Reading Farms Estate

Reading Farms Estate is a private, gated property of around 400 acres in the Green Mountains, just outside the small town of Reading, Vermont. A main house, a barn and a theater building sit among lawns, a lake and more than five miles of hiking trails, and couples rent the estate for a full weekend rather than a few hours.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

This is true exclusive use. For the length of your booking the estate, its buildings and its trails belong to you and your guests, with no other parties and no public passing through. You choose your own caterer and the shape of the weekend, and the venue hosts only a small number of weddings each year. For couples who want privacy and room to do things their own way, that combination is hard to beat.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies can take place at spots across the grounds, from open lawns to the lakeside, with space for very large outdoor gatherings. For a smaller or weather-proof option, the barn seats around 70 guests. Separate dressing areas are provided for getting ready.

Receptions and food

Most receptions are held under a tent on the lawn, with cocktails and games on the grass beforehand. Indoor receptions in the barn suit up to about 70. There is no commercial kitchen, so food comes from a caterer you bring in or from the venue's preferred list, and you may bring your own alcohol as long as a licensed bartender serves it. Amplified music is allowed indoors and out, and an optional after-party in the barn can run late into the night.

Staying

The main house, barn and theater building sleep up to 46 guests between them. Standard packages include lodging for a set number of guests over a multi-night stay, with more beds available at extra cost, so your closest people can wake up on site.

Getting there and the area

Reading is a quiet rural town in Windsor County, a short drive south of Woodstock with its village green, covered bridges and inns for any guests who cannot stay on the estate. Larger groups will need a shuttle from nearby lodging, which the venue requires once numbers pass 50.

Good to know

• Bookings usually cover a multi-day stay rather than a single evening.
• A tent is needed for large outdoor receptions.
• Rice, birdseed and confetti are not permitted.