Featured VentureMom - Alexandra LaRoche
We recently attended a wedding at Lion Rock and I was curious how it came to be a wedding venue. I too have a farm that I’m working to make a popular wedding venue. I love this story.
LionRock Farm didn’t start out as a wedding venue—it began as a family’s love affair with the land. When Elaine LaRoche first bought the property in 1997, her goal wasn’t to host events or build a business. She simply wanted to preserve the rolling hills and fields that stretched across the Sharon, Connecticut countryside. The land had a history—it had been a working farm for generations—and Elaine saw the potential to restore it, to bring it back to life as both a home and a functioning farm.
In the early years, LionRock Farm was just that: a home. The LaRoche family raised hay, corn, and rye, cared for the barns, and enjoyed the peace that came with country life. But Elaine was always an entrepreneur at heart. She had a background in finance and a love of design, and slowly she began to turn LionRock into something truly special—gardens filled with color, meticulously restored barns, and guest houses that reflected her warm, elegant taste.
The idea to host weddings came about almost by accident. Around 2011, a friend asked if her son could get married on the property. Elaine agreed, thinking it would be a one-time thing. The wedding was stunning—set against the backdrop of the Litchfield Hills, with the fields glowing in the late afternoon sun. Guests couldn’t stop talking about the setting. Soon after, other couples began asking if they could celebrate their big day at LionRock.
What started as a favor became a full-fledged business. Elaine realized that the farm’s natural beauty, combined with the care and detail she’d poured into it, made for an unforgettable venue. She began partnering with local caterers, florists, and planners—building a trusted network of professionals who shared her high standards and appreciation for the area’s rustic elegance.
Over time, LionRock Farm grew into one of Connecticut’s most sought-after wedding destinations. But it was still, at its heart, a family place. Elaine hosted events with the same warmth she brought to her home, greeting couples like old friends and making sure every celebration felt unique.
When Elaine passed away, her daughter, Alexandra LaRoche, stepped in to continue the legacy. Having grown up at LionRock, Alexandra understood both the land and her mother’s vision. She expanded on what Elaine built—preserving the intimate, personal feel of the property while modernizing and streamlining operations to meet the growing demand for destination weddings. Under Alexandra’s care, LionRock has continued to thrive, balancing its identity as a working farm and luxury event space.
Today, LionRock Farm spans more than 600 acres of stunning farmland, gardens, and historic buildings. Couples from near and far come to say their vows surrounded by the same beauty that first inspired Elaine decades ago.
What began as one woman’s dream to save a piece of land has become a place where hundreds of others start their own stories—a family legacy rooted in love, vision, and the magic of the Connecticut countryside.
