Your Rocky Neck State Park wedding can take place on the beach, overlooking the rocky point by the water, or in a clearing in the woods.
Rocky Neck is a great free place to hold an outdoor wedding. Other than a seasonal charge for parking, there is no admission fee.
If you would like to have your reception at Rocky Neck, you can rent the stone pavilion or use some of the many picnic tables. The Rocky Neck State Park pavilion is handicapped-accessible. In case of rain, you could have an indoor wedding in the Rocky Neck pavilion and hold your reception there, too. Inside the Rocky Neck pavilion has stone fireplaces that you could decorate.
Rocky Neck is one of the most versatile of the Connecticut State Parks, making it one of the most popular wedding venues in Southeastern Connecticut. It has acres of woods with grassy clearings, ponds beside meadows, miles of trails for hiking, and, of course, a white sand beach for seaside weddings. Its location just off of Interstate Route 95 with clear signs makes it a natural place for Southeastern Connecticut weddings. (Yes, that pun was intended.)
The white sand is perfect for a beach wedding at sunset. The beach is a natural crescent shape, but the name "Crescent Beach" is taken by a nearby Niantic beach area.
Places for wedding photographs abound at Rocky Neck. One of the favorite places is the tunnel that goes under the pavilion. Many couples have their pictures taken in silhouette, with the water in the background.
Behind the pavilion there is a footbridge high over the railroad tracks. Because there are stone pillars and lush greenery near the bridge, it is another favorite place for wedding photos. Crossing over a bridge is wonderfully symbolic of your journey from two single people to one happily-married couple.
Is there a Rocky Neck pavilion wedding in your future? You could have an outdoor wedding reception on the terrace. Because the pavilion is made of stone, it is sometimes called "Rocky Neck Castle" and "Rocky Neck Mansion".
Rocky Neck State Park is not near Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Rocky Hill, CT weddings sometimes take place in the dinosaur park.
"How do we get married at Rocky Neck beach?"
You would get your marriage license at the Town Clerk's Office of the East Lyme Town Hall, 108 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic, CT 06357 (Niantic is a village in the Town of East Lyme). You can reach the Town Clerk's Office at (860) 739-6931, Extension 135.
For wedding reservations at Rocky Neck State Park, you need to contact the office. You can reach the office at (860) 739-5471 for your wedding or reception in the pavilion. And, of course, I'd love to be your wedding officiant!
If you are considering have your beach wedding at Rocky Neck State Park, the mailing address is P.O. Box 676, Niantic, CT 06357. Rocky Neck State Park is located at 244 West Main Street (Route 156), East Lyme, CT 06333.
The State of Connecticut Web Site has great details. (Special hint: Kim and Charles [my daughter-in-law and son] had their Rocky Neck State Park wedding overlooking the sea and rented the stone pavilion for their reception.) You can find CT DEEP images of Rocky Neck's stone pavilion and sandy beaches for your outdoor wedding, but Google will find better photos! You can find a lot of Connecticut State Park maps in PDF format on the CT DEEP website. (The pavilion is not clearly marked on the map. It is due south of the junction of the blue / white and red / white trails.) The Park is open Monday through Sunday, from 8 AM through sunset.
Driving directions: Take Exit 72 off of I-95; you will be on the Rocky Neck Connector. At the traffic signal at the end of the connector, turn left. Rocky Neck State Park will be about a quarter-mile on your right. There is a photo of the Rocky Neck entrance sign near the top of this Page.
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