Discover all the amazing
Ottawa Wedding Venues
We've spent over a decade photographing weddings across Ottawa, the Valley, and into the Outaouais. That means we've watched the light move across most of these rooms, found the good corners, and learned which spaces make a rainy day feel cozy instead of ruined.
So this isn't a directory scraped off the internet. It's a running list of the places we've worked, toured, or watched couples fall in love with, written from the side of the room where we stand.
A few honest notes before you scroll. Capacities and packages change constantly, so treat anything here as a starting point and confirm details with the venue. We're not paid to list anyone. And where a venue recommends us to their couples, we've said so, because you should know where our relationships are.
planning an
Ottawa Wedding?
Ottawa Wedding Venue real talk:
Selecting the right Ottawa wedding venue is a crucial step in creating a visual narrative that truly reflects the essence of your celebration. Here are a few insights to consider as you embark on this exciting decision:
Ottawa Venues for Weddings
- local guide by an Ottawa Wedding Photographer
places for a wedding reception near me ... look no further than this complete list!
finding an Ottawa wedding venue has never been easier!
01
Choose as much NATURAL LIGHT as it creates a magical and timeless atmosphere.
02
Choose an Ottawa wedding venue with SCENIC BACKDROPS for stunning photos.
03
A wedding venue that REFLECTS YOUR STYLE, sets the tone for your photo collection's aesthetic.
04
FLEXIBLE WEDDING RECEPTION SPACES for capturing both intimate moments and grand celebrations.
CHECK OUT THE OTTAWA WEDDING VENUE LIST in Alphabetical order
1818 Farm & Cidery
Carp, ONtario
A family-run farm and cidery on land first surveyed in 1818, now being brought back to organic standards by the Hoppner family. The cidery building is a former Kanata North post office they relocated and rebuilt, and it looks out over the orchard. Farm-to-table catering comes from the fields around you and the cider is fermented on site. Worth knowing: the cidery runs seasonally, so check dates early. Seasonal · Farm-to-table catering · Cider fermented on site · 25 acres
50 Sussex
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Home of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, sitting where the Ottawa River meets Rideau Falls. The view is the reason to come: river, Gatineau Hills and falls all at once. There's a grass terrace for outdoor moments and two gallery levels inside that take beautifully to candlelight. Intimate and elegant rather than sprawling, and one of the most genuinely special buildings in the city. Grass terrace · Two gallery levels · River, falls and Gatineau Hills views
recommended vendor
Adélina Barn
Gatineau, Quebec
A two-storey barn and floral studio on private land overlooking fifty-three acres of fields and forest, about twenty minutes from downtown. Michèle and Gregory held the first wedding here themselves in 2014, in the barn her father built, and it's named after her grandmother. They run mid-May to early October and cap at ninety guests, so it stays genuinely intimate. Two things worth knowing: Michèle is a trained floral designer and does the flowers in house, and you can bring your own alcohol, which saves most couples a lot. Up to 90 · Mid-May to early October · BYO alcohol permitted · In-house florals · 53 acres
Ottawa Wedding Venues
All Saints Event Space
Ottawa, ONTARIO
An 1899 Anglican church in Sandy Hill, now one of the most striking rooms in the city. Borden Hall has forty-foot vaulted ceilings, original stained glass and space for around 230 seated, with smaller rooms downstairs for something more intimate. Catering is in house through Working Title Kitchen. The building hosted Canada's only royal wedding in 1924 and still has a rare nine-bell chime in the tower, which is the kind of thing your guests will talk about. Borden Hall 230 seated / 300 standing · Bate Hall 100 · Lower Hall 140 · In-house catering · 1899 church
Andaz Hotel
Ottawa, ONTARIO
Right in the Market, which makes it painless for out-of-town guests and puts a neighbourhood of photo options within a few blocks. The second-floor Dalhousie Salon handles the larger celebrations; Copper Spirits & Sights, the rooftop bar, is the highest in Ottawa and turns into something special at sunset for a smaller crowd. Bridal suite and groom's lounge on site, plus room blocks for guests. Dalhousie Salon for larger receptions · Copper rooftop bar for smaller · Bridal suite and groom's lounge · Room blocks
Ashlar Wedding & Events
Ottawa, ONTARIO
An 1890 limestone schoolhouse about twenty-five minutes from downtown. Fire gutted the interior in 2001 and the two-foot stone walls simply held; it sat waiting until new owners restored it in 2025. It's now purpose-built for small weddings, with the schoolhouse, a string-lit courtyard and a ceremony tent. The kitchen is run by Chef Josh Gillard, formerly of Amuse Kitchen & Wine, and the food is a genuine reason to book rather than a footnote. 20 to 55 · 1890 limestone schoolhouse · Schoolhouse, courtyard and tent · Chef-led kitchen
ALE Amberwood Lounge & Eatery
stittsville, ONTARIO
Set at Amberwood Village Golf & Country Club in the west end, ALE builds weddings around packages, which is useful if sourcing fourteen separate vendors makes you want to lie down. Their coordinators handle the moving parts, and couples consistently single out the venue manager for keeping the day calm. Golf course grounds for portraits, and easy for guests coming from Kanata and Stittsville.
Aquatopia
CARP, ONTARIO
A glass conservatory on twenty-four wooded acres, filled with tropical planting, waterfalls and a koi pond. It means you can have a green, warm, light-filled wedding in the middle of a Canadian February, and we've shot here in exactly that weather. Twenty-five to a hundred and fifty guests, with everything run in house including the floral and decor, so it suits couples who'd rather hand the whole thing to one team. Roughly twenty-five minutes from downtown. 25 to 150 · 24 wooded acres · All-inclusive with in-house floral and decor · Leashed pets welcome for the ceremony
recommended vendor
Aviation and Space Museum
Ottawa, ONtario
Getting married under suspended aircraft is a genuinely good time, and the Walkway of Time is the space most couples want. It's an evening rental, available once the museum closes to the public, which shapes your timeline more than people expect. Catering runs through their exclusive partner. Ask which of the spaces fits your numbers, as they vary a lot. Evening rental only, after public hours · Exclusive caterer · Capacity varies by space.
Bleeks & Bergamot
Ottawa, ONTARIO
Bailey and Ryan built the Homestead for their own 2020 wedding and it grew from there. It's an open-air seasonal space, May through October, built around a five-thousand-square-foot stone courtyard with a sixty-foot aisle running up to an old dairy barn facade, twinkle lights and gas fire pits for the evening. Their newer Riverside property opened in 2025, sits down the road on the water, and runs four seasons with dressing suites for both sides of the wedding party. Between the two, they handle anything from twenty-five guests to a couple hundred. Book early: they're well into 2028.
www.bleeksandbergamotweddings.com
recommended vendor
Beantown Ranch
Plantagenet, ONTARIO
A hundred private acres about forty minutes east, with a log reception hall, a two-storey pavilion built from salvaged barn timbers, and a small chapel. Anjou Hall seats around a hundred for dinner with room for more in the evening, and there's a fish pond and maple forest doing the work in your photos. In-house chef, over two decades of weddings behind them, and a honeymoon cottage plus two guest houses so the closest people can stay the night. Anjou Hall ~100 seated, ~150 evening · 100 acres · Honeymoon cottage plus two guest houses · In-house chef
Billings Estate Museum
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Ottawa's oldest wood-frame house, built in the 1820s by Braddish Billings, sitting on eight acres of gardens and old trees in Alta Vista. Weddings happen outdoors under a large tent on the lawn, which keeps things relaxed and garden-party rather than formal. It photographs like deep countryside despite being minutes from the Queensway. Two practical notes: it's a City-run seasonal site, closed through winter, and the tent caps you around a hundred seated, so it suits a mid-sized guest list rather than a big one. ~100 to 120 seated under tent, 150 theatre · Closed late Oct to early May · 8 acres · City-run.
Britannia Yacht Club
Ottawa, ONtario
A working yacht club founded in 1887, ten minutes from downtown, with the best river view of any venue in the west end. The Upper Deck seats around 120 with a veranda over the water, and the Sunset Lounge handles something much smaller with a panoramic outlook. Outdoor ceremony space is steps from the river and comes with the rental. They don't do fixed packages, they build the day with you, and a day-of coordinator is included. Worth knowing: there's a seventy-five guest minimum for peak-season Saturdays. Upper Deck 120 seated / 150 cocktail · Sunset Lounge 30 · 75-guest minimum on peak-season Saturdays · Coordinator included
Brookstreet Hotel
Kanata, ONTARIO
A privately owned hotel in Kanata North with three ballrooms and an outdoor pavilion, so it scales from a mid-sized dinner to a five-hundred-guest reception without feeling stretched. The newer Newbridge Ballroom opens onto a foyer walled in glass with a balcony over The Marshes golf course, which is the same property, so portraits never require a drive. The Pavilion handles outdoor ceremonies under white draping and chandeliers. Two hundred and seventy-six rooms means everyone sleeps where they celebrate. Newbridge ~400 · Grand Scheme ~300 · Celtic ~230 · Outdoor Pavilion · 276 rooms · Same property as The Marshes
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Ottawa, ONtario
The wedding venue people mean when they say "the Experimental Farm." Heritage barns, a hall, and open outdoor space, all on a national historic site in the middle of the city. The Meadow gives you an outdoor ceremony with farmland behind it, and Three Sisters Hall handles a seated dinner. Booking runs through Ingenium, and the rules are more structured than a private venue, so read the rental terms carefully before you fall in love.
Carleton Place Grand Hotel
carleton place, ONTARIO
About forty-five minutes from downtown, in the middle of a small town that's genuinely lovely to walk around. We shot the very first wedding held here in January 2018, so we've watched this one grow up. It handles around 160 for a seated dinner and 250 for cocktails, and guests can stay on site, which takes the whole end-of-night logistics problem off your plate. 160 seated / 250 cocktail · Guests stay on site.
recommended vendor
Carleton Golf & Yacht Club
Manotick, ONTARIO
A member-owned club on the banks of the Rideau River, twenty minutes from the Queensway with free parking, which sounds dull until you've had guests circling a downtown block. The banquet room seats around 160 year-round with a fireplace and a porch over the water, and in summer the riverside patio and private dock open up for cocktails. They only host one wedding a day. 160 banquet year-round · Riverside patio ~100, summer · One wedding a day · 85-guest package minimum · Free parking
recommended vendor
CC's on the Rideau
Perth, ONTARIO
Waterside at Rideau Ferry, with a dock guests can actually arrive at by boat, which we have photographed and can confirm makes an entrance. It's a restaurant and live-music room the rest of the year, so the atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal, and the sunsets over the water are the reason to be there. Ask them directly about capacity and available dates, since the wedding side is booked around the restaurant. Dock access, guests can arrive by boat · Restaurant and live-music room · Ask directly about capacity and dates
recommended vendor
Centurion
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Built for scale. If your guest list is large, multi-generational, or involves a cultural celebration that needs room to breathe, this is one of the few places in the city that can genuinely handle it, from about fifty guests up to eight hundred. Several halls that combine or divide depending on your numbers, and in-house catering throughout.
Chateau Laurier (Fairmont)
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Ottawa's castle, and the one venue where guests audibly react when they walk in. Over a century of history, several very different rooms depending on the size and mood you want, and Major's Hill Park and the locks a two-minute walk away for portraits. We've shot here many times and it never gets old. Ballroom 80 to 800 depending on setup · Adam Room 38 to 255 · Canadian Room 400 · 16 rooms, 36,000 sq ft. The Ballroom has soaring windows on one wall and mirrors opposite, so it has real natural light. Unusual for a grand hotel ballroom.
recommended vendor
Cumberland Belle
Cumberland, ONTARIO
A former church twenty minutes east of downtown, in a village that's genuinely lovely to walk around. Original stained glass and a cathedral ceiling, but painted bright and modern so it never feels heavy, plus a stone patio outside with forest behind it for the ceremony. It seats around seventy-five, which keeps the day close. Worth knowing before you book: you bring your own caterer here and you'll need a Special Occasion Permit for the bar, so factor that into your planning rather than discovering it late.
recommended vendor
Delta Hotel
Ottawa, ONTARIO
Downtown, with room sizes ranging from very large to quite intimate, plus a rooftop terrace that's a charming spot for a small ceremony above the city. Certified planners on staff, and the convenience of everyone sleeping upstairs. International Ballroom up to 800, 10,000 sq ft · Two penthouse rooms on the 26th floor, 140 cocktail · Rooftop green-space terrace 80 to 100 · Indoor connection to Lyon LRT. The rooftop is one of the only green-space terraces in the downtown core. Worth naming.
Domaine Mallity Estate
hammond, ONtario
Fifty-five acres of private woodland east of the city, formerly Station 4 Saisons and taken over by Lexine and Kyrillos in 2023. She's a photographer and event planner by trade, which shows in how the spaces are lit and laid out. Seats around seventy indoors, ninety to a hundred if you open onto the pergola, or up to a hundred and fifty under the tent from mid-May to mid-October. There's a sugar shack out back that makes a great photo stop, a fire pit for late evening, and you're free to bring your own caterer and vendors. Pets are welcome with notice. 70 indoor · 90 to 100 with pergola · 150 under tent, mid-May to mid-October · Pets welcome with notice · BYO vendors.
Bring your Own Caterer Venues worth Checking Out
Most Ottawa venues hand you a menu and a per-head price and that's the end of the conversation. These ones let you bring your own caterer, which is the single biggest lever you have on your budget.
Here's the honest version, though. Bringing your own caterer isn't free money. You're taking on the coordination an all-inclusive venue would have done for you, which means more contracts, more decisions, and someone needs to know exactly when the food arrives and who's plating it. If that sounds like your idea of a bad time, an all-inclusive venue is genuinely worth what it costs.
It also means different things in different places. Lavender Ridge, Domaine Mallity and Lakepoint let you bring whoever you like. Homestead 1880 and The Herb Garden work from a recommended list, which is still flexible, just not wide open.
The question we'd ask on the tour: where does the caterer actually work? Lakepoint has a full commercial kitchen. The Horticulture Building has a proper staging area. A venue with neither means your caterer is improvising, and you'll taste it.
One extra step at Cumberland Belle: you'll need a Special Occasion Permit from the AGCO for the bar. It's not complicated, it just needs doing ahead of time.
Evermore
almonte, ONTARIO
A restored 1870s barn on forty-five acres of rolling farmland, about thirty-five minutes out. The property was Dr. James Naismith's childhood home, and the Naismith house is now where couples get ready and stay over. Up to two hundred guests, one wedding a day, exclusive use of the grounds. The barn has heated floors and there are four outdoor fireplaces for when the evening turns, which matters more in Ottawa than people expect. Pets are welcome. Up to 200 · One wedding a day.
recommended vendor
Fairmont Chateau Montebello
Montebello, quebec
The enormous log resort on the Ottawa River, about an hour and a bit east. This is a weekend, not a day: spa, activities, two outdoor ceremony spots, and everyone staying put. Cozy in winter, gorgeous in autumn, and a genuinely memorable trip for guests. Most of their packages carry a dinner minimum, so ask early if your list is small.
Farmgate Cider
arnprior, ONtario
A family orchard that became a cidery and then a wedding venue, growing without pesticides or added sulphites and clearly proud of it. Vows happen under towering maples and the celebration moves into the refurbished cidery afterwards. They keep weddings intimate and the family feel is the whole point, which also means dates go fast: they sold out an entire season ahead of time. Ask early.
Flo's Garden
cumberland, ONtario
A 150-year-old farmhouse on just under two acres east of the city, surrounded by farm fields, willow trees and vegetable and herb gardens. Ceremonies happen under a custom arch with the fields behind you, and the Rustic Red Barn takes the dinner. It's small by design, around fifty seated in the barn or up to a hundred if you add a tent. Catering runs exclusively through Meatings, so that decision is made for you, and on-site coordination comes with the booking.
Rustic Red Barn 50 seated · Up to 100 with a tent · Exclusive caterer (Meatings) · Coordination included · 2 acres
Homestead 1880 Events
kinburn, ONtario
A hundred acres of farmland in the west end, with a newly renovated post-and-beam barn at the end of a long private laneway. High ceilings, dimmable chandeliers, a rustic bar, and a covered veranda for cocktails. It seats a hundred and sixty for dinner or holds a hundred and eighty standing, and you get exclusive use of the property. The thing worth knowing: there are no guest minimums at all, which is genuinely rare and makes it work for a smaller list without penalty. You bring your own caterer from their recommended list.
160 seated / 180 cocktail · No guest minimums · Exclusive use of the property · BYO caterer from their list · 100 acres
Horticulture Building
ottawa, ONtario
The big heritage hall at Lansdowne, with exposed beams and industrial scale, comfortable with a very large guest list. Being central means everyone can get home easily at the end of the night, and we know the good photo spots within a short walk. Rental runs through the City, so check the current booking process. Max 800 · Main hall 6,300 sq ft · Outside catering allowed · 16-ft windows along the east wall · Underground parking with a private entrance. Check the Redblacks home schedule before you pick a date. Lansdowne on a game night is chaos for parking and for guests trying to find the door. Also: built 1914 in nine weeks, was a curling rink for 75 years, and the whole building was physically moved in 2010.
La Grange de la Gatineau
Cantley, quebec
An 1819 pioneer log barn turned event centre, overlooking the Gatineau River and surrounded by gardens and forest. Twenty minutes from Ottawa but it feels considerably further, in the best way. Historic interior, serious food, secluded setting. 80 to 100 seated / 150 standing · 1819 log barn · B&B next door · Marquee available on the lawn or riverbank · Parking tight, shuttle recommended
Lago Bar & Grill
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
On Dow's Lake, which makes it one of very few genuinely waterfront venues in the city core. Two storeys, modern and open, with big windows pulling light in off the water. The Arboretum is right there for portraits. Main Room 250+ seated / 440 cocktail, on the water · Vista Room 130 to 140 seated / 210 cocktail, plus a 70-seat patio · Parking validated two hours
recommended vendor
Lakepoint Cottage Resort
killaloe, ONtario
On Golden Lake, about ninety minutes out, and worth every kilometre. Cottages and glamping cabins for overnight guests, a beach for the ceremony, and a bonfire at the end of the night. If you want your wedding to feel like the best weekend of camp you never went to, this is it. Whole-property rental · Sleeps 40 · Covered outdoor pavilion · Commercial kitchen · Fully DIY, you bring all vendors · Communal washrooms and showers
Lavender Ridge Farm
Panmure, ONtario
A barn in a forest clearing just outside Carp, with handcrafted beams, high ceilings and doors big enough to blur the line between inside and out. Ceremonies happen among the lavender rows when they're in bloom, or in the clearing by the barn. It holds around a hundred, the barn is climate controlled, and a getting-ready suite is included. You bring your own caterer and vendors, so the day is genuinely yours to build. There's a log cabin and older barns on the property too, which gives us plenty to work with for portraits. 100 · Bring your own caterer and vendors · Climate-controlled barn · Getting-ready suite included
Le Belvédère
Wakefield, Quebec
Perched above the Gatineau Hills, and the view genuinely is the reason to go. Staff, food and accommodation are all excellent, and the sunset portraits from up there are some of the best we've taken anywhere. Autumn is spectacular and books out fast. Handy to know: the Wakefield Grand is under ten minutes away and is where a lot of Belvédère couples put their guests up. 75 to 200 · Guest House sleeps 6 to 10 · Garden House from 9am for getting ready · 8,000 sq ft · Exclusive use. Books early up to 2 years in advance.
recommended vendor
Le Peaches and Cream
low, quebec
Hundreds of acres of Quebec countryside with two quiet lakes, forest, hills and fields. Contemporary and quite luxurious, with a villa on site that sleeps a small group. Suits couples who want nature and design in the same place rather than having to choose between them. Pavilion up to 130 · Villa sleeps 21 · 900 acres near Lake Manitou · Just over an hour from Ottawa
Little Victories Coffee Roasters
ottawa, ontario
A specialty coffee roaster that hosts weddings in its flagship café at 44 Elgin, which is exactly as good an idea as it sounds. Downtown, small, characterful and completely unlike anything else on this list. If a big hall has never felt like you, start here.
Lord Elgin Hotel
ottawa, ontario
Stone façade, copper roof, and a downtown location that puts Parliament, the canal and Confederation Park within a short walk. The Pearson Ballroom has natural light and holds around 110 with a dance floor, and the newer Trillium Room suits a smaller reception with patio space in warmer months. Classic without feeling stuffy. Trillium Room up to 70, opened June 2024 · Room is yours 8am to 1am, music ends at 1am · Masking tape only for decor
Manoir de la Forêt
cantley, quebec
A manor in a maple forest, and weddings here are deliberately small and family focused. Vows outdoors among the trees, canapés on the deck, a walk in the woods, then a long relaxed meal cooked by their own chef. Accommodation on site. If you want a day that feels like a very good dinner party rather than a production, this is the one. Up to 80 · 12 rooms sleeping ~26, bookable only with an event · Elopement package for up to 16 · Year round · 29-acre maple forest
Mill Street Brewery
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
The Thompson-Perkins Mill, a heritage stone building at the edge of the Ottawa River with a glass addition. The brewery and restaurant are downstairs; upstairs the event room seats around 120 for dinner or 170 for cocktails, looking straight out over the water. One of our favourites in the city, and the surrounding area is full of good photo spots. Time it right in May and the cherry blossoms outside are extraordinary. We shot a wedding here the week they opened and they carried half the portraits.
120 seated / 170 cocktail · Built 1842, Ottawa's oldest surviving mill · Private event bar and separate washrooms
Museum of Nature
ottawa, ontario
A stone building that looks like a Scottish castle, with the option to have cocktails surrounded by dinosaurs. Several very different spaces inside, room for a dance floor in all of them, and hotels nearby for getting ready. Formal or completely offbeat depending on which rooms you pick.
Receptions up to 250 · Banquets 130 · Queens' Lantern, Hatch Salon, Rotunda, Theatre, outdoor Plaza · Exclusive caterer list · No getting-ready space on site
Guest Minimums to Consider
A few venues won't book you below a certain number. Britannia asks for 75 on peak-season Saturdays, Carleton Golf for 85, Le Belvédère for 75. Evermore, Richmond Estate and Montebello all have them too, and Stonefields moves theirs by day of the week: 75 midweek, 100 on Sundays, 120 Fridays, 125 Saturdays.
The thing to understand is what a minimum actually is. It's a floor on your spend, not on your guest list. If a venue needs 100 and you invite 70, you're still paying for 100. Nobody's turning your friends away, you're just funding thirty empty chairs.
Which is why the question to ask on a tour is whether the minimum is a headcount or a dollar figure. Plenty of venues express it as food and bar spend, and if that's the case you can meet it with a better menu, a longer cocktail hour or an open bar instead of more people. Same number on the invoice, considerably better party.
The other lever is the day. Stonefields is fifty guests cheaper to satisfy on a Tuesday than a Saturday, and that pattern holds across most of this list. If your numbers are tight and your date is flexible, ask what a Friday or a Sunday looks like before you rule a venue out.
And two venues have no minimum at all: Homestead 1880 and Bleeks & Bergamot. That's genuinely rare around here, and it makes both of them worth a look if you're planning something small and keep getting quoted for a crowd you don't have.
National Arts Centre
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Downtown, architecturally striking, with floor-to-ceiling glass in the main event rooms looking out over the city and the canal. The service is personalised and the team is detail obsessed. Sophisticated, and easy for every guest to reach.
Canada Room up to 1,500 · O'Born Room 250 · Le Salon 150 · Rossy Room 150 · Five event spaces
National Gallery of Canada
ottawa, ontario
Light floods this building, which is a photographer's way of saying yes please. Several rental spaces of very different characters, from the soaring Great Hall to smaller glass rooms. Access starts after the Gallery closes to the public, so summer dates give you the most usable daylight. Nepean Point is now Kìwekì Point. Great Hall 550 standing / 300 seated / 250 with a dance floor · Foyer 230 standing / 150 seated / 100 with a dance floor · Events begin an hour after closing · Fixed 10-hour function period. A few house rules worth knowing: no open flame candles, no fog or haze, and you'll need to work with one of their approved planners. Protecting the art comes first, and the pieces installed in your reception room can change without your say.
NeXt
Stittsville, ONTARIO
Some of the best food in the Ottawa region, full stop. Chef Michael Blackie's kitchen pulls Canadian, Asian and European influences together and people drive in from all over for it. The event room sits alongside the restaurant in an eleven-thousand-square-foot building with plenty of parking, handling roughly twenty-five to a hundred and eighty-five guests. Worth knowing: plan getting ready and portraits off site and build that into your timeline. 25 to 185 · 11,000 sq ft.
Orchardview Wedding
Greely, ONTARIO
A large property built around a lake, with walkways and bridges connecting the spaces. Indoor and outdoor options at a scale that handles a big guest list comfortably. Polished and well maintained, with plenty of room for portraits without leaving the grounds. The owners are lovely to work with and very attentive. Indoors 10 to 400 · Outdoors up to 2,500 · Grandview 400 · Lakeview 180 · Terrace 120 · Fireside 45 · Lakeside Gazebo ceremony 180 · Kosher and Halal available · 175 parking spaces
recommended vendor
Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)
ottawa, ontario
Central, modern and deliberately blank, so you can build whatever aesthetic you want into it. Bright rooms, versatile layouts, and a location that means guests can walk or grab a cab home in two minutes. Food and beverage runs through their preferred caterers. Alma Duncan Salon 245 theatre / 150 seated / 350 standing, with a terrace · Jackson Café 50 seated / 80 standing · Boardroom 22 · Two terraces · Exclusive caterer list
Ottawa City Hall
ottawa, ontario
Not a full-scale venue, and we're including it anyway because a lot of our couples choose it and love it. Quick, downtown and straightforward. The interior isn't the draw. What is: we know exactly where to take you afterwards for photos that look nothing like a municipal building. If this is your plan, our 1 to 3 hour elopement coverage is built for it and you can book it online. If you'd like to check out how you can book this directly online and see our availability, check out our 1-3 hour elopement packages that are perfect for this. It's the easiest way to book in your elopement wedding photography in Ottawa.
Everyone can stay the night
There's a particular kind of wedding where nobody drives home. Dinner runs long because it can, the fire gets lit, and half of you are still talking at one in the morning because the walk to bed is thirty seconds. If that's the day you're picturing, these are the properties that make it possible.
The number that matters is how many people actually fit, and it varies enormously. Lakepoint takes 40 across cottages and glamping cabins. Strathmere has 33 rooms, Manoir de la Forêt sleeps 26, the Wakefield Grand the same. Thee Farm has six geodesic domes with proper beds and bathrooms. Bean Town has a honeymoon cottage plus two guest houses.
Then there's the other kind: Stonefields sleeps eight, Richmond Estate eight, and The Boathouse has a suite for the two of you. That's not "everyone stays," that's "you don't have to move on your wedding night," which is its own small luxury and worth knowing the difference before you promise anyone a bed.
Two things we'd check. What the accommodation actually is, because Red Pine and Lakepoint have communal washrooms and showers, which some people find charming and others really don't. And whether the rooms come with the venue or cost extra, since it changes the maths considerably.
Two useful pairings, if the property itself doesn't sleep enough people. La Grange has a B&B right next door. And Le Belvédère works with the Wakefield Grand, ten minutes down the road, which runs a shuttle — worth knowing because Wakefield has no hotel that takes room blocks and no taxi service, so guests need a plan either way.
For the hotels, Brookstreet and the Carleton Place Grand solve this by default. Montebello turns it into a whole weekend.
Parlour Place
ottawa, ontario
Part restaurant, part event space, on Wellington West. Eclectic mid-century design, several bookable areas including patio space and a chapel room, and the option to take the whole building. Handles a decent-sized crowd while still feeling personal, and they'll share sample floor plans if you're stuck picturing it. 140 seated / 225 cocktail · Chapel 70, semi-private, within restaurant hours · Two patios, seasonal · Built 1922 · Full or partial buyout
Seasonal Venues to Consider in Ottawa
Some of our favourite places in the region simply close for part of the year. Adélina runs mid-May to early October. The Herb Garden is June to September. Billings shuts for winter, Stonefields runs April to November, River House May to November, and The Opinicon opens mid-May.
Read the fine print on those dates, though, because sometimes it's not the venue that closes. It's the room you fell in love with. Domaine Mallity is open year-round, but the tent that takes 150 guests only goes up mid-May to mid-October, so a February booking means seventy people indoors instead. Same at The Knox, where the building is fine all year and the garden runs April to October. Bleeks has both versions: the Homestead is seasonal, the newer Riverside property isn't.
So the question is what exactly closes, and what you're left with.
The upside is real, mind you. Off-season dates are easier to get and often cheaper, and the shoulder weeks are the ones we'd pick ourselves. Early May before the crowds, or the first half of October when the maples out toward Lanark do their thing. Both photograph beautifully and both are considerably easier to book than a Saturday in July.
Red Pine Camp
golden lake, ontario
Vows under tall pines, cocktails by the fire, loons on the water, and everyone staying the night. Ninety minutes from Ottawa and completely worth it if you want the pace of the day to slow right down. Bring people who like the outdoors. Established 1925 · Cabin accommodation · Communal washrooms and showers · No wifi · Commercial kitchen · Runs as a family camp eight weeks each summer, ask about dates
Restaurant 18
ottawa, ontario
Wine rooms and dining spaces in the ByWard Market, bookable in pieces or as a whole, so it works for a dozen people or a full restaurant buyout. No outdoor space, but the interiors are moody in a way that photographs beautifully. The indoor spaces are cozy and beautiful. The food is incredible and the downtown photo locations are endless with the iconic majors hill park just a few short steps away. If you're a foodie, this is definitely the place to consider getting married. 130 seated / 175 standing · Wine rooms bookable separately, Same company and building as Sidedoor.
Richmond Estates & Winery
richmond, ONtario
A family winery on a thirty-seven acre estate about thirty minutes out, also known as Jabulani. Vineyards, three ponds, an apple orchard for the ceremony and a pavilion, with the Jock River running past. The barn seats up to a hundred and forty and they only host one wedding a day. It's the only fully all-inclusive winery in the region, so the price you're quoted covers dinner, open bar, DJ and décor rather than turning into fourteen line items. A log home on the property sleeps eight, and one night is included. Ask about the minimum for your date, as it moves. Up to 140 · One wedding a day · Log home sleeps 8, one night included
recommended Vendor
River House Winery
maberly, ontario
A small vineyard in the countryside near Maberly, about twenty minutes past Perth. It runs seasonally, May through November. Ceremonies happen out among the vines with covered space standing by if the sky opens, then dinner moves indoors to farmhouse tables. Chef Nick Valliquette runs the kitchen, and there's a tasting room with live music most weekends. One of the newer venues in the region and still relatively undiscovered, which is part of the appeal. 130 Guests.
Rogers Centre
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Renamed from the Shaw Centre in late 2024, and still the same building on the canal at Colonel By. The Trillium Ballroom runs to just over nineteen thousand square feet with floor-to-ceiling glass and a wide sweep of downtown, the canal and Parliament Hill. It's connected indoors to the Westin, so guests never step outside in February.
Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Gatineau, Quebec
An old-world clubhouse just across the river, founded in 1891, with the kind of refined atmosphere that suits a classic wedding. It's a private club that opens its facilities to non-members for events. Their coordinator runs a tight ship, and the entrance hall, fireplaces and staircase give us plenty to work with without leaving the building. One thing to know: there's a dress code in effect for all functions, currently business casual.
30 to 175 seated · Up to 400 cocktail · Dining Room 170 · Founders Room 40 to 60 · Founded 1891 · Dress code applies
Sala San Marco
ottawa, ontario
Family-run by the Zacconis since 1987, in the heart of Little Italy, and the name tells you the story: San Marco is the patron saint of Venice, where the family is from. Four rooms cover almost any guest list, from eighty in the DaVinci downstairs to five hundred and fifty in the Window Room. That last one is worth seeing in person, because a wall of arched windows in a room that size is genuinely rare in Ottawa and it means your reception photos aren't lit entirely by chandeliers. Food is cooked on site, and they handle Kosher, Halal and allergy requirements properly rather than as an afterthought.
30 to 550 across four rooms · Window Room 550 · Chandelier 300 · Amadeo 80 · DaVinci 80 · Kosher and Halal · Free parking
Stanley's Farm
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
A hundred and fifty acres of working maple farm twenty-five minutes southeast of downtown, with four different reception spaces and nine acres of gardens, glades and stone to shoot in. The Maples handles up to four hundred; the Stone House Hall suits eighty; the festival tent and Westbrook Pavilion sit in between. Ceremonies happen in the Maple Grove among the sugar maples or at the Stone Steps. Catering is in house and genuinely farm to table, some of it grown a few hundred metres away. Worth knowing before you book: no outside alcohol, no pets since there are animals on site, and no wifi, which they're unapologetic about.
The Maples 400 · Festival Tent 150 to 200 · Stone House Hall 80 · Westbrook Pavilion 150, May to November · No outside alcohol · No pets · No wifi
recommended vendor
Stonefields Estate
Beckwith, ONTARIO
Restored two-hundred-year-old buildings on a big windswept property near Carleton Place. A stone farmhouse, a reclaimed barn for dinner, a verandah for cocktails, an indoor ceremony house and outdoor options under the trees. Overnight accommodation on site. One of the most complete properties in the region.
Up to 220 · Minimums by day: 75 weekdays, 100 Sundays, 120 Fridays, 125 Saturdays · Early April to end of November · Sleeps 8 · One wedding a day · 120 acres
Strathmere
North Gower, ONTARIO
Two hundred acres, three distinct wedding locations and a spa. There's no shortage of places to shoot here, and the staff genuinely care about the details on the day. Popular enough that peak Saturdays can host more than one wedding, so ask about that if it matters to you.
The Lodge 180 seated / 225 cocktail · Garden House 160 seated / 200 reception · Farmhouse 65 seated / 90 cocktail · 33 guest rooms · Spa
Temple's Sugar Bush
Lanark, ONTARIO
A working sugar bush with a timber-frame hall, out between Carleton Place and Perth, seating up to about two hundred. Two outdoor ceremony sites: a perennial garden full of butterflies in summer, or the maple forest itself, which is unreal in October. The wedding side runs as Temple's Country Weddings, all-inclusive, with real food. Worth knowing: there's no accommodation on site and the getting-ready spaces are small, so plan those elsewhere if you have a big party.
The Boathouse Cafe
burrits rapids, ontario
Directly across from the Burritts Rapids lockstation on the Rideau Canal, which means guests can genuinely arrive by boat and the lock itself is a two-minute walk for portraits. Marianne has designed the space deliberately for events: neutral palette, white walls, huge windows and a twelve-foot accordion door that opens the whole room onto the patio. It seats eighty-five inside, or up to a hundred and twenty if you tent the grounds. The upstairs suite is where you get ready and where you stay the night, and it's included in most packages. An on-site coordinator comes with the booking. It runs year-round, properly heated and cooled, which is rarer than it should be out this way.
85 seated / 100 standing · 65 if the ceremony is inside too · Tent up to 120 · Year round · Suite included in most packages · Coordinator included
The Herb Garden
almonte, ontario
A working herb farm and one of the original barn venues in the region, running thirty years now. The Heritage Barn dates to the 1820s and was put together by hand without a single nail or screw, which you can see in the joinery. It seats eighty for dinner, or up to a hundred and thirty if you add a tent. There's a loft above the Bergamot Barn for getting ready, a gazebo, a labyrinth, and gardens that mean you barely need florals. It runs June through September, and a Saturday booking gets you the property from Friday morning to Sunday noon, which takes all the pressure off setup. 80 seated in the Heritage Barn · 130 with a tent · June to September
The Knox
Merrickville, ontario
An 1861 Presbyterian church in one of the prettiest villages in Eastern Ontario, forty-five minutes from Ottawa. Restored so the old and the new sit together nicely, with indoor and outdoor space and tall gothic windows pouring light in. Weddings up to about eighty. Small guest list, big character.
The Marshes Golf Club
Kanata, ONTARIO
Wide views, strong service and facilities that handle a full wedding day without moving anyone across town. It shares a property with Brookstreet, so if you're touring one it's worth seeing both. Straightforward in the best sense, and the team is attentive. Worth knowing: the wedding package includes a room at Brookstreet for the two of you, guest rates for everyone else, and a shuttle running between the two. It's the same property group, so the end-of-night logistics are already sorted.
Ironstone Grill 90 to 120 · Garden Terrace up to 90, or three rooms of 50 · Jones Lounge 50
The Metcalfe Hotel
Ottawa, ontario
A small, sharp downtown hotel with a reception room built for an intimate crowd, somewhere under sixty guests. Everyone sleeps upstairs, the food is the point, and none of it feels like a conference centre. Lovely option for a brunch wedding or a very good dinner. Book ten or more rooms and they'll upgrade your wedding-night room, throw in breakfast for two and hold check-out until 2pm.
The Opinicon
elgin, ontario
A restored historic resort at Chaffey's Lock on Opinicon Lake, about ninety minutes from Ottawa, with sixteen acres of waterfront grounds. The dining room opens onto verandas over the water, and there's a retro Tiki Lounge for cocktails and the Alford Room for dinner and dancing. They run seasonally and comfortably host up to a hundred. One important change: they no longer offer overnight accommodation, so guests will need to stay elsewhere.
The Ranch Weddings & Events
Carleton Place, ontario
A new venue on County Road 29, open since 2025, blending rustic and modern in roughly equal measure. Indoor and outdoor ceremony options with the indoor space usable year-round, then cocktails and dinner flowing between the two. It holds up to a hundred and fifty. An in-house DJ and lighting come with it, and being new means Steve and the team have the time to shape the day around what you're actually picturing.
Up to 150 · Indoor and outdoor ceremony options · Year-round indoor space · In-house DJ and lighting · Opened 2025
Under 100 Guests
Small weddings are not big weddings with fewer people in them. A hundred-guest room with fifty in it feels like something didn't go to plan, no matter how good the flowers are. These venues are built at the right scale, so fifty people fill the room instead of rattling around it.
The range runs from Flo's Garden's red barn at 50 up to Adélina at 90, with Ashlar (55), The Knox (60), Strathmere's Farmhouse (65), Domaine Mallity indoors (70), Cumberland Belle (75), The Herb Garden and Manoir de la Forêt (80), Umbrella Bar (80) and The Boathouse (85) in between. Little Victories and the Metcalfe both work beautifully at this size too.
One thing worth catching: make sure the number you're quoted includes a dance floor. The Knox holds 80 standing but 60 seated once you allow space to dance, and that gap catches people out. Always ask for the seated-with-dancing figure, not the headline.
And a few of these aren't just smaller versions of larger venues, they're a different thing entirely. Little Victories is a working coffee roastery. Umbrella Bar sits right on Dow's Lake. Manoir de la Forêt runs a package for as few as sixteen. Ashlar is an 1890 schoolhouse that seats 55 and has a chef most large venues would envy.
If the guest list has been the thing stressing you out, this is the section to start with. A short list isn't a compromise here. It's the whole point.
The Wakefield Grand
Wakefield, quebec
A restored inn at the north end of Wakefield village, thirty minutes from downtown, sitting on six acres of forest and two ponds. It's built for small weddings, roughly twenty to fifty guests, with an outdoor courtyard and fire pit, an indoor fireside dining room, and five suites that sleep twenty-six so nobody drives home. The package covers a five-course dinner, a day-of coordinator and breakfast the next morning. It's also under ten minutes from Le Belvédère, so couples marrying there often book the Grand for guests.
RECOMMENDED VENDOR
Thee Farm Event & Wellness
kemptville, ontario
A hundred and ten acres about thirty minutes south of Kanata, built around a sixty-acre lake. Marry by the water or in the trees, then celebrate in the barn-style building. A restored 1854 farmhouse anchors the property, and six geodesic domes with king beds and full bathrooms mean guests can stay over. All-inclusive packages with on-site catering, so a wedding here easily becomes a whole weekend.
Venue Twenty Two - The Westin Hotel
Ottawa, Ontario
On the twenty-second floor of the Westin, with floor-to-ceiling glass looking straight at Parliament Hill and the Château Laurier. In summer you get fireworks thrown in. Food, service and views are all excellent, and there's no other room in the city with this outlook. Put it on your tour list.
RECOMMENDED VENDOR
Vignoble de Chelsea
chelsea, quebec
A vineyard fifteen minutes from downtown, with indoor and tented reception options for up to about a hundred and twenty. Country atmosphere with a bit of polish, and enough privacy that the day feels contained while still being close enough to town for getting ready and photos.
Ottawa is home to a wide variety of wedding venues that cater to different tastes and preferences. From the rustic charm of Evermore Weddings and Events to the modern elegance of the iconic NAC Ottawa, there is a venue for every couple. At Grey Loft Studio, we are passionate about capturing the beauty and emotion of your special day at these incredible venues. We feel deeply honoured to be recommended by so many incredible venues. Trust us, that is no easy feat. Venues are very careful who they choose to recommend. Choosing the right venue is the first step in creating memories that will last a lifetime. Let this guide help you find the perfect Ottawa wedding venue for your wedding ceremony and reception featuring your unforgettable celebration.
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Having had the privilege of capturing countless beautiful moments at a diverse array of Ottawa Wedding venues, we bring a wealth of experience to guide you in choosing the perfect setting for your special day. Schedule a consultation with us, and let's get into your vision and priorities, ensuring your wedding day is tailored precisely to your desires.
“If you’re on the fence, let me just say this is the absolute best decision you can make.”
- Hailey & Seb
Why You Should Choose Ottawa, Ontario for Your Wedding
When it comes to choosing a wedding destination, Ottawa, Ontario, should be at the top of your list. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, Ottawa offers everything you need for a perfect wedding. Whether you're a local or planning a destination wedding, here are some compelling reasons why you should consider getting married in Ottawa.
Ottawa is known for its breathtaking scenery and iconic landmarks, making it a picturesque backdrop for your wedding photos. From the historic Parliament Hill to the serene Rideau Canal, the city is filled with stunning locations that will make your special day unforgettable. Popular wedding venues in Ottawa include the Fairmont Château Laurier, a historic castle-like hotel offering a fairytale setting, and the scenic National Gallery of Canada, perfect for art lovers.
Ottawa offers a diverse range of wedding venues to suit any style and budget. From luxurious hotels and grand ballrooms to rustic barns and charming outdoor locations, you can find the perfect venue that matches your vision.
ottawa wedding venue
Ottawa's rich history and cultural diversity make it a unique place to get married. The city boasts numerous museums, galleries, and historic sites that you and your guests can explore. The ByWard Market, one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets, offers a vibrant atmosphere with its eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and street performers. Hosting your wedding in Ottawa means your guests can immerse themselves in the city's rich cultural tapestry.
The ByWard Market area is a hub of activity and a fantastic place to capture the spirit of Ottawa. It's an excellent location for pre-wedding photos or even a casual post-wedding brunch.
A City Rich in History and Culture
Four Seasons of Beauty
One of the unique aspects of getting married in Ottawa is the beauty of its four distinct seasons. Each season offers its own charm, allowing you to choose the perfect backdrop for your wedding.
Spring and summer are popular times for weddings in Ottawa. The city's parks and gardens, such as Major's Hill Park and the Dominion Arboretum, come to life with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Outdoor weddings are especially beautiful during these seasons, with warm weather and long daylight hours.
Fall in Ottawa is breathtaking, with the changing leaves providing a stunning array of colours. Venues like the Central Experimental Farm and the Arboretum offer picturesque settings for an autumn wedding. Winter weddings in Ottawa can be equally magical, with venues like the Château Laurier and the Rideau Canal Skateway offering a winter wonderland experience.
Ottawa is home to a thriving culinary scene, ensuring that your wedding menu will be nothing short of extraordinary. The city's top chefs and caterers use fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create delectable dishes that will delight your guests. Whether you prefer a formal sit-down dinner or a casual buffet, Ottawa's culinary experts can accommodate your preferences.
Venue Locations in ottawa
Getting married in Ottawa is straightforward, thanks to the city's clear and efficient legal requirements. To get married in Ottawa, you will need a marriage license, which can be obtained from Ottawa City Hall. Both parties must be present to apply, and you will need to provide identification and pay a fee. The marriage license is valid for three months, giving you ample time to plan your ceremony.
Ottawa offers a variety of marriage commissioners and officiants who can perform your ceremony, whether you prefer a civil or religious service. This flexibility allows you to tailor your wedding to your specific preferences and beliefs.
Marriage Commissioners and Officiants
Legal Requirements and Marriage Licenses
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