Plan a Wedding in Canada

Fancy a beautiful wedding set against a pristine landscape with endless acres of towering pine trees? Big ice hockey fans? Go north, young couple! For mountain lovers who want to reach new heights, you won’t be able to top the scenery at Banff and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. This area offers snowcapped peaks, deep-blue lakes and glaciers, as well as some occasional sightings of moose, elk and deer. If you prefer a more cosmopolitan milieu, take a look at French-speaking Quebec City. Here you can tie the knot in Parisian style for a fraction of the cost. Another bonus: The dollar goes a nice long way north of the border.

Picture Perfect

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac

No matter the season, the natural beauty of Lake Louise is incomparable. Host your wedding at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise, and depending on the time of year, you can arrive at the site via canoe, horse-drawn carriage, sleigh or even cross-country skies or skates. Spring and summer brides can entertain their guests on manicured lawns ringed by beautiful wildflower gardens, which offer spectacular views of the property’s emerald-green lake, surrounded by 7,000-foot-high peaks. In autumn, the forest framing this natural Ansel Adams-esque sight is aglow with firey foliage—a gorgeous ceremony backdrop. And in winter, you can tie the knot on the shores of the lake in front of a glistening, frozen ice castle fashioned from sculpted ice and snow. Another popular ceremony site is the hotel’s Victoria Terrace, a private area with a fantastic view of the nearby Victoria Glacier. Spend your wedding night in one of the hotel’s enormous Belvedere Lakeview Suites, where a spiral staircase leads to a bedroom with a private balcony. Optional in-room romantic amenities include chilled champagne and canapés, a candlelight dinner on the terrace and a king-size bed strewn with flowers. For more information visit fairmont.com/lakelouise.

An Intimate Affair

Post Hotel

For a secluded spot to hold your nuptials, check into the Relais & Châteaux Post Hotel in Banff National Park. The log-and-beam resort has a rustic elegance that reflects the ruggedly pristine surroundings. You can host an intimate ceremony in the Library, a cozy space that features a timber ceiling and a grand fireplace. Or venture onto the rolling green grounds, and exchange vows on the banks of the Pipestone River, a picturesque white-water stream. Then reserve the hotel’s private dining room and linger over its award-winning locally sourced cuisine, including Pacific Coho salmon and roast lamb with veggies, paired with selections from the lodge’s wine cellar—more than 30,000 bottles. After a champagne toast on a terrace under the stars, retire to your suite, which boasts a Jacuzzi and a fireplace—the perfect place to snuggle. For more information visit posthotel.com.

Cosmopolitan Chic

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

With its winding cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés and French ambience, Quebec City feels more like Europe than North America. Hail a horse and carriage to escort you to the centuries-old Notre Dame Basilica, where Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks filmed the French scenes of Catch Me If You Can. After a traditional ceremony, stroll with your guests to the grande dame of Quebec: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Hosting special occasions since its debut in 1893, the castle-like hotel’s recent refurbishment was timed to coincide with the city’s 400th-anniversary celebration. Small parties can be entertained in the Salon Rose, the intimate space favored by Sir Winston Churchill. Host a large group in the enormous Grand Ballroom, with its oversize gilded chandeliers and wood-coffered ceiling. No matter which venue you choose, your guests will be wowed by the Rococo decor, white-glove service and a menu that offers tender beef medallions, fresh-caught salmon and Quebec cheeses. For more information visit fairmont.com/frontenac.