Why I can’t stop talking about these Niagara Venues

When it comes to venues, I hear that need for an insider perspective, so I’m here with some of my favourite wedding venues in the Niagara Region. Here are 10 indoor and outdoor Niagara-on-the-Lake wedding venues and surrounding locations to help you find exactly what you need during your wedding planning process.

I might be biased, but when it comes to memorable wedding settings, Niagara just doesn’t quit. Vineyards, sunsets, escarpment, waterside views, historical character… Niagara, you deliver it all.

How to Choose Your Wedding Venue, and feel great about it:

You’ve heard it from a million people now – book your wedding venue right away, they fill up fast! So, you’ve been searching for a wedding venue that will be the perfect setting for your wedding day (while feeling a bit of that pressure to act quickly). 

The problem is that finding your ideal wedding venue can feel really overwhelming – there are so many options, you don’t have limitless time to visit them all, and you often have to book your wedding venue before you’ve organized all the other details of your wedding. Gah, stress! (Right!?). 

I find that when my clients have the help and support they deserve (without that scarcity voice saying, “Hurry up, you’re going to miss the boat if you don’t cross everything off your list today”), then they actually end up making great decisions, more quickly, and without a stress headache afterwards. 

As a wedding photographer, my highest goal is to take beautiful photos – the kind of photos that will light you up with joy when you see them for the first time and still make you feel the love and romance you felt on your wedding day ten years later.

I also know that in order to do this, you need to feel blissfully calm and comfortable in the environment you spend your wedding day in. That’s why I also take it upon myself as a photographer to help you with other aspects of your wedding day, like helping you form a timeline and also providing you with recommendations when you have big decisions to make.

Great pictures start with feeling great, so without further ado, let’s take a look inside ten of Niagara’s best locations to help you feel incandescently happy on your wedding day.

So, in the spirit of having fun and staying curious, let’s explore more of Niagara’s gorgeous wedding venue options. 

Here’s a summary of the locations I’m going to cover in this blog:

“But wait, you’re a photographer right?”

Yes, you’re very correct, I photographer who also loves to help you find the answers you need to plan your wedding. After being actively involved in the wedding industry for the past 11 years, photographing over 300 couples’ wedding days, I have a lot of advice to share to make your wedding planning journey easy and even fun. 

What to Look for in a Niagara Wedding Venue:

Here are the most important things to ask yourself, and the venue coordinator when you’re researching wedding venues: 

• Can this venue accommodate the number of guests on my list? 
• Does it fit the vibe I want for my wedding decor and the wedding photos I want to receive? 
• Do you want a blank canvas to decorate yourself, or do you want a venue that offers loads of charm and decor on its own, so you don’t have to worry about it? 
• What locations in the venue are best suited for photos? (Decor and lighting are key here) 
• If the venue offers outdoor space for roaming and photography, ask where the sunset would be in the evening. (We want that golden-hour light!) 
• Is on-site catering available for dinner, or will I need to bring in a caterer? Or is outside catering allowed? 
• Do you want to have on-site accommodations available for your out-of-town guests? (This is common if you expect to have a large number of guests travelling to your wedding) 
• How do you want your guests to spend time between the ceremony and reception? 
  • Do you want them to be in one place without travelling between locations? 
  • Do you want to offer a cocktail reception after the ceremony? 
  • Do you want them to walk around the corner and find a downtown core full of shopping and restaurants? 
  • Or do you want natural scenery for guests to wander through and enjoy? 
• Do you have your heart set on indoor or outdoor settings? For example, a church ceremony or an outdoor ceremony? A hall reception or under the stars? 
• If you’re looking for outdoor options, always make sure you know what the venue’s rain policy is 
• What key features of your wedding day do you need a venue to accommodate? For example: 
  • A dance floor
  • An area for a live band or DJ
  • A bridal suite to get ready in 
  • A private spot to hold your first look as a couple 

Pro Tip:

This list might seem overwhelming, but honestly, your gut will tell you the answer to most of these things. When you visit, can you see yourself getting ready in front of that big, gold mirror? Can you see yourself walking down that aisle? Do you see where your nieces and nephews will play hide and seek in the gardens? 

When it feels right, you just know – just like with your fiancé, your wedding dress, or finding your new home. We’re already so excited for you to have “that moment” when you know you’ve found your perfect wedding venue. 

11 Niagara Wedding Venues that Will Make You Swoon:

Kurtz Orchards is a picturesque wedding venue in Niagara-on-the-Lake, known for its stunning natural beauty and serene ambiance. As one of the most charming wedding venues Niagara has to offer, this family-owned orchard provides a unique and rustic setting with lush apple orchards, charming gardens, and scenic views of the Niagara River.

Couples can exchange vows under a canopy of trees or in one of the beautifully landscaped gardens, followed by a reception in the elegant, open-air pavilion. The venue’s farm-to-table culinary offerings, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients, add a delightful touch to any celebration. Kurtz Orchards combines natural charm with sophisticated elegance, making it an ideal choice for couples seeking a romantic and intimate wedding venue in Niagara.

Chateau des Charmes stands out as one of my favourite Niagara-on-the-Lake wedding venues. Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by vineyards and the Niagara Escarpment. As one of the most elegant outdoor wedding venues Niagara has to offer, it brings a breathtaking natural setting to your celebration. The estate’s architecture takes inspiration from the grand chateaux of France, giving a touch of European elegance to your day.

Their dedicated event team provides personalized service, ensuring every detail is crafted to perfection. Chateau des Charmes provides an unforgettable experience that will linger in the hearts of you and your guests long after the last dance.

Working alongside the incredible staff at this venue is an absolute joy. The weddings here are filled with unforgettable moments, and my clients are always left with cherished memories that stand the test of time.

With a wedding at Ravine, your photos can feature:

• Sunset photos in the vineyard
• Vast green backgrounds set against the escarpment
• The sleek elegance of windowed venues
• White background of their colonial-style farmhouse

Are you looking for emotion-rich engagement & wedding photos?

If you’re looking for a photographer who provides a high-quality experience, captures the fun of the party, and brings energy and excitement to your wedding weekend click here to start the conversation.

Sue-Ann Staff Winery, nestled in the heart of Niagara’s wine country, stands out as one of the best venues for wedding celebrations. This family-operated estate winery, prized for its amazing wines and breathtaking views, effortlessly infuses romance into each event.

You can exchange vows amid the rolling vineyards, with the natural backdrop painting a picture of rustic elegance. The winery’s perfectly manicured grounds and charming pond offer endless photographic opportunities to capture those cherished moments. With indoor facilities that exude sophistication and outdoor spaces that embrace the serene countryside ambiance, Sue-Ann Staff Winery promises a wedding experience that is both intimate and grandiose. Embrace the essence of Niagara’s viticultural charm as you begin your forever at this captivating venue.

Photographing Your Wedding at Queen’s Landing:

Vintage Hotels has done it again with their enchanting venue, “Queen’s Landing.” You’ll enjoy your wedding in that ballroom glow of ornate gold accents and crystal chandeliers.

Queen’s Landing is a breathtaking lakeside Georgian Mansion overlooking the Niagara River. If you’re searching for a venue that offers fairytale-level elegance and tons of character, you must add Queen’s Landing to your list. You and your guests will bask in the best of Niagara’s natural scenery while also enjoying an elevated wedding day experience in one of their four romantic event spaces:

• The Imperial Ballroom: This ballroom will wow your guests with its elegant gold accents and chandeliers dripping with crystals. You’ll feel like a princess in glass slippers walking in to join your guests for an evening of elegance. This room seats 120 guests. 

• The Georgian Ballroom: This ballroom is the largest indoor wedding space at Queen’s Landing, able to host up to 250 guests. Your large wedding will feel magically intimate in this elegant space.
  
  I’m always amazed by their handcrafted chandeliers and golden drapery. Your reception photos will have that warm, romantic glow perfect for an evening celebration. 

• The Atrium: Any Jane Austen fans out there? In this venue, you’ll truly feel like you’ve found your Mr. Darcy. lf you’re planning an intimate wedding of your closest friends and family, we would recommend the Atrium, seating up to 48 guests.
  
  You’ll walk into your wedding guests through a set of French doors, swaying past ornate mirrors and an opulent chandelier to meet the love of your life at the end of the aisle. Photos are always wonderful in here because of the large windows letting in lots of gorgeous daylight!

• The Waterview Garden: This is the outdoor ceremony space offered by Queen’s Landing, accommodating up to 300 guests. Say your vows beneath a stunning pergola, decorated in gorgeous drapery and romantic floral arrangements. Past a row of tall trees, you’ll see the Niagara River bringing a stunning waterfront feel to your elegant wedding day. Your summer wedding here will result in tons of breathtaking photos. 

Are you looking for emotion-rich engagement & wedding photos?

If you’re looking for a photographer who provides a high-quality experience, captures the fun of the party, and brings energy and excitement to your wedding weekend click here to start the conversation.

Old town Niagara-on-the-Lake charm meets Tuscan vineyard-inspired design. You’ve likely gotten this recommendation multiple times since getting engaged. It’s well-known and widely recommended for good reason. This historic, multi-award winning resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake provides you with an abundance of accommodations and amenities: an indoor and outdoor spa, hotel rooms for guests, catering, fine dining, patios, amazing staff and an extraordinary property for photos and exploring.

When it comes to wedding planning, you will get access to their curated vendor list as well as your choice of four spaces for rehearsal dinners, bridal suites, ceremony and reception: the Olde Library and Gallery, the Upper Canada Hall Ballroom, the Secord Room or the Courtyard Rose Garden. 

With a wedding at The Pillar and Post, your photos can feature: 

• Dark wooden beams and twinkle lights
• Gold-framed mirrors
• Colonial style architecture with tall windows
• Dark brick exterior with luscious green vines 
• Indoor and outdoor options 

Along the charming downtown cityscape of Jordan Village, you’ll find another one of Vintage Hotel’s masterpieces, Inn on the Twenty. Amidst gorgeous heritage homes, grey stone buildings and the kind of tall black street lamps that make you feel like you’re in the musical La La Land, you can also enjoy the convenience of Inn on the Twenty’s hotel accommodations, full-service spa, and prestigious Inn on the Twenty Restaurant.

Inn on the Twenty offers four unique reception spaces that can accommodate your style and needs, especially with their curated list of vendors and wedding specialists. With your wedding at Inn on the Twenty, you get the best of Niagara’s wine country as well as the quaint heritage of Jordan Village. 

Your photos can feature:

• The lush green forest areas and waterfalls of Ball’s Falls
• Stunning vineyard landscapes
• Jordan Hollow lookout point at the Jordan Museum 
• The charming textures of old stone buildings and old-town sophistication 
• Well kept gardens with a fountain and a stunning vine-covered archway 
• Glowing lights of lamp posts and regal colonial buildings 

This is an unforgettable space of open, airy elegance. The modern spin on a heritage classic has created something simply magical. The Gate House is one of Niagara’s newest wedding venue spaces, since opening up in Spring 2019.

It’s been such a pleasure getting familiar with this new Niagara gem. The Gate House has been remodelled to incorporate aspects of its original architecture and design from the 1700s and has a patio that overlooks charming Queen Street. With white walls, this space provides an incredible canvas for creative wedding visionaries – unique floral creations, trendy tablescapes and modern sleek design elements.

This venue has partnered with the 124 on Queen Hotel and Spa to provide you and your guests with convenient, luxurious accommodations. When you hold your wedding at The Gate House you’ll have all the stunning features of modern elegance at your fingertips.

Your photos can feature: 

• Light and open interior spaces with white walls and tall windows 
• Trendy gold wall art and light fixtures
• The lively, heritage cityscape of Queen Street
• Historical sites and buildings around Niagara-on-the-Lake 
• Close to many parks and vineyards for a green setting as well  

Conclusion

Maybe you’ve noticed a recurring theme in our blogs. I love to compile what I’ve learned in our years in the wedding industry to help make the process of planning a wedding as easy and enjoyable as possible. When you trust your vendors, love your location and feel good about your choices, how could you not have the most wonderful wedding day?! 

When you pick one of these ten Niagara gems to host your wedding, you can’t go wrong. All of these venues allow you to customize details to your unique taste, and it’s part of why they made the list. Your love story is unlike any other, and your wedding day should represent that. 

If you want to know more about what it’s like to have me photograph your wedding day you can book a meet and greet right here. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Non-Affiliation Disclaimer: Morning Light Photography is not being compensated by the venues on this list. I just want to share the amazing experiences I’ve had at these venues so my clients can be supported with first-hand recommendations along their wedding planning journey. 

This isn’t just the wedding of the year, it’s yours.

Your wedding will be unforgettable – for the people who were there AND the ones who only get to see the photos. Let’s capture your wedding with photographers that make everyone wish they were there!

Fill out the form below, and I’ll be in touch faster than you can say “signature cocktail!”.