Beyond the Ceremony: Planning the Perfect Lakeside Wedding Weekend

When you’re choosing an Ontario wedding venue, the intimate feel of a destination wedding may feel impossible. But it doesn’t have to be.

Imagine your ideal destination wedding. 

Unlike conventional weddings, which can feel like a whirr, you have the time and the setting to celebrate and spend time with the people who care most about you and whom you love the most.

There’s the breakfast meeting with parents, aunts, and uncles, the midnight skinny dip with your closest college friends, the basketball game with the guys (older fellas invited of course), the picnic with the children, and the barbecue with the entire guest list. 

The setting becomes an important part of your experience. Long after you have forgotten your vows, you’ll remember: 

And the most precious thing of all – unrushed time. A time for private walks, quiet get-togethers, and that wonderful unprogrammed moment when you sit on the dock, watching the kids play in the water while you do a crossword puzzle. 

If this kind of wedding appeals to you – if a conventional wedding feels too rushed, pressured, and programmed – consider Bobs Lake Cottages & Escapes as your venue.  

We’re your ideal Ontario wedding venue for a destination wedding in your own backyard. With our natural setting, activities, lodging, and friendly staff, we’ll ensure that what you imagine can come true.

Bobs Lake Cottages & Escapes isn’t solely a wedding venue, of course – it’s a destination for weekends away, family reunions, corporate events, and more. With four lakeside cottages and an island retreat, we love to invite couples to come visit us beforehand so you can see for yourself what makes Bobs Lake so special.

One of the best ways to experience this magical setting for yourself before the big day? Plan your bachelor or bachelorette party here. We’ve done everything from ice fishing for the guys to in-home massages and cooking classes for the girls. We can really cater to anything you dream of, so let your imagination run wild. 

Your wedding is more than the vows. It’s a celebration of your love and commitment with those closest to you. When you plan a wedding weekend rather than just a wedding, you’re inviting your guests to come together for an experience none of you will ever forget. 

Filling your weekend with the perfect mix of activities and downtime creates the opportunity for real memory-making. And a beautiful lakeside setting provides endless chances for fun. For one bride’s perspective on her Bobs Lake wedding experience, from the small lakefront ceremony to the quiet moments with friends and family to the big party with a live band, dancing, and s’mores, take a look at this article from Dancing with Her.

One of the top 10 Airbnb wedding venues in Ontario, Canada in 2024, Bobs Lake hosts weddings for up to 150 guests in May, June, September, and October. We’ll host your wedding ceremony on a deck overlooking the gorgeous lake, then party under the stars in a beautiful tent. 

The ceremony can be tailored to your preferences, whether that’s your furry family members walking down the aisle (we love dogs!) or a post-ceremony send-off on our pontoon boat.

For your reception, we have everything from cocktail hour at the Tiki Bar and upscale table settings under a tent to big barbecues by the lake and dancing on the screened-in porch.

The best part of hosting a wedding at Bobs Lake is that it doesn’t last only a few hours. Once the wedding has ended, the party continues! Up to 50 guests can stay for a long weekend in our modern lakefront cottages and enjoy all sorts of activities in one another’s company. We can also happily arrange accommodations at a neighboring campsite or shuttle service into downtown Westport for additional guests.

Beyond “I do,” our guests are wowed by the variety of activities we offer during their wedding weekend. Obviously, the lake itself is the main attraction. You’ll love swimming in the crystal clear waters of Bobs Lake, sunning on the swimming platform, kayaking or canoeing, fishing off the dock, and renting our motorized boats to explore the nooks and crannies of Ontario’s largest wilderness lake.

If you’d rather stay dry, challenge your guests or your brand-new spouse to a game of pickleball or basketball, or borrow a bike to ride down the A&P Trail. 

After your wedding, roast marshmallows at our bonfire, dance the night away on the screened-in porch, enjoy a moonlight boat ride on the lake, indulge in cocktails at the Tiki Bar, or laugh until you cry as your guests sing Karaoke.

In the downtime of your wedding weekend, that’s when it’ll really sink in. You’ll be relaxing lakeside, soaking in the hot tub, hearing laughter from the children’s playground, shooting pool, or playing a game of ping pong – and you’ll realize that all your dreams have come true. 

That you’re with your favorite people creating cherished memories…all in honor of your love. That the wedding you were hoping for – one that’s relaxed and full of the little moments that make it so memorable – has actually happened. And that the rest of your life awaits, with this precious weekend as its anchor.

There’s nothing quite like having exclusive access and unparalleled privacy during your wedding weekend. You don’t have to share amenities or worry about anyone else impacting your big day. 

At Bobs Lake, you’ll reserve the entire property for a three-day weekend or full week. That means there’s no one but you and your nearest and dearest staying with us. 

You’ll have exclusive access to our accommodations, amenities, and activities, and you’ll have tons of privacy to celebrate your way. Whatever your preferences, you’ll have the flexibility to customize your wedding experience to your taste and create a wedding weekend itinerary that’s just what you envision. 

Want to learn more about the logistics of a wedding at Bobs Lake? Check out this video, where we’ll walk you through the booking process, the cost, the planning, and all the nitty-gritty details of planning your dream wedding. Spoiler alert: it can be as DIY or done-for-you as you want it to be.

You don’t need to go far to have all the benefits of a destination wedding. When you select Bobs Lake Cottages & Escapes as your lakeside wedding venue, you’re choosing a customized experience that’s exclusively for you and your guests. A memorable and stress-free experience awaits at Bobs Lake.