First thing is first.  Your wedding day should be all about you as a couple!  This is your special day to celebrate love with the people you love.  Finding the right venue that perfectly reflects you and what you are looking for is the number one most important decision you can make.   

The idea of hosting a wedding weekend in cottage country is a popular choice for couples.  Many have fond memories of summers at the cottage as a child or they simply enjoy the outdoors.  With family and friends scattered throughout the country, it is nice to take the extra time to celebrate.  Weekend weddings are a lot of fun and they also allow you to take personalizing your BIG DAY to the next level.  

Port Cunnington Lodge is a popular wedding destination for many couples and over the years we have seen some great ideas from some really creative duos. 

Arrival day is an exciting time for any couple and it is the perfect opportunity to welcome your guests and thank them for making the journey.   Many couples have personalized welcome gift baskets for each cabin.  We especially love the idea of filling it with your family’s favourite goodies for your guests to enjoy throughout their stay.    Why not fill the basket with some of the things you love most.  Maybe Grandma’s famous oatmeal raisin cookies, Mom’s notorious peanut brittle or all the fixins for s’mores, to take to the campfire.    Not only does this offer a personal touch but Grandma is going to feel pretty darn special too.   Some couples even include fun personalized crossword puzzles or scavenger hunts. 

The first night of a wedding weekend is always a fun time to get reacquainted with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while and it is also the perfect time to have some campfire fun.  Does your cousin play acoustic guitar?  Perfect, tell him he’s got a gig that night!  Nothing is more quintessentially Canadian than singing around a campfire and it is the perfect opener to your amazing weekend wedding.    If you and your fiancé are movie buffs, why not show your favourite movie outdoors on the dock, under the stars.     

So it’s the BIG DAY!  How exciting!  This is where couples can really let their personalities shine through.  Everything from the ceremony to the last dance of the night gives you more opportunity to inject fun and personality into your day.   If you are into yoga, why not start the day off with some poses at the waterfront or perhaps challenge your friends to a polar bear dip.  From specialty his and hers cocktails to serving Kraft dinner at the midnight buffet the ideas are yours and they are limitless.  How about tailoring your reception menu around your favourite travel destinations, each course representing a much loved country or serving lemon meringue pie for dessert simply because it’s the groom’s favourite.

Decorating can be the best part.  Hand crafting centerpieces and place settings always adds that personal touch.  Pinterest can be a wedding couple’s best friend so why not pick out some of your favourite DIY projects and make a weekend out of it.  Not only will this give you fun with friends it will add some wow factor to your table.  One of our couples had a little fun using string art for the table assignments.  Little touches like this can add whimsy and uniqueness to your wedding. 

Whether you decide to milk paint mason jars, upcycle glassware or spray paint pineapples, its fun to watch it all come together.   Here at Port Cunnington Lodge we have been honored by hundreds of couples saying “I do” but no matter how many weddings we host, no two weddings are ever the same.  Our advice to our couples, throw the rule books away and just have fun planning your day.