What could be more romantic than a castle wedding?
Gillette Castle, for which the State Park is named. The stairs on the right lead up to the Terrace.Family Unity Sand Ceremony on the Terrace of Gillette Castle with the Connecticut River in the background. (Photo taken in July.)Just-married couple with the very talented musician from Divina Strings. (Photo taken in July.)Happy mother pins wedding boutonnière on her son while proud father blows bubbles in the background. (Photo taken in November.)Father proudly escorts his daughter for her Gillette Castle wedding. (Photo taken in November.)Just married at Gillette Castle! It was a windy day, and nobody cared. (Photo taken in November.)March rain and fog did not keep us from having a joy-filled wedding under Gillette Castle’s covered porch just off the Terrace.The stone bridge by the lily pond is a good symbol of a marriage journey, going from single people to engaged to a married couple. (Photo taken in March.)Gillette Castle makes a great background for wedding photos. We’re on the lawn on the west side of the Castle.
How to get married at Gillette Castle State Park
First, choose where at the State Park you’d like to have your wedding ceremony.
From where you drive into the Park to the stone bridge, you’re in East Haddam. From the parking lot to beyond the Castle, you’re in Lyme.
Connecticut law requires you to get your license in the town in which you’ll be getting married.
General Gillette Castle wedding information:
There is no admission charge nor parking fee at Gillette Castle State Park for vehicles registered in Connecticut.
It is easy to park, and it is not usually crowded.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is responsible for all State Parks.
You can get married on the Castle Terrace or elsewhere on the grounds. Unfortunately, no weddings (or wedding photographs) are allowed inside Gillette Castle. You and your guests can, however, take a tour inside of the Castle.
Pets on leashes are allowed in the picnic areas and on hiking trails, but not inside the buildings. Well-behaved animals are welcome at your wedding, too!
According to DEEP regulations:
Scattering confetti, rice, or other materials is prohibited.
Alcoholic beverages may be brought to the picnic areas.
Beverages in containers larger than one liter are prohibited. Kegs, et cetera, are not allowed.
Helium balloons are strongly discouraged; if used, they must not be released and must be disposed of properly.
The East Haddam Town Hall would be where to get your marriage license if you have your wedding by the lily pond or at the stone bridge.
The East Haddam Town Clerk’s Office is at 1 Plains Road, Moodus, CT 06469. You can reach the Town Clerk or her assistant at 860-873-5027.
The official East Haddam Town website is
WWW.EastHaddam.Org/departments/TownClerk.
(Please note that the East Haddam Town Offices have moved from where they had been!)
The Lyme Town Hall would be where to get your marriage license to have your wedding on the Gillette Castle Terrace or by the Castle.
The Lyme Town Clerk’s Office is at 480 Hamburg Road (Route 156), Lyme, CT 06371. You can reach the Town Clerk or her assistant at 860-434-7733.
The official Lyme Town website is
TownLyme.Org/town-departments.
For your Marriage License Application, please go to TownLyme.Org/townhall
and search for “Marriage Licenses” on that page.
“Can we have our wedding reception in Gillette Castle?”
The short answer: “No.”
The longer answer: “Not inside the Castle, but there is an excellent wedding reception venue a short distance away.”
The Gelston House is at 8 Main Street, East Haddam, CT 06423, just a few minutes’ drive from Gillette Castle State Park. The Gelston House offers fine dining with a spectacular view of the Connecticut River.
The official Gelston House website is WWW.GelstonHouse.Com, or you can call them at 860-873-1411. Highly recommended!
(Full disclosure: I have no financial nor other interest in where you dine or have your wedding reception.)
All the above links are current as of April of 2025.