Have you always dreamed of getting married overlooking the ocean? I mean, what more could you ask for than beautiful views and a sunset over the ocean on your wedding day? Well, if this sounds like you, then the Guilford Yacht Club wedding venue in Guilford, Connecticut, is just the place.
As a wedding photographer based in Connecticut, I’ve had the joy of photographing weddings at many different venues across the state. Yet, Guilford Yacht Club is one that always stands out amongst the rest.
Keep reading to find out why the Guilford Yacht Club Wedding Venue might be for you.
About the Guilford Yacht Club
The Guilford Yacht Club is a beautiful club right on the water in Long Island South. The club was founded back in 1954 and not only has incredible views of the water but also has so many great spaces throughout the club.
From tennis courts to docks to swimming pools and a restaurant, this yacht club is one of the best ways to enjoy this area. Most of the time, this requires you to have a membership to the club; however, a wedding is the perfect way to take advantage of the beautiful views of the club for just one day.
Top Features of the Guilford Yacht Club
While the Guilford Yacht Club has so much to offer (on its own and as a wedding venue), here are some of the top features and amenities that make this such a great place for your special day.
You don’t have to be a member
One of the best things about this venue is that you don’t have to be a member (or be sponsored by a member) to actually have your wedding here. Weddings here are open to members or non-members, so you don’t have to worry about jumping through any hoops or getting a membership just to have your wedding here.
The ceremony space overlooks the water
One of the best features about the club, and why it is often seen as one of the best places to get married in the area, is its view. While there are indoor spaces at the club, the real star of the show is the outdoor lawn where you can have your ceremony.
The lawn has so much room so all of your guests will be able to comfortably enjoy your ceremony. There is even a yard-arm out on the lawn that adds a unique touch to your ceremony and photos.
I also love venues like this that are overlooking that water but aren’t right on the water. The club feels very remote and private even though it is under a mile from the town Green. This means you get all of the benefits of the stunning views without having to worry about having other people around or only having your spot on the beach for a short amount of time.
You’ll get total privacy
When it comes to your wedding, odds are the last thing you want is to have a bunch of random people around or have to be on a really tight schedule because of some other event. Well, you won’t have to worry about that with a Guilford Yacht Club wedding.
The club only hosts one event at a time and your wedding will also be the only event for that day. That means you’ll have everything to yourself and will be able to enjoy your day without any interruptions.
You can also choose to have your ceremony and reception at the yacht club or just have your reception there. When you rent the venue, you have access to it for a 5-hour event, plus 2 hours before to set everything up and an hour after to take everything down.
You have total flexibility with how you use this time, so you can host everything right at the club, or you can tie the knot at another location close to the club and just host your reception there! Either way, you will have the whole event space to yourself.
Onsite getting ready rooms
If you do choose to have your ceremony at the yacht club, you will have access to onsite getting-ready rooms. This makes your wedding day so much easier and gives you a bit more time to get ready without having to worry about getting to the ceremony on time.
The space has plenty of room for you and your wedding party to get ready in style. Plus, since you are right at the venue, it makes it very easy to take portraits right after you get ready and gives you a bit more flexibility in your schedule for your wedding day!
Second-floor balcony over dance floor
One of my favorite things about the venue is there is a second floor balcony that looks down into the indoor reception area. There are a couple of reasons why I think this is such a great feature at the venue.
First, it gives you the opportunity to add some really nice overhead lighting over the dance floor. This can help elevate your wedding and make it feel even more special.
The balcony also gives you some really fun angles to play around with for unique photos. At Chelsea and Stephanie’s wedding, we took advantage of this with their portraits and got some amazing reception photos.
Since they opted to add string lights across the balcony, we were able to go up there and capture some beautiful shots with the lights, adding a unique flair and depth to the photo. We also headed back up there during the reception to get some overhead shots of the brides and guests dancing with the lights, adding a fun effect.
Easy access while feeling remote
We talked a bit about how you will get the space to yourself and how close it is to the next town, but one of the reasons couples love this venue so much is because it feels so remote. It really feels like you are on your own island, and there is just nothing else around you.
The ocean stretches out in front of you as far as the eye can see, and in the other direction, the club feels like the only thing around. Unlike some other oceanside venues, this isn’t a place that is always bustling with people, or that feels really “touristy.”
Instead, you get an area that feels like you flew out to a remote island, just a short drive away from the rest of the world. I have three words for you: EPIC first look.
When it comes to the more logistical side of things, the club also has plenty of parking for you and all of your guests, is really easy to get to, and is handicap accessible (with outdoor access right through the doors to the pool and handicap accessible bathrooms throughout).
Venue is a blank space
This venue truly feels like a blank space. The club itself has created this area to be very simple, so there is a ton of room for you to take this space and turn it into whatever you want it to be.
When it comes to the indoor space, they can accommodate up to 150 guests, and the floorplan is really open, giving you plenty of options on how to set it up. There is also a ton of natural light that comes in from the windows during the day, making the space shine.
For outdoor events, they can host up to 300 guests under a tent on the grounds. So, regardless of the size of your wedding, they have the space to cover everything you need.
Plus, as an added bonus, they even give you all of the chairs and tables you need for your event!
Amazing on-site venue manager
Last but certainly not least, they have an amazing onsite venue coordinator. Your wedding day is a major event and there are so many things that are going on throughout the day. While you can try to plan for everything, the reality is things will come up that you need help with.
Alison, whom we worked with over the summer, was organized, kind, and incredibly helpful. The team here is so organized and easy to work with, making your day just a bit less stressful!
Final Thoughts on the Guilford Yacht Club Wedding Venue
So, if you are looking for the perfect ocean view for your wedding while also feeling like you are in a world of your own, the Guilford Yacht Club wedding venue may be just the place for you. With all of the amazing features of the venue, it’s no wonder why it is one of the top venues to get married at!
If you are still looking for the perfect photographer to capture your wedding now that you have your dream venue, let’s talk. You can click here to learn all about my wedding photography services, or you can click here to reach out and ask any questions you have!
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