Laurentian Mountain Weddings
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Laurentian Mountains, Quebec.
Extending northwest of Montreal and along the northern shores of the St. Lawrence River to Trois-Rivieres, the majestic Laurentian Mountain region is a veritable recreational paradise for all who visit it, replete with natural beauty, charming attractions and activities to please the most astute of traveller. A long trusted destination for city dwellers looking for weekend and extended getaways, the region draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for its picturesque mountain vistas, lush, rolling forests, rambling rivers, freshwater lakes and world-class alpine skiing experiences. These elements combine to make for ideal wedding backdrops year round.
Four distinctive seasons—each with their own special appeal and romance—characterize the region, which offers wintery, snow-covered settings in winter, blossoming temperate conditions in spring, lush greenery and warm temperatures in summer and vibrantly-coloured fall foliage during the September to late-October season. Regardless of season or budget, the Laurentian Mountains offer some of the finest places to say "I do".
NOTABLE DESTINATIONS
Mont Tremblant
The region's crown jewel, Mont Tremblant, is one of Quebec's top wedding destinations for its inspiring scenery, top-notch facilities and convenient location just a two-hour drive from Montreal. Here, the majority of facilities are located within hotels and inns, making for convenient one-stop arrangements to suit groups looking for all-inclusive package solutions, including accommodations, reception facilities, on-site catering and dedicated wedding coordination services. Standouts include the elegant Fairmont Tremblant—which offers luxurious packages for large groups of up to 800—and ample lakeside property options, such as the Chateau Beauvallon, Le Grand Lodge Mont Tremblant and Hotel du Lac, each of which provides intimate settings and opportunities for indoor and outdoor celebrations.
St. Jerome
Located less than an hour north of Montreal, the town of St. Jerome offers its own unique charm and ample conveniences to make any wedding day a success. Sitting at the foothills of the mountain range, this amenity-filled town provides an abundance of lodging and value-added services to please any bride, including catering, professional floral design services, photography and hair and aesthetics. Reception venue choices include full-service, hotel facilities that can accommodate large groups of up to 300 guests, including the Best Western St. Jerome.
Trois-Rivieres
The vibrant city of Trois-Rivieres, located along the northern shores of the St. Lawrence River approximately half-way between Quebec City and Montreal, also offers ample choices of urban and country venues, services and planning solutions to suit weddings large and small. Upscale hotel properties, countryside sugar shack venues, intimate restaurant settings and dedicated banquet halls with views of the St. Lawrence are can be expected in Trois-Rivieres and cater to a wide range of styles and needs.
Other Destinations
Additional communities include the quaint villages of Ste-Sauveur, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and Val-David, where facilities are not as plentiful, as in the Laurentian’s major destinations, but provide inspiring backdrops for highly memorable ceremonies. Auberge Prema Shanti in Val-David and the upscale Manoir Saint-Sauveur in Ste-Sauveur provide distinctive wedding planning solutions amidst fabulous scenery, whilst offering comprehensive packages to suit any need.
WEDDING DAY ACCOMPANIMENTS
As previously mentioned, the region is synonymous with nature and recreation, and for those who enjoy the great outdoors, a visit to the Laurentian Mountains does not disappoint. Both wedding parties and wedding guests can benefit from a wide range of experiences to stimulate the soul, whether it's hiking or biking the mountain trails of Mont Tremblant National Park, strolling the streets of a quaint village, exploring the P'tit Train du Nord cycling and cross-country ski trail, hitting the links at area golf courses or indulging in a pampering treatment at one of many full-service spas.
Ample opportunities to immerse in the local Francophone culture, including participation at one of many festivals and events, are also available, as are chances to shop local boutiques, sample regional cuisine or experience tradition at maple sugar shacks (which typically run from March through April). With so many sights and attractions available, the honeymooning bride and groom (and their guests) can easily extend their stay in the Laurentians well beyond the big day.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
While a handful of wedding coordinators and other wedding-specific services are available throughout the region, many brides choose to utilize wedding planner services in nearby Montreal, which offers an impressive choice of vendors who serve the greater Laurentian area. Mont Tremblant and Trois-Rivieres offer the most choice when it comes to wedding-related services, including a handful of catering companies, officials, abundant choices of reception facilities, limousine transportation and select choices of photographers and florists.
Marriage licenses, with supporting documentation, are required for both applicants for all ceremonies performed in Quebec and can be obtained from any municipal office clerk. Applicants must be over 18 years of age (or if between 16 and 18 years of age, must obtain parental consent) and present either a current passport or an original birth certificate as well as one government-issued photo identification. Once finalized, this certificate is valid for three months. Special processes are required of divorcees wishing to obtain marriage licenses (more so for applicants divorced outside of Canada), so it's best to inquire with municipal jurisdictions prior to planning.
Ceremonies in Quebec can be performed by a justice of the peace, judges, registered clergy members, mayors and assorted designated municipal officers and clerks. A "Request for the Designation of an Officiant of a Marriage Civil Union" form must be submitted at least three months in advance if the bride and groom choose someone outside of this criteria to solemnize the marriage. Since 2004, same-sex marriages have been recognized legally in Quebec (and nationally across Canada since 2005) and are performed at an array of venues and by assorted officials around the region. The province also requires public notification of all civil unions, completed and posted by the wedding official at the ceremonial venue and local courthouse 20 days prior to the wedding. As a result of these policies, it is recommended to complete all of the aforementioned legal aspects of the wedding at least two months (or more) before the planned wedding date.
Due to its year-round appeal, both winter and summer months are peak times for weddings in the Laurentians, so it is best advised to book venues well in advance. Most planners recommend reserving wedding and reception locations at least one year in advance to avoid disappointment and the same holds true for wedding-related vendors like photographers, florists and disc jockeys, who are best booked at least six months prior to the wedding date.
Four distinctive seasons—each with their own special appeal and romance—characterize the region, which offers wintery, snow-covered settings in winter, blossoming temperate conditions in spring, lush greenery and warm temperatures in summer and vibrantly-coloured fall foliage during the September to late-October season. Regardless of season or budget, the Laurentian Mountains offer some of the finest places to say "I do".
NOTABLE DESTINATIONS
Mont Tremblant
The region's crown jewel, Mont Tremblant, is one of Quebec's top wedding destinations for its inspiring scenery, top-notch facilities and convenient location just a two-hour drive from Montreal. Here, the majority of facilities are located within hotels and inns, making for convenient one-stop arrangements to suit groups looking for all-inclusive package solutions, including accommodations, reception facilities, on-site catering and dedicated wedding coordination services. Standouts include the elegant Fairmont Tremblant—which offers luxurious packages for large groups of up to 800—and ample lakeside property options, such as the Chateau Beauvallon, Le Grand Lodge Mont Tremblant and Hotel du Lac, each of which provides intimate settings and opportunities for indoor and outdoor celebrations.
St. Jerome
Located less than an hour north of Montreal, the town of St. Jerome offers its own unique charm and ample conveniences to make any wedding day a success. Sitting at the foothills of the mountain range, this amenity-filled town provides an abundance of lodging and value-added services to please any bride, including catering, professional floral design services, photography and hair and aesthetics. Reception venue choices include full-service, hotel facilities that can accommodate large groups of up to 300 guests, including the Best Western St. Jerome.
Trois-Rivieres
The vibrant city of Trois-Rivieres, located along the northern shores of the St. Lawrence River approximately half-way between Quebec City and Montreal, also offers ample choices of urban and country venues, services and planning solutions to suit weddings large and small. Upscale hotel properties, countryside sugar shack venues, intimate restaurant settings and dedicated banquet halls with views of the St. Lawrence are can be expected in Trois-Rivieres and cater to a wide range of styles and needs.
Other Destinations
Additional communities include the quaint villages of Ste-Sauveur, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and Val-David, where facilities are not as plentiful, as in the Laurentian’s major destinations, but provide inspiring backdrops for highly memorable ceremonies. Auberge Prema Shanti in Val-David and the upscale Manoir Saint-Sauveur in Ste-Sauveur provide distinctive wedding planning solutions amidst fabulous scenery, whilst offering comprehensive packages to suit any need.
WEDDING DAY ACCOMPANIMENTS
As previously mentioned, the region is synonymous with nature and recreation, and for those who enjoy the great outdoors, a visit to the Laurentian Mountains does not disappoint. Both wedding parties and wedding guests can benefit from a wide range of experiences to stimulate the soul, whether it's hiking or biking the mountain trails of Mont Tremblant National Park, strolling the streets of a quaint village, exploring the P'tit Train du Nord cycling and cross-country ski trail, hitting the links at area golf courses or indulging in a pampering treatment at one of many full-service spas.
Ample opportunities to immerse in the local Francophone culture, including participation at one of many festivals and events, are also available, as are chances to shop local boutiques, sample regional cuisine or experience tradition at maple sugar shacks (which typically run from March through April). With so many sights and attractions available, the honeymooning bride and groom (and their guests) can easily extend their stay in the Laurentians well beyond the big day.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
While a handful of wedding coordinators and other wedding-specific services are available throughout the region, many brides choose to utilize wedding planner services in nearby Montreal, which offers an impressive choice of vendors who serve the greater Laurentian area. Mont Tremblant and Trois-Rivieres offer the most choice when it comes to wedding-related services, including a handful of catering companies, officials, abundant choices of reception facilities, limousine transportation and select choices of photographers and florists.
Marriage licenses, with supporting documentation, are required for both applicants for all ceremonies performed in Quebec and can be obtained from any municipal office clerk. Applicants must be over 18 years of age (or if between 16 and 18 years of age, must obtain parental consent) and present either a current passport or an original birth certificate as well as one government-issued photo identification. Once finalized, this certificate is valid for three months. Special processes are required of divorcees wishing to obtain marriage licenses (more so for applicants divorced outside of Canada), so it's best to inquire with municipal jurisdictions prior to planning.
Ceremonies in Quebec can be performed by a justice of the peace, judges, registered clergy members, mayors and assorted designated municipal officers and clerks. A "Request for the Designation of an Officiant of a Marriage Civil Union" form must be submitted at least three months in advance if the bride and groom choose someone outside of this criteria to solemnize the marriage. Since 2004, same-sex marriages have been recognized legally in Quebec (and nationally across Canada since 2005) and are performed at an array of venues and by assorted officials around the region. The province also requires public notification of all civil unions, completed and posted by the wedding official at the ceremonial venue and local courthouse 20 days prior to the wedding. As a result of these policies, it is recommended to complete all of the aforementioned legal aspects of the wedding at least two months (or more) before the planned wedding date.
Due to its year-round appeal, both winter and summer months are peak times for weddings in the Laurentians, so it is best advised to book venues well in advance. Most planners recommend reserving wedding and reception locations at least one year in advance to avoid disappointment and the same holds true for wedding-related vendors like photographers, florists and disc jockeys, who are best booked at least six months prior to the wedding date.
Luxury Cabins
Best Rate Guarantee
Travel Packages
