Yes, ladies, venue hunting is now your #1 PRIORITY!
Finding that perfect venue and ceremony space to pronounce your wedding vows is not an easy task, I’ll give you that! Montreal is filled with beautiful places that can be wonderful backdrops for a memorable wedding day. When doing a search for venues for a friend whose wedding I’m helping plan, I quickly noticed that some of my favourite spots are not that easy to find inside wedding magazines or even online. Sounds like word of mouth and reputation is the way brides get to discover some of these wonderful hidden gems.
So here they are for you, my top 5 most romantic venues in Montreal. (Some of these locations are in the outskirts of the city but are truly worth the drive to check them out.) Happy venue hunting ;)
Château St-Antoine
(Style : Vintage/Elegant/Traditional)
Ok, so I’m a little biased here, as this venue is the one I chose for my own wedding. But this gorgeous little castle comes with history. It is actually the house of Jacques Cartier’s little cousin, and you can notice the letter “C” Monogrammed here and there inside and outside of the premises. This venue is located at approximately 1 hour from Montreal and can accommodate both your ceremony and your reception. There is also a beautiful church right next door which makes it easy for your guests to walk to the venue in literally 2 minutes (in heels!).
This place has tons of perks: It comes decorated, you can release beautiful doves at no extra charge, it’s located in front of a river, has gorgeous gardens and a spacious terrace to accommodate guests for a cocktail. They have 2 reception halls, I suggest going for the smaller (more authentic) one :“Comtes de Champagne”, the capacity of the room is 135, but you get the wonderful terrace which is one the prettiest spaces of this venue.
L’Auberge St-Gabriel
(Style: Shabby chic/ Rustic / DIY Weddings)
This location is so romantic it will melt your heart. They have 3 rooms for wedding receptions at l’Auberge, of which I prefer “Le Grenier” (the attic). With its high ceilings and string lights, the wood and the brick wall, this place is both cozy and charming. It is the perfect spot for the bride who follows the very hot wedding trend of shabby chic.
What’s more? It’s in the middle of the old port, probably one of the most romantic locations in Montreal. Its European style stone streets and old building façades makes it the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos. Nearby, you will find 2 beautiful churches, including the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the City Hall, if you choose not to have the ceremony held at l’Auberge.
426 St-Gabriel, Montréal, Qc.
La Toundra
(Style: Whimsical/ Modern)
This venue is simply stunning. With its large floor to ceiling windows and glorious space, this glass house is surrounded by pretty gardens and trees, enabling you to enjoy the outdoors, indoors. You can also choose to have an outdoor ceremony in the gardens, and don’t forget that every Saturday night, in the summer, Montreal hosts the International Fireworks Festival, which can be seen from the Parc Jean Drapeau.
This venue is inexpensive, but not turn key. You must book early and plan for your own catering and bar.
1, circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal, Qc.
Château Taillefer Lafond
(Style: Vineyard/Outdoors/Classic)
This vineyard located in Laval is a little gem. With its gates opening to a magnificent alley of trees leading you to the venue, it is truly a beautiful setting for a princess-like wedding. The only hiccup: they can only accommodate 100 people in this location, or less if you are planning a big dance floor. But if you are planning for a small intimate wedding, I highly recommend you go visit this venue. You can have the ceremony held in their backyard which faces the vineyards – a pretty nice view for your guests! After the ceremony, take advantage of the vineyards landscape to take beautiful couple shots while your guests have a cocktail on their terrace.
This venue is set to welcome you or set you off by helicopter – how amazing would that be, to arrive in a helicopter to say 'I do'? I bet your hubby-to-be would be very surprised! Then you could take off in a helicopter ride right after the ceremony to celebrate your new journey together.
1500 Montée Champagne, Ste-Dorothée, Laval, Qc.
Manoir Rouville Campbell
(Style: Formal/Elegant/luxurious)
This gorgeous venue welcomes you with grandiose black iron gates that lead you to the majestic mansion. The most spectacular asset of this location is its gardens. For that reason only, I would recommend this venue for summer brides as the scenery is simply breathtaking. Your wedding would take place outdoors facing the water by the gardens… how romantic!
Their ballroom (L'Orangerie) is big enough to accommodate a maximum of 160 guests. This locationis also a hotel, so your guests have the option to stay overnight after the party. If you are looking to have your ceremony outside surrounded by gardens and the Richelieu River, the scenery this place has to offer is so beautiful - it is picture perfect!
Have you visited any of these sites in your search for the perfect venue? Did you find your ceremony and venue locations yet? Let us know below what you think of these 5 locations and share with us your own discoveries.
