Top 5 outdoor wedding venues in Ottawa |

I’m missing summer, and weddings, and actually being outdoors rather than cooped up at home in my sweatpants and slippers trying to stay warm! Naturally, it got me thinking about all the beautiful outdoor wedding venues in Ottawa. Choosing a wedding venue is such a difficult decision. There are so many to choose from, and they are all so different. Each wedding venue offers different elements and cater to a variety of couples. Farm, country, rustic, elegant… you name it. These wedding venues have a little bit of everything. I love to shoot outdoors, so today I’m sharing with you my top 5 outdoor wedding venues in Ottawa.

#1. Strathmere

I’ve photographed at Strathmere on many different occasions and it is still one of my favourites. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Ottawa, Strathmere offers three unique wedding venues all nestled onto one property. With so many different little nooks and crannies to choose from, it’s a photographer’s dream. Also, the food is always SO good. Which is hard for a wedding venue to pull off, in my opinion.

The Lodge is a restored barn, smack in the middle of the property. The ceremony site, located at the back of the building, looks onto the fields of Strathmere, which is what everyone falls in love with when they arrive here. It’s beautiful at any time of year.

The Lodge at Strathmere floral archway at Strathmere Lodge outdoor wedding ceremony at the Lodge at Strathmere bride and groom laughing during recessional

The Inn is a beautiful old stone farmhouse that has lots of character. I have yet to photograph a wedding there, but the outside of the building is just breathtaking!

wedding at the inn

And, finally, the Garden house. The cutest little cottage style venue with beautiful gardens surrounding it. It’s probably my fave.

wedding ceremony on the patio at the garden house at strathmere bride and groom being pronounced as man and wife for the first time

And then there are the fields. Oh, the fields. They go on forever. Bring your hiking shoes, because I’m known to bring my couples into the tall grass to get the perfect shot. Sorry, not sorry.

bride and groom at Strathmere Garden house in Ottawa, Ontario wedding party at Strathmere Garden house in Ottawa, Ontario wedding party walking through the fields at Strathmere bride and groom walking together through fields of Strathmere sunset photos of bride and groom at Strathmere in Ottawa, Ontario

#2. Stanley’s Maple Lane Farm

As a photographer, I adore this place because it has the most perfect light. Most couples who get married on site choose the beautiful stone steps for their ceremony, because it’s AH-mazing. And the light dappling through the trees? Even more picture perfect. I’m in love every time I photograph here. The staff are super helpful, the food is always bang on (yes, I’m pretty food oriented, obviously!), and the grounds at Stanley’s is so beautiful to walk around.

outdoor wedding ceremony on stone steps at Stanley's Maple Lane Farm bride and groom smiling at each other after first kiss bride and groom walking down the aisle as husband and wife

It is a working farm, so if animals aren’t your thing, this venue isn’t for you. But come on, how adorable is this little guy?

groom and groomsmen with goat bride and groom petting horse in a barn bride and groom walking hand in hand bridesmaids in blush standing on steps of old house at Stanley's maple lane farm wedding party in sage green at sunset back of wedding dress at sunset at the farm head table under twinkly lights bride and groom first dance

#3. Temples Sugar Bush

Beautiful country style wedding, where it’s all about the maple syrup! Temples infuses maple syrup into every part of the wedding day. The meal, the wedding favours, even their new ceremony site, where you can get married in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the sugar bush where there are upwards of 5,000 taps!

church pews in forest wooden wedding signs Temples sugar bush reception hall bride and groom walking back down the aisle bride and groom in front of temples sugar bush bride and groom walking down the aisle with rose petals Bride and groom with umbrella at winter wedding in front of rustic shed Bride and groom in front of rustic shed at Temples sugar bush winter wedding bride and groom at sunset in the woods bride and groom at the end of a dock at sunset bride and groom laughing during speeches bride and groom first dance at temples sugar bush

#4. Le Belvedere

On the Quebec side, Le Belvedere has arguably the most breathtaking view of any wedding venue you will ever see in Ottawa and it’s surrounding regions. Nestled on the top of a cliff, it overlooks the Gatineau Hills. Rain of shine, this wedding venue is unbelievable. Steps from the venue is the Guest House, tucked away in the forest, surrounded by nothing but tall trees. It’s the perfect place to get ready before the ceremony.

bride getting her makeup done in the guesthouse bride's dress hanging outside the door of the guest house mother of the bride's purse sitting on a stool in the guest house maid of honor and mother of the bride helping bride into her dress

It’s also the perfect place to do a first look, if it happens to be raining!

first look at le belvedere guest house bride and groom with champagne at le belvedere

I’ve photographed both a rainy day and a beautiful sunny ceremony at Le Belvedere. Both are amazing!

indoor wedding ceremony at le belvedere bride walking down the aisle at indoor ceremony at le belvedere outdoor ceremony at the belvedere overlooking the gatineau hills outdoor ceremony at le belvedere bride and groom walking down the aisle as husband and wife bride and groom standing on cliff's edge

And I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. The FOOD is by far the best wedding food ever in the existence of weddings, EVER. I’m talking real good. The steak…honestly, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I don’t know how they do it!

bride and groom looking off into the sunset at le belvedere

And finally, #5. Your own backyard

Honestly, nothing makes me more excited than photographing a wedding somewhere completely unique to the couple. Their family cottage, their backyard…some place truly meaningful. It’s a blank slate to build upon and an opportunity to really make it your own. Whether it’s a small gathering of people or a 150 + guest list, holding your wedding in a location that has meaning and that is completely unique as a wedding venue is simply the best. And just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Your aunts will love to be part of the planning and preparation to make it happen, so just because it sounds like a lot of work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it. These are some of my favourite outdoor weddings on the couples’ property!

welcome to our wedding wooden sign mon easel black and white photo of bride and groom standing on the dock by the lake bride looking out onto the water at her family cottage by the lake bride and groom cuddling by the water's edge at cottage wedding bride and groom standing below red window at the cottage intimate cottage ceremony under the trees bride kissing groom's ring finger before putting on his wedding band bride and groom recessional after wedding ceremony by the lake wedding bouquet sitting on wooden chair in the forrest bride resting her head on groom's shoulder as they sit together at the cottage bathroom signs at wedding mother of the bride helping bride into her dress tented reception on farm bride and groom recessional bride and groom under willow tree bride and groom at sunset in fields