Gone are the days of no option but a church wedding followed by a reception in a bland community hall.
Ottawa and the surrounding region offer a multitude of dreamy venues to host a couple’s big day, including rooms inside stately manors, hotels and museums and picturesque golf courses and restaurants. Here are just some of Ottawa’s popular wedding destinations.
Natural sunlight bathes the glass conservatory at Aquatopia Atrium and Greenhouse Conservatory, making it the perfect spot for an indoor wedding with outdoor sensibility. In winter, snowflakes seen through the glass add to the magic.
Aquatopia Atrium and Greenhouse Conservatory, Carp
Tropical flowers, water gardens and a spectacular glass-and-steel building on 24 wooded acres: Aquatopia is becoming Ottawa’s go-to site for year-round, full-service weddings. Aquatopia offers its own event co-ordinator, catering services provided by Tulips & Maple and Thyme & Again, entertainment, in-house floral and decor team, room for up to 150 guests and exclusive use of the facilities for up to eight hours. “A bride and groom can show up here with nothing but a couple of rings and get married,” says co-owner Nicholas Bott. Packages run $15,000 to $25,000 depending on the day of the week. aquatopiaevents.com
Enjoy your guests’ company during a cocktail reception next to the tumbling waterfall and aquatic gardens, then return after dinner to dance the night away, under the stars.
Aquatopia is a four-season special events venue, which charms guests with its unique architectural elements. The venue has teamed up with Ottawa catering company Thyme & Again.
Fairmont Château Laurier
The elegance of the Fairmont Château Laurier is hard to top. The beautiful decor shown above is the handiwork of Ottawa’s Design Co.
For sheer elegance, it’s hard to top the three reception venues at the upscale Fairmont Château Laurier, which opened in 1912 and was recently acquired by French hotel chain AccorHotels. Its Laurier Room, for example, boasts a 16-foot ceiling, Roman columns and an outdoor terrace with views of the Ottawa River and more. Reminiscent of a French château, the regal limestone hotel can accommodate up to 400 wedding guests. à la carte menus from $68 per person and all-inclusive wedding packages from $147 per person. fairmont.com
Temple’s Sugar Bush, Lanark County
Temple’s Sugar Bush featuring a post-and-beam building with seating for 200.
Temple’s Sugar Bush, a short drive west of Ottawa between Carleton Place and Perth, makes a lovely setting for a country wedding, no matter the season.
The 77-acre site offers everything from spring and summer garden ceremonies to an outdoor winter wedding with a taffy pull. A charming post-and-beam building with a vaulted ceiling houses indoor ceremonies and receptions. Maple-inspired menus with seating for 200. Packages are $99-$119 per person. It is located 50 minutes from downtown Ottawa. templessugarbush.ca
Myha and Sande Ewart enjoyed a picture-perfect wedding day at Temple’s Sugar Bush.
Myha and Sande Ewart take a stroll on the gorgeous property at Temple’s Sugar Bush.
Other nearby sites:
Strathmere, North Gower. Three buildings, including a 19th-century barn, on 200 acres. Accommodates up to 225 dinner guests. strathmere.com
At the Schoolhouse, Munster. Converted 1800s one-room schoolhouse. Reception room for up to 70. attheschoolhouse.ca
The stone Schoolhouse wedding venue in Munster has been carefully restored to maintain its rich character and unique identity.
Le Belvédère, Wakefield. Surrounded by nature with an outdoor terrace, dining facilities and room for up to 200. lebelvedere.ca
Wakefield Mill Inn & Spa, Wakefield. Restored and modernized flourmill in the Gatineau Hills. Up to 65 reception guests. wakefieldmill.com
The Wakefield Mill Inn & Spa, a converted 19th-century flour mill on the banks of the Gatineau River, can host up to 65 reception guests.
Other quaint venues include the stately Canadian Museum of Nature (nature.ca), Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (ottawa.ca) and National Arts Centre (nac-cna.ca). Hilton Lac-Leamy (Hilton.com) and the Westin Hotel (thewestinottawa.com) are also popular options with myriad rooms and spectacular views.
Out-of-town venues about 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Prices vary.
