Your Ideal Wedding Vibe in 3 Steps: The Ultimate Wedding Venue Guide for Montreal Brides
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Decisions, wedding decisions
The question was asked. The answer was yes. Congrats are flooding in.
Now what?
As a newly-engaged couple, one of the most important decisions you will make is about your Montreal wedding venue. More than anything else, the location will set the tone for something that is a very big emotional investment.
Over the past 12 years, while photographing weddings professionally, I have encountered many unique Montreal wedding venues, from upscale country inns to wilderness retreats.
Finding the right wedding vibe (whether it’s a masquerade party downtown or a low-key weekend at an inn) that reflects your personal tastes can be fun, and independently-minded couples who successfully choose the right venue often start with a few guiding principles in mind. Follow these 3 steps before you begin your search:
Do some reflection
Some couples know exactly want they want from their wedding venue. For others, defining a vision for the day can be more challenging.
One of the best ways to determine what kind of wedding reflects your style is to think about other major decisions you have made in the past. Some key questions to ask are:
What do you like about your house or apartment? What does it say about you?
What did you do for your last vacation? Go camping in the backwoods? Kick back at an upscale boutique hotel?
Do you like DIY home renovations or prefer the full service option?
Do you like to socialize in big groups or prefer more intimate gatherings?
All of the above questions can give clues about what kind of venue will suit your preferences. For example, if you aren’t the DIY type, a wedding at a quirky location with limited service options maybe isn’t for you.
2. Get inspired
Having a set of visuals can help you get a feel for what you want your setting to look like. Get creative and think beyond bridal magazines; glossy travel brochures and Pinterest photographs can be good sources of inspiration.
But be warned: Pinterest can be both a beautiful place and a very dangerous place for brides. It may convince you that you need to go after something you don’t really want. I might love a peach sweater from afar, for example, but the colour just doesn’t suit me. The same thing goes for your wedding: there are things to just appreciate and things to actually strive for.
If you are truly an urbanite at heart who hates mosquitoes, trying to get married in the woods in early June just to get that “nature look” is probably not the best option for you. Craft a vision that reflects the personal preferences you uncovered in step one.
3. Ask: country or urban?
Now it’s time to ask: do we go country or urban? Answering this question will help you narrow your search considerably. In some cases, people who are country dwellers like the idea of a downtown wedding with all of its frenetic energy. Or sometimes urbanites don’t like the idea of tourists snapping pictures of them on their big day, so they opt to escape to the country.
COUNTRY
There are many options for a country wedding within two hours of Montreal. The type of settings vary, from rustic chic to what I call “rustic rustic.”
Country Inns and Resorts
Do you like lakes and trees, but aren’t really up for roughing it when you tie the knot? A great option is one of the many inns and resorts outside of Montreal. Manoir Hovey in North Hatley, for example, is an upscale venue nestled in a beautiful natural setting. One of my most memorable weddings (which was also a low-key vacation for all the guests) was held here. For a slightly more rustic feel, Manoir Grant in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield could be an option.
Auberge des Gallants, Ste. Marthe Qc
Esterel Resort in the Laurentians, Qc
Chateau Vaudreuil in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Qc
Manoir Grant in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Qc
Golf Course Clubhouses
To accommodate a larger crowd, don’t overlook golf course clubhouses, which sometimes (sometimes) prove to be interesting architectural gems. The banquet facility at Windmill Heights in Notre-Dame-de-l'Ile Perrot 40 minutes west of Montreal has some really nice views. The Beaconsfield Golf Club also has some spectacular cliffs and landscaping, as well as beautiful facilities.
The Beaconsfield Golf Club in Beaconsfield Qc
Country Estates
Getting married at a country estate is a little like glamping: you get the nature experience with all the amenities. Many of these places are tailored for weddings, with nice gardens and water features that provide beautiful backdrops for photos. Au Vieux Moulin in Rigaud, about an hour west of Montreal, grants couples exclusive use of the whole property.
Nature Retreats
If you love nothing better than trekking through the wilderness and pitching up a tent, a nature retreat could be the place for you. One wedding I photographed was held at a wooded location with just a few cabins and a dining hall. It had a real “summer camp” feel -- which was exactly what the couple wanted. Similar spots to consider could be a sugar shack like Sucrerie de la Montagne, or a tent wedding on the grounds of Polo Parc Farms in Rigaud, Qc. Horses!
If you want to go urban, there are a million little nooks and crannies to seek in Montreal, widely considered to be Canada’s cultural capital. If you go beyond the standard hall, you don’t have to think about decorations, and can rely instead on authentic details like historic stonework and creaky wooden floors to set the mood. Here are the main types of urban options in the city:
Auberges
An auberge can be a great place for a cozy, yet classy, gathering. One full-service venue with a lovely rooftop terrace is The Auberge du Vieux-Port. Another, full of personality, character and perhaps even a ghost, is Auberge Saint-Gabriel, also in the Old Port of Montreal.
Theatres
Looking for a more whimsical backdrop for your wedding? There are many theatres in the city, each with its own unique vibe and history. Check out this listing for a comprehensive overview of theatre venues that are available for private events.
Restaurants
If excellent food is your priority, a restaurant can be a great option. The Vieux-Port Steakhouse has many historic charms and space that is suitable for group functions. For something a bit more chic and modern, there is Brasserie 701 within Hotel Place d’Armes. For a list of 13 other restaurants in and around the Montreal area, from tiny to bigger, check out this post.
Old Port of Montreal, Vieux-Port Steakhouse
Now that you have your venue type nailed down, you can do a qualified Google or word-of-mouth search.
As you continue your search, keep your guiding principles in mind: they will help you decide whether something is an “I can’t budge on it priority” or if you can be more flexible to get what you ultimately want.
The Value of an Authentic Wedding
If you are like many newly-engaged couples in Quebec -- who are getting married approximately eight years later on average now than in 1971 -- you will likely be fronting a good chunk of the budget for the big day. This means you have more autonomy when it comes to a myriad of wedding details, from the guest list to the catering.
There is no need to get overwhelmed by all the options, however. With a little reflection, you will have a greater chance of doing what matters most: creating a memorable wedding experience that looks and feels like “you.”
Entrepot Dominion, Montreal
L’Ambroisie and Espace Canal, Montreal
Here’s to joy,
Lucy
“Hi Lucy,
WOWWWWW!! We absolutely LOVE the [slideshow] you put together, and you did such an amazing job capturing our big day! All of the photos look amazing! I definitely “ugly cried” while watching the video haha. It really brought us back to that moment in time and helped us relive the day.
Thank you so so much for all of your hard work on the day of our wedding up until now! ”
