Mark and Alia had a beautiful wedding at their family cottage late September in Ontario. Their wedding was intimate, cozy, charming and was a celebration under the stars. When Mark approached us about their wedding, we were so excited to hear they were doing it at their family cottage in Ontario. We really enjoy watching couples get married in a spaces that are memorable and special to them. Although cottage weddings come with a lot of logistics to consider, their wedding was truly a celebration to remember.

Let’s start with the things that made their wedding fun, exciting, and unique:

Venue and view - The cottage was charming and colourful. They had multiple spaces on the property that were special with their aura. For the ceremony they had this large green space, with florals and rocks that the ceremony could take place on. The guest could also enjoy the view of the lake and who doesn’t love to get married by some water! For photos they had various natural backdrops with the water, arch, greenery and the cottage itself. The couple was able to have minimal decor and florals as the outdoor space had lots of natural features for their photos. The cottage was also perfect as the families were able to stay their overnight, this allows everyone to spend quality time together and enjoy the moments leading up to the wedding.

Fireworks and Stars - The cottage was far enough from the city to really appreciate the stars! The guests were able to gaze upon them once they left the tent, hangout by the water by the lake, and enjoy a drink. The couple also organized fireworks as a way to kick of the dance floor and they had sparklers for their guest. The fireworks were a perfect way to start the dancing and an exciting way to mark the beginning of their married life together. The couple grabbed some chairs outside and watched the fireworks. Their guest danced the night away and used the sparklers.

Stations - The couple thought about their guest experience and wanted to ensure there was various activities for them to do once they got to their wedding. They had a smores station set up loaded with chocolates, marshmallows, and crackers. They also had a cigar station for anyone who wanted to enjoy some time smoking and hanging out. Being at a cottage the night wouldn’t be completely if they didn’t include a fire pit area. By having these various areas and stations for guest they were able to choose activities they were interested in. It also gives guests the opportunity to talk and catch up after dinner.

Drinks - The couple had a stocked bar filled with all different kinds of wines, champagne and liquor. However, they took it a step further by providing each table with a wine list of the wines they loved and each table got to choose two wines for their table and got them prior to the start of the wedding program. This way when the bar was closed during the toast, guests were able to sip on the wine of their choosing. The couple also had one of the best ceremony exits I have ever witnessed. They exited their ceremony by having all their guest follow them to the bar to share a drink with them as a married couple. They also provided a wheel barrel of various beers to greet guests as they arrived for the ceremony. There was no shortage of drinks throughout the evening!

Astrology - The groom’s love of astrology was imbued in multiple items throughout their wedding day. Their seating chart included the various planets and the couple sat in the midst of their guest at the “Sun” table! The ceremony also took place at a specific time and date based on the couples astrologic research. The decor also matched that as they had stars up and various nods to the planets. The Gentle Planner’s team was happy as they trusted the right Aquarians to ensure their wedding day to ran smoothly!

Now let’s talk about some helpful tips for your cottage wedding:

1. Portable washrooms - ensure there are enough outdoor washrooms for your guests. Assign someone to replenish the washrooms with soap, toilet paper etc.
2. Lighting - it can get pretty dark at a cottage. Plan out where you will need additional lighting - parking area, getting to the washrooms, any outdoor seating spots.
3. Parking - plan ahead how much room you will need for parking and if you can have a valet, it really helps.
4. Weather - if the entire event is outdoors check the weather and plan ahead - add heaters or blankets if it’s cold, parasols for the sun and have a rain plan.
5. Plan activities based on your space - have some lawn games, s’mores station, fire pit etc. Allow your guests to enjoy the space.
6. Have a welcome beverage, your guests may have had to drive a couple of hours to get to the venue so welcome them with a beverage.
7. Provide information about transportation - if there are no Ubers in the area, talk to a local taxi company about arranging some transportation for guest.
8. Directions - put up signs if it’s in a remote location and provide guests with a map of how to get to the venue, you can add the directions to your wedding website.

If your feeling inspired after reading about this wedding, Gentle Planner would love to help you bring your wedding vision to life, contact us here to get started!

Vendors Team

• Gentle Planner

• Venue: Private Residence, Family Cottage

• Feast Catering & Events

• D&D Party Rentals

• Mark Sommerfeld

• Hair Couture Toronto