nestled in the green mountains of central vermont, the tillerman is a wedding venue, boutique inn, and restaurant in bristol, vermont. we host full wedding weekends, bringing together on-site lodging, seasonal farm-to-table dining, multiple ceremony locations, and celebrations in our historic barn and gardens. with space for weddings up to 200 guests, the tillerman offers a unique backdrop where the wedding itself becomes just one part of a much longer gathering.
a wedding at the tillerman feels like a weekend tucked into the lush green idylls of vermont with all your favorite people. each element with its own charming microclimate…arriving early for a quiet stay while getting settled before other inn guests arrive…a rehearsal dinner inside the artful farmhouse inn and restaurant, the ceremony site amongst the woodland fern grove by the creek, cocktail hour and dinner outside the historic barns and beneath the sailcloth tent, dancing in the barn ‘til midnight with fire pits under the stars, settling back into your cozy room just a jump away at the end of the night…and breakfast around the long farmhouse table in the parlor the next morning.
the weekend itinerary:
thursday 3pm
many couples choose to arrive to the inn on thursday to settle in and have a leisurely dinner in the restaurant as guests start to arrive for the weekend.
friday morning
for the couples who arrived on thursday, a breakfast spread on the farmhouse table in the parlor (shared space at the inn) awaits them starting 8am. friday morning can be the slow, peaceful start to the weekend that you didn’t know you needed! head out for a nearby hike, take a dip at one of the many majestic swimming holes near us, or spend time simply enjoying the property and getting settled before the rest of your guests staying at the inn arrive in the afternoon.
friday afternoon
for couples and guests arriving friday, check-ins begin at 3pm. settle into your room and take a rest from your travels before getting ready for your rehearsal dinner. if your rehearsal dinner is in our restaurant, you can head down to restaurant bar anytime after 4:30 to grab some drinks and relax in the parlor or out in the gardens before more guests arrive!
photos by jacqueline potter
friday evening rehearsal dinner or welcome party
for couples planning a vermont wedding weekend, having your rehearsal dinner and wedding reception in two completely different places on the same property is one of the things that makes the tillerman special. the heart of the tillerman is our restaurant- serving up inventive, seasonal shared plates and naturally leavened pizzas in an artfully decorated 1700s farmhouse. we were even featured in the new york times twice, once in their list of the 22 best pizza places in the us. our restaurant menu is completely different than our wedding menus- so hosting your rehearsal dinner here will feel like a completely different experience, cut from the same cloth. we offer dining room buyouts in our summer kitchen room, or entire restaurant buyouts for those who like the sound of having the property to themselves for the entire weekend. spend more time with our loved ones, and less time traveling between locations.
top row photos left to right: the tillerman, kelsey gayle, katie palatucci
saturday morning
a european-style breakfast spread will be waiting for you in the parlor at 8am each morning of your stay- with local coffee and teas. eat around the farmhouse table or migrate out to the patio to eat among the hummingbirds in the cottage gardens. we offer saturday morning add-ons like yoga in the barn or a sauna package with mimosas and our lymphatic drainage ritual kits.
one of the things couples love most about hosting their wedding at the tillerman is having accommodations right on the property. our historic farmhouse inn has seven uniquely designed guest rooms, allowing up to 19 guests stay together on site. we also have a newly renovated three-bedroom cottage with a full kitchen that sleeps 7. the intimate size of our inn and cottage means spending more quality time with the people you want to be surrounded by most over the course of the weekend.
photo credit: last light studio
saturday afternoon: the wedding ceremony and reception
our wedding venue has many different settings across the property, so your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception can each have their own unique feel. exchange your vows in our woodland ceremony grove beside the creek, gather for cocktail hour outside the historic barn- with dinner beneath the sailcloth tent, and finish the evening dancing under the barn lanterns. the barn is also utilized for a ceremony rain plan, when needed.
an example wedding timeline
3:30-4 guest arrival
4-4:30 ceremony
4:30-5:45 cocktail hour by the barn
5:45 - 6:00 find seats for dinner
6:00 - 7:30 buffet starts & dinner
7:30-midnight fire pits & dancing in the barn
8:30 dessert & coffee/tea
10:00 bar service & event concludes
10:00 - midnight optional add on for bar service
midnight event concludes
photo credit l-r: lillian seibert, camilo fuentealba brevis, luna munn, lillian seibert
bottom row l-r: the light + color, luna munn, last light studio, hannah photo
sunday morning
enjoy a light breakfast in the parlor with loved ones staying at the inn before parting ways- or linger a little longer with our sunday brunch add-on. invite more people than just those staying at the inn with a bigger spread in the parlor or out on the patio if weather permits.
why host a wedding weekend at the tillerman?
unlike a traditional wedding venue where guests arrive for a ceremony and leave a few hours later, the tillerman is a place for spending time quality time together. with a restaurant, boutique inn, historic barn, cottage gardens, and multiple gathering spaces all on one property- couples can create a wedding weekend that feels less like an event and more like an intimate gathering with all their favorite people. its like having your wedding at a friends house who just so happens to be the best host and cook you know.
located in bristol, vermont, between burlington and middlebury, the tillerman is an easy destination for guests traveling from new york or boston, and beyond. whether you’re planning an intimate gathering of 20 or a full wedding celebration with 200 of your favorite people, the property offers room to explore, gather, eat exceptionally well, and celebrate together.
visit our weddings page to learn more, submit and inquiry, or book a tour!
FAQ
can guests stay overnight at the tillerman?
they sure can! for each of our wedding packages, rental of the inn in mandatory. between the boutique inn and the soon-to-be 3 bedroom cottage, the tillerman can sleep up to 26 guests. we can also provide recommendations for nearby lodging and shuttle services for those staying elsewhere.
can we host our rehearsal dinner at the tillerman?
absolutely! many couples who choose a standard wedding package have their friday dinner with us. you can either rent a private dining room or the entire restaurant to have the property to yourself for the whole weekend! submit an inquiry above to learn more.
how many guests can the tillerman accommodate for weddings?
we offer several wedding packages, ranging from intimate micro-weddings with 10-30 guests to larger celebrations up to 200 guests.
where is the tillerman located?
the tillerman is located in bristol, vermont, between burlington and middlebury, nestled against the green mountains.