Are you struggling to find that perfect venue for your wedding?
I feel ya. I was there just a few months ago.
There's so many great places in Ottawa to host your wedding. I have had the honour of photographing a bunch of great places the past 2 years and I wanted to put together a list of my top 5 favourites, but also add a few that are on my bucket list to shoot!
Lets start with my top 5 favourite venues... so far! I'm sure this list will turn into a top 20 at some point or another...
1. Temples Sugar Bush
First off, I have to say Temples Sugar Bush is definitely one of my favourites! I'm sad I wasn't able to photograph any wedding there this past year, but had the pleasure of photograph 2 in 2018 which both of them blew me away in amazement. The staff is so helpful and accommodating, the setting of the venue is beautiful, the food is probably one of the best I have ever eaten at a venue and just the all around vibe of this venue is definitely one to keep in mind if you're looking for a rustic, country wedding!
Capacity - 200 guests
Laura and Adam: photo second shot for Direct Your Focus Photography
2. Lago Bar | Grill | View
Secondly, I would put Lago which I had the pleasure of photographing Aimee and Bobby's spring wedding. Being a sucker for natural light, this venue de-liv-ers in that category for sure! The upstairs Vista Room has a panoramic view of Dows Lake that's stunning at any time of year. There are 2 levels to this venue to choose where to have your ceremony and reception. Aimee and Bobby chose to have their ceremony in the upstairs Vista Room and their reception in the restaurant hall downstairs. The whole place looked stunning, the staff and crew were amazing to work with and the food was DELICIOUS!
Capacity - Vista Room: 140 guests for seated dinner reception, 210 for cocktail reception, 100 guests on the patio
Main Restaurant : 250 guests for seated dinner reception, 440 for cocktail reception, 220 guests on the patio
See more of Aimee and Bobby's Spring Wedding at Lago here
3. Bean Town Ranch
Thirdly I would have to say Bean Town Ranch is another favourite. I have never felt so comfortable at a venue. The staff goes above and beyond for all their couples and even helps out the vendors as well. Pascale is the coordinator and she is with you the WHOLE day at Bean Town. She comes around with us taking photos, makes sure you look PERFECT, that dress is FLUFFED to perfection, is there to fix any flaws (like if your dress strap breaks and it needs a quick repair, she is there for you!) and can get the horses attention to bring them over to say hi and pose for a few photos. She is your knight(ess?) in shining armour prepared for whatever is thrown her way!
I love this venue so much that this past February I did a styled shoot with Sophie Fortier Photography and a bunch of other awesome vendors. You can check that out here, but the real wedding I had the honour of second shooting with Direct Your Focus, was when I fell in love.
Capacity - 150 guests for dinner, additional 100 guests for reception
Brittany and Rob: photo second shot for Direct Your Focus Photography
4. Pinhey's Point and NeXt Restaurant
Fourth I would have to say would be the wedding I did with Nathan Lelievre Photography that took place at Pinhey's Point and NeXt restaurant in Stittsville. Pinhey's Point is one beautiful place to host your outdoor wedding ceremony. With many different options, Linda and Monica chose to have their on the water and it was just a perfect day. It was one of the hottest days in June but these two ladies were the best troopers. We got all the photos done in the knick of time, because as we were starting to leave, the scariest clouds formed in the sky and it started to hail halfway to NeXt restaurant! This wedding also goes down in my personal history books as the second wedding I photographed during a power outage. During dinner, the power went out and the size of hail coming down was the size of golf balls! We were so sure there was a tornado close by bringing back the horrors of September 2018 when an 3 actual tornado swept though Ottawa and Gatineau destroying much in it's path. I have to say, NeXt handled the situation so so well! They were out within minutes lighting a ton of candles which only added to the mood of the night. They were able to keep dinner moving and making sure all the meals were hot and the guests fed. They even helped the DJ set up a generator that was from the ceremony to give some light and electricity back! It was beyond one of the most memorable weddings, that is for suresies! I highly recommend checking out both these wonderful places for your wedding!
NeXt Capacity - 185 guests
Linda and Monica: photos second shot for Nathan Lelievre Photography
5. The BARN Weddings and Events
Last, but not least, I would say my final favourite would be The BARN in Almonte. It's such a beautiful, country wedding venue that takes care of everyone. Julia is the coordinator and is a wonderful person. She can do everything, including officiate the wedding! This venue has 2 floors in the barn and an outdoor ceremony space equipped with a raised patio for the ceremony so all the guests can witness the I do's. They can make your reception unique by having mismatched chairs or have them all match - it's completely up to the couple. With many areas for photos on the grounds and close enough to Carleton Place to get that small town vibe, it's a great location to host your wedding!
Capacity - Indoor: 120 guests; Outdoors: 135 guests
Megan & Brett: photos second shot for Mike & Ness Photography
Now for the bucket list!
If you are getting married at any of these venues listed below, I would love to be there to capture your big day! Starting December 1, 2019, the first person to book me getting married at any of these venues will also get a $300 off their wedding package! You heard me right! Choose any of my local Ottawa wedding collections and I will give ya a hug, a glass of wine and $300 off your package! Help me make this bucket list a reality by 2025!
- Venue Twenty-Two at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- Andaz Hotel in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- The National Arts Centre (NAC) in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- The National Art Gallery of Canada (NAG) in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- The Ottawa Art Gallery in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- Canadian Museum of Nature in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- 50 Sussex in Downtown Ottawa, ON
- Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, ON
- Cumberland Belle in Cumberland, ON
- Station 4 Saisons in Rockland, ON
- Umbrella on Dows Lake in Little Italy, Ottawa, ON
- Brittania Yacht Club in Ottawa, ON
- Horticulture Building (Lansdowne Park) in Ottawa, ON
- ALE - Amberwood Lounge and Eatery in Stittsville, ON (BOOKED!)
- Aquatopia in Carp, ON
- Evermore in Almonte, ON
- The Herb Garden in Almonte, ON
- Jabulani Vineyard and Winery in Almonte, ON
- Stonefields Estate in Carleton Place, ON
- The Grand Hotel in Carleton Place, ON
- Saunders Farm in Munster, ON
- Codes Mill in Perth, ON (BOOKED!)
- Best Western Plus in Perth, ON
- Crystal Palace in Perth, ON
- Calabogie Peaks Resort in Calabogie, ON
- The Opinicon in Elgin, ON
- Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC
- Manoir de la Fôret in Cantley, QC
- Le Belvedere in Wakefield, QC
- O'Brien House in Chelsea, QC
- The Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Montebello, QC
Outside the Ottawa Area:
- The Drake Devonshire in Prince Edward Country, ON
- 100 Acer Wood in Prince Edward County, ON
- Occasions by the Bay in Prince Edward County, ON
- The Ivy Lea Club in Gananoque, ON
- Bolt Castle in Gananoque, ON
Don't hesitate to make sure you get me as your photographer for 2021! Spaces are filling up already and I only have a select few more dates available. Contact me via the contact page here and tell me all about you and your boo!
XO Leesa