Planning an Okay Island Wedding:
01 — What is an Okay Island wedding like?
02 — Where is Okay Island located?
03 — What makes Okay Island a unique wedding venue?
04 — What are the ceremony and reception options at Okay Island?
05 — When’s the best time to get married at Okay Island?
06 — How much does an Okay Island wedding cost?
07 — Why choose Okay Island for your wedding?
08 — Photos from Kat & Mike’s Okay Island wedding
09 — Super 8 Video from Kat & Mike’s Okay Island wedding
What is an Okay Island wedding like?
It’s just super chill. the whole place feels open, laid-back, and a little different from everything else. During COVID, the owner, Adam, bought the property and spent his time building the industrial-style barn and greenhouse himself.
Instead of the usual hotel conference room for getting ready, the guys hang out in a Winebago (which is tucked away in the woods), while the bridal suite overlooks the property and ceremony site. The ceremony takes place out in a wide-open field. Cocktail hour spills between the barn and the outdoor green area, and guests can wander through wildflowers, woods, and open space instead of feeling packed into one building all night. When you’ve been to as many wedding venues as we have, there’s something really cool about Okay Island and how open all of the it feels.
Where is Okay Island located?
Okay Island is right on the Rhode Island and Connecticut border in Sterling, CT, tucked away in a pretty rural area. Honestly, I think that’s part of the appeal. You’ve got woods, open space, and a venue that feels like you’re getting away from everything for a bit. But if you’re bringing guests in from out of town, you’ll want to think about where everyone is staying and how they’re getting back after the party.
For hotel blocks, two options worth looking into are Foxwoods Resort Casino, about 30–35 minutes away, and the Hilton Garden Inn Preston Casino Area, around 25–30 minutes away. Foxwoods is a fun option if your guests want to turn the wedding into a whole weekend, with restaurants, bars, entertainment, and plenty to do without having to plan every second. The Hilton is a more traditional hotel option, with its own restaurant and bar. Reach out to both directly about room blocks, and I’d definitely look into a shuttle or private transportation so everyone can enjoy themselves without worrying about the drive back.
If you’re looking for somewhere more local to grab a bite or a drink, Weidele’s Pizza & Pub in Sterling is a casual, no-frills spot for pizza and pub food. And if your crew wants more of a night out, Foxwoods has enough restaurants, bars, and entertainment to keep everyone busy. Basically, Okay Island gives you that tucked-away, countryside wedding vibe, while still leaving you with options nearby if you want to make a whole weekend out of it.
What makes Okay Island a unique wedding venue?
One of the things we loved most about Okay Island is that it doesn’t feel like a traditional wedding venue. There aren’t a million rules or someone breathing down your neck all day. Instead, it kind of feels like you’re getting married in your friend’s really cool backyard. I’ll speak for both of us in saying that Okay Island is getting up there on our fave venues list.
Adam, the owner is super laid-back, easy to talk to, and genuinely excited to see people enjoying the space. The whole place reflects that energy. It doesn’t have that overly polished, suit-and-tie feeling some venues can have. It feels relaxed, welcoming, and like everyone is there to have a really good time or help you have a good time.
What are the ceremony and reception options at Okay Island?
At Okay Island, you have a few different spaces to work with depending on the vibe you’re going for. You can have your ceremony outside surrounded by greenery, with the barn and greenhouse adding to the property’s rustic, laid-back feel. The open meadows and wooded areas also give you room to create an outdoor ceremony setup. For the reception, you can use the barn for dinner and dancing, with the greenhouse and outdoor areas offering additional spaces to hang out. You can also have the ceremony inside the greenhouse if weather is not cooperating.
I love the idea of using different parts of the property throughout the day instead of keeping everyone in one room from start to finish. Just check with Okay Island about which spaces and layouts are available for your specific wedding.
When’s the best time to get married at Okay Island?
I can envisions a wedding here any season, but best time to get married would be spring, summer, fall seasons to full enjoy the entire venue.
How much does an Okay Island wedding cost?
Okay Island’s wedding pricing starts at around $5,000, according to its listing on Zola, but the final cost depends on the package you choose and what you want to include. You’re not just booking a room for a few hours here; the venue has outdoor space, a barn, a greenhouse, and room to make the whole day feel like your own. Keep in mind that the venue rental is only one part of the budget, so you’ll also want to factor in food, drinks, rentals, and any other vendors you bring in.
One of the nice things about Okay Island is that you have flexibility with your vendors and setup, rather than being locked into one cookie-cutter package. I’d reach out to the venue directly for current pricing and a quote based on your guest count and plans.
Why choose Okay Island for your wedding?
Our couple Kat and Mike are cool people, so naturally, they chose a pretty cool venue.
Okay Island is one of those places that doesn’t feel like a traditional wedding venue. It’s tucked away in Sterling, CT, right on the Connecticut and Rhode Island border, with woods, open space, a barn, and a greenhouse. But what we love most is that the whole place feels relaxed. People can spread out, grab a drink, find a quiet corner to catch up with family, or wander around instead of being stuck in the same room all day.
Oh, and Kat + Mike had a poet with a typewriter writing poems on the spot for each guest. Freaking dope. Instead of another wedding favor that ends up in a drawer somewhere, everyone got a tiny, personal piece of art to take home.
Thinking of planning your own intimate art gallery wedding venue in Connecticut or Rhode Island? Whether you’re getting married at Okay Island or in your own backyard, we’d love to capture it in all its weird, unique way. Reach out here to see if we’re free on your date.
