Best Places in Ontario for a Forest Wedding

Do you and your partner love being outside, hiking, camping, travelling or cottaging? If so, you probably want to include outdoor elements in your wedding! Can you imagine yourself getting married amongst tall trees? How about walking through the woods on a warm sunny day as a married couple? If this sounds like a dream to you, a forest wedding might be a perfect fit! Luckily, hosting a forest wedding in Ontario is a stunning and accessible option. There are so many gorgeous places that you can choose from! A forest wedding can take place at a wedding venue, a local park, or even someone’s backyard! Since I have photographed many amazing couples for their forest weddings, I am happy to share my personal list of the best places in Ontario for a forest wedding.

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Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat

There’s a reason why Whispering Springs boasts about their wilderness weddings! Whispering Springs is the top forest wedding location in the province. This venue is located in Grafton, Ontario and is specifically designed for outdoor lovers. You and your guests stay in glamping tents on site and your reception can be under the grand pavilion. Your ceremony can be by the spring-fed pond or in the gorgeous forest chapel. The feeling you get as soon as you walk into the chapel is breathtaking! This family-run venue provides all of their couples with personalized love and care. I am proud to be a preferred vendor at Whispering Springs and have photographed amazing couples in spring, summer and fall!

See more Whispering Springs Weddings Here!

*Exciting news – as of January, 2020, Whispering Springs has opened up a special elopement forest chapel called ‘La Petite Chapel’ for couples wanting an intimate elopement experience! Contact me to photograph your forest wedding at Whispering Springs!

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Kortright Centre for Conservation

If you are looking for a dream forest venue near the Greater Toronto Area, look no farther than the Kortright Centre for Conservation! The Kortright Centre has a few different options for forest wedding ceremonies. All of the spots are stunning! For receptions, they have a big indoor space as well as a unique greenhouse in the middle of the forest. You will love the gorgeous forest and there are many trails to choose from for your wedding portraits. Kira and Sean’s Kortright Conservation Centre wedding was featured in Hitched Magazine!

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Batawa Ski Hill

Batawa Ski Hill is located just north of Trenton, Ontario and it is a beautiful and unique spot for a wedding ceremony. After your forest wedding, you can explore the property together as a married couple. The trail system is vast and the views from the top of the ski hill are stunning ! The ski lodge was recently renovated and makes the perfect spot for your post-wedding reception. *Update December, 2020 – Batawa Ski Hill has currently paused events for 2021*

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Cottage Country Wedding

There are many beautiful wedding venues up in the Muskoka and Haliburton areas! I personally loved photographing Anastasia and Ed’s forest wedding at the Bonnie View Inn. The venue went above and beyond to set-up a gorgeous ceremony spot on their forest property across the street from the inn. As a result, Anastasia and Ed had a beautiful forest wedding ceremony in Haliburton! In the Muskoka area, Sherwood Inn is a well-known venue that also features waterfront and forest areas for gorgeous outdoor ceremonies.

There are many cottages and Air BnBs that are happy to host your small forest wedding celebration. Be sure to be upfront with the owner to confirm that weddings are allowed on the property! Valen and Leigh were married on the waterfront in Haliburton and we ventured into the forest for some magical spring portraits.

If you have a personal connection to a forest where you can have your forest wedding ceremony, even better! For instance, a family property can be a stunning backdrop for your wedding celebration. For the reception, there are many tent companies who offer beautiful rentals. Caitlin and Jeffrey had their cottage wedding in Prince Edward County in a beautiful forest area on the shores of Lake Ontario.

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Local Park, Provincial Park or National Park Weddings

Ontario is filled with many beautiful local conservation areas, provincial parks and national parks. Any one of them would be beautiful spot for a forest wedding ceremony! If you are not able to host your ceremony there, pick a spot close by so that you can go on an adventure for your wedding portraits. Contact your favourite park to ask about the possibilities.

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Honorable Mentions

You may also want to check out these other venues in Ontario that offer forest wedding ceremonies:

• The Meadows in Stirling is an already beautiful rustic venue with outdoor ceremony space, and rumour is that they are opening up a forest ceremony site for 2021! Stay tuned!
• Black River Retreat in Tweed is a dream location. The ceremony itself is right on the river and the property is surrounded by forest. It’s one of my top choices for an Ontario elopement, but they have the capacity for larger forest weddings, too!
• Ganaraska Forest Centre, a HUGE property north of Port Hope, Ontario with both indoor and outdoor facilities
• La Belvedere , a high-end cliffside venue outside of Ottawa. If you want to combine luxury with nature, this is your ideal spot!
• McMichael Canadian Art Collection, a beautiful gallery and property in Kleinburg Ontario which is just north of Toronto (fun fact – I almost got married here!)

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Once you get the wheels in motion for planning your dream forest wedding in Ontario, you will want to have a photographer to authentically capture the natural setting you have selected to say your vows! I specialize in providing candid and scenic coverage for outdoor weddings in Ontario. Click here to contact me and get started!