Canadian Weddings: The ULTIMATE Destination

By: WPIC Office Manager, Kaley Campbell

Canadian Weddings: The ULTIMATE Destination

The wedding venue: Arguably the most important detail of the wedding planning process. I, for one, will always remember the setting and the feeling of a wedding and look back at pictures to see the beauty around the day.  A lot of brides will look for destination weddings to get the perfect setting, however here in Canada; we have so much hidden beauty that will captivate any attendee.

Atlantic Canada:

Of course I will start this one off by highlighting one of my favorite places in the entire world: Atlantic Canada. I have attended so many stunningly beautiful weddings here, and I can’t wait to share with you the magic of this place. Decor: You do not need to worry as much about decor when you have the Oceans’ beauty as your backdrop.  You cannot drive for more than a few hours in any province without hitting a beach or oceanfront views.  Many people choose to have an outdoor wedding and use this to their advantage. Beaches are not the only outdoor options.  These four provinces are lined with caves, waves, cliffs and peaks to create a completely different feel. The Maritimes have some of the most sought-after golf courses in the world, which provides luxury and elegance, if that is what you are looking for. Atlantic Canada is bordered with all different types of lighthouses, all that provide a deep sense of history while being pretty enough to make any wedding a knock-out. Atlantic Canada is also often seen as the “it” place to be for any Celtic weddings.  With the gorgeous landscape, the greenery, and with the scenic beauty and charm overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, these provinces are the perfect destination for your Celtic-tied wedding..  Another trend that is on the up and up, are weddings that take place in rustic barns, highlighting the natural beauty and pulling a lot of nostalgic heart strings.  Atlantic Canada is filled with clay roads, red cliffs, rocky points, ponds, harbour fronts, coal mines and more; a venue for everyone. But, you better know that with any traditional maritime wedding, you should prepare for the homemade drinks to be flowing and a big feeling of “home” as part of the spirit.

Quebec/Ontario:

The province of Quebec offers so much culturally, historically, and sensually. Sensually, this is the destination for the couple who wants to showcase food like no other. Quebec is one of the major destinations in Canada for the food connoisseurs, and as we all know food is a major part of the wedding celebrations.  There are tastes that are only found here, from traditional poutine to the Maple Bush, any one would be excited to attend a Quebec-based wedding.  Quebec offers so much more as well.  Famous landmarks such as the Ice Castle, The battlefields of the Plains of Abraham, buildings from the 17th – mid 19th century, or Mont Royal; there is a piece of Quebec that interests us all. Quebec would definitely be a top contender as the perfect setting for a wedding in any season.  With romantic cobblestone walkways, heritage homes, colorful cafés and new-age feels, this might be the destination to fit your wedding. Ontario has one of the biggest tourist attractions; Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls brings in over 12 million people a year to see its absolute glorious beauty. There are casinos, restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife right on scene, overlooking this world wonder. Ontario also offers the CN tower, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal for unforgettable wedding locations.  However, the standard sight-seeing scenes are not only what Ontario has to offer. Weddings in Ontario are getting creative with their venues.  Vineyards have been a popular choice, but now breweries are on the rise.  Ontario has a lot of local breweries that offer amazing architecture and a rugged beauty. Ontario also is hosting amazing weddings with panoramic views of the city. Venues are popping up everywhere, capturing the heart of the city, and the bright lights and polished city.

Western Canada:

Western Canada offers a completely different feel / geography then Eastern Canada. Western Canada has so many natural beauties to draw in every type of couple.  Ice fields provides a blank terrain of pure ice backed by mountain views, Killer whale watching expeditions showcase nature in such a pure form,  and storm watching is becoming a trend to capture the impeccable photos desired. Western Canada is host to a lot of different wilderness resorts, polar bear adventures, hot springs, and more. Besides the impeccable landscape that these western provinces have to offer, there are other trends that are found in this area of Canada.  Like in Eastern Canada, barn weddings are a common trend that’s on the rise. A different trend, however, is full elaborate flower gardens. Garden weddings provide such an elegant grace to any ceremony.  The Canadian Rockies are a common and exquisite back drop for Alberta’s wedding revenues.

“We’re big on socials and having weddings be big parties to celebrate with family and friends. We’re known for the province that spends the most on weddings and for good reason; we have a short season of warm weather so when it’s nice we’re out, we want to have fun, and we want everyone else to as well! We love our tent weddings, backyard weddings and also our pub and restaurant weddings. We like to get back to our roots with good old German and Ukrainian comfort food and we’re all in for late night snack and sweets tables. Our weddings are all about the experience and being with the people you love.” – Amanda Douglas owner of Amanda Douglas Events

Northern Canada:

The natural beauty of Northern Canada is one that you cannot find anywhere else.  The Northern Lights are one of the main attractions. The sky lights up in a beautiful haze of colors, creating an exclusive look for any wedding photo. The Northern Territories also provides a different living experience with the Aboriginal cultures.  Northern Canada offers beautiful old Inukshuk, Dog team traveling, small intimate communities, sculptures, print artists, tapestry, Aboriginal celebrations, unique music,  and more.  Some of the more popular wedding trends that are found in the Territories are getting wedding photos on or with hot air balloons overlooking the beautiful terrain, getting married in the famous igloo church which captures the whole feel of the celebration, or having your guests fly into the venues on float planes.  This destination is the perfect place for adventuring couples that want to do a wedding like no other.