[JunieBJones]

I recently got engaged and am looking to get married sometime next summer in CT. My fiance and I don't want a lavish wedding and want to keep our budget on the lower side if possible. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for reception halls that are nice yet reasonably priced. We are thinking we would have no more than 100 guests max and ideally would like to spend no more than $75/head.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! My family lives in Litchfield County but we are pretty open to anywhere in the state.

[IraqVetnowaMomma]

My sister did her wedding at Aldario's in Milford. Milford might be farther than you are looking for but it fits your price range. 75 per person for a 5 course meal and open bar. Kids were half priced. They included center pieces and the wedding cake (my sister got to pick it out at a local bakery). We were about 100 people at the party and I think this place was good for that number of guests... it wasn't to big like other places.

[Viralmd]

Stonehenge in Ridgefield is LOVELY!

[JayCT]

We were surprised at how affordable the Aqua Turf in Southington was. the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Jay

[celina1960]

The Aqua Turf was absolutely horrible. The food was very poor . Nice setting on a sunny day, but if it's raining you will need an ark. Try the Grand Oak Villa in Watertown. Beautiful place, extremely clean, and the food is fantastic. The owners will work with you on the price. Check them out.

[Sleddog905]

I'm pretty sure the Aqua Turf requires a minimum number of people though. My sister is getting married there in 2010 and I think it's 125-150 people. Don't quote me on those numbers though!

[kidyankee764]

Waterview in Monroe is beautiful with excellent food. Check 'em out - they're pretty affordable too.

[seymourct]

We used 707 on Main in Monroe, the ball room is really lovely with vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, floor to ceiling windows, and the fountain out back photographs beautifully at twilight.

Our wedding was in 2004, at the time they offered us a discount for having a Sunday reception and paying the balance in cash.

We also took the standard menu, and then 707 allowed us to eliminate some of the courses. Depending on the item that can save a lot. Do you need the pasta and soup? do you want the fruit? Intermezzo? etc. Really guests can feel stuffed before the dinner arrives, so cut something. You can make espresso offered on a per guest basis intead of having a coffee bar for everyone in the room, saves lots! most people wont take it. Then just pay the $$ per cup at the end. Skip the venetian cookies hour and have cookie trays from your favorite bakery delivered that morning, 1 tray per table. 707 was fine with putting them out while serving the cake.

Also, buy you own vases for centerpieces and have Stop&Shop florist do the table flowers, the one in trumbull even delivered them for us. The regular florist wanted $75-100 per table for centerpieces!

[JayCT]

Since people are making suggestions to save money on a wedding, my wife came up with a couple of good ones. Instead of ordering fancy invitations from a local print shop, she ordered a simple but elegant one from a catalog. They probably could be done on line now.

celina - we have been to a number of events at Aqua Turf and always had a good meal. Also not sure what you mean about the "ark" comment. our wedding was there in the rain and we had no problems. Not much has changed since then. Jay

[KH02]

If you're looking for something in northern CT area. Right over the state line in MA is Chez Josef in Agawam MA. DO a WONDERFUL job. We used them for our wedding and it turned out beautifully.
It would be about 50 min from litchfield county i would think. at least torrington area.