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Eolia, the Harkness Mansion, is perfect for your seaside wedding reception.

Weddings at Harkness Memorial State Park
Waterford, Connecticut

Connecticut Justice of the Peace
Ernest Adams
(860) 543-2334

Celebrating Your Day Your Way!

Welcome   >>   Locations   >>   Harkness Memorial State Park

Have your beach wedding or flower garden wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT.

Harkness offers beautiful views of Long Island Sound, well-kept gardens, plentiful parking, and easy access for people who have difficulty walking.

Rhiannon and Nathan held their black and white wedding in the Oceanside Amphitheater at Harkness. The bride's father had built a wedding trellis which was decorated with white roses and fabric. Allyn Bryson Donath played the harp, providing music from Bach to the 20th century. The weather was perfect: A gentle breeze kept the sun from getting too warm. The blue sky and sea contrasted well with the greenery and white sand; perfect for seaside wedding photos. The rustic wooden benches were covered with white fabric; black and white tubs of Chrysanthemums graced the bricks.

Allyn (the harpist) and Ernest await the oceanside wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT. The wedding trellis decorated with white roses and fabric for the beach wedding at Harkness, CT. Rhiannon slides the wedding ring on Nathan's finger while saying 'With this ring I thee wed' under the wedding trellis. The flower girl and ring bearer walk up the aisle at the Harkness Amphitheater wedding.

The flower girl and ring bearer were so cute! He was a gentleman and escorted her very nicely.

The guests blew bubbles in celebration while the bride and groom recessed from the Amphitheater up the aisle toward their waiting limousine.


Frank and Lyndsay drove up from New Jersey with their families for their beach wedding at Harkness. Lyndsay's family was amazed that she and I put the wedding together in just one day! Lyndsay's mother did a beautiful job reading from Kahlil Gibran. We combined Lindsay and Frank's sand ceremony with a shell ceremony, to everyone's delight. Frank's grandmother can be seen below putting her shell into the container with the sand.

Lyndsay's mother reads from Kahlil Gibran at her daughter's beach wedding in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT Frank's grandmother puts in her shell at the shell ceremony during the seaside wedding in Harkness, CT. Arna and Greg's garden wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT

Arna and Greg had their garden wedding in the East Garden, behind the Harkness Mansion. Arna and Greg's guests brought handfasting ribbons and participated in their handfasting ceremony.

The East Garden is a little more secluded than the West Garden, and probably better suited to a wedding with a small number of guests. The alcove at the north end of the East Garden was surrounded by lush greenery and topped by beautiful white flowers.

Special thanks to Nancy for taking this photograph!

The photographs below show the East Garden's north, south, east, and west sides. All of the photos were taken from approximately the same spot, at about the middle of the day.

Part of Eolia,, the Harkness Mansion, is visible in the photograph of the north end of the East Garden. There is a raised grassy area that is perfect for a wedding ceremony!

Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean are just barely visible at the south end of the East Garden. A slightly sunken garden and wrought iron gate open onto the great lawn.

On the east and west sides of the East Garden there are more gates. People have entered though these gates and met in the middle for their wedding ceremonies. The wall on the east side of the East Garden is high enough to conceal a waiting bride from her waiting groom, for example.


Looking north in the East Garden in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT Looking south in the East Garden in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT Looking east in the East Garden in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT Looking west in the East Garden in Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT

Other popular places for wedding ceremonies within Harkness Memorial State Park are the pergola (left, below) and Eolia, the Harkness Mansion. The restored formal gardens are awash with color and pleasant scents, the lawns are well kept, and the seaside views include islands in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.

The pergola's arches and gardens form a perfect backdrop for your oceanside wedding ceremony at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT Eolia, the Harkness Mansion, is also available for indoor weddings and receptions. Some couples prefer a flowering meadow wedding at Harkness A couple walking after their rehearsal at Harkness Memorial State Park A sunset wedding is a good time to get married at Harkness Park Sunset during a seaside wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT

If you're thinking of getting married at Harkness Park, ...

You can use your GPS: Harkness Memorial State Park is located at 275 Great Neck Road, Waterford, CT 06385. Contact Harkness Park at (860) 443-5725. Dogs are permitted at Harkness as long as they are on a leash. Your dog is welcome at your wedding, just like the rest of your family!

The State of Connecticut Web Site (WWW.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325214) gives a lot of information, including more pictures, with a downloadable brochure specifically for weddings. (Special hint: Jenny and Ethan [my daughter and son-in-law] held their wedding here.)

Search the Web for "Harkness State Park Photos" and see many more photographs!

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