Club Scene
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No, not that club scene. You’re getting married, remember? Gone are the days when you headed out the door night after night hoping to meet Mr. Right. You’ve found him. He’s popped the question. And now it’s time to celebrate.
The club scene we refer to, of course, is that of country clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs and such—those exclusive enclaves known not only for their stellar amenities but for their pull-out-all-the-stops society bashes.
And if you weren’t to the country club born? No worries. The clubs that follow are part of an emerging trend that allows nonmembers to enjoy the privileges, and perks, of a wedding at the club.
So take a look, do a little investigating and see which club suits your style. After finding Mr. Right, this should be a piece of cake.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
As the story goes, the history of the New Haven Country Club is nearly as old as the history of American golf itself. After all, the Hamden club was founded, complete with clubhouse and rudimentary golf course, in the horse-and-buggy days of 1898, just a decade after the country’s first established golf club, St. Andrew’s Club in Yonkers, N.Y. Almost immediately, it became a center of social life in New Haven. In 1900, The Connecticut Magazine (our turn-of-the-20th-century predecessor) called it “the leading social organization of the city.”
So what’s the “something new” at this landmark club? Oft-celebrated Jordan Caterers (203/272-8213 or jordancaterers.com) took over all catering at the club this past April. Hurray—petite tournedos of beef with chive horseradish cream for everyone!
But back to the pertinent details: The Club Room, which can seat 120 and opens to a partially tented stone patio, offers uninterrupted views of Lake Whitney reservoir and the woods that surround it. The Fireplace Room, which can seat 100, has, in addition to its massive period fireplace, an attached sunroom with its own baby grand as well as winning views of the golf course.
“This is a beautiful old club with a great history behind it,” says Jordan Caterers’ Chris Barstein. It’s the “quintessential location for a club wedding.”
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
One end of the Skyline Room at the Glastonbury Hills Country Club (860/633-5253 or glastonburyhills.com), founded in 1965 and set on 200 acres, is nothing but glass. It’s called the “great window” and it looks out over the rural beauty of the South Glastonbury countryside. “For us, it’s all about the views,” says banquet manager Frank Schroll. It should come as no surprise then that this club’s busiest season is late September and October. “The fall foliage is just spectacular,” says Schroll. “The window almost makes it feel like you’re outside.”
The Skyline Room can seat up to 180 for a wedding—and of course the head table always goes right in front of that gorgeous window. The use of additional club rooms, like the Maple Room, which has beamed ceilings and colonial charm aplenty, can add to your totals and bring the seating available up to 350 guests.
But good luck deciding who gets to sit where. “Everyone always wants the Skyline view,” says Schroll. Can you blame them?
Club Scene
