Cottage wedding gallery: Bromley & Matt
Bromley and Matt Henning were married at Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park. "We decided on it because we love the outdoors and camping, and we wanted to incorporate our love of nature into our wedding," says Bromley.
The couple contemplated having the wedding at the cottage they once owned on Northern Quebec's Lake Kipawa or somewhere nearby, but not only was it small, they thought it would be very challenging for their more than 100 guests to travel the distance. For them, Algonquin was closer and "just as beautiful as Lake Kipawa," says Bromley.
They grew up camping and cottaging across Canada, and purchased their getaway in Northern Quebec after dating for only two years. But Algonquin was not only chosen as the setting based on its beauty and convenience—it's also where the couple had their first canoe trip together.
A major cocern about having a wedding in cottage country was mother nature. That's why they ensured the venue had all the back-ups necessary, including an indoor location for the ceremony, a generator if they lost power, and lots of extra rain boots and umbrellas for guests!
According to Bromley, "Finding bartenders, babysitters, and renting glassware" turned out to be their biggest challenges. However, the camp did offer menu selections for dinner that she says were "simple, with fresh, local ingredients." The couple also added a few items of their own that were special to their cottaging experience in Quebec, such as late-night poutine!
The wedding parties got ready for the big day in separate cabins, which was where many of the guests stayed over. The older guests were provided with a cabin that was closer to the dining hall, had slightly fancier rooms, as well as golf carts to travel the grounds.
"Dress code was semi-formal with most guys wearing suits and the ladies wearing dresses," says Bromley. They sorted out details such as this, and other things like "what to pack for camp" through a website they created ahead of time and directed their guests to.
The camp had an old wooden boat that they suggested Bromley use to arrive to the ceremony held on the dock. "That was perfect," she says. "I did not want to walk down to the steep steps leading to the dock!" It also gave her the chance to view all of the guests arrive from their cabins.
"We kept things pretty simple so far as traditions," says Bromley. They had a short ceremony that included the couple saying their own vows and a guitarist in the background playing some of their favourite songs by musicians such as Bob Dylan and CSNY.
"The whole weekend was magical," says Bromley. "Our guests arrived to a roaring campfire, beer, and barbecue, and [the next day] was spent doing traditional camp activities including swimming, sailing, and canoeing."
"Cottaging is about relaxing and having a good time, and your guests are there to support you in your adventure" says Bromley. "Having a wedding in cottage country means you are going to forgo the 'usual' wedding, and bring a new twist on the tradition," which is exactly what they did!
Click here to see more photos from Bromley and Matt's wedding day.
