Hey everyone happy Wedding Wednesday! I wanted to do something a bit different and start highlighting some of my favorite Connecticut venues. Up first is one of my rustic favorites The Lodge at Maneely's in South Windsor, CT. When I first started weddings I remember shooting at this venue as one of my firsts. It has everything I love: beautiful grounds, outdoor ceremony space, and a barn across the street!

When approaching the Lodge there is signage at the door "Happily Ever After Starts here" and I think that is so sweet. When entering the front door, you see exposed beams and strings of Edison bulbs lining them. To the left there is a small bridal suite which is a perfect hiding spot until the ceremony and always has a light spread of food and drink to enjoy! Another set up that ties in the rustic vibes is the cake table with simple a birchwood lattice with lanterns hanging off of them.

The property has a bridge which is a nice spot for wedding party portraits. There is also an open area that can be used as another ceremony space (besides the pergola) with sheer drapes. That makes my light and bright aesthetic happy! There are elegant spots to take photos no matter where you are on site. According to their website they started as a catering only in 1985 and then expanded building the Lodge about 6 years ago! I think the combination of rustic and elegant is a perfect mix. The food is excellent and they treat their vendors very well.

Check out what they are about at : https://maneeleys.com/

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