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Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Unique aesthetic style
Quality catering
Guests comfort
Amenities

About this vendor

Shelly Sawyer
Shelly Sawyer
Owner

25 years in business

We speak English

Small team (2-10 members)

The Lilac Inn is a rustic mansion venue located in Brandon, Vermont. Named one of the 100 Best U.S Wedding Destinations by Kathryn Gabriel Loving, The Lilac Inn is known for its ability to create a dream Vermont destination wedding and, more importantly, unforgettable memories. No matter the time of year or your specific expectations, The Lilac Inn can help you make your wedding dreams a reality.

Facility and Capacity

The Lilac Inn was built in 1909 and was recently renovated from top to bottom, becoming a designated Green Hotel in the State of Vermont. Their elegant venue spaces have been home to over 500 weddings that ranged from two to 250 guests. One of the central locations at the Lilac Inn is their iconic Ballroom, which can seat up to 125 of your friends and family. This space is entirely dynamic, allowing you to have an outdoor event under the gazebo or something more elegant on the Grand Staircase inside the Ballroom. The Lilac Inn has plenty of other luxuriously antique venue spaces, like the cozy library, the extensive gardens, and the English-themed tavern. Guests can also choose from one of their nine carefully designed rooms, which are filled with pieces sourced from local vendors, giving each room a unique style and personality. The Lilac staff recommends that you book for a full two-day event so that you can take advantage of all that they have to offer.

Services Offered

The Lilac Inn offers couples the chance to rent chairs, furniture, tables, dance floors, barware, glassware, china, linens, and lighting to help decorate their wedding or special event. Their friendly and experienced staff specializes in helping you celebrate the perfect wedding shower, engagement party, ceremony, or reception. Some of the event services you can take advantage of include:

  • Set up
  • Event rentals
  • Clean up
  • Bridal suites
  • Event planning
  • Liability insurance
  • Parking
  • Wheelchair access

Cuisine

The Lilac Inn also offers a diverse range of finely crafted dishes from its on-site kitchen. From delicious passed hors d’oeuvres to classic country cooking, the Lilac Inn has a menu that is bound to satisfy even your pickiest of guests.

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,950

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$4,450

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

No

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$30

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

Ballroom, Tavern, Garden Room, Outdoor Courtyard, Front Porch

Describe your venue:

Historic Building
Inn/B&B
Mansion

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Chairs
Dance Floor
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Lilac Inn

Weddingwire
4.8/5 16 reviews
Google
4.7/5 111 reviews
Katie
Katie Sent on 11/14/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Feels Like Vermont

This was the most perfect place for the most perfect day. Everything about the Lilac Inn is warm and welcoming. Shelly, the owner, was wonderful to work with and the rest of her staff, especially Betsy, we’re excellent! They’re accommodating and the food was amazing. We had everything from the rehearsal Friday, to breakfast Sunday with them. This was truly the most beautiful place to have a wedding.
Tara
Tara Sent on 07/22/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Dream Made into Reality

My husband and I were married at the Lilac Inn on July 13th 2019 and we are beyond thankful and happy to have chosen this beautiful venue. I know that we will still be reminiscing about our wedding weekend there for decades to come. Shelly and Doug who are the innkeepers are amazing hosts! They are extremely welcoming and kind. Dan and I knew from the minute we first visited the Inn and met Shelly and Doug that this was the place we wanted to have our wedding. The pricing is clear and all the menu options can be customized to your desire. Shelly, Doug, Susannah (our personal coordinator) and the entire staff were professional, attentive, flexible, patient, and very personable throughout the planning process, rehearsal dinner, and the wedding weekend. It is great to know that whether you have over two hundred guests or under one hundred, the Lilac Inn can accommodate for your party. We had eighty-six guests and the inn still made it feel like an intimate gathering. The whole staff was excellent at making any concerns or worries about timing or last minute changes melt away with their reassurance and support. We could not have chosen a more caring group of people to help make our dream come true.

Not only were the people spectacular, but everything from outside to inside the inn was gorgeous. The gardens and grounds were fantastically kept and had beautiful flowers throughout the scenery. The patio was a splendid place for our guests to catch up and relax whether they wanted to be in the shade or in the sun. The nine rooms were clean and stunningly decorated. Each guest had their own bathroom which was perfect for couples and families. There were coffee and tea tables located along the upstairs corridors for the wedding party and family throughout the weekend stay. The entire inn and each guest room gave a classic elegance atmosphere while still maintaining a Vermont home feel. The fun Tavern, lovely ballroom, and the outstanding and delicious food were the popular talk of conversations that made for an incredible experience. Shelly and Susannah made sure any guest that had dietary restrictions received meals that were gluten free or vegan. Shelly also helped us with making sure the band that we had hired, had the space and correct outlets for when they performed in the ballroom. Shelly and Susannah were with us from start to finish and everything went effortlessly and smoothly. Dan and I knew we loved our event but we are even more thrilled and appreciative that our guests enjoyed it just as much. We treasured every second of our celebration! I would highly recommend the Lilac Inn for your wedding venue or any special occasion. Shelly and Doug and their staff are simply the best, and are masters at making dreams a reality.
L
Lisa Sent on 09/05/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The Lilac Inn is a magical place in a cute historical town in Vermont. The owners Shelly and Doug and their staff made our wedding weekend a memorable everlasting experience. Ashley was so helpful in planning and helping us stay organized with Shelly. We had a wedding of 107 in the ballroom with the ceremony outside. They are dog friendly so our dogs were part of the ceremony. Our bridal party and parents were able to stay at the Lilac Inn on Friday and Saturday nights, which made setup so easy along with having everything in one location. We also decided to get our First Look photos done here in the back gardens where there's a pond and beautiful gardens. We cannot thank them enough, and we cannot wait to come back to visit and take weekend getaways for years to come.
C
Carolyn Sent on 07/21/2018
5 out of 5 rating
My husband Jeff and I feel so incredibly lucky to have celebrated our wedding at The Lilac Inn. We knew we wanted to have our special day there the minute we walked in the doors, and every moment of the day was beyond perfect. Our families were able to spend the entire weekend with us, as we had the entire Inn to ourselves, and being all together made the weekend so much more special. When the big day came, the entire staff was so helpful and made sure we had absolutely everything we needed. Shelly and Ashley even planned breakfast service around our schedule. The staff worked all morning and evening to make sure our guests were happy and everything was exactly what we had pictured. Our guests are still raving about the delicious food and the beauty of The Lilac Inn. Jeff and I are so appreciative of the beautiful memory we share at the Lilac Inn. Thank you for making our day beyond perfect!
jennifer
Jennifer Sent on 07/11/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Doug and Shelly were great to work with. Shelly was so sweet and able to do everything we requested of her. She got us the mugs they sell for special guest we wanted to honor. She kept my butterflies happy and healthy until they were able to be released. The food was amazing. The place was beautiful we look forward to going back some time for a weekend getaway.
E
Erin Sent on 09/24/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Deciding to get married at the Lilac Inn was the easiest and best decision we made while planning our wedding. If you're thinking of getting married in Vermont, you should definitely book a tour here. Shelly is amazing and will help you plan your dream wedding. When you book the Inn, you get the opportunity to use the grounds for the entire weekend while Shelly coordinated all of the catering, tent rental, and staffing. I still keep dreaming about the butternut squash ravioli we had as one of our food options, it was out of this world! Our 140 guest wedding felt intimate and our guests enjoyed exploring the beautiful gardens and taking advantage of the ballroom for dancing and the fire pit for relaxing. We chose to have the ceremony in the garden and I'm so glad that we did. Brandon is a beautiful example of small town Vermont and your guests will love the hospitality and all the area has to offer.
U
User2733990 Sent on 08/19/2016
5 out of 5 rating
All I can say is: WOW! They did everything we asked for and more. The food was exceptional, the rooms were the most beautiful and clean hotel rooms I've ever stayed in and when the weather didn't cooperate, they made easy adjustments to the plans. I would highly recommend this Inn for a romantic stay or for your wedding. We will be back on our anniversaries for years to come!
U
User2463724 Sent on 12/11/2015
5 out of 5 rating
The Lilac Inn was the perfect venue for us. We had our families stay with us and our wedding felt like a great weekend getaway. Everyone loved their rooms, the food, and the time we were able to spend together. We had other guests stay at inns throughout town- which worked out great since there's so many within walking distance. The Inn was very responsive to our needs and worked with us to plan a menu that featured local, seasonal foods, local beers, and was served family style. They made sure our wedding really reflected our values. The day was beautiful and stress-free. I highly recommend!
U
User2145120 Sent on 05/24/2015
5 out of 5 rating
We had a small wedding of about 40 people with 20 more guests joining us for the reception. The venue, food and hospitality were outstanding. Thank you to the owners of the inn.
E
Elizabeth Sent on 04/17/2015
5 out of 5 rating
My husband and I went to Brandon, VT in November 2013 to elope and couldn't have done it without The Lilac Inn. The owners, Shelly & Doug, went above and beyond to accommodate us and let us bring our Boston Terrier too! Our ceremony took place in the state park nearby but they very generously let us take pictures around in the Inn before hand. The Lilac Inn was by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed and any bride would be lucky to get married there! (Trust me, I'm actually a Wedding Planner! I know, lol!)
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

16
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Real Weddings

Melanie & Tim
57 photos · 06/22/2019

Team

Shelly Sawyer
Shelly Sawyer
Owner
Lady Bird
Lady Bird
Greeter

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Lilac Inn frequently asked questions

Lilac Inn includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Lilac Inn includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Lilac Inn includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Limited Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Signature Drink
  • Specialty Beer
  • Specialty Wine
The space offered by Lilac Inn for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Inn/B&B
  • Mansion
Lilac Inn offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Lilac Inn offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Lilac Inn offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Lilac Inn offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Lilac Inn is recommended by 96% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.8 in professionalism, 4.8 in value and 4.7 in average response time.
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