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Weddings
Up to 150 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Indoor
Clean Up

Why couples loved this venue

  • Event coordination
  • Quality catering
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Kathleen
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Recommended by 98% of couples

About this venue

Union League is a French-inspired restaurant and wedding venue located in the heart of the theatre district in historic downtown New Haven, Connecticut. The 19th-century Beaux Arts building offers a classic elegance that's perfect for any bridal shower, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, or reception. The venue is known for its exquisite cuisine and unparalleled staff and service. The professional staff specializes in creating custom-tailored menus and wine pairings.

Union League offers wedding packages that can be customized to match your wedding theme, budget, and needs. Situated directly across from Yale University, the venue offers a picture-perfect setting in a convenient location.

Facilities and Capacities
Whether you are planning a simple wedding luncheon or an elegant dinner, the team at Union League looks forward to taking personal care of every detail of your entertaining needs.

The Grand Ballroom provides an unparalleled old-world sophistication and an atmosphere that serves as the perfect template for an elegant affair. Features of the Grand Ballroom include high ornate ceilings, wood panelling, a grand working fireplace, and natural light from the façade of Beaux Art windows that overlook Vanderbilt Hall, Yale University. The Grand Ballroom comfortably holds up to 110 guests.

Murals of New Haven Harbor decorate the walls of the foyer leading to the Sherman Room. Separated from the Grand Ballroom, the Sherman Room is the perfect space for smaller and more intimate weddings or rehearsal dinners. The Sherman Room can also expand the reception space by providing a cozy cocktail hour area. The Sherman Room comfortably holds up to 40 guests for a cocktail-style reception.

Features

Large team (21+ members)

Experience

  • 50 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$5,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$40

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Historic Building
Restaurant

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Planner
Liability Insurance

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Union League Cafe

Weddingwire
4.9/5 14 reviews
Google
4.6/5 689 reviews
L
Lauren Sent on 07/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The Perfect Evening!

We had our wedding reception here on 7/25/21 and we had a phenomenal experience! Our guests were impressed with the exceptional service, incredible food, and the elegant ambiance. Christina, the event coordinator, went above and beyond to make sure the evening was perfect. I highly, highly recommend this venue!
H
Hywel Sent on 09/03/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Venue

Christina and the team at Union League provided us with the perfect post-wedding reception / party. A few items we really appreciated about the whole day:
- We were invited in for a tasting 3 months in advance, where the chef was able to provide tastings of everything we were planning to serve to the guests and the sommelier curated the wine list and cocktail list; an added bonus of the Union League is that guests were able to choose their meal on the day, vs. having to select in advance
- We were able to fully customize our reception, including seating plan, cocktail list, hors d'oeuvres, timing of servings (we did a cocktail hour upstairs, two-course seated meal downstairs, then a live band upstairs with a desert bar in a separate room)
- Our guest count was 135 and this allowed us to have a 7 piece band and a dance floor, great bar service and a "make-your-own G&T" bar - great space and allowed for a fun atmosphere
- Christina was super responsive at all times and made the day all about us
We couldn't imagine a better venue and everyone had a blast.
T
Tiffany Sent on 04/29/2018
5 out of 5 rating
I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience with Union League Cafe. The staff walked my husband & I through the planning process, they were always ready to answer our questions, they suggested reliable vendors (who were amazing), and they handled all day-of issues so smoothly. Any anxiety I thought I would have concerning planning was unnecessary and quickly dissipated because Union League handled each and every detail so well. From easy wheelchair accessibility for our guests to letting our photographer know the best locales for photos around the neighborhood, we felt so taken care of. The atmosphere, the cuisine-- all of it was stellar. The waitstaff was lovely, our entire menu was so delicious-- every detail was just superb. We have received many compliments on our wedding (including from some notoriously hard to please family members!), and I know all the credit goes to Christina, Rachel and the entire staff. It's such an incredibly beautiful venue with an unparalleled menu-- it was the only venue we ever seriously considered, and my husband & I are so grateful to everyone there. It was just a dream, and we are so thankful to everyone at Union League Cafe for all their hard work!
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User3354707 Sent on 12/10/2017
5 out of 5 rating
We were married on October 7, 2017. We chose Union League because we value great service and great food. From our initial contact with the venue to picking up floral arrangements the day after, we were treated like royalty. Christina Fitzgerald, the event planner, is kind, responsive and a true professional. With Union League, you don't need a wedding planner. Everything from the set-up to coordinating vendors was taken care of by the venue. We had the ceremony and dinner/dancing in the upstairs ballroom and cocktail hour in the Sherman Room and a guest count of 80 people. Everything was absolutely flawless. In a word, MAGNIFICENT. Everyone was complimenting how good the food was, including the cake, which was made in-house. The filet was perfectly cooked and warm when served for every guest. The quality of the wine was also very good. The waitstaff was exceptionally professional and accommodating. The elegance of the interior requires little dressing up and there are plenty of beautiful photo opportunities both inside and out. For a truly all-inclusive experience, fine dining, and exceptional service at a great value choose Union League Cafe.
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Christina Sent on 11/01/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We just had the pleasure of celebrating our daughter’s wedding at Union League Café this past Saturday. Needless to say, it was a spectacular night; the setting was elegant, the food was delicious, and the staff was courteous and competent. This is specifically let you know our thoughts regarding the exceptional work of Mrs. Christina FitzGerald.

From the first day we met her, we recognized that she has a mastery of her trade. She was the epitome of professionalism and embodied the kind of elegance that we wanted to bring to our event. Throughout the entire process--almost a year--she was always available, timely and meticulous. Following our tasting dinner, she took all of our suggestions and clearly incorporated them into the final dinner. She successfully coordinated multiple vendors and handled all last-minute unexpected occurrences. Her presence throughout the night (along with the others who worked that evening) helped the event flow flawlessly. Even after all was said and done, when we wanted to meet to discuss our final bill, we had the sense that she would be there for our family in the future if there was any request we might have from her. Her very being was a comfort to us--she has a way of making people feel welcomed, at ease and very well taken care of. Additionally, her personal investment in the happiness of our daughter and son-in-law was palpable and very much appreciated.

In closing, we would like to thank you for bringing together such an amazing team. We will have no hesitation in reaching out to you if our next daughter ever decides to get married!
C
Cait Sent on 11/06/2014
5 out of 5 rating
We had our rehearsal dinner at the union league cafe. The room was gorgeous. So intimate and elegant. The fire place was such a nice detail! The entire staff was so friendly and made sure the night was perfect. The food was delicious. Wonderful venue!
S
Shelley Sent on 10/29/2011
5 out of 5 rating
Union Leage Cafe' exceeded all of our expectaions! Amy Healy (the event planner) was a pleasure to work with planning our wedding menu , explaining the contract details and assuring us that their staff would provide us with the BEST quality food and bar service, guest service and safe, convienent parking for our guests. The wait staff and bar staff were AMAZING- so professional and attentive to our guests. The food was so delicious - enjoyed by all and the wedding cake (included in our package) was fabulous! In chosing a wedding venue- you get what you pay for and as mentioned initially, Union League far exceeded our expectaions! I highly recommend them!
D
Michelle Sent on 10/17/2011
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely amazing from the first meeting with their sales manager to the finishing touch on our big day! I was incredibly impressed with the Union League and their attention to detail. The food was delicious, the service impeccable, and they attended to every request I made. I would recommend this to any CT bride, especially for a smaller wedding. It was perfect!
Kathleen
Kathleen Sent on 09/27/2011
5 out of 5 rating
It's hard to know where to begin when reviewing Union League. Every part of the way, they went above and beyond our expectations, taking care of every wedding guest in an extraordinary way. We had requested that there be bilingual servers for guests who preferred Spanish and they indeed had bilingual servers there. We also translated the menu so that there were both English and Spanish versions and they were more than accommodating with these requests. All of our guests had a wonderful time. The food was outstanding -- everything from the cocktail hour with raw bar, to dinner, to the wedding cake (which was perfect -- exactly like we had shown them in a photo!). Amy was wonderful to work with, and I honestly can't imagine getting married anywhere else in New Haven. We had our ceremony upstairs in the ballroom, then cocktails and dinner downstairs, and cake and dancing back upstairs. We've already been back because we love it there so much. It was incredible.
G
Gabrielle Sent on 01/07/2011
5 out of 5 rating
Our wedding was amazing and it was in great part because of Union League's amazing service, professionalism, flexibilty and great quality of food. We did our ceremony in their ballroom, then had a cocktail hour in the adjoining hallway/room (as they transformed the ballroom), then we moved back to the ballroom for the reception (dinner and dancing).

Everyone loved the food and complimented us on the professionalism of the staff and the beauty of the location (we did some of the decor, but ULC itself had some great decor to add to our December wedding).
Amy, Loic and all the servers were wonderful. They made planning easy, worked with all of our needs from the day we signed the contract to the last minute of clean-up and provided wonderful food and service on the night of the wedding.

I would recommend ULC to anyone planning their wedding or another event. Truly an amazing experience.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

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Union League Cafe frequently asked questions

Union League Cafe includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Union League Cafe includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at Union League Cafe includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
The space offered by Union League Cafe for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Historic Building
  • Restaurant
Union League Cafe offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
Union League Cafe offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Union League Cafe offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Liability Insurance
Union League Cafe is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 5 in quality of service, 5 in professionalism, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility and 4.9 in value.
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