Testimonials

From the moment we first visited The Tortoise and the Mare, we knew it was THE spot for our wedding. From the absolutely adorable Christmas cabin, to the container-minium all decorated in bright orange and green (and also has the coolest and COMFIEST hanging chair ever). The inn has the best-themed rooms that were just quirky enough for our eccentric family to stay with us for the weekend, and has the most AMAZING views! Our overnight guests were so comfortable and we were too! On top of all of that, you will have THE MOST gracious, accommodating, wonderful hosts EVER!!!!! Laura and Steve were there for us from the moment we booked with them. From helping with coordinating the outside vendors, last-minute guest changes, making sure their horse "Heart" had an outfit to match our colors, and making sure we didn't forget a single thing!!! Above everything else, Laura and Steve will make you feel like family. They are two of the most authentic, genuine, kind-hearted people we have ever met, and will go above and beyond to make your day absolutely perfect. The Tortoise and the Mare is officially one of our favorite places and we cannot wait to visit again!

As I write this review I have absolutely no bad things to say about this venue. My husband and I’s wedding plans got flipped upside down due to the pandemic which made us cancel our original plans.. we decided to get married with immediate family and despite our plans changing they allowed us to push our date to this year so we could still experience having our “wedding” at the venue. We were able to redo our entire wedding and share that special moment all over again with the friends and family that couldn’t come the year prior. They went above and beyond for us to make sure our day was just as special as it should have been a year ago. They checked in on us, they interacted with our guests and they just made us feel like we were home. That is something I will treasure forever. From the moment we drove up the driveway we knew this was the place we wanted to get married at. The land, the inn, the view…and all that they have to offer is just beyond incredible. Never in my life have I ever met such genuine people in my life. It’s a blessing that even in hard times they were still there for us. They still made sure we had everything we needed/wanted. They made sure we had the day we deserved. I cannot thank these two incredible human beings enough for everything. It’s amazing when wedding venue owners feel like family. I highly highly recommend choosing this place for your wedding day! We can’t wait to be back to visit!

Our event was on a new moon at the end of August. We wanted our guests to experience the amazing stars in the mountains of Maine. The Tortoise and the Mare Inn is an incredible venue, we could see the Milky Way! The guest houses and rooms are beautiful and we were even able to have our friends and relatives camp on the property. Laura and Steve are wonderful hosts and helped make sure all the details came together and all vendors were in contact. We only visited the location in the winter and saw it first with snow. We took the chance to book it because the photos of other events looked magical. The property is stunning, so naturally every picture came out gorgeous for our event! We can't wait to go back with friends on a smaller scale and just enjoy the land with a roaring fire. Thank you for everything Laura & Steve!!!!!

We had our wedding here in August of 2019, and everything was perfect. Their property is beautiful, from the views of the mountains to each unique room at the inn. The owners, Laura and Steve are amazing. They were incredibly helpful in planning our big day and went above and beyond in so many ways. They let us use their flowers and even built us a birch arbor. You can tell they have put a lot of love and care into maintaining the venue. We rented out the whole place, and it was great having space for family to stay leading up to our wedding. Our wedding day went fabulously; I cannot recommend this venue enough!!

I found it hard to find the words to say how amazingly wonder this place is. The beauty is breathtaking. It was the perfect setting for our wedding. Steve and laura are amazing people who truly go above and beyond to make your day the very best. They are wonderful people. We couldn’t be happier or have chosen a better location.

The Tortoise and The Mare is by far the best place in the whole world; whether you are looking for a quiet getaway or to host an extravagant event, they have it all. The property is settled on top of a mountain and the views seem to stretch all the way to the end of time; completely surreal. We had our wedding there in August of 2018 and I can't express enough, our gratitude for the owners Steve and Laura. This couple made sure everything was absolutely perfect for our Big Day and were very accommodating in making our vision come true. We had a unique wedding with a spread-out plan, live band and a food truck! They even planted seeds and grew the flowers I desired for the ceremony and reception. If it weren't for them, our dreams would never have come true. We fell in love with them both and the property instantly and can't wait to return for another family get-together.

We are such big fans of Laura and Steve, the amazing owners of The Tortoise and The Mare Inn!! With only a month to plan our wedding, I never once felt stressed about our venue. We rented the Inn, grounds, and the two guest houses for the weekend for a small, second marriage ceremony of about 30 people. The Inn is stunning, the barns are magical, and the views of the mountains are breathtaking. Laura and Steve were so helpful with the planning, setting up, and even driving us to the local hospital after my teen son broke his arm!! Now that goes above and beyond expectations. We plan to return to The Inn every year for our anniversary with our family of six to soak in the magic. Laura and Steve allowed us to feel at home and our guests sensed that warmth. We highly recommend The Tortoise and The Mare for your wedding, big or small!! Happy Life to All xo

We had our wedding June 2nd of this year (2018) and we rented out the whole Inn and both the container-minium and Christmas house for the whole weekend, Friday through Sunday. I literally cannot express enough how amazed I am by not only the beauty of the Inn and landscape surrounding it, but by how truly amazing the owners, Laura and Steve, are as well! As soon as you pull onto the road, you lose your breath from the beauty of the Maine mountains. The Inn gets closer and you get to see firsthand how much time and love has been put into the Inn and the grounds. It is welcoming and homey with a touch of uniqueness that puts it above any other vendors we had looked at. Each room at the Inn has its own theme, which is something we, and our guests, absolutely loved. This place, is something beyond words. A getaway you need to experience for yourself to really understand how beautiful and amazing, it truly is. Running right in next to the amazingness of the Tortoise and The Mare, are Laura and Steve, the owners. My husband and I had quite a few monkey wrenches thrown into our planning for our wedding and Laura and Steve went above and beyond in doing their best to accommodate our needs. Laura was very quick with responses and ideas when we were having difficulties deciding which ideas would work best for the type of wedding we were trying to have. They offered any help they could, from painting signs to taking pictures of my daughter and I making center centerpieces in the Inns kitchen. All the while, being respectful of our space and making sure they were around if we needed anything. Truly two of the most kindhearted and genuinely caring people I have met. They wanted to make sure, our day was perfect and it was beyond that. It was a breathtaking day that I wish I could do over again. I would never have chosen another place to have my magical day. The mountains made for a beautiful backdrop, the Owners made for easy planning and carefree stay and lets not forget Hartley and the tortoise (because who doesn't love a horse and a tortoise). I will be visiting again and hopefully soon. Many great memories made and more to come! Absolutely love this place, couldn't recommend it enough! <3 Love and Blessing, Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien Jr.