanley Works Center and adjoining 940-square-foot Café on the Park overlook picturesque Walnut Hill Park through eight floor-to-ceiling windows. The mix of indoor and outdoor space is a key feature, as well as the freedom guests enjoy. During cocktail hour, wedding guests can walk through the Museum’s many exhibitions, wondering through American masterpieces as the bridal party takes photos inside the expansive gallery or just a few steps outside in Walnut Hill Park. The New Britain Museum of American Art is a perfect balance of indoor and outdoor space that can be enjoyed simultaneously during all seasons.