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A magical destination with a deep-rooted history, Connecticut’s Bee & Thistle Inn invites couples to create long-lasting memories at the charmed Inn on its breathtaking grounds. Conveniently located between New York and Boston, The Bee & Thistle Inn is a 1756 country house that became an Inn in the 1930s. Today, stepping into the Inn feels like being lost in time with its charming décor, incredible energy and attention to detail the owners bring to the historic house.

Couples will have exclusivity to the entire Inn and owner Linnea Rufo offers her in-house planning service, Bee & Thistle Events, to couples overseeing coordination of every detail - from the extraordinary cuisine to stunning flowers and décor. Brides are also more than welcome to bring their own planners and vendors as well.

The Bee & Thistle Inn’s waterfront property offers exquisite grounds and magnificent gardens. Weddings of 65 guests or less can enjoy dinner fireside or weddings up to 200 guests can experience a beautiful tented reception with dinner and dancing along the bank of the river. The Inn also provides nine rooms for close family and friends of the couple to stay overnight. Old Lyme is a fabulous destination for wedding guests to visit and enjoy its rich history as well as the variety of shops, museums, restaurants, and more.

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Reviews of Bee & Thistle Inn

5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
2 Reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
S
Stacey Sent on 05/26/2012
5 out of 5 rating
Linnea took my vision and made my wedding day everything I had wished for and more. From our first meeting, to the wedding day, I never worried about a thing. Linnea is an artist and this shows in her work. She makes the most beautiful floral arrangements, and decoration ensembles, and the cake was the BEST wedding cake that I have ever experienced at ANY wedding. The food and the attention to detail was impeccable. My guests were so delighted with the service and professionalism from the staff. Nothing was left undone. Our day could not have been more perfect, and for this I am forever grateful to Linnea and her wonderful staff. Linnea will make it perfection, I guarantee. At the end of our day we went to our room, which was lit up with candles and rose pedals. It was beyond romantic...
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Wendy Sent on 08/04/2012
5 out of 5 rating
After deciding our wedding would be an intimate weekend celebration we stumbled across The Bee and Thistle Inn during a preliminary web search. Throughout our three-year engagement and despite a move from the east coast to California, The Bee and Thistle Inn remained our top choice for wedding venue.

From the moment we arrived in Old Lyme we were enchanted by it's history, warmth, hospitality, and nature. Walking through the front door of The Bee and Thistle, we immediately know we had found somewhere special. A careful blend of New England cottage, nostalgic turn-of-the-century antiques, and remarkable art creates an enveloping home away from home full of romance, comfort, and discovery.

Meeting Linnea Rufo sealed the deal. Linnea embodies the quintessential New England hostess, flawlessly organizing and orchestrating an event from beginning to end with great attention to deal. Planning a wedding in 6 months, 3000 miles away was a stress-free collaboration with Linnea and her amazing staff at The Bee and Thistle Inn. Full of thoughtful advice that comes with years of experience, yet receptive and attentive to our unique ideas and story, Linnea helped shape our wedding into the perfect celebration of our personalities and our love. From flowers and food, to schedules and accommodations, The Bee and Thistle staff created a truly memorable wedding weekend we will treasure always.

We look forward to returning every chance we get to the remarkable space, irreplaceable memories, and genuine kindness we found at The Bee and Thistle Inn and in Old Lyme.
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Real Weddings

Fufan & Andrew
69 photos · 06/11/2018

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Bee & Thistle Inn frequently asked questions

The space offered by Bee & Thistle Inn for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Inn/B&B
  • Restaurant
Bee & Thistle Inn offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
Bee & Thistle Inn offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
Bee & Thistle Inn offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Event Planner
Bee & Thistle Inn is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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