Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home 

Venue

Hildene is a historic, unique, elegant Southern Vermont wedding venue. With breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, lush formal gardens, and a stately mansion, Hildene sets the stage for a one-of-a-kind celebration. The team provides outstanding service to help couples throughout the planning process.

In Their Own Words:

Your family and friends turn onto a country road, through a grand gated entrance, drive over a mile through woods, pasture and trails, crest a hill and there laid before them is a magnificent, sprawling lawn leading to one of the stateliest Georgian Revival Mansions they’ll ever see. It’s seated on a promontory overlooking the Taconic and Green Mountains, the Battenkill River, farms and fields below. And this epic backdrop comes with a formal garden as picture-perfect as any you have ever strolled through.
 
This kind of natural beauty, this vintage estate, and all its million-dollar views are unique. Family, friends, and loved ones will enter stunned; they will watch your wedding day unfold before them and forever link the elegance of the surroundings to your union. They will leave with permanent storybook memories that mark none other than the beginning of your married lives!
 
Facilities and Capacity
In 2023, Hildene began building a new event facility to replace our tent in the same footprint. Construction and landscaping are complete. The beauty of this building brings the outdoors inside. Lincoln Hall offers seating capacity for 225 guests, a dance area, a 28′ X 12′ stage with massive amounts of power, a 17′ built-in bar, onsite modern restrooms, and a ready room for your necessities.
 
From mid-May through mid-October, Hildene offers different views, from the ceremony outside through the formal garden at the Overlook. Cocktail hour commences in and around the formal gardens, outside the mansion museum with views of the Taconic and Green Mountains. From there we will invite your guests to the newly constructed, climate-controlled, Lincoln Hall for a sumptuous reception, filled with fine dining, dancing, and more.
 
Services Offered
At Hildene, there is one site fee, and a cleaning fee charged. Included in the site fee are white resin chairs for the ceremony, tables and chairs for the cocktail hour, tables and natural wood chivari chairs with ivory cushions for the reception, and the use of Ready Room (upper and lower). Also included is our coordination of services for your floral and tasting meeting, rehearsal, and day of your wedding. Our goal is to make your special day truly amazing and worry-free.
 
Cuisine
Pangaea Catering, from North Bennington, is Hildene’s exclusive caterer. Pangaea’s philosophy is to host your event in an aspect that will continue to have your guests remark about their dining experience a long time after your special day takes place. Pangaea Catering is attuned to the many allergies and dietary preferences of guests’ palates. Service is their expertise and your cuisine will be served in an efficient and timely manner that showcases the locally sourced ingredients.
 
Floral
Lily of the Valley Florist Events, from Manchester, is Hildene’s exclusive florist. Through surveys, inspiration boards, and floral meetings, Lily of the Valley Florist Events will work to create the event of your dreams. The expertise and creativity of Lily of the Valley shines brightly particularly at the Overlook, for the ceremony, and in Lincoln Hall, for the reception, as their incredible displays are set out to please your guests. Whether it is remaining conscious of conversations at a table, or fluency of decor from one stage of the day to the next, Lily of the Valley Florist will help with your creation in a manner that displays the elegance for your guests as they give your vision life.
 
History
Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, purchased the land to construct a summer home in 1903. Robert first visited Manchester with his mother when he was in his early twenties while studying to be an attorney at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts. Many years later, when he was named the president of the largest manufacturing company in the United States, The Pullman Company, Robert returned to Manchester, VT. The Georgian Revival Mansion was completed in 1905. The mansion, land, and 13 accompanying buildings were occupied by the Lincoln family until 1975. In 1978, the nonprofit organization, Friends of Hildene, Inc., raised the money to save the mansion and land from developers and began to carefully restore the estate.
 
Location
Hildene is nestled between the Taconic and Green Mountains in Manchester, a small town in southern Vermont. Manchester is home to multiple shopping outlets, restaurants, and hotels, as well as year-round outdoor activities. The nearest major airports are located in Boston, Albany, Burlington, and Hartford.
CONTACT BUSINESS

Proud member of the Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals

Investment
On average, mid-May through mid-October, couples invest between $25,000 and $30,000 per day to reserve Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home. After a breathtaking ceremony at the overlook and elegant cocktail hour in the formal garden with your guests taking some time to learn about the Lincoln’s and tour the home, guests gather for a celebratory dinner featuring award-winning cuisine prepared to order by Pangaea Catering, whose ingredients are farm to table.  The seasonal site fee includes the chairs for the ceremony at the overlook, tables and chairs for the cocktail hour in and around the formal gardens and tables and natural wood Chiavari chairs for the reception in the newly constructed, climate-controlled, Lincoln Hall. Also included in the site fee is the coordination of services throughout the planning process and facilitation of the rehearsal and wedding day events, and more.   
 
With the completion of Lincoln Hall, Hildene now has the opportunity to offer winter weddings! From mid-October through mid-May the beauty of Hildene transforms into a winter wonderland.  Although the overlook and the garden are not available, the mountain views are incredibly beautiful as the snow glistens and sparkles in the sunshine.  Weddings during this timeframe are conducted differently allowing for creative options we would be happy to discuss with you. The site fee during the winter season ranges between $20,000 and $25,000 per day to reserve. Contact us for pricing details specific to your celebration and let us help you create the wedding day of your dreams!

Gallery Photo Credits: 1. The Studio on Main, Hildene, MacKenzie Grace Creative, Jake Ritz, The Studio on Main, Kelsey Regan Photography, JP Elario Photography, Jesse Schloff Photography, Kelsey Regan Photography, Idena Beach Photography.

Features on Vermont Weddings

Love Notes

an unforgettable setting to say I do

May 9, 2026

Our experience at The Hildene was absolutely perfect—it’s truly an incredible place for a wedding. This classic venue is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Vermont, offering stunning mountain views and beautifully manicured gardens that create a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. The staff, led by the amazing Carmine, went above and beyond on everything—from the early stages of planning all the way through to the big day. Their support, attention to detail, and genuine care made the entire process seamless. The Hildene blends timeless elegance with serene charm, making it an unforgettable setting to say “I do.”

Ken

Wonderful experience with Hildene!

June 22, 2024

The views and appearance alone sold us on on this venue, but the easy to work with staff and attention to detail left us with no regrets! All of our guests are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how nice and accommodating all the staff were. We did not have a wedding planner, and we did not need one at all thanks to Carmine, Sheila and Theresa. They were all so helpful throughout the entire planning process and helped me with any questions or troubleshooting along the way. We couldn’t be happier we chose Hildene due to the killer Vermont views, excellent service, professionalism and kindness throughout the entire process! We had the best wedding we could have imagined, can’t recommend Hildene enough!

Lauren