Woodwinds

The Woodwinds was the perfect choice for our wedding! The venue was beautiful, and all the staff helped to ensure that we had the perfect day. We decided to have both our ceremony and reception there and everything went incredibly smooth. We opted for a buffet and the food was delicious and everyone raved about it. On the day of we had a maître d' (Sergio) and bridal attendant (Jacky) that checked in on us constantly and kept everything on time. They took great care to have the room perfectly decorated as we wanted and at the end of the night packaged up our decorations/centerpieces carefully. We are so glad we picked The Woodwinds and we would absolutely recommend it to others!

The Woodwinds made everything I hoped and dreamed about for my wedding happen. They give you a planner to help you through the process and he was awesome. He answered all my many questions and even answered some I didn’t even know I had. He guided us through the process, and it was so helpful and easy. We joked about Dr. Pepper in our planning meeting and how it was my husband’s favorite drink and how that was the only downside of woodwinds. When we entered the room and sat down after our first dance there was a bottle of Dr. Pepper in a champagne bucket. These guys really care about their jobs!!!! When we left our bridal attendant was saying how they just opened up a restaurant in Old Saybrook, and although we only will get married once, we cannot wait to go back for the food!

Okay so I never leave reviews, but after my wedding at woodwinds I just had to. There are so many great things about woodwinds, but between the food, service, and the entire panning process its too difficult to decide what was best. They make planning a wedding easy and fun. I went to their bridal show in 2022 and the owner was actually there (which already tells me this is a great company and the owner cares) and said in such a calm demeanor “if you book with us, you won’t have to worry about a thing, we will have everything under control” and he was so right. All we had to do was show up, and enjoy the night.

The Woodwinds made my dreams a reality… When we first walked into the woodwinds and met Vanessa, we were blown away by the staircase. I immediately could picture my fiancé and I taking pictures there with our wedding party. As we walked through vanessa painted such a beautiful picture of what our day would look like and how easy everything would be. We were told “all you need is a DJ, Photographer, and JP and we take care of the rest” they were not kidding. I mean we actually had someone the night of our wedding basically thinking for us. He was like a tour guide taking us step by step through our night. The entire process from booking to partying was absolutely seamless. Vanessa toured us, answered all of our questions, even my moms questions while we face timed her during our tour, and helped us with the contract so we could lock in our date for this beautiful venue. Once we had our date, Michael took over and I must say… he rocks!!!!!! He is like a floorplan guru. We explained where we wanted everything and as we spoke he was rearranging everything live. We wanted to do a memorial table, photo booth, welcome table, favor table and he just had space for everything. FYI they have this thing called the MTA…it is a lifesaver. As we got our RSVP’s in, it was so overwhelming, but Michael was to the rescue and when I called him he sent it right over and explained it and having a space to organize our RSVP’s and what meals each guest were getting was so helpful. The best part is when I started getting those calls…”oh don’t sit me with Joann”…it was so easy to drag them to another table. All the woodwinds staff was so knowledgeable about the venue and the food. I didn’t know what to write on our invitation cards for meal selections so I called them up and Kate answered and knew what every food dish was and explained it in such detail I was starving after the conversation. The planning team was impeccable…the night of our wedding was just as smooth and its almost like all the employees were sitting in our meetings and phone calls because they all knew exactly what we wanted, where all the decorations went, even down to what my favorite drink was so I never had to ask. I’m so happy we got married at woodwinds and they made our dreams come true. We could not have asked for a better experience and we may have to start doing anniversary parties just to go back!!!

I cannot say enough GREAT things about the Woodwinds and their crew! From touring with Vanessa to the planning with Randy and Michael, they all made the whole process SUPER easy! Vanessa really helped us with booking by spelling everything out, so it was so easy to understand. When you go on so many tours it can get so confusing, but they have it down to a science to keep it organized. Michael provided us with some tools to help with the planning. They had a way for us to organize our guests at tables and even had an event order where we just had to click and drag things in the order, we wanted them! Michael and Randy were always super prompt with our emails, even at weird hours of the night when we had to add one guest the day before our wedding. We had some pretty wild requests with some of our decorations (which they take care of setting up AND packing up at the end of the night) but they nailed it. We sent Michael a bunch of pictures and when we came for our rehearsal the day before our wedding Sergio was going through them to make sure every detail was perfect. Which leads me onto our day of crew...Sergio made our dreams come to life. He was there for every little thing we needed. We were ready to cut the cake, and when we turned around the photographer was set up, the DJ was playing the music we requested, and he had laid out the knife so that we had to smile and drop the knife onto the cake. He was flawless throughout the evening. We even had a bridal bestie who followed us around the entire night. It was a little cold, and she had a hand warmer for me! After dancing for a little and right before cake she came out with a mirror for us so we could make sure we looked great for pictures! She even made sure we ate and drank... You heard that right...WE ATE AT OUR WEDDING!!! The food was absolutely phenomenal. Michael recommended the Sunday Sauce, if they sold it in jars, we would buy it by the case! All the food was so good! We don't have a single negative thing to say about Woodwinds. Everyone there was so nice and pleasant to work with. Even when we called in payments, Kate at the main desk was super helpful and quick to respond. This is a team of true professionals, and we will be using them in the future!

I found the woodwinds through ZOLA, and I am so glad I got matched up! When I reached out, they set me up with a tour the same day. They were super reasonable with the hours and accommodated my weird work schedule. Their gm Randy met me after their normal operating hours which was so incredibly helpful and really set the tone for them. After we met my fiancé and I (oops husband now!) both felt good about the venue, but we had to show our parents. So, we reached out again and asked to schedule a tour for our parents the following weekend where they met with the main saleswoman Vanessa. When my parents left, they were sold. When we booked, we were so pleasantly surprised to have an entire team helping us leading up to our wedding. We worked with Michael, Randy, and Kate. Kate processed all our payments as we chipped away at our balance (they don’t require this, but it was super helpful for us.) Michael was our main planner and coordinator, and he is an absolute expert in the industry! Not only did he have answers to all our questions, but he gave us recommendations along the way and oh boy was he on point! Randy is an amazing asset to the team as well. We think he lives at work because we would email early in the morning, late at night, midday, and sometimes all the above and we would always get a response in less than 5 minutes! I cannot thank the planning crew enough! The night of our wedding we worked with Sergio, and he is such a calm person it really made us feel comfortable. We always hear “oh the day is so hectic” or “time flies” and with Sergio we never felt rushed or pressured. We always felt like everything was under control. Also, our bridal attendant was on point with the mirror. Before pictures, cake, ceremony, entrances, dances she came running out with a little mirror for me to check my hair and makeup. She must have 20000 steps a day just running around with the mirror. That doesn’t even consider bringing me signature drinks and snacks! On a side note, the bartenders are in a class of their own. We had 173 guests and I NEVER saw a line, and everyone complimented how great the drinks were and how friendly and fun the bar staff were. We absolutely love woodwinds, and we haven’t stopped hearing “YOU GUYS HAD THE BEST WEDDING EVER!” from our family and guests. We could not be happier!!!

When I first chose the Woodwinds for our venue, I was excited and pleased to be working with them. Randy was our first intro to the venue, and he was great initially. However, as the wedding was getting closer, working with the Woodwinds was adding more stress to my experience because they had switched our wedding coordinator to Michael after spending so much time going over all expectations with Randy all of those months. They make you fill out several forms, some meaning the same thing in different ways, and make you come in at very inconvenient times during the day. Both my husband and I work full time, and had to time time off from work or leave work early to make these meetings, which added to my stress during the wedding planning process because we had limited PTO since taking off for the wedding and honeymoon. This place will treat you like a car dealership. They promise promise and then there is absolutely no delivery, and unfortunately with weddings you find out as you are getting married that things are not happening. The day of my wedding they asked my photographer to wait to start taking photos because they had a REHEARSAL DINNER GOING ON IN THE ROOM I WAS GETTING MARRIED IN! My photographer is $1400 an hr and had to pause what he was doing to accommodate their rehearsal dinner that was happening right before my ceremony. I was so upset. Not only was that happening, but when I arrived to the venue none of the bridal party gifts I dropped off the day before with instructions were put out. We walked into a dark, empty, cold room. I had to unbox their gifts in my wedding gown, everyone was watching me. It was so awkward. Then no one opened their gifts because it was time to line up. I did not have champagne with my ladies before walking down the aisle, and we did not use the champagne flutes I spent money customizing for them. I was walking over to the groom area to put out their gifts, and the bridal attendant felt bad for me, and grabbed the box and did it for me last minute. Since the staff was busy with the rehearsal dinner, when my guests starting arriving no one knew where to go so MY MOTHER starting directing people where to go. She said to the staff "am I working this wedding or are you? Can someone please help these guests so I can be with my daughter?" On your wedding day, the most important part is marrying the love of your life. I just could not wait to see my husband. When the doors opened and I was about to walk, I noticed that more of what they promised for my setup was not done, but I tried to focus on my groom and what the day was about. The reception finally started and it felt like the staff were finally attending to us like promised. I finally got one of my signature cocktails. So for my signature cocktail, they had me pay extra for my garnish which was not on any of my drinks until I said something. They then put it on only one of my drinks, and then the rest came without it again. I would not have minded, but I paid extra to have it there for a reason and on all of those drinks. They started packing up my centerpieces before my wedding was even over. The only thing they nailed was the food. Sergio and the bridal attendants work so hard, but it seems there is no communication from the coordinator to the people that are actually there working the event. They do too many events at one time it seems and cannot handle it. I read so many great reviews, unfortunately I felt like I didn't receive any of that.

The Woodwinds was such an amazing venue for my wedding in December 2023. Upon meeting with someone from their team and touring the grounds, my now husband and I could feel it was the place for us to celebrate our wedding. They have fitting decorations styled toward each season of the year, and we were in love with the winter décor they showed us. We were shown the various wedding packages and did not feel like they were trying to upsell us on anything. They just wanted to help us design the wedding reception of our dreams. We required a space that could hold 200+ people and their venue clearly could accommodate that wish, with room to spare. Their team checked in with us regularly in the months leading up to the wedding to ensure if we had any questions or worries, that they were addressed and resolved. Meeting in person with the staff the week prior to our wedding, we were shown through the space once again and given the chance to ask any last-minute questions. Dropping off our special wedding decorations was a breeze and having a chance to meet our Maître d’ for the wedding reception was great. The day of our wedding, we were treated like royalty. The bridal attendants made sure we were given plenty of food and drinks and helped move us through the crowds of guests when needed, which was so helpful to stay on schedule with our photographer’s plans. The food and drinks were incredible! Our guests couldn’t say enough kind words about how nice everything was and how much they enjoyed themselves. After our event, the staff packed up all our decorations to return to us in pristine condition, which was very nice of them. All in all, the Woodwinds was everything we hoped it would be and we can’t recommend them highly enough for your next event.

We loved using Woodwinds for our wedding venue!! Everyone was so helpful, starting with our first meeting! Our event coordinators did not hesitate with any questions we had beforehand and always answered promptly! The venue was beautiful and they helped make our vision come to life! The food is incredible and all our guests loved it! They day of coordinator and the bridal attendants went out of their way to make our day so special!

When I first chose the Woodwinds for our wedding venue, I was extremely pleased and excited to be working with them. Vanessa was our first introduction to the venue, and she was wonderful. However, as the wedding was getting closer, it was adding more and more stress to my experience because they had switched our wedding coordinator several times, and when having to deal with a gentleman named Michael, my family and I felt very rushed by him and like he did not want to be bothered by our questions. They were not accommodating with times, as I work full time and so does my fiancé and had to take off several days of work to fit around their schedule when it should be the other way around. Something else that i felt added to my stress, was the fact that I had to write all my guests and what they wanted to eat and sit on a confusing excel format sheet in addition to table place settings. Just added stress and work that should be their job and not the brides. I read so many amazing reviews of the woodwinds and how they are so accommodating to their guests however unfortunately I felt like I didn't receive that same respected treatment from them. The day of the wedding was fine and went smoothly, however the days leading up to the day was extremely stressful and I felt like they had added to my stress as a bride instead of decreasing it and showing the support I needed.

We had an absolutely amazing time having our wedding at The Woodwinds!! The staff was beyond professional, kind, and made our day a smooth and enjoyable experience! We literally kept saying, “They have weddings and events down to a science!” — which they do! The entire wedding planning experience to the actual day was incredibly organized and handled with the utmost care I’m a project manager and details are my thing and it was such a Godsend to be able to relax and fully trust their team to see the details like we do! Michael our event coordinator responded fast and intentionally to our questions and was so on top of it all. He made us feel relaxed in the wedding planning process and truly taken care of. Emily my bridal attendant made my now husband and I feel like celebrities on our wedding day and was so incredibly kind and comforting throughout the entire day Sergio is a master at presentation and was our tour guide throughout the day we got to enjoy our day and he handled every detail and kept watch on our timeline for us. That was such a gift to be able to be fully present on your wedding day and not have to think, “Oh the bouquet toss is coming up let me keep an eye on the clock” The general manager during our rehearsal was so funny and had my entire wedding party laughing and at ease If you are looking to be fully present on your wedding day and have your guests say, “You had a perfect wedding!” (Which I got multiple texts the next day saying so — the food, open bar, dj setup, everything was on point) then you want to go with The Woodwinds. I toured plenty of venues in Connecticut and it’s truly the best deal you’ll find in the entire state. THANK YOU!!! -Amanda & Joe

The Woodwinds staff were outstanding! We had the best wedding on 9/15/2023. They organized the entire day for it flow seamlessly! The food was amazing and the guest had a great time! They make weddings such an easy to plan with the tools and resources you need! The staff are always available via email to answers angry and all questions. I was so confident in them to take our wedding vision and bring it to life. They exceeded my and my now husbands expectations!

Woodwinds catered my off-site wedding at Smith Farm Gardens in June - I cannot stress enough how AMAZING they were! Besides the fact that the food was absolutely unreal, Randy and his team went above and beyond to make our day perfect. Our guests are still talking about the delicious food and what a flawless day we had - all thanks to Woodwinds. Randy was our day of coordinator and met with us before the wedding and for the rehearsal to make sure everything went smoothly. The staff is friendly, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. We had everything we needed and wanted on our wedding day with Shea and Emily, our bridal attendants. I cannot recommend Woodwinds enough for the off-site wedding of your dreams!

I went through a tour here with Vanessa and she was wonderful! Absolutely loved the professionalism and excitement while taking the tour it made it so easy to picture our big day. Felt like the staff really cared about making our day special.

Our wedding at Woodwinds was wonderful! We received many compliments from guests saying they had a great time and loved the food. The staff was very kind and answered all our questions leading up to our wedding. Olivia, one of the bridal attendants, was very sweet and went above and beyond to make us comfortable on the day of. Would 100% recommend!

The Woodwinds was the PERFECT venue for our wedding. They were so easy to communicate with. The grounds were beautiful and we loved having the outside options for cocktail hour and the reception. The food was also spectacular. We keep getting comments from our guests about how delicious the food was! We also loved being able to drop off our decorations before the day of the wedding and how the crew set them up perfectly. Everything they do is professional and perfect. I will be telling everyone to use the Woodwinds!

The WW did a great job for our 9.30.22 wedding. They set up all my decor and made sure we had everything we needed. If you’re looking for an all in one place, look no further!

When you're a kid, you dream outlandish ideas of what your wedding will look like. I never dreamed all those ideas would come to life thanks to the talented people who work at the Woodwinds. I always knew fall would be featured prominently, so when looking for venues, we needed a place surrounded by trees. We had toured 8 venues before we toured The Woodwinds. By chance, we toured the day of a Halloween themed wedding... And I am terrified of clowns. However, that didn't deter us. We fell in love with the place. The setting was nothing short of romantic; big enough to fit all of our loved ones but also small enough to feel intimate. We booked 2 years in advance. Vanessa, Ken, and Michael were constantly keeping me in the loop of timelines and due dates, answering any and all questions I had. Finally, the big day arrives... And it rains. As someone who had one picture in my head of what the ceremony would look like for 2 years, I was a little upset about not being able to use the waterfall outside. However, Sergio came to the rescue and suggested we use the Fireplace Room for our ceremony. I'm so glad he did because it was so beautiful. The day was perfect. Everything went off without a hitch. I barely had to lift a finger thanks to the attention to detail of the entire wait staff and our bridal attendant, Marcella. If you're on the fence about the Woodwinds, I hope this steers you in the right direction. You will feel like royalty.

Where do I even start with my review about WoodWinds? Well, they were the only venue we physically looked at, that’s how sold we were from the start. Seriously from the first visit until our wedding day, every single person we interacted with at WoodWinds was phenomenal. Vanessa, Ken, Michael, Sergio, truly everybody went above and beyond and it was clear how highly not only they value what they do, but how highly they value you having the day of your dreams. The food was incredible, communication was fantastic every step of the way, last minute changes were never an issue for the staff; they just know what they’re doing. Everyone I know says how stressful wedding planning is, and I honestly have to say mine wasn’t bad because of the wonderful team at WoodWinds. Thank you all so much!!

we just had our wedding here last night and I have to say, it couldn't have been any more better! all the staff has been super communicative and helpful in any way. They were so quick to get me and my husband whatever we needed. Our guests said that was the most fun and best wedding they ever got to attend. They loved how everything was organized and put. It couldn't have gone better and we would like to thank the entire staff crew who helped us out through this entire process! much love, Josh and Savannah

We had our wedding at Woodwinds on 9/18/22 and it was nothing short of a dream! Everything went so smoothly, from the decoration dropoff, to rehearsal, to the big day. Thank you to all of the staff, but especially Sergio who ensured everything went perfectly. The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff was always making sure we were fed, happy and had something to drink! Every one of our guests mentioned how wonderful the evening was and it was one of the best weddings they have been to! We wish we could relive that day over and over again. Thank you!

We had our wedding at WoodWinds on 9/2/22 and I wish I could go back and do it all over again!! The food was absolutely AMAZING, everyone raved about the venetian table, I highly recommend it! Sergio was there for everything we could have needed and kept a watchful eye on us the whole night making sure we were taken care of and making sure everything ran smoothly! Even stepped in when we had some trouble with the bustle of my dress. My bridal attendant who I unfortunately can't recall her name was an absolute gem! Carrying my dress around the grounds as we took pictures, held my shoes when I couldn't bare them anymore and brought food to our table at dinner to make sure we ate, I think I told her at one point I was leaving my husband for her! The bartenders were fabulous, I rarely saw a line at the bar, and for the small moments there was one, if they saw me coming my drink was being made and ready for me by the time I got up there. I genuinely can't say enough good things about the entire staff at woodwinds, I wish I wasn't so in love with my husband so I could do it all over again!

Our experience with the Woodwinds so far has been incredible! Everyone we have spoken with has been so friendly and willing to answer all of our questions. The winter wedding package sold us immediately as it pretty much includes everything you need for such a reasonable price. I would highly recommend booking your wedding here :)

The Woodwinds was so accommodating and professional when having to postpone our wedding. They were friendly, understanding, affordable, and made the most magical day happen! Highly recommend.

Woodwinds was absolutely FANTASTIC and we are so thrilled we picked this venue to host such a special day for my husband and I. From arrival to departure everyone was so very attentive and made sure our entire time went smoothly. My husband and I both cannot think of a moment our drinks got empty or our food plates weren’t filled due to the staff being so on top of everything. From start to finish not a single thing went wrong and that was completely due to the staff being absolutely wonderful to us. All our guests, almost a year later, continue to rave about the food and how great it all really was. The Woodwinds made our day so special and we cannot thank the staff enough the entire planning process all the way through the event! Hopefully soon we will be able to attend another event with there, but for now we will continue to spread the good word about The Woodwinds to all of our friends & family.

Where do i even start? Woodwinds was nothing short of amazing. I can’t tell you the amount of compliments our family and friends gave the next day about this venue, the food, the people, everything was perfect! Sergio - thank you so much for all you did for us! he made sure everything ran smoothly, my center pieces and wedding decor were perfect and that everyone was where they needed to be; he was so attentive to us. Sergio you are fantastic at your job i can’t say it enough! Big thank you to the rest of the woodwinds staff for all their help! i wish i could relive my wedding day over and over again because of all of you! thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. if i could give more than 5 stars i would! love the newlyweds Mr. & Mrs. Salato

We couldn't have been happier with our choice to book Woodwinds for our wedding reception. Our coordinator Randall was terrific and very easy to work with. All of our guests raved about the food and the bartenders. Sergio and his staff were attentive and helpful. Highly recommended!

We had our wedding originally planned April 18 th 2020, but we had to postpone a few times during the year due to the circumstances, and Woodwinds was great to deal with during that time. With so much uncertainty for our special day, We were finally able to have our wedding March 27 th 2021! We had a smaller guest list, and Woodwinds made it still such a special day for us! All our family and friends raved about the food and how nice the venue was, from the set up inside, to the grounds outside. From the event planners, Vanessa, Ken, and Randy, to the chefs and wait/bar staff, they are all so invested in making your wedding day so easy going, memorable and special. We couldn’t be more happy with our wedding day! We highly recommend The Woodwinds to everyone for any event! Thank you so much for everything! - The Lombardi’s

I’m not sure there are any words that can even begin to describe how perfect the entire Woodwinds staff made our wedding day celebration! We are in complete awe over how wonderful our wedding was. Ever since our first visit with you we knew we had picked an incredible place. Our guests couldn’t say enough great things about the food and drinks, you know it’s good when people get up for seconds and thirds 😊 everything was delicious! The bar staff was so friendly and attentive. They did an amazing job making our signature drink! The bridal attendant Kaytlin was so sweet, I had an issue with the bustle of my dress and she got down on the ground and made it work. She went above and beyond all night! Sergio was our maitre d and he was amazing. He kept everything on track and made sure the night went smoothly. Our wedding day was a dream come true thanks to the entire Woodwinds team!

The woodwinds was able to make my dream wedding come to life! Randy was there every step of the way answering endless emails and countless phone calls and he never once was annoyed by it. He loves his job and it shows he takes the time to explain everything and is so helpful with the planning. The woodwinds has wonderful packages we went with one that offered a cake from a local bakery and a Venetian table first off our cake was amazing and our guests raved about the food and the extra desserts. Sergio who is our day of coordinator helped us rehearse and laid out my decor for me the exact way that I wanted it he also helped me to enjoy my wedding by letting me know when things needed to be done (cake cutting, toasts etc). The food was incredible the drinks were great the staff made you feel welcome all around an amazing time had by all.

The Woodwinds exceeded our expectations. They made everything so easy, and walked us through all the steps to prepare for our big day. From our initial tour with Vanessa, beginning our planning with Kenneth, to our final plans with Randy- everything went smoothly. They all made themselves available to us for anything we needed. Every question/request and accommodation was followed through. Sergio was amazing in helping my vision for decor come to life, he listened attentively in our meeting when I dropped off the items I wanted set up for the reception. The day of our wedding everything was executed perfectly, the food, decor and flow of the night was great. Sergio and Kaytlin were with us all night making sure we had everything we needed. All the staff was amazing.

We just had our wedding at Woodwinds on 11.18.21 and I’m so glad we did! I knew I wanted to have our reception at woodwinds pretty much from the moment we were engaged. I had just heard great things and it seemed like a beautiful place where everything would be taken care of for me on the big day. And that’s the truth! I didn’t have to worry about anything because everything was taken care of. They were so easy to work with and very responsive. The night was so beautiful and my husband and I were well attended to all night. I’d always heard you never eat at your wedding but when we came back to our table there was so much food on our table it was amazing! And it was all so delicious. I wouldn’t recommend anywhere else to have a wedding or celebration. I wish I could relive the night!

We loved woodwinds for our wedding! The staff was personal and professional. My husband and I remarked on the fact that we did not have to think much on the day of because everything was covered! You won’t regret choosing this incredible venue!

My husband and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect venue. The staff is amazing and the food is superb! My husband and I were in utter bliss the whole night. The venue is affordable, elegant and beautiful. Get married here, you won't regret it.

Woodwinds was the first and last venue I looked at I just felt a great vibe and good food was a must for me and I heard the chef was amazing. The venue is beautiful perfect for photos. Vanessa & Ken were amazing from the beginning very responsive & never got annoyed with my many questions. All vendors recommended were 5 star! Randy then took over and it was so smooth! Sergio was the bomb!!!! He kept us organized and he made sure the ceremony & reception was top tier! I would love to go back to my special day it was without flaw! My guests are still talking about the food didn’t miss a beat! Me & my husband did not get to eat..no worries the team packed us food to go! The bar was top tier and the waitstaff amazing! Thank you so much guys!!

Thank you so much to everyone at Woodwinds!! Our wedding was the most beautiful day thanks to the staff at Woodwinds. The food was phenomenal and the venetian table was amazing!! Our guests have been raving ever since about how much fun it was. We are so glad we chose Woodwinds for our special day!

They were very disorganized seemed understaffed and overwhelmed. My seating charts were a complete mess and I felt as though I worked at the venue instead of being the groom. They’ve also promised to not run out of favorite alcohol beverages and it was the complete opposite. They’ve only given my bride 1 hr to get ready on site and any woman can tell you that’s not enough to have makeup done and do final touches. It seemed that the wedding next door was interfering with our own which is why I believe thing were so disorganized.I did not feel this venue made our special day worth while. I honestly can’t wait to our 5 year anniversary to renew our vows at a different location.

The Woodwinds is a wonderful venue, gorgeous in appearance and efficient in throwing a magnificent party! The day of coordinator does amazing work to make the big day runs smoothly! He is so attentive, helpful and kind and his passion for his job really shines. The in-office coordinator was so patient in answering my many questions over the last 2 years of planning (& postponing) and we are so grateful for all of his help and the detailed notes he kept to ensure our wishes were met! Everything was exactly how we dreamed it would be. Our guests loved the food, and it was served so quickly and efficiently! The cake was amazing as well and served in the same manner. The uplighting, the tables, the decor, every little detail was done just as we had planned and discussed. My bridal attendant was amazing, kind and so helpful! She did very well with my difficult bustle and was patient even when I was not. Everyone made sure myself and my groom had not questions or needs at any point. They brought us drinks, etc. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding! My only wish is that it could have lasted longer!

I booked the woodwinds a couple of months after our engagement. After we started touring venues my husband knew this would be the place right away. Fast forward to March of 2020 our big day ended in a reschedule. That too ended in another reschedule, but the woodwinds made the process very pleasant! though we were bummed we knew we were in good hands. When our day finally arrived. Ken kept us up to date and made sure our vision was being carried through all the reschedules! He hit the high’s and Low’s of our day with such grace I felt safe and ready to enjoy the long awaited day! My day of coordinator Randy was a dream, his time and coordination was impeccable he checked in with me through out the whole night and we also had beauty check ins in between major events within the wedding he made sure I look my best! Caitlyn was my maitre d and she too was very attentive of my husband and I she kept us fed and hydrated in between all the pictures and video takes. She also made sure the wedding party was holding up and that made us feel taken care off! There’s a lot I can say about the woodwinds and the amazing job they did for our event! But I’d like to end this with the feed back we got back from our wedding guest and this has to do with the food! The guest loved the variety offered during the cocktail hour, they also loved being fed hot and flavorful food. The staff that worked our event made our experience a dream and for that I am thankful! I am looking forward to hosting other events at the woodwinds! Mr. & Mrs. Homar 7.3.21

I cannot thank Woodwinds enough for how perfect our wedding day was. They are a team like no other and move as a well oiled machine. Everyone we worked with from sales, to day of coordinator, to servers, to the bridal attendant was absolutely fabulous and answered every question and fulfilled every request. I am so glad we chose to get married here and am forever grateful for their hard work!

Our wedding was perfect. Not an understatement. Walking into the venue and seeing the garden room and the flower centerpieces. It was truly breathtaking. Literally we were in awe the whole night. You guys did that! Really Vanessa from our first tour to now you've been the kindest and helpful person. Very reassuring and understanding with the craziness of a pandemic wedding. I knew when we first toured that The Woodwinds was my first choice, and only choice really. It was a small intimate wedding but it felt so full. I am so grateful to you , Randy, Ken and Tony. It was literally the best wedding. We are so happy to be married and thank you so much!

We LOVED the Woodwinds!! We had our wedding at the Woodwinds in Feb. '21 and it was spectacular. The ambiance, the food, the setup, the staff, every little detail was top notch. We originally booked the venue, pre-COVID, and were planning to have 300+ attending. When COVID forced us to cut down our headcount, the Woodwinds worked with us to set up a heated tent outside to allow for the maximum number of people to safely gather. The grounds are spectacular, so many great places for photos. The inside of the venue looks extremely chic as well, group shots on the staircase looked amazing! Everyone we dealt with throughout the entire planning process was great. Vanessa gave us the tour and hooked us right in with her bright smile. Ken and Tony helped make us feel very comfortable, even with the uncertainty of a COVID wedding looming in the background. Randy was awesome when we got down to the home stretch and did great running the event the day of. Really cannot say enough good things about this venue. You will not be disappointed choosing to have your special day here.

Where do I begin? WoodWinds was the first place we looked at after getting engaged and we knew right then and there we were going to book there. We venue shopped a bit after our first meeting, just to say we did, but nevertheless we were back in Vanessa’s office signing our contract the next week. For the entire year and a half of planning (during a pandemic nonetheless) Vanessa, Ken, and Randy were responsive, kind, SO FUN, and comforting. Our ceremony in the Garden followed by our reception in the tent went flawlessly, and the lights in the tent and on the trees gave our night a magical vibe. Our guests have not stopped raving about the food, the staff (even mentioning specific waiters names- shoutout to Carlos!), and how smoothly the night went. During our First Looks and throughout the entire night, the staff ensured I had champagne in my hand, my husband had a gin and tonic in his, and we were fed and happy. Randy even fanned me when I started sweating. Joanna, the venue’s Florist, did spectacular work on our arrangements, and was great to work with. When you book with this venue, you immediately feel like a part of the WoodWinds fam. Thank you to WoodWinds for being just the best ever during this entire process.

This venue is the BEST around! When my now husband & I locked in this venue, we worked with Vanessa. She was always so responsive to my emails, always answered any questions and was so extremely helpful when we worked with her. Once we locked in the venue we worked with Ken & towards our big day we also worked with Randy! Let me just say, this place is AMAZING! Ken was always helpful and responsive and had all the answers to our questions! Planning while there’s a pandemic going on wasn’t easy and I stressed a lot! Ken was very reassuring during the peak of everything and was helpful! The end of my wedding planning, I was getting very nervous because I didn’t want last minute changes. Sure enough, guidelines change and my reception was outside under the tent. I was upset but I’ll say on the day of, seeing it all come together, I’m happy everything was outside! The tent was decorated so beautifully and the day was EVERYTHING we ever dreamed of! I’m happy with how everything was! We had the dance floor and uplighting and it was all just PERFECT! Joanna did my flowers, let me just say SHE HAS TALENT! I loves the decor she did! I HIGHLY recommend Woodwinds! It truly is the BEST of the BEST! They all make you feel important! Randy made sure everything went well throughout the entire event! I can’t say enough good things about this place! It’s the best in CT & the best in New England! Our guests can’t stop complimenting the food, the views, the EVERYTHING! Thank you everyone at Woodwinds for an AMAZING experience! Thank you to Tony who always called to go over details and guidelines. This won’t be the last time we use Woodwinds! This is just the beginning! Thank you guys for making our dream day a reality!

From the beauty of the venue, to the delicious food, to the service provided by Ken, Randy, and Neka, wow!! Our day was absolutely amazing! We had a winter wedding so the beauty of the inside was critical for us. We got married in front of a gorgeous fireplace, had a lovely cocktail hour by a master staircase, and enjoyed our dinner and dancing in the entire ballroom. Our guests cannot stop raving about it all! Ken and Randy made planning a breeze! I can honestly say that while planning a wedding for 250 guests, I did not stress once, and this is all due to them. Joanna created the most gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces, adding another ease to planning and coordination because she works for Woodwinds. The day of, Randy was a master at running the show, honestly, not one thing went wrong. Neka, was constantly by our side providing the best service and everything we needed. I also did not have to set up or take things down, I just had to show up, how incredible is that! I cannot say enough good things about the venue, food, and staff, incredible!! Thank you for making our day the best day ever!! ❤️

The Woodwinds was beyond amazing! Vanessa, Ken, Randy, and the entire day of staff provided exceptional service to make our wedding day the best. We got married on Dec. 14th, 2019 and the decor was one of my favorite parts, perfect for our Christmas theme. Our guests are still talking about the food, and how delicious it was! I highly suggest The Woodwinds are your wedding venue :)

O. M. G. What a magical day. It was exactly what we envisioned and when I tell you that nothing went wrong. Nothing. Went. Wrong. I’m usually a very reactive person and freak over the littlest of things and I sincerely cannot think of one moment where I was like crap, day is ruined 😂 the entire team at Woodwinds is incredible. I feel like that’s not even the best word to use. My mind was BLOWN after my husband and I had our first bite of cake and there was a damp napkin ready for our faces and a mirror so we could see if we had cake on them. I mean are you KIDDING?????? That’s genius! It may seem small to others but I remember saying to him right after how absolutely freaking wonderful everyone is. Neeka is the SH*T. That woman holds a smile and grace and a helping hand when you don’t even realize you need her. The entire night was so blissful I could go on and on and on about how absolutely perfect everything turned out. *it wouldn’t allow me to change the date of the wedding on the second page of this review but it was 10/25/19. Absolutely incredible!

The woodwinds exceeded our expectations! Let me first start off by saying that the woodwinds staff was so accommodating & so Amazing! We want to thank the staff for everything! Randy made sure everything was perfect which it truly was! Our bridal assistant was incredible the day of! She made sure my lipstick was on point, held my dress, got us drinks and rly anything we needed! We got so many compliments on how beautiful the venue was, but also how amazing the food was as well! We are so happy we choose the woodwinds and we cannot be happier to start our lives together as husband and wife and be able to relive the best day of our lives all due to the woodwinds staff! Thank You again! And for anyone looking for an incredible venue, choose the woodwinds, you won’t be upset!!

The Woodwinds is such an amazing place to get married! We had both our ceremony and reception there. When we met with Vanessa to tour the venue and talk about everything they had, we were sold. She is so awesome! She is such a nice and friendly person that could not be more excited to share everything they have at the woodwinds. We chose the Renaissance 3 package and oh.my.gosh. So much delicious food!!! Our friends and family could not stop talking about how amazing the food was! Not just the dinners...but also their many appetizers! OH and I cannot forget the amazingly delicious venetian table!! If you don't know what that is.. it's a huge buffet of desserts! It was extra for my package but SO WORTH IT. Randy and Ken were awesome and made the night go smoothly! My bridal attendants were amazing as well and made she we got food and drinks and everything went well. We are so happy with everything with all of The Woodwinds staff! We can not thank them enough!!

The whole staff at Woodwinds is fantastic! Ken answered all of our questions promptly and enthusiastically. We made changes up to the day before the wedding, brought in decor and favors last minute, and Ken was kind and patient through all of it. Our wedding day was great and went too quickly. My bridal attendant, Daleska, was extremely helpful. She fixed my dress, refilled my drinks, and more, all without me asking. She was more helpful than my bridesmaids and I am very grateful. Randy, our coordinator, made the whole wedding go smoothly. The food was great. The service was impeccable. I cannot say enough good things. The day after the wedding, they had all of the decor packed up and about 10 trays of food. I'm only upset that there weren't any appetizers included in the leftovers because I was having too much fun to eat any.

The Woodwinds know weddings! They have everything down from planning to executing! The price is affordable compared to other venues and you get a bang for your buck! The staff is amazing and accommodating! The food is out of this world! No need to worry how the day is going to go......they have everything under control....and it will be perfect!

The Woodwinds is in high demand for good reason! We had our ceremony in a New Haven church in the afternoon and our reception at the Woodwinds in the evening. The Woodwinds staff works with weddings often and their knowledge is evident in how they run the event. Their foresight came in handy throughout the night, and it was really great to be able to trust them so we could enjoy mingling with our guests. Before the night arrived, we found that the Woodwinds offered a great value package compared to other local venue spaces. Our guests all had a great time in this space--the cocktail hour especially was a hit. We would highly recommend you look into the Woodwinds.

Woodwinds was PERFECT!! When we first toured the venue, we loved how classy the facility was and their beautiful outdoor grounds/ceremony locations. Vanessa was a lovely host and made us so excited about the venue! Woodwinds was the last venue that we toured because we were sold! This venue is timeless and the food is excellent! I had guests raving about the different appetizers and our Venetian table!! I cannot imagine what other venues must be like since they don't have Randy or Ken in their office--both of these men went above and beyond for us! I think I sent Ken at least 40 emails leading up to our wedding date but he was always so pleasant, and answered every question quickly! He made every bit of the planning process SO much easier. Randy was an expert on our wedding day; he took care of everything and made sure that we hadn't a care in the world! I don't know how I could have pulled off a wedding ceremony and reception if I didn't have someone like Randy to organize everything. Randy makes sure that your wedding day is fun instead of stressful and he absolutely is responsible for our wedding going off without a hitch! Despite all of the wonderful things I can say about Woodwinds, we are undoubtedly most grateful to Neka!! I am not kidding when I say she is a pro and a saint. When I arrived at the venue before our ceremony, I was rattled and stressed not knowing the status of everyone/everything. Neka entered the scene and I can honestly say that I IMMEDIATELY felt relieved. She updated me on where the cake was, where the groomsmen were, brought our flowers to us, pinned all of the boutonnieres, and made sure everyone was prepared and lined up for the ceremony. Neka adjusted my dress and train before my procession and at the altar so I looked flawless. She carried my dress around during photos, put drinks in our hands, and even bustled my dress so that my mother could enjoy cocktail hour! She took care of us throughout the reception and it was such a blessing having a bridal attendant that was looking out for us and making sure we were comfortable. She is seriously a fairy godmother!! We booked Woodwinds because we loved the environment, but I would recommend Woodwinds because they are professionals who will do anything and everything for you. Our wedding was perfect thanks to everyone at Woodwinds!!

We recently got married at this location on March 23. Vanessa was amazing from the start up until the very end. We received many compliments on the food, and the venue itself looked beautiful. Also Neka the bridal assistant was amazing, she knew exactly what she was doing and helped out in so many ways. I am so happy she was there it took some of the stress off me. The only negative was that they tell you, you can take home food for those that dont attend. For me this was really important due to one of my family members was in the hospital. They have no way of tracking who does not attend the wedding even with all the paperwork you have to turn in stating who sits where, and the food options. So despite being assured multiple times before hand that we would get the food, we never did because everything was sent out. Even for those who did not attend. After a few emails I finally spoke with Vanessa, who I understand couldn't compensate for all meals for those that didn't come, but was able to find a way to help me give my family member a little experience of the wedding that she missed.

I cannot say enough about The Woodwinds and its staff!! From start to finish, this team was nothing but amazing!! They handled every call, email and question I had with enthusiasm, they accommodated every unexpected change we needed at the end of the process with last minute RSVP cancellations, they were extremely diligent in making sure the presence of any food my husband was allergic to was completely non-existent and the day of the wedding they truly went above and beyond. The food was amazing and the cost was very reasonable. We had an unexpected blizzard which caused a few glitches that caused the wedding to start about 45 minutes late and I was beginning to stress out. My Bridal Attendant, Neka, was PHENOMENAL!! Anything I needed, she was on it. There were times we even felt like she might be a mind reader because she would get us things before we even asked for them! Something we needed for the ceremony was accidentally left at the hotel 5 minutes away from the venue but with the surprise blizzard it became a 30 minute drive there and back so seeing I was stressed out, she went and spoke with the wedding coordinator. 2 minutes later she returned to me with a mini snowman in a tin container. They had a mini snowball fight outside while making me a snowman to try to make me laugh. After the ceremony with all of the ups and downs of my emotions, I was feeling a little nauseated so she got me ginger-ale to help settle my stomach. We were doing our rounds greeting and thanking all our guests at the time and she even brought it up to me with a straw so I can get some in my system immediately. There is so much more that she did that I can share but it is just too much to make someone read. Haha. Randy, the wedding coordinator, was amazing as well. He made sure the everything went smoothly, was extremely friendly and on top of everything. I’m not positive but I believe the snowman might have even been his idea when Neka went to talk to him to try and figure out a way to help relax me. I would truly send everyone I know their way when looking for a wedding venue!! This night was so special for us and they helped in making it that way!!

We got married at The Woodwinds on 12/22/18, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day! First, they were so responsive to all of our phone calls and emails throughout the year and a half of our planning process. When I just couldn’t decide on centerpieces, I called the main office and Kristy put me in touch with their in-house florist, Joanna. I sent her a few photos of some ideas that I liked and she managed to incorporate everything that I wanted! Ken was also totally accommodating when we made several changes to our guest list and seating chart in the week leading up to our wedding due to last minute cancellations. As for the day of the wedding, the entire staff was amazing! Randy and Neka were on top of everything. Neka even swapped out the pens for our guestbook to ones that would work better on canvas before we had a chance to ask, and she showed up at our table with cough drops for me because she noticed I was getting over a cold. We’ve gotten so many compliments on how beautiful the wedding was, thanks in large part to the wonderful holiday decorations; how great the food was--from cocktail hour and dinner to our late-night donut bar; and how wonderful the wait staff and bartenders were. It all made for such a magical day.

Wwodwinds staff was amazing. They were on top of everything at every moment. I had questions leading up to my big day, and all I had to do was call and got the answers I needed. On my wedding day, they assigned me a bridal assistant who was outstanding and was with me every step of the way, and never more than a few feet away for everything I needed. They worked with my budget, were incredible with the planning and the food was amazing. I received a huge number of comments regarding the excellence of the food.

The Woodwinds were very detailed and attentive throughout the entire process. I couldn't speak higher of the staff and service we received the day of. We had an amazing day. The only reason I am giving a 4/5 is because there was a another wedding going on the day of our wedding on the other side of the venue. However, the ceremonies were taking place in the same spot. Either the first wedding (ours was the second of the day) was running behind schedule, or there was an issue with/lack of planning on the Woodwinds part, because our guests started arriving before the first wedding was even over, and our guests thought they missed our wedding! This was very stressful, as we were told when we booked our wedding that ours was the only one booked at the time for that day, and should there be a second wedding, the other couple would have to work around our schedule. This was clearly not the case. The first wedding went until at least 5:10 pm, and we were told that our guests could arrive as early as 5 pm for our 5:30 pm ceremony time. I would recommend verifying with the Woodwinds if there will be another ceremony taking place on the same day, so you can verify the times of the second wedding, and give yourself enough of a time cushion should the first wedding be running behind, and your wedding is the second of the day.

Woodwinds is amazing! From our first meeting all the way until the wedding, I knew we were in good hands. Their communication was excellent & the whole day ran smoothly. Randy & Kim are amazing! I can’t say enough good things. My guests keep telling me it was the best wedding they have been to in years and the food was amazing as well! Thank you so much for all you do woodwinds team!

THEY ARE THE BEST!!! I cannot say enough good things about them. From the moment we toured with Vanessa and Tony , to all my questions in between, to the day of with Randy and Neka. It was awesome!! They did an amazing job with everything from day one. There was never any pressure to book them or spend money on a pricier package. They are also super affordable! and the food is SO good! And the venue itself is SO pretty inside and outside. They do a great job keeping things up. They were always so nice to answer my questions and they quite literally take care of EVERYTHING for you..Vanessa was so nice and guided me leading up to the day. Then as it got closer Randy stepped in and he was GREAT. Handled everything!! My bridal attendant the day of, Neka, was AMAZING. She held my shoes, bouquet, bustled my dress, and helped me relax and just enjoy the day. The whole staff was so great. The night was flawless. We couldn't be happier with everything. Even after the wedding they were still so nice and so helpful.. We were SO HAPPY that we booked them. LOVE THEM!!!

Woodwinds made us feel like our wedding was as special to them as it was to us. Vanessa was wonderful to tour and book with. Ken was helpful and patient with the process. Randy was an excellent event planner. Neka was the most amazing and sweet attendant. The entire night was spectacular! Food, decor and beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you Woodwinds!!!!

Our guests keep telling us how our wedding was the best they have been to in years or ever! The staff was wonderful and we thank them all: Everyone went above and beyond and made it so we didn’t even have to think. Everything was perfect and we will make sure we tell the masses that they should get married at the WoodWinds!!! Erienne & Jeff September 7, 2018

Absolutely amazing! The staff at woodwinds made our dream wedding come true! They were the absolute best. They very attentive to everyone’s needs. Randy was the best along with my bridal attendant! The bartender was great and had an awesome personality. They even made a special order of food since my son was so picky. Thank you so much for the best day! Highly highly recommended!

AMAZING! From start to finish, Woodwinds was perfect. From our first meeting with Vanessa to our wedding day last Sunday everything was smooth as silk. Ken made the planning process super easy and was always prompt with answers to any questions we might have had. They have the best staff of any venue we have ever been to, everyone was unbelievably helpful. Randy made our wedding day go exactly as planned. we honestly could not have asked for a more perfect day! Nika our bridal attendant was always there to take care of anything we could possibly think of, as well as spoiling our bridal party with drinks and appetizers during our pictures. We had our ceremony by the waterfall and it was perfect. the food was amazing, our guests had nothing but good things to say about the staff and food.