Lakefront Private Home Tent Wedding in Saint Zotique

An emotional and laughter-filled waterfront wedding near Montreal on the shores of Lake St. Francis (St. François)

Where the St Lawrence River meets Lake St. Francis, Sara and PY were married at PY’s family home in Saint Zotique. The water views were fantastic — once the major rainstorm passed! We had all been watching the weather forecast leading up to their Monteregie August wedding, and a day initially of sunshine turned into an unpredictable mix of heavy rain and cloud with sunny breaks. That’s Montreal weather for you!

Sara and her bridal party prepared at another family home in nearby St. Lazare. There, we experienced some light rain but mostly sunshine, that streamed into the panoramic living room windows as Sara’s entourage helped her with finishing touches on her dress. Outside the pavement was wet but the light was bright and diffused for soft and lovely bridal portraits. What followed was another story.

As I drove from St. Lazare to Saint Zotique, I noticed a wall of dark clouds in my rearview mirror, fast catching up to me. Once inside with PY and his boys, the skies unleashed and the rain came down in torrents.

When Sara arrived for the first look, the rain was coming down so we opted the first look in the dressing area of one of the upstairs rooms. The event was being masterfully coordinated by CEO and Co-Founder Danai of House of Chef James Mitchell and it was decided to wait out the storm instead of moving the ceremony to the tent. We could all see a bright hint of sky past the dark clouds and felt it would pass over and be gone. In that half hour, guests were entertained and dry in the tent, and we took the opportunity to do bridal portraits indoors. Read on below to see how things worked out…!

A unique aspect of this wedding was a bouquet reveal. Not by the bride to others, but to the bride, by one of her bridesmaids! She had been a florist in a former life, and created a special bouquet just for Sara. It was such a fun surprise and it demonstrated a lot of trust to not see her flowers before her big day.

Sara and PY answered some questions for this blog. It’s always nice to hear directly from a couple, because it helps other couples! Here is their perspective, in their own words:

What was the overall vision or theme for your wedding day?

The vision was celebrating our day with close friends and family at a family home. We wanted to go for a day that was true to us - nice touches, yet relaxed and real.

Why did you choose your specific venue and was it all you had hoped for?

We chose a family home as it is special to us and offered a beautiful setting.

What was your favourite moment of the entire wedding day?

The first look and the relief of having the rain clear up as we exchanged vows.

What was important to you when choosing a wedding photographer, and what made you decide to work with Lucy?

Lucy was professional from the first moment we met with her - she took time to not only understand what we were looking for when capturing our special day but getting to know us as a couple. She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, and she was able to capture all the moments on the day.

How did you feel about being in front of the camera, and did your experience differ from your expectations?

At first we were uncomfortable and a little awkward - Lucy gave us tips and tricks to put us at ease.

How was the process of working with Lucy on your wedding day?

Fluid, simple and professional. She is very organized and well structured- she helped us develop the wedding plan and schedule to ensure that all ran smoothly.

Do you have a favourite photo from the day, and what makes it so special to you?

The photo under the willow tree - the sun was finally shining through and she captured a genuine moment between us, alone and having some time to ourselves after the ceremony.

About the author:

Hi, I’m Lucy; a wedding photographer serving the areas of Montreal, West Island of Montreal and Monteregie. With a new family connection to our most remote province, I would love the opportunity to photograph weddings in Newfoundland.

I specialize in BESTKND Weddings; intimate events with the warmth of a celebration but the freedom feels of an elopement. Imagination is your best kind of luxury in planning a day that feels exactly like you.

I am happy to serve in English, French and Polish. Sto lat! Reach out to me here.

The half-hour delay plan was the right call! The weather started to clear. Things were still wet, so the chairs were put away (to be dried and set up for the reception) and the guests gathered around with umbrellas handy for the remnants of rain. Everyone — especially Sara — breathed a sigh of relief and it made the ceremony that much more light because skies were getting blue!

The musicians had been safely tucked under the patio with their equipment and speakers, and kicked off the processional from the house. After the ceremony I hiked upstairs to a back balcony for the group photo, and cocktails were under way. The front of the home was so beautifully landscaped that I chose that area for the family formals. When the sun really started to shine, I noticed the grand willow tree that was at the front of the property and knew we’d be headed there for bridal party and bride & groom portraits. It didn’t disappoint! Once done, we headed to the waterfront for late afternoon sun that turned into an incredible blue hour. We were all amazed and thankful of how the day went from bleak to beautiful.

Planning a Private Home Wedding? Things to Consider and Extra Touches

Plan a permission date

While it may be a given that your parents or a close family member will say yes to the use of a home or a cottage for your wedding, a permission date is a lovely way to kick things off. Plan a special dinner or a visit, and express how important and meaningful it would be to be married at that special place. It’s like another proposal and you’re hoping for a yes!

Space and Flow planning

There was an event tent setup at this wedding, and there was a perfect space beyond the stone terrace for it. Off to the side of the property the bar was setup and that allowed for only guest seating in the tent as well as an opportunity to move around the property and make use of the space. The ceremony was held on the terrace and later, the event planners setup a firepit with chairs for a cozy outdoor relaxing space. And s’mores!

The garage with yard access was used for the caterers, and the frontage of the home (it was set quite far back from the road) was used for parking.

If you’re hosting a smaller event, the logistics may be much simpler; but if your event is a little bit bigger (50 or more guests), then it may be a good idea to work with a planner to help design the space and take care of the logistics.

Permits

There may be special permits required for adding structures like tents and serving alcohol. Research permits in advance because if you have to apply for one, it may take time to process and get approved.

Meaning versus workload

If you are hosting more than just a micro or tiny wedding, it can be a significant undertaking to convert a private home into a venue. Rentals, permits, space planning and the logistics of bringing everything in and clearing it all away. Venues already have an infrastructure, resources and staff capable of handling all the details for you. If you are kind of person who is up for the planning challenge and highly motivated to hold your wedding at a super meaningful place, then it can be so rewarding. But definitely a point of reflection to ensure this is truly the direction you wish to take.

As part of BESTKND weddings, a sense of place is important. It is where you will make a big life commitment to another person, and the photographs will depict the celebration in that place, so it is forever immortalized in your photo record. If you imagine flipping through your wedding album at some point in the future and can envision a favourite or significant place as the backdrop, then a private home wedding may be for you!

Sara and PY were also kind enough to allow me to bring along a videographer colleague Liam Fallon of Fallon Imagery to record some behind the scenes promotional content. You will see how the light under that willow tree was magical! A big thanks to the couple and their bridal party and also to Liam for helping me feel like a celebrity! 😆

Ceremony and reception location: Private home in Saint-Zotique

Dress: CVézina Robe de Mariées

Catering and Event Planning: House of Chef James Mitchell

Hair Styling: Andréa Pelletier

Makeup: Janie Drouin

Photographer: Lucy Baum Photography

Behind the scenes videography: Fallon Imagery

Montreal DJ: VIP Music Services