This Lake on the Mountain Resort wedding in Prince Edward County, Ontario also played a part inspiring my own wedding day. It was so lovely and refreshing to spend the day by the water, surrounded by deliciously smelling food, and good tunes. It felt like a lakeside backyard BBQ, but with updos and suits and I loved it so much that we decided to have a similar vibe for our own day.
Melissa & Kevin both got ready at the House Across the Road – yes, it is actually called that! You can check out the house HERE. It was the perfect setup really, since the boys got ready upstairs while Melissa got ready and dressed in a dress handmade by her Godmother. I loved shooting in this old farm house with all it’s natural light and open space – making it easy for the couple to not cross paths before the ceremony.
Their ceremony was beside the Lake on the Mountain, which is a lake found 62 metres above Lake Ontario fed by fresh water and defies geological theories, so it’s interesting for more than just the view. It’s a really sweet spot and despite the dry (see: crazy hot!) summer had, the lake and the large willow tree provided a beautiful backdrop, helping us ignore the dead grass.
After the ceremony officiated by Brenda Hamilton and some formal photos with the wedding party, I gave the newlyweds some time to enjoy their cocktail hour while I grabbed some detail shots of the delicious smelling food catered by the ever cheerful Jack the Happy Chef. This guy is both talented in the kitchen and on the microphone. After serving up a tasty buffet style dinner complete with sirloin, potatoes, chicken wings, seared maple salmon and a plethora of summer salads, he serenaded the couple with a quirky little tune about love. Then he served up some of the best homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie I have ever tasted. It was literally summer in a pie crust!
Once our bellies were full, Melissa and Kevin reminded me that they met while in a rowing club – so naturally, we had to incorporate the giant oars into their photos at sunset on the dock. Then Melissa surprised me with wardrobe change into her party skirt, which also allowed her to get into the water for some of my favourite sunset photos – I love when couples are willing to skip off the beaten path like that, it makes my camera happy.
I hope their day and these images help inspire future couples to explore the idea of an Ontario destination wedding.
Enjoy!