Best Ottawa Wedding Venues
Showcasing the best Ottawa wedding venues the city has to offer!
I call this the “Best Ottawa Wedding Venues” list, but really, it’s very much an all-inclusive list, meant to help couples getting married find and compare venues. A venue is often the first (and arguably, most important) thing couples search for when they decide to get married. And finding a venue that fits the couple’s needs is key. Ottawa has an amazing selection of wedding venues, so I hope this list can help you in your search!
A few words of wisdom I’d love to pass along… when looking for a venue, it’s important to keep in mind:
Guest List
How many guests are you planning to invite? Are you looking for accommodation on-site for your guests as well? Or just a ceremony and reception space? Having an understanding of this will help determine which venues will work best for you and narrow down your search.
Rain Plan
Are you planning to have an indoor or outdoor ceremony? How about the reception? Have you thought about what time of year you’d like to have your wedding at? If you’re considering an outdoor ceremony, does your venue have a solid rain plan option? These are all great questions to start thinking about in your search for a wedding venue.
Lighting
From a photography perspective, lighting is everything! It sets the tone and creates an ambiance for your wedding day. The lighting at a venue can make or break your experience, your photos, and ultimately your memories. So it’s super important to consider this when booking your own wedding venue.
To keep things coherent, I’ve listed the venues in alphabetical order.
Best Ottawa Wedding Venues:
50 Sussex
50 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON
Nestled right beside Rideau Falls, 50 Sussex has become one of the newest (and most spectacular) wedding and event venues in Ottawa. In 2017, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society transformed it from a vacant building into a venue, and it has been operational since 2018. It’s a blank canvas venue with a grassed terrace and space for an outdoor tent.
Ideal for: upscale, modern weddings
Adelina Barn
316 chemin de 6e rang, Gatineau, QC
Both a wedding venue and a floral studio, Adelina Barn is a quick 20 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. The venue space can host up to 120 guests. The barn is a two story open concept space, and it has both indoor and outdoor options for ceremonies and receptions. It has a rustic country feel to it, and makes for a picturesque space!
Ideal for: intimate outdoor weddings with a rustic feel to it
All Saints Event Space
330 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON
A historic church turned wedding space in the heart of Ottawa. All Saints hosts a number of beautiful spaces (like Borden Hall, which is flooded with natural light or the Chapel Room, which is a cozy interior space). With a capacity for up to 300 guests, it’s a great venue especially for larger crowds.
Ideal for: large weddings and indoor ceremonies
Andaz Hotel
325 Dalhousie st. Ottawa, ON
Situated right in the heart of the Byward Market in downtown Ottawa, Andaz Hotel is part of the Hyatt Hotel chain. It can host up to 150 guests and has beautiful window light that makes for stunning photos, and a scenic experience for your guests!
Ideal for: intimate weddings with a modern, urban chic feel to it
At The School House
2876 Munster Road, Ottawa, ON
With various ceremony locations onsite (the school house, courtyard, tent space, gardens, and church), At the School House venue is a versatile space. It can host anywhere between 60 – 120 guests, depending on the ceremony space. It has both indoor and outdoor options, so you always have a space onsite in case of bad weather.
Ideal for: couples who appreciate historical buildings, or want versatility in space
Aquatopia Conservatory
2710 March Road, Carp, ON
This beautiful glass conservatory resembles that of a greenhouse and is so perfect for plant lovers who want to channel tropical vibes during their wedding. Since this venue holds up to 150 guests, it is very spacious. And it also has incredible light that filters through the windows (making it perfect for your wedding photos)!
Ideal for: plant-lovers and winter weddings (since you can stay cozy and warm inside, but still allow for great lighting)
Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Pkwy, Ottawa, ON
With venue space of up to 250 guests, the Aviation museum is the perfect spot for a unique wedding and experience! It’s tucked away in the east end of Ottawa, but still accessible enough to the city for your guests to get to.
Ideal for: airplane lovers and indoor ceremonies
Bleeks and Bergamot
8230 Bleeks Rd, Ashton, ON
www.bleeksandbergamotweddings.com
With a century-old dairy barn and riverside property, Bleeks and Bergamot is a beautiful wedding venue that has both indoor and outdoor spaces. You can host a wedding of up to 130 seated, or 150 standing, and they even allow pets!
Ideal for: outdoor intimate weddings with a rustic country vibe
Beantown Receptions
2891 N Plantagenet Concession 3, Plantagenet, ON
With 3 different ceremony sites (both indoor and outdoor options) Beantown plays host to an array of beautiful spaces where you can have your pick for stunning photographs. There is space for up to 150 guests, seated, with an additional 75 guests for reception dancing. There’s even a lakeside gazebo where you can have your first dance underneath fireworks for your guests to enjoy – it’s quite spectacular!
Ideal for: rustic country weddings
Billings Estate Museum
2100 Cabot st. Ottawa, ON
This venue is actually a National Historic Site. The space is in line with what a country estate would look like and has spectacular, lush green grounds with a ton of great spots for photos. It is a nearly 200-year-old manor house surrounded by eight acres of landscaped greenspace and gardens. Spring and summer weddings will see many flowers in bloom here.
Ideal for: history buffs and outdoor ceremonies
Britannia Yacht Club
2777 Cassels Street Ottawa, ON
An active yacht club that plays host to all sorts of events, including weddings. BYC can host up to 120 guests in the Upper Deck banquet room, or 30 guests in the Sunset Lounge (which has a spectacular panoramic view).
Ideal for: indoor ceremonies and sailing lovers
525 Legget Drive, Ottawa, ON
A boutique hotel in Kanata (just 20 minutes away from downtown Ottawa) with ball rooms made especially for large weddings. There is a minimum guest count required (at least 75 or more guests), and there is an outdoor ceremony and reception option – the Outdoor Pavilion. It is also located next to a golf course, so there are plenty of things to do nearby.
Ideal for: large weddings in ball rooms
7 Bridge street, Carleton Place, ON
An ideal venue for those couples who wish to get married in a smaller town just outside of Ottawa. Right in the heart of Carleton Place, it’s about a 45 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. It’s a great space to host your guests if you want everyone to stay on site. The venue can accommodate 160 people for sit down dinners, and 250 people for cocktail style receptions. There’s also a great rooftop space to take some dreamy photos on (highly recommend for sunset photos).
Ideal for: indoor ceremonies
1981 Century Rd W, North Gower, ON
With a giant banquet hall and an outdoor patio and gazebo, Century Weddings and Events is another great option for larger weddings (up to 300 guests, or 250 comfortably seated). There are options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, which gives versatility in case of bad weather.
Ideal for: large weddings with scenic outdoor spaces
Central Experimental Farm
960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON
The Central Experimental Farm is a stunning space that can host wedding ceremonies of up to 40 guests. It’s perfect for intimate weddings, and when you book this space, you also get access to the Arboretum and the rest of the outdoor areas for photos!
Ideal for: small weddings with scenic outdoor spaces
1 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON
Since this venue is one of the most luxurious in the city, it is perfect for impressing your guests and giving them an experience. With a variety of options for either indoor or outdoor ceremonies, the Château is right downtown and so it will be easily accessible to all of your guests.
Ideal for: higher budgets and luxury weddings
Courtyard Restaurant
21 George Street, Ottawa, ON
Since this restaurant is already a popular Byward market choice, you can rest assured your guests will love the food! It’s also very convenient to access since it is located in the heart of Ottawa. They have a capacity of between 80 – 250 (depending on if you want sit down service or not).
Ideal for: food lovers and winter weddings
Cumberland Belle
2476 Ch. Old Montreal Rd, Cumberland, ON
The Cumberland Belle was built in 1867 and is located in the historic Cumberland Village. It is ideal for intimate weddings, since it hosts up to 70 guests seated (or 100 standing). It has the original stained glass windows and cathedral ceiling, but it’s been renovated to give it a more updated, modern look.
Ideal for: indoor ceremonies and smaller weddings
Delta Hotel
101 Lyon st. North, Ottawa, ON
The Delta Hotel plays host to over a dozen different event spaces, so you can host up to 1100 if you want! Another space to consider is its grassy outdoor terrace, which is on a rooftop amidst tall high rises. This makes for a cozy and intimate outdoor ceremony space (and potentially an outdoor reception space too).
Ideal for: intimate city weddings
Elements Luxury Tented Camp
793 Storyland Rd, Renfrew, ON
This idyllic glamping venue has a spectacular vista (Champlain’s Lookout) that overlooks a giant forest, and lots of green space that would be perfect for an intimate wedding or elopement. This particular lookout is ideal for weddings between 10 – 20 guests. And the tents are the perfect retreat to sleep over in if luxury camping is your thing!
Ideal for: outdoor lovers and elopements
Evermore Weddings and Events
4960 County Road 29, Almonte, ON
https://evermoreweddingsandevents.ca
With 45 acres of rolling farmland, Evermore is a restored barn originally built in the 1870’s. There are a large variety of spaces you can host your wedding in, and this is typically an all-inclusive package venue. There is an 80-100 guest minimum (depending on the day and season).
Ideal for: rustic country weddings with a large guest count
1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa, ON
This giant venue in the heart of Ottawa is perfect if you have a large guest list (it holds up to 800 guests)! And it is also great if your guests are scattered throughout the city, since they can taxi or uber home afterwards. It has large exposed beams, and is perfect if you want to channel industrial vibes for your wedding! I can also give you great recommendations on the perfect spots to take photos nearby (ideal for the vibe of your wedding)!
Ideal for: large weddings with industrial city vibes
Jabulani Vineyard and Winery
8005 Jock Trail, Richmond, ON
http://jabulani.ca/weddings.html
A stunning vineyard that hosts weddings of up to 180 guests, Jabulani is situated only 30 minutes from Ottawa. There are three ceremony spots onsite: a pond, an orchard, and a crush pad.
Ideal for: outdoor ceremonies and wine lovers
Lago Bar and Grill
1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa, ON
Situated right on Dow’s Lake and right next to the Arboretum, Lago is one of the only venues in Ottawa that is directly on waterfront. The big windows allow for natural lighting indoors. There are both indoor and outdoor ceremony options, although the outdoor balcony is ideal for smaller, more intimate weddings and guest lists.
Ideal for: indoor ceremonies with a beautiful view
40 Des Sentiers, Wakefield, QC
Because it is perched atop a cliff overlooking the beautiful Gatineau Hills, this venue is so spectacular and holds up to 200 guests. This is a great venue if you truly want to give your guests an experience! From a photographer’s standpoint, the food and customer service is truly outstanding. And so you can rest assured that you and your guests will be well taken care of. I can also help you plan out the best times (and on-site locations) to get the dreamiest sunset photos!
Ideal for: outdoor ceremonies (the autumn is particularly stunning)
fun fact:
Did you know Lauren McCormick Photography is one of Le Belvedérè’s preferred vendors? You can check out their exclusive list of preferred vendors here.
32 Chemin River, Cantley, QC
Since it is nestled in a maple forest, Manoir de la Forêt is exactly what it sounds like: a beautiful manor in a forest. This is the perfect spot to host an outdoor forest ceremony, and it has a cozy reception space. The food is terrific, and they even offer accommodation, making it so easy for your guests to stay over. Since I have experience photographing at this new venue, I know all the great spots to take you to for photos!
Ideal for: intimate weddings with outdoor ceremonies
Mill Street Brewery
555 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON
A perfect option for the beer lovers out there! Mill Street Brewery is a perfect venue with parking onsite, delicious food, and of course, amazing local beer. Set in a 177 year old building, this venue is located in a spectacular area overlooking the Ottawa River. There are also great photography locations nearby, making it one of my fav venues in the city!
Ideal for: beer lovers and foodies alike!
National Arts Centre
380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON
This venue is in the heart of the city, so it’s super easy for all of your guests to get to. The O’Born Room (holds up to 250 guests), and the Al Zaibak Lantern Room (holds up to 120 guests) are two of the most spectacular rooms to host your wedding, as they both have floor-to-ceiling windows. Specifically, the O’Born Room shows off views of Ottawa’s downtown core. I also know really great spots to take you for photos afterwards, and can advise you on perfect locations!
Ideal for: upscale indoor ceremonies with a wow-factor
290 City Centre ave. Ottawa, ON
This is a unique space that is perfect for an indoor, intimate wedding. The venue only holds up to 60 people, but with the right-sized guest list, it can be a spectacular experience (for art-lovers, and creatives alike). The side window light is incredible (I can give you advice on the best months to book this venue to optimize the light – spoken from my own experience!). And they’ve even recently opened an outdoor patio for summer parties.
Ideal for: small weddings and cocktail-style receptions
Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)
50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON
Nestled right in the heart of Ottawa, the OAG is one of the newer venues the city has to offer. With reception seating for up to 150 guests at round tables (8 people per table), the gallery has a number of bright, versatile, modern spaces to fit any kind of aesthetic. It’s best known to be a blank canvas that you can dress up any which way you prefer. And while you’ll be required to purchase food and drinks through their preferred caterers, they are conveniently located right in the middle of the city – making it easy for your guests to get home.
Ideal for: minimalists, lovers of good light, or couples seeking a “blank canvas” venue
Ottawa Conference and Event Centre
200 Coventry road, Ottawa, ON
www.ottawaconferenceandeventcentre.com
With 2 ballrooms and space for up to 1200 guests, this conference centre is ideal for large scale weddings. It is directly connected to 2 different hotels, making it easy for your guests to stay over onsite and not have to worry about driving home after your wedding.
Ideal for: large guest lists and easy hotel access on site
Ottawa City Hall
110 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, ON
Although you may find it funny to see City Hall listed as a wedding venue, I’ve added it for those lovers who truly see the value in tiny, intimate weddings. And I also want to keep the focus on what’s really important to them: each other. I’ve photographed many elopements in many city halls around the world (check out my Toronto City Hall wedding here, or my Copenhagen City Hall wedding here), and Ottawa still makes my list of favourites! I know all the best spots to bring couples for some photos after the ceremony, and can advise you throughout the whole process.
Ideal for: elopements or intimate weddings for couples who want to keep it simple (and potentially splurge on a honeymoon)!
618 Island View Drive, Golden Lake, ON
The camp is a cool 1.5 hour drive from Ottawa, but well worth the visit – and one of my favourite outdoor venues in the area! Since it has a laid-back vibe, it will allow all of your guests to truly relax. And this also allows for everyone to stay the night. I can give lots of great suggestions on photo locations in the area (although it’s not at a shortage of scenic spots), and give some tips on the forest ceremony structure as well!
Ideal for: outdoorsy couples and guests who love to camp
Restaurant 18
18 York St, Ottawa, ON
With various wine rooms and dining spaces available, Restaurant 18 can seat anywhere between 12 guests in its smallest space, up to 150 guests if you rent the entire restaurant. There are no outdoor spaces here, but the indoor spaces available are all cozy, moody, and beautiful.
Ideal for: food lovers and small weddings with an upscale feel to them
Roam Flora
107 Mantil Side Rd, Carp, ON
Roam Flora is an off-grid solar powered flower farm that has been known to host small, intimate weddings onsite. Not much information is available, but get in touch with the owners for more info!
Ideal for: outdoor elopements
Rockcliffe Pavillion
Rockcliffe Driveway, Ottawa, ON
Seats 100 people (and 150 standing), and requires a permit to host a wedding. Since it’s a national historical site, it’s ideal for history and nature lovers. Also, the Pavillion is perched on a bluff and surrounded by incredible scenery. I know of some incredible cliffs nearby where I can take you for portraits after your ceremony (available to all Lauren McCormick Photography clients after booking).
Ideal for: outdoor wedding ceremonies
Sala San Marco
215 Preston St, Ottawa, ON
Officially an event and conference centre, Sala San Marco offers a variety of rooms to fit all guest list sizes (from 90 to 160 people) and budgets. Their venue is tucked away in the heart of Little Italy in Ottawa, and boasts some excellent (and genuine) Italian cuisine on their menu.
Ideal for: Italian food enthusiasts and banquet hall weddings
Sidedoor Restaurant
18b York Street, Ottawa, ON
Sidedoor Restaurant has a capacity of 250 guests if you rent out the entire restaurant, but it is usually divided into smaller spaces to host private events. The food itself is delicious – inspired by the street food in South East Asia. The ambiance at Sidedoor is cosy, intimate, and charming.
Ideal for: foodies and intimate, candlelit weddings in indoor spaces
Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm
2452 Yorks Corners Road, Edwards, ON
Between a wooden barn, log houses, and a quarried field stone house, Stanley’s has a ton of different landscapes to get married in. Their stone steps are the most popular ceremony spot and their reception spaces can cater up to 275 guests.
Ideal for: maple syrup lovers and large outdoor weddings
1985 9th Line, Carleton Place, ON
With an array of indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces available, Stonefields is incredibly versatile and can host up to 220 guests. With 120 acres, you’ll never run out of space on the property to take stunning photos!
Ideal for: modern and rustic weddings
Strathmere
1980 Phelan Road West, North Gower, ON
200 acres of beautiful property gives you Strathmere’s wide variety of wedding locations (The Farmhouse, the Lodge, and The Garden House) as well as awesome spa amenities. There are no shortage of beautiful locations here to take advantage of! On peak season dates, there are often 3 separate weddings happening at this venue at the same time – it’s certainly a popular choice in the Ottawa region! Booking outside of peak dates (ie: non-Saturdays) sometimes results in being the only wedding on site. As a vendor, I can vouch that Strathmere always delivers an excellent guest experience and really great food!
Ideal for: large classic weddings
Temple's Sugar Bush
1700 Ferguson’s Falls Road, Lanark, ON
Located between Carleton Place and Perth, Temple’s Sugar Bush is a maple sugar bush that also plays host to weddings. With an array of ceremony spaces onsite (both indoor and outdoor options), you can host up to 200 guests here. Bonus feature: you can even use Temple’s own maple syrup as guest favours for your wedding!
Ideal for: outdoor rustic country weddings and maple syrup lovers
The Armstrong Estate
Spencerville, ON
A new outdoor venue 40 minutes south of Ottawa, and host to 26 acres of beautiful property. With a wildflower meadow and a restored old stone house built in the 1850s, The Armstrong Estate offers some great outdoor spaces for small weddings of up to 14 guests.
Ideal for: outdoor micro weddings and elopements
The Barn
7109 County Rd 29 South Almonte, ON
www.thebarnweddingandeventvenue.ca
A venue just outside of Almonte, The Barn can host up to 120 people. Weddings gain access to both the Hayloft and the Stable.
Ideal for: rustic weddings
The Knox
618 St. Lawrence St. Merrickville, ON
A former Presbyterian church built in 1861, the Knox has been repurposed to host intimate weddings of up to 80 people. With both indoor and outdoor options, the space is a blank slate and can be decorated as you please. It has stunning black gothic windows that gives tons of natural light inside. The best part: the owners Matt & Michelle are the loveliest humans and amazing to work with! The level of their commitment to their clients is almost unparalleled in this industry – this venue comes highly recommended!
Ideal for: intimate weddings, elopements, and lovers of small quaint towns
fun fact:
Did you know Lauren McCormick Photography is one of The Knox’s preferred vendors? It’s an honour to be included on their list.
The Herb Garden
3840 Old Almonte Rd, Almonte, ON
The Herb Garden is exactly what the name suggests: a herb garden. It’s a rustic wedding geared towards intimate weddings. It can host up to 120 people if you rent a tent, or 104 for sit-down dinners in their Heritage Barn. There is a loft above the Bergamot Barn that is a great space for getting ready, and tons of picturesque spots on site to capture photos.
Ideal for: intimate weddings with a rustic feel
The Opinicon
1697 Chaffeys Lock Rd, Elgin, ON
The Opinicon venue is located in the village of Chaffey’s Lock along the shore of Opinicon Lake. It hosts weddings in a scenic surrounding.
Ideal for: intimate weddings set in quaint little towns
The Wakefield Grand
911 Chem. Riverside, Wakefield, QC J0X 3G0
https://wakefieldgrandweddings.ca/
A beautiful stone building situated on 6 acres of land in Wakefield, Quebec, this venue is a quick 30 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. This idyllic venue also has on-site accomodation (5 spacious suites) and is great for hosting small gatherings of 8-20 people where your guests can stay overnight afterwards. For weddings, they also offer a 5 course dinner and a late night bonfire, as well as breakfast service the next morning.
Ideal for: intimate weddings and elopements
fun fact:
Did you know Lauren McCormick Photography is one of the Wakefield Grand’s preferred vendors? You can check out their exclusive list of preferred vendors here.
Umbrella Bar
1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa, ON
Equipped with both indoor and outdoor patio spaces, Umbrella Bar is located right on Dow’s Lake and has spectacular waterfront views. They also offer flexible pricing for off-peak wedding dates.
Ideal for: modern couples who appreciate waterfront views and upscale dining
Venue TwentyTwo
The Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON
A spectacular venue in the heart of the city, Venue TwentyTwo showcases Ottawa in ways that no other venue can. The floor-to-ceiling windows give the space incredible sights (and from a photographer’s standpoint – LIGHT)! I can give you great recommendations on the best times of year to book this space to optimize the light for your ceremony and reception. I can also give you advice on ideal spots to take photos nearby that truly show off the city’s views!
Ideal for: modern weddings that show off Ottawa’s views
Vignoble de Chelsea
1582 Quebec Rte 105, Chelsea, Quebec
A vinyard that also plays host to weddings within a 15 minute drive from downtown. There are both indoor and outdoor (tented) reception options that can host up to 120 guests. The Vignoble de Chelsea gives all the rustic country vibes, coupled with a touch of elegance. It’s a really great venue for intimate weddings and couples who prefer a little extra privacy that’s still easily accesible to downtown Ottawa.
Ideal for: wine lovers and intimate weddings