Harrybrooke Park is stunning during all of our 4 seasons, but Autumn holds a special place. What's more, when you get a written note from a recent bride, it makes OUR day and provides amazing testimony to the park as proof that we provide the total package for your wedding day!

“Sunshine, flowers, and towering pine trees.  The smell of fresh air. The sweet sound of birds singing. Lush grass beneath my toes as I walked barefoot down the aisle.  And a spirit of harmony, happiness and love enveloping the scene. That is how I would describe my wedding at Harrybrooke Park on September 15th, 2018. I had the privilege of marrying my best friend in a place that means a great deal to me and my family.  It is a sacred place, filled with childhood memories of bike riding with friends, playing on the swing-set with my grandmother, chasing after frisbees thrown by my father, and watching the grace of the geese on the pond. To return to this place of wonder for my wedding and to be able to share it with my fiancee (now my husband!) and our closest family and friends, well nothing could have made me happier.  

Everyone at Harrybrooke Park put such love into preparing for our wedding day, from Lynn the gardener adding final touches to garden the day before the ceremony, Jim the groundskeeper helping to prepare the grounds and tidy up.  And leading these efforts were Emily and Billy, both of whom were an absolutely a dream to work with, so eager to help make my day exactly what my fiancee and I wanted it to be and so willing to support the creative style of our ceremony.  From planning months ahead of time to helping set up decorations the morning of our wedding, Emily exceeded my expectations as a wedding planner... at that point she had become a friend and an integral part of my wedding experience. I am so grateful to have met her and to know that she had my back throughout the whole process.  Anyone lucky enough to work with Emily is guaranteed to have a positive experience thanks to her organization, creative thinking, positive attitude, and genuine support. And Billy, well lets just say that I could not have asked for anyone better to serve as the officiant for my wedding. With his sense of humor, charismatic writing, and the light and warmth he brings into a room, Billy worked closely with my fiancee and I to design a ceremony where the feeling of love and devotion was palpable through the park. It was beautiful... certainly an experience to cherish forever.  Thank you all!”

What you see above is a happy bride. That's EXACTLY why we do what we do. The look of pure joy here, with her Dad coming to see her, brings us to giant smiles and big ole tears.

The aforementioned recognition is not why we do our job. Lynn takes pride in growing flowers, pulling weeds and only allowing the mowing of the lawn done when told … by her husband and Board of Managers member, Lee. It takes Shirley who spent countless hours cleaning the museum, where our bride was prepared. Oh, did we mention these people ALL volunteer their time to do this and to be a part of things here? 

Jim, his endless job of keeping up on the grounds never receives the accolades it deserves.  It takes people like, Erika, to tidy the bathrooms, weed whack, and double check the grounds for anything that needs to be done for perfection. She is “behind the scenes” ensuring this satisfaction. This smile. The heart and soul of Harrybrooke Park and the Harden House Museum is a machine, powered by love as you we hope you choose to feel on your day. Thanks to K for the kind words. Much love from our crew to your family in return.

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​We are beaming with smiles! So much is happening here lately and we are honored to have been chosen to be doing a photo shoot for Connecticut Bride Magazine, called “Walk in the Park!” We are more than happy to be recognized as a gorgeous destination to host your wedding. It will allow more prospective brides to see the beauty we possess and are willing to share with the world.  
With our feature in Connecticut Bride Magazine, we are now able to show off the magic what makes the grounds of Harrybrooke Park and Harden House Museum so spectacular.  As a staff, we believe in making your wedding unique and allowing your lifelong dreams to come true. We include the best vendors in the area to bring the gorgeous atmosphere to life for your family and your guests. All of this will be captured in the magazine and we are excited to share Harrybrooke Park, especially when we can introduce our newest residents, the peacocks! The vibrant colors of this backdrop bring delight and will take this photo shoot to a whole new level! 
Don’t forget to pick up the spring/summer 2019 issue of Connecticut Bride Magazine so you too can see the beauty of “A Walk in the Park!”

Everyone wants that special venue that is affordable, yet unique experience and look. Harrybrooke Park gives you everything you possibly could want when planning your outdoor wedding. We have had several couples this year, make the grounds their own!

Harrybrooke Park had a wedding this past month that was a true example of how beautiful park grounds can be and made into a grand venue. The flowers blooming bring vibrant colors to use and less decoration needed in our garden. They added a large tent next to the garden that truly made the wedding have an appealing look that worked with the landscape and blended with elegance. 

The bride and groom did exactly what they wanted to make their day original, yet, balanced tradition. We were able to work with the couple to give them flexibility to choose how they wanted things projected. This couple had a Greek background and brought in Greek food to keep in their traditions, yet balanced their own wishes with family conformity. We want our couples to do what they feel is important  so we can provide the best overall environment.  

The elegance that was presented was due to part of their ideas to incorporate the beauty of the park’s surroundings in all areas. Outdoor weddings can make your guests sit in amazement as Harrybrooke Park as it  gives the ambiance of more than a traditional indoor wedding, but can provide traditional beliefs as well.  Blending tradition with new concepts is quite the trend and rightfully so. 

The guests will be enjoying the sights with the smell and color of the purple Hydrangea bushes or taking in the pink roses encircling the bride and groom. It's just a breathtaking atmosphere. 

Harrybrooke also has ideal backgrounds for pictures that you’ll never forget. The falls behind the Harden House Museum or the beautiful trees and garden will provide a complete and wonderful memory of your day. 

Harrybrooke Park provides help from beginning to end, offering preferred vendors, communication, and will be there to help you through the planning process. We have faced every concern and allow the bride to enjoy her day. 

Starting your wedding at Harrybrooke Park is only the beginning for your remarkable day and the start of your new stage of life!

Harrybrooke Park is an absolute perfect venue with a reliable staff to make your wedding all you dream it can be and always aim to surpass those expectations. Give us a call and let's help you do it the way YOU want it.  But don't just take our word for it:

​"You all were amazing and we so loved getting married at Harrybrooke. Thanks for all your help!"
-Our Blushing Bride-

HELLO!

My name is Emily Mellen and am new to the staff at Harrybrooke Park, but not an amateur to the world of event planning. I have produced weddings large and small so that every bride's day is special, unique and even greater than she has dreamed of. 
am proud of the experience that life has given me and which has brought me from the Midwest here to Harrybrooke Park. My husband and my two girls have gravitated to the park for family time and we truly appreciate all that the park has to offer. What's amazing is all that i am learning about the park now as I join the staff here. 

I love bringing a positive attitude in planning and an exciting day for each bride. It should be a fun and relaxed process and the park reflects that mentality. 

I also would like to thank the Board of Managers and staff for selecting me to come on board. This group truly is a family and I cannot wait to get to know them all even better. 

Finally, and most importantly, I want to take time to speak and meet everyone who loves this park so please, if you see me on the grounds as this weather breaks, say hello! I'll be the friendly Midwestern girl with the Chicago accent taking it all in!

Emily Mellen
Assistant Director

Join us this Sunday, January 7th at the Crowne Plaza in Danbury, CT to discuss this venue for your big day AND get an chance to win $25,000? YES!  Harrybrooke Park delivers a dream outdoor venue in a unique setting that is the ideal backdrop for your declaration of love.  We will see you there!

With a world now full of unlimited options, choices and opportunity, does that make decisions harder? It certainly can. If you can now have anything, how do you choose? It can drive people crazy. Think of it this way. You have $10,000 that you just won in a contest. Where do you spend it? Do you save it? Limitless ideas but not enough for unlimited ideas. This is your wedding.  You have as much control as you've ever had. Any date of the year. Any kind of food, color, dress, style ... it can be almost overwhelming but in a good way, because you hold that control. 

Ok, take a breath. Like anything in life it's best to step back and relax. There's no rush. Even if there IS a rush to get married, an hour of your life won't hurt. Here are 4 tips for you that can help with a decision:

1) Set priorities - You've already chosen your spouse, so the rest is gravy right? For some. What's the most important thing to you though? A BIG wedding? The Church or not a church but a location? The guest list? The budget? Whatever your top fear or concern is, put them in order of priority and address the biggest ones first. By the time you get to the bottom of the list, you'll be a pro at making the decision. 
2) Time - Create time for yourself to dedicate to what you want. It's ok to say "I need this hour for me" to sit back with some good music, maybe a candle and write it all down.  You'll be happy you did and might surprise yourself with ideas. 
3) Delegate - This might be the toughest job for any bride or groom. You control every step but it doesn't mean you have to do all of the legwork. Friends may want to help, and you may want them or not. They DO know you well so have them get a caterer list together for you, or local florists. You'll still make the final decision but they can take some stress off the table. And if all else fails, ask your venue. Venues should all have preferred vendors they can recommend for you to talk to. You'll make the final decision, but let others help you with leg work. 
4) Enjoy it - I know, that sounds crazy and easy to say but c'mon. This is the day you've had dreams about since you were small ... and (hopefully) the only one you'll ever have. Enjoy the process. Try the cakes. Taste the caterer's samples. Watch YouTube videos of weddings and borrow ideas to make your own. This day is far too important to stress over. You want to look back and smile about the process. It is exactly what you'll make it. Again you control it. 

So this year when you sit down to enjoy some Turkey and share that ring with family, give thanks that you will have an amazing day, that you'll have complete control, and that you have a great life. You have love and your day to demonstrate and display that to the world should never cause you stress. 

The 2018 wedding season is upon us. It's hard to believe but just a week away from Labor Day 2017, we are at the close of another Summer season. If there's nothing else we can count on, it's that the months will fly by when you're planning any event. The earlier you can lock down any detail, the better off you'll be in the long haul.

How soon do I need top plan this out? We get that question a lot. "How early should we book the venue? The caterer? The flowers?" The answer is that the sooner you book each of the necessities of your wedding, the less stress you will put on yourself (and those around you) as the date gets closer. The last thing you want to do to yourself is cause undue stress. This day is the one you've always thought about, so don't lean to "last minute" planning. Relieve that stress level and start looking.

Do I need a firm date in place first?  Not really, no. Once you know about when you're looking at, and even if it's not a firm date yet, start that event research right away.  You don't have to have a specific date locked in but you'll be surprised at how many people have booked dates for 2018 and even 2019. Get on top of the list of your preferred venues asap!

IS an outdoor venue right for me? I get this question a lot. People can have concerns due to rain. The good news in that tents can always go up and rain can't stop love. It's not worth the stress. Check your dates for "rainy season" and go for the ceremony you want. Clearly, we prefer the outdoor venue. At one with the natural beauty of nature and the surroundings here in the park are truly breathtaking. If you want an outdoor wedding/reception, then don't let anyone tell you otherwise or scare you into a hall. The halls have a job, to book weddings every weekend. I get it. Don't let sales tactics scare you into a decision that's away from what you really want.

Is it more expensive?  Quite the contrary. Most outdoor facilities offer a more inexpensive option to the big grandiose ballroom. Yes, some brides dream of the giant chandelier like "Beauty and the Beast" but nothing tops fresh air. Besides, fresh air is FAR less expensive.  Plan the event that doesn't drain your bank account for a party that lasts a few hours. Be sure you can be among your guests, your family, your loved ones. Don't waste money on the extravagances that may be out of your budget. Save the money for the honeymoon.

I hope this helps relieve the stress of planning ahead. It's really a fun adventure in checking places out and SO much nicer when you don't have to worry about the time as much. Enjoy the process! 

Independence Day is upon us and this is a wedding blog?  What? Shouldn't we be discussion hot dogs on the grill and fireworks?  Sure. maybe. But here at Harrybrooke Park, we try to think outside the box.  Many of you are planning a wedding and you have today off. Some are sitting poolside looking for inspiration and others might take a few minutes to search for new wedding ideas in lieu of the barbecues. Well, we hope to help because here in Harrybrooke, we don't take holidays off. We host the parties and yes, we are even in the office on July 4th. We're not crazy, just dedicated to creating while others can rest their brains, celebrate with family and think about the sacrifices of a nation. 

Independence Day marks the birth of our great nation. Likewise, it marks the beginning of an idea taking shape into reality. Much like the concept of love between two people, our country is standing behind the ideal of Liberty. For centuries people spoke of freedom and some even attempted it. The concept is outstanding and as we find out 241 years later, the concept IS possible AND it takes work. Love is possible and takes work, too. Like cultivating our beautiful gated garden, love demands regular attention throughout the process. From that first "ask" to dinner or a movie to a 50th wedding anniversary. Ask any "old" couple and they'll tell you it takes work. 

My parents just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary last month.  55 years!  The testament to their love is watching them walk down the street hand in hand ... still. That's an amazing achievement, as the 241 years are as well for a nation but it's rooted in the same concept. Dedication to a concept and refusal to give up on it. Sure, the nation has a few more people involved, but the shared concept and approach is real. There is compromise. There is negotiation. There are occasionally battles. When the day is done though, it comes back to the concept.

Our weddings are sometimes very unique. From the ceremony to reception we have seen some very traditional ceremonies here and some crazy concepts but that's the best part. You make the day whatever you want it to be here. It's YOUR IDEAL. No one is telling you how you have to do your ceremony. As a Justice of the Peace, I have seen so many crazy ceremonies! Costumes. Crazy vows including laundry duties. It's yours!  Do with it what you want and don't let ANYONE dictate your wedding but the two that it matters most to. We have ideas, we have examples and we have people who will listen to what you want.

Be your own founding father (or mother) of your day. Grab the concept of love and fight for it. Fight for the birth of the next steps of your life. Make the day as full of pomp and circumstance as you want. I've performed ceremonies with just the couple by the falls. Why? That's what they wanted. They stood strong with it. SO on this Independence Day, stand tall for the ideal of love. The rest will all be the icing on your cake. Happy 4th of July.

While there are many different benefits for having your wedding outside, here are a few of our favorites.

Natural Beauty

Next to the bride, what could be more beautiful than Mother Nature's gifts. We have many here at Harrybrooke Park, including, the Gated Garden, Still River Falls, the Pond adorned with two elegant fountains. There are so many options for not only saying your vows in any of these special areas, but also, just imagine the pictures you will get here! Between the vibrant colors of the flowers in the Gated Garden, or the presence of the Still River Falls, your photographer will be delighted to have such a beautiful backdrop to work with and you will have gorgeous memories captured forever.

Save Money

Who doesn't like to save money? With the flowers in the Gated Garden and the lush greenery all over the park, you won't have to spend a lot of money on floral arrangements or other decorations because Mother Nature has done for you. You can keep things very simple and elegant with the natural ambiance just by adding lantern lighting or simple white string lights to enhance the setting. It won't take much to add to the charming setting of Harrybrooke Park.

Giving Back

Did you know that Harrybrooke Park is a non-profit park? That's right! Founded in 1965, given to the People of New Milford, by Frank & Elizabeth Harden. This was their home and it was their wish to see it be used for events just like this. For recreation, for family, for fun! When you have your wedding at Harrybrooke Park, you are helping to raise funds to keep the park open. Harrybrooke Park receives no funding from the town or state and we work very hard to plan park wide events, such as weddings, to raise the money needed to keep this gem alive. So you see, by having your wedding at the park, you are giving back!

Sit Back, Relax, Enjoy Your Special Day

Probably the most important reason to have your wedding outside. Outdoor weddings tend to give off a more casual feel, allowing for not only your guests to kick back, but the bride and groom as well. Just being in the warm, fresh air is comforting, it's soothing. Also, the luxury of the extra space will provide you and your guests with the freedom to move about more and not be confined to one or two rooms. Everyone will enjoy themselves in such a relaxing atmosphere and love will be sure to fill the air!

To learn more about having your wedding outside at Harrybrooke Park, please contact Valerie at:
harrybrookepark14@gmail.com to set up a tour of the beautiful grounds.