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- Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Select services venue
The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.
Guest capacity
Up to 230 seated guests
About this venue
We make our beautiful facilities, equipment, and catering staff available for weddings, reunions, meetings, and other events. We have four beautiful indoor/outdoor event spaces to choose from, all different and unique in their own way!
Our event spaces
Oliver Jensen Gallery
The Oliver Jensen Gallery is a bright, 1,000 square foot private room featuring wooden floors and white walls adorned with rotating art and photography exhibits.
Guest capacity
Up to 110 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Relaxed and casual, Luxurious and chic
Becky Thatcher Riverboat
The MV Becky Thatcher is a 70′ Mississippi-style riverboat that comfortably holds 220 passengers for sightseeing cruises, cocktail receptions, and onboard sit-down affairs, offering a unique wedding experience for couples and their guests. Cruise down the Connecticut River and take in the beauty of the region and your special day!
Guest capacity
Up to 220 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Luxurious and chic
Train Cars
Come aboard the Becky Thatcher for a truly unique reception. No other place in the country can offer a steam train to riverboat connection. Bring your guests back in time. Have your dinner reception aboard our 1920’s Pullman dining cars while enjoying the Connecticut River coastline.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Relaxed and casual
The Mystique of Lady Katharine Cruises
Aboard our luxury yacht, Mystique, the wedding of your dreams can become a reality. Our dedicated staff will work with you to plan and execute every detail of your event. Mystique can be your private yacht for your very special day. for a wedding, rehearsal dinner, or reception. She can accommodate 200 guests for a sit-down dinner or 300 guests for a cocktail party. Mystique’s two climate-controlled dining decks and observation deck located on the third level offer a truly unique venue.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Wedding shower, Other, Cocktail hour, Fun and festive, Luxurious and chic
Dickinson Bottling Plant
The Dickinson Bottling Plant is perfect for a larger ceremony of 110-200 people. With 2,100 square feet of open space, this option includes up to 200 padded back/bottom chairs, a center aisle for wedding party processional, and a sound system with speakers and a microphone.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Square footage
2,100
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Relaxed and casual, Luxurious and chic
Oliver Jensen Gallery
The Oliver Jensen Gallery is a bright, 1,000 square foot private room featuring wooden floors and white walls adorned with rotating art and photography exhibits.
Guest capacity
Up to 110 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Relaxed and casual, Luxurious and chic
Becky Thatcher Riverboat
The MV Becky Thatcher is a 70′ Mississippi-style riverboat that comfortably holds 220 passengers for sightseeing cruises, cocktail receptions, and onboard sit-down affairs, offering a unique wedding experience for couples and their guests. Cruise down the Connecticut River and take in the beauty of the region and your special day!
Guest capacity
Up to 220 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Luxurious and chic
Train Cars
Come aboard the Becky Thatcher for a truly unique reception. No other place in the country can offer a steam train to riverboat connection. Bring your guests back in time. Have your dinner reception aboard our 1920’s Pullman dining cars while enjoying the Connecticut River coastline.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Fun and festive, Relaxed and casual
The Mystique of Lady Katharine Cruises
Aboard our luxury yacht, Mystique, the wedding of your dreams can become a reality. Our dedicated staff will work with you to plan and execute every detail of your event. Mystique can be your private yacht for your very special day. for a wedding, rehearsal dinner, or reception. She can accommodate 200 guests for a sit-down dinner or 300 guests for a cocktail party. Mystique’s two climate-controlled dining decks and observation deck located on the third level offer a truly unique venue.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Wedding shower, Other, Cocktail hour, Fun and festive, Luxurious and chic
Dickinson Bottling Plant
The Dickinson Bottling Plant is perfect for a larger ceremony of 110-200 people. With 2,100 square feet of open space, this option includes up to 200 padded back/bottom chairs, a center aisle for wedding party processional, and a sound system with speakers and a microphone.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Square footage
2,100
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Other, Relaxed and casual, Luxurious and chic
Available services that can be provided by Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Services & amenities
- Bar services
- Catering services
- Clean up
- Dance floor
- Dressing room / Bridal Suite
- Event coordinator
- Event staff
- Lighting/Sound
- Service staff
- Set up
Reviews
Write a review5.0 out of 5
2 reviews
A Venue You Won't
I have loved coming to the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat museum since I was a child so when my husband and I got engaged, we knew we had to get married here. It was such a magical venue and was reasonably priced. They truly don't try to nickel-and-dime you like a lot of other wedding venues, they just want you to have a good experience. The bridal suite was a beautifully decorated air-conditioned train car. We also decided to add on a roundtrip steam train ride down to the CT river and a steamboat cruise as our cocktail hour (honestly didn't cost as much as you'd think...). Our reception was inside the hall and was perfectly air-conditioned and decorated. We did a buffet option and the food was good! If you decide to get married outside, just remember that it IS an active train yard so make sure your officiant has a microphone. Meredith and Tyler were very easy to work with while planning the event. I highly recommend getting married here. Oh, and your photos will look INSANE.
Not So Hidden Gem
We had known about the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat from growing up int he area, but never knew it could be a prime and BEAUTIFUL location for a wedding ceremony. Not only is the setting gorgeous and can accommodate a large group (We had 180), but the cocktail hour options are phenomenal and the who doesn't love a converted train car into an impeccable Bridal Suite?! All our guests loved being able to see all the trains and then the ride to The Lace Factory for the reception was possibly the highlight for a large majority of our guests! We are train people now!
Explore other vendors serving Essex, CT
- Randoz Event DJay Service
- Epic Entertainment
- Mandee Rose
- Classy Strings
- Bosak Videography
- Forget me knots floral design
- The Toasted Brew
- Covet Beauty Co.
- Artisan Bites
- Weaver & Co. Event Planning
- JennaGBeauty
- Guestlense Digital Photo Guest Book
Complete your dream team
- Essex Photographers
- Essex Beauty Professionals
- Essex Bands & DJs
- Essex Florists
- Essex Caterers
- Essex Planners
- Essex Cakes & Desserts
- Essex Videographers
- Essex Bar Services & Beverages
- Essex Officiants
- Essex Event Extras
Other venues in Essex
- Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort
- The Lace Factory
- Chamard Vineyards
- The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station
- The Mansion At Bald Hill
- Lord Thompson Manor
- The Wadsworth Mansion At Long Hill Estate
- Riverbend
- Bluebird Farm CT.
- TPC River Highlands
- The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
- Hilton Mystic
Other wedding services nearby
- Middletown, CT Wedding Beauty Professionals
- Middletown, CT Wedding Officiants
- Norwich, CT Wedding Bands & DJs
- New London, CT Wedding Bar Services & Beverages
- Vernon, CT Wedding Caterers
- Norwich, CT Wedding Caterers
- Middletown, CT Wedding Cakes & Desserts
- New London, CT Wedding Planners
- New London, CT Wedding Photographers
- New London, CT Wedding Beauty Professionals
- Vernon, CT Wedding Bands & DJs
- Middletown, CT Wedding Videographers