literally the most romantic estate wedding venue in ct

- Magical Lord Thompson Manor Wedding — as featured in CT Magazine, 2025 

- Lord Thompson Wedding with Carla Ten Eyck

- Same-Sex Wedding at Lord Thompson Manor

- Autumn Lord Thompson Manor Wedding — as featured in CT Magazine, 2026 

Quick Facts

A Full Destination Weekend, Not Just One Day:

Getting Ready at the Cottage House and at Lord Thompson Manor:

Your Ceremony, Your Way:

A Timeline Detail I Love: Toasts Right After the Ceremony

Golden Hour Lines Up Perfectly With Cocktail Hour:

Photo Spots I Always Come Back To:

Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens if it rains?

How far in advance should we book our wedding at Lord Thompson Manor?

What My Lord Thompson Manor Couples Say:

Real Lord Thompson Manor Weddings

How many guests can Lord Thompson Manor accommodate?

Lord Thompson Manor, tucked into the quiet northeastern corner of Connecticut, is the venue I've photographed at more than any other in New England. After so many stunning weddings here, it genuinely feels like a second home to me. I know the light at the manor in every season, the best hidden corners for portraits, and the team at the manor well enough that we all work together like family.
 
That familiarity doesn't dull the magic for me one bit. If anything, it means I show up more relaxed and ready to catch the real moments, because I already feel so comfortable with the space, the light, and all of its beautiful nooks. Tricia and Bill's wedding here was published in Connecticut Magazine in August 2025 — and Taline and Sam's autumn wedding is in the current August 2026 issue.
 
If you're planning your Lord Thompson Manor wedding, I'd love to be part of it.

Reception capacity: roughly 150–200 guests
Guest rooms: 13, across the Manor and Cottage House, reserved for your wedding party all weekend
Your whole wedding weekend: Friday rehearsal dinner through Sunday farewell brunch, all exclusively yours — no other wedding sharing the property
Bar service: open until 2 AM
Booking lead time: most couples book 12–24 months out; peak Saturdays in May, June, September, and October go first. March, April, November, and December are quieter and less competitive to book.

One of the best things about getting married at Lord Thompson Manor is that it isn't just one day — it's a private weekend on the Manor's 42 acres, all exclusively yours. Friday brings the rehearsal dinner and a late-night welcome gathering as guests arrive. Saturday is your wedding day, start to finish, and can include late-night food and a whiskey tasting with cigars. Sunday wraps things up with a farewell brunch with family and friends before everyone heads home.
 
Since the entire property is reserved just for you, there's no other wedding sharing the space — no strangers wandering through your photos. It's entirely yours for the weekend.

Getting ready for one half of the couple happens at the Cottage House, home to an in-house spa space where hair, makeup, and a little pampering happen — a bright, crisp all-white space that's a beautiful visual contrast to the rich, historic tones of the Manor, where your other half gets ready with their crew.
 
If that half of the wedding party wants somewhere to relax before the ceremony, the Manor's lower level has a pool table and comfy leather couches — good for morale, and honestly, some pretty fun candid photos. 

At Lord Thompson Manor, you can say your vows outdoors on the historic Olmsted-designed grounds, surrounded by the kind of mature landscaping only a century of careful tending creates.

In the case of inclement weather, or during the winter, you can host your wedding in the Great Hall in front of the French doors. I've photographed many ceremonies in the Great Hall with rain falling just outside the windows that were every bit as romantic as an outdoor ceremony. For colder months, the Manor sets out blankets and heat lamps so nobody's shivering through your vows.
 

Most venues save toasts for the reception. At Lord Thompson Manor, toasts happen right after the ceremony — everyone is welcomed down the aisle with a glass of bubbly, guests gather behind you and your wedding party, and whoever's toasting heads up to the Juliet balcony.
 
As your photographer, I love this timeline adjustment because it gives me such a front-row seat to everyone's reactions during the toasts — having your most important people front and center is so special, and it's the best vantage point to capture the room's reaction to the words being shared about you both.

 

If sunset portraits matter to you, the timing works beautifully. Golden hour typically falls right during cocktail hour, so slipping away for a few minutes of stunning light doesn't mean missing your own party. 
 
 
 

Weather permitting, the mossy path at the back of the grounds is one of the most magical spots for photos. The interior staircase, the front door, the front of the manor, the side staircases, the fire pit — there are so many spots that work beautifully for wedding photos, and each one changes in its own way with the seasons.
 
My favorite night portrait spot is the candlelit table set up under the tree with the chandeliers — a gorgeous, relaxed spot for portraits with my couples. We duck out for a few quiet moments during the party, for as long as you need. 
 
 

Reception capacity is roughly 150 to 200 guests, with 13 private guest rooms reserved for the wedding party across the Manor and Cottage House. 
 
 

The Great Hall serves as a beautiful indoor ceremony option — honestly, some of my favorite photographs here have come from rainy days. 
 

Most couples book 12 to 24 months ahead, especially for peak-season Saturdays in May, June, September, and October. 
 

"Carla was THERE for me! She brought the most positive, fun, and energetic attitude to our wedding that it completely took my mind off of the disappointment from the rain."
— Heather 

Want to see a full day come to life? Take a look at a few real celebrations I've had the honor of photographing here:

I don't just know this venue — I know it in every season, every kind of weather, and through every kind of couple who's celebrated here. If you're planning your Lord Thompson Manor wedding, let's talk.

If it rains, or during the darker autumn and winter months, toasts move inside by the fireplace, or into the Great Hall. Some couples even say a few words after cake cutting — there's a lot of flexibility here.
 
Another special touch: I always try to get a big post-toast group photo. Most weddings want a shot like this but rarely have the space to pull it off — Lord Thompson Manor does, and the timeline is built to make it happen.