Lord Thompson Manor Weddings | Quiet Corner Exclusivity

Lord Thompson Manor History

Lord Thompson Manor is a historic mansion wedding venue located in Thompson, Connecticut. It was built in 1917 apparently as a summer home for Stanley Thompson. Thompson was a wealthy Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and golf course designer.

The mansion is known for its grand architecture and elegant design, with features such as a marble fireplace, a formal dining room, and immaculate grounds. Under its current ownership by a private company, the property has become well known for Lord Thompson Manor weddings.

Venue Vibe

Lord Thompson Manor is an upscale, somewhat pricey wedding venue. With attention to how Lord Stanley had his home built, the venue takes great care of the property’s little details (it’s similar to Saint Clements Castle in this way). Accordingly, everything from the polish on the interior’s dark wood to the cleanliness of the outdoor patio furniture is handled with care.

When I was last there, one of the staff told me that most of their couples are from out of state, booking the venue for destination weddings. Couples come from New York, Boston, Rhode Island, and New Jersey for weddings here. This makes sense: Lord Thompson Manor offers something quite unique in a tranquil, Connecticut setting.

Privacy is top-notch here. Lord Thompson Manor’s main property is set far back from the public road. As you enter the main property, you’re greeted by a long, tree-covered driveway. This leads you past a circular driveway in front of the manor itself, all the way to the large parking lot on the far side.

Simply put, Lord Thompson Manor is the best Connecticut Quiet Corner event space for weddings.

Lord Thompson Manor Floorplan and Layout

This wedding venue is actually comprised of two buildings and pretty expansive grounds. Here are all of the spaces available for your Lord Thompson Manor wedding:

The Cottage House and KISS Spa

Our tour actually starts at 351 Thompson Rd., the location of The Cottage House and KISS Spa. Under the same ownership of the mansion, this building is about a mile from the main Lord Thompson Manor wedding location.

Lord Thompson Manor’s KISS Spa offers hair and makeup staff and even has on-site massages, etc. Additionally, the cottage has about seven rooms in a bed-and-breakfast-style setup. If you arrange for it, the venue can cater breakfast or lunch here (outside food isn’t allowed though). There’s a small lot on the property for parking.

It’s a great getting ready location for one of you to take advantage of. What’s more, the inclusion of a spa is very rare for event spaces in CT. When planning your wedding, you’ll definitely want to keep these factors in mind.

Lord Thompson Manor Grounds

There are several different outdoor areas where you’ll be able to enjoy your Lord Thompson Manor wedding day and night.

Backyard and Ceremony Field

The centerpiece of Lord Thompson Manor’s exterior is its huge backyard. Here, there’s a 2000 square-foot patio with tables and chairs, an area of canopy-covered outdoor seating areas reminiscent of a Sandals resort, and large field. The latter is ideal for larger ceremonies.

It’s worth noting that the multitude of outdoor spaces is one of the factors making this venue so attractive to New York City couples. The ability to play lawn games (and get spa treatments) makes the manor a dream wedding locale for many people.

Side Garden

The uniqueness of this wedding venue really shines in its side garden. This rectangular space is to the left of Lord Thompson Manor, as you stand and face the front of the mansion. It measures about 100 feet by 50 feet. It’s adorned by boxwood plants ideally arranged to make an aisle between the side of the mansion and a large, flower-covered iron arbor.

Another delightful feature about a wedding at Lord Thompson Manor is the opportunity for a group photo in the garden. As a wedding photographer, I’ve had several couples ask me for this over the years. This venue’s staff actually pride themselves on this: there’s a great balcony on the side of the mansion overlooking the garden.

Just beyond the side garden, moving away from the manor, is a nice wooded area. I photographed a beautiful autumn first look here; the light in this spot is excellent.

Lord Thompson Manor Interior

Accordingly, you’ll be thinking about the dinner portion of your celebration during wedding planning. Let’s move inside and discuss what Lord Thompson Manor has to offer for wedding receptions.

Basement

Formally known as The Billiards Room, the mansion’s basement is ideal for one partner and their attendants to get ready in. This space is very dark and stylish; it’s important that your wedding photographer knows how to use light properly. (And yes, there’s a pool table down here.)

First Floor

The first floor of Lord Thompson Manor, where most of your wedding reception will take place, has a very interesting layout. While large, it’s broken up into several smaller spaces with their own personalities:

• Drawing Room: Just inside the front door of the manor, this 600 square-foot room has a bold appeal. There’s a piano, bar, and large fireplace. A popular setup is to have this room configured for you two to have dinner privately.
• Breakfast Room, Hunt Room, Belmont Room, and Terrace: These spaces each receive tables and chairs for guests to dine during your reception. The largest of these rooms is the Terrace, measuring about 600 square feet. This one also overlooks the side garden with large windows and door to the balcony.
• Conservatory: This is where cocktail hour drinks and food are served, as well as where the dancing of wedding receptions take place. This room is a long, narrow rectangle, measuring about 20 by 70 feet. The bar is at one end and your band or DJ will typically set up at the other end of the room.

Interestingly, the manor has six bedrooms, all with horse-related names. The first, Arabian, is on this level.

Second Floor

Upstairs, Lord Thompson Manor has five more bedrooms: Thoroughbred I and II, Palomino, Morgan, and Mustang. Similarly to Haley Mansion (an unrelated wedding venue in Mystic), these are available to book for your wedding.

The upstairs space is very convenient for you, the couple, during your wedding reception. One or both of you can store your belongings and even get some privacy if you get tired of playing lawn games, for example.

Lord Thompson Manor Wedding Costs and Considerations

Like most other event spaces in CT, Lord Thompson Manor has a base fee for in-season weddings; it’s in the neighborhood of $7500 (as of my conversation with venue in late 2023). If you’ll be having your ceremony on site, there’s also another fee for that.

If you don’t have a wedding planner, the venue does offer limited coordination services. Food options (include rehearsal dinners and farewell brunches) and other details will also factor into your overall cost.

Hotels Near Lord Thompson Manor

In addition to staying in the manor itself and having select friends and family stay at The Cottage House, you’ll want to know about hotels in the area. Here are some accommodations and hotels near Lord Thompson Manor:

1. The Watson Boutique Bed and Breakfast (Thompson, CT): This is definitely a boutique option, a fitting choice for your wedding day at the manor. Highly reviewed on Google and right down the street from Lord Thompson Manor.
2. The Inn at Woodstock Hill (Woodstock, CT): About a 15-minute drive from the venue, this inn is on the larger side and is located in nearby Woodstock, CT. People love it here, as demonstrated by its 4.7-star rating on Google.
3. Comfort Inn & Suites (Dayville, CT): Less than 10 minutes south on I-395, this is the best-reviewed and nearest hotel chain option for a Lord Thompson Manor wedding.

There aren’t too many dedicated limousine services available in northeastern Connecticut, but there are a few right over the border in Massachusetts. Actually, the venue partners with Euro KK Limo, based in Webster, MA.