Strathmere Weddings Estate Venue Guide: The Lodge, Farmhouse, & Garden House

Planning a wedding at Strathmere, can be a little tricky.

Strathmere weddings estate is a large countryside property with three main venues couples usually consider: The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House. Each one feels different, which is why it is worth understanding the property before deciding which space fits your wedding best.

As an Ottawa wedding photographer, I always appreciate venues that give couples room to make the day their own without overcomplicating the timeline. Strathmere does that well. It has the countryside vibe, outdoor space, and relaxed feel, but still gives you a polished wedding experience.

In this Strathmere wedding venue guide, I’ll walk through The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House, what makes each space different, and what kind of wedding each one works well for. I’ll also share examples from real Strathmere weddings I’ve photographed, so you can get a better feel for how the venue looks in real wedding galleries.

Why Couples Choose Strathmere for Weddings Near Ottawa

Located in North Gower, about 30 minutes south of downtown Ottawa, Strathmere gives couples the convenience of staying close to the city while still having that open countryside feel. The property is surrounded by gardens, mature trees, stone buildings, and quiet outdoor spaces that make the day feel removed from the busyness of Ottawa.

One of the biggest benefits of planning a wedding at Strathmere Weddings Estate is that so much of the day can happen in one place. You can get ready, have your ceremony, take portraits, and celebrate with your guests without building extra travel into the timeline. That can make the day feel calmer, especially if you want more time with your people and less time sitting in cars.

The property also gives couples plenty of variety for portraits and different parts of the celebration. You do not have to leave to find a second photo location or rely on one small corner of the venue. There are outdoor ceremony areas, garden spaces, farmhouse details, rustic textures, and open grounds that can all be used differently depending on the season, timeline, and light.

That variety is also why Strathmere weddings can feel so different from one couple to another. The Lodge has a warmer, more rustic atmosphere, The Farmhouse feels intimate and historic, and The Garden House has a brighter, garden-inspired look. Instead of every wedding feeling like it took place in the same room, the space you choose helps shape the mood of the entire day.

Wedding Spaces at Strathmere Weddings Estate

One thing that makes Strathmere different from many wedding venues near Ottawa is that it is not limited to one room or one style of celebration. Spread across 200 acres, Strathmere Weddings Estate includes several ceremony, reception, accommodation, and outdoor spaces, allowing couples to choose the setting that best fits their guest count, style, and plans for the day.

The main wedding spaces at Strathmere Weddings Estate are The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House. There is also The Retreat & Spa, which can work well for smaller celebrations, wedding weekends, or a more relaxed restaurant-style gathering.

The Lodge at Strathmere

A Strathmere Lodge wedding is a great fit for couples who want the larger, more rustic side of the property.

The Lodge can host up to 180 guests for a seated banquet and up to 225 for a reception, so it works well for bigger weddings with a full dinner, dancing, and a larger guest list. The space has smooth wood floors, cathedral ceilings, 160-year-old beams, six iron and crystal orb chandeliers, and a 24-foot limestone fireplace that gives the room a really strong focal point.

This is the space for couples who want the wedding to feel warm, earthy, and grand without losing that country-estate feeling. The Lodge also has loft and lounge areas, an outdoor ceremony site, an outdoor fire, and an outdoor dance floor. In warmer months and early fall, that outdoor space can make the day feel even more relaxed, especially when guests can move between the indoor reception space and the grounds outside.

Carley and Scott’s fall wedding at Strathmere Lodge is a great example of how this space can feel in a real wedding gallery. Their wedding highlighted the Lodge’s rustic warmth, the ceremony setting, personal details, and the way the property photographs throughout the day. For couples researching Strathmere weddings, seeing a real wedding at The Lodge can make it much easier to picture how the space works for a full celebration, from the ceremony to portraits to the reception.

From a photography perspective, The Lodge gives a Strathmere wedding a lot of texture. The wood beams, stone fireplace, chandeliers, lounge areas, and outdoor spaces all add depth to the gallery, especially during ceremony moments, speeches, dinner, and dancing.

Best for couples who: have a bigger guest list and want a Strathmere Lodge wedding that feels warm, rustic, and full of energy, with space for dinner, dancing, and an easy indoor-outdoor flow. 

The Farmhouse at Strathmere

The Farmhouse is the most intimate of the main wedding spaces at Strathmere.

Built in the early 1860s, this fieldstone farmhouse has a more traditional and classic feel. It includes high ceilings, original crown moulding, fireplaces, decorative alcoves, overnight rooms, a veranda, and a sweeping circular staircase that works beautifully for first looks, portraits, or quiet moments before the ceremony.

A Strathmere Farmhouse wedding is best for a smaller guest count. The Farmhouse can host up to 65 guests for a seated banquet and up to 80 for a reception, so it is a good fit for couples who want the day to feel close, personal, and easy to be present for.

This is the space Caitlin and Garett chose for their wedding. Their day is a good example of how The Farmhouse can feel romantic without being overdone.

The outdoor areas also add a lot to this space. Couples can say their vows under the 160-year-old walnut trees, spend time on the veranda, or step into the Heritage Garden with roses and wildflowers for portraits. For couples who want a Strathmere wedding that feels quieter, historic, and more personal, The Farmhouse makes a lot of sense.

Best for couples who: want a Strathmere Farmhouse wedding with a smaller guest count, a more personal atmosphere, and a setting that already feels romantic without needing too much added decor. 

The Garden House at Strathmere

The Garden House has the lightest and most open feeling of the three main spaces.

A Strathmere Garden House wedding works well for couples who want something bright, airy, and connected to the outdoors. The Garden House sits on its own 10-acre part of the property between a grassy hill and the woods, so it feels a little more private and garden-focused.

Inside, the space has wraparound windows, white-gold chandeliers, a handcrafted limestone fireplace, French doors, a wet bar, wireless internet, and a dance floor. The room can host up to 160 guests for a seated banquet and up to 200 for a reception, so it gives couples more space than The Farmhouse while still keeping a softer, lighter feel than The Lodge.

The French doors lead outside and down toward the ceremony site, which helps the day move naturally from ceremony to reception. The Garden House also has an outdoor fire and outdoor dance floor, so couples can bring part of the celebration outside once the evening begins.

For couples comparing Strathmere weddings, The Garden House is the best fit if you want natural light, a softer garden atmosphere, and an indoor space that still feels connected to the landscape around it. It has the comfort of a proper reception space, but it does not feel closed off from the outdoors.

Best for couples who: want a Strathmere Garden House wedding that feels bright, open, and garden-inspired, with lots of natural light and space for the day to move between indoors and outdoors. 

The Retreat & Spa at Strathmere

The Retreat & Spa is a little different from The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House, but it is still helpful to know about when looking at the full Strathmere wedding venue experience.

This space has more of a restaurant and lounge feel, with a full bar, fireplace, outdoor patio, outdoor fire, overnight rooms, and access to Strathmere’s spa services. It can work well for a smaller, intimate event, welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, or part of a wedding weekend.

The Retreat & Spa also adds a nice guest-experience element to the property. Couples and guests can take advantage of the overnight rooms, farm-to-table menu, nature hikes, cross-country skiing, outdoor pool and hot tubs, massages, yoga, manicures, pedicures, facials, and other spa services.

So even if the main wedding is happening at The Lodge, The Farmhouse, or The Garden House, The Retreat & Spa can still be part of the weekend, especially for couples who want the celebration to feel relaxed, comfortable, and easy for guests who are staying on-site.

Real Wedding Inspiration from Strathmere

One thing I love about photographing Strathmere weddings is seeing how different the same property can feel from one couple to another.

I’ve photographed two different weddings at Strathmere, one at The Lodge and one at The Farmhouse, and both had such different galleries, timelines, and overall energy. That is what makes this venue so helpful to see through real weddings, not just empty room photos.

If you are considering Strathmere for your own wedding, it helps to see how the spaces actually feel once guests arrive, the ceremony begins, portraits are happening around the property, and the reception is fully set up.

Carley and Scott’s Fall Wedding at Strathmere Lodge

Carley and Scott celebrated their fall wedding at The Lodge with a navy and autumn-inspired colour palette, an unplugged ceremony, and a full evening of dinner, dancing, and candid moments.

Their celebration shows how The Lodge can accommodate a larger wedding while still feeling warm, relaxed, and personal. You can see more of the venue and their celebration in the Strathmere Lodge Ottawa wedding venue guide.

Caitlin and Garett’s Strathmere Farmhouse Wedding

Caitlin and Garett chose The Farmhouse for their intimate wedding of around 50 guests. With no wedding party, family-style tables, and a relaxed atmosphere, the celebration felt personal and centred around the people closest to them.

Their wedding shows how well The Farmhouse suits smaller celebrations without making the day feel limited or incomplete. You can explore the venue and see more from their day in the Strathmere Farmhouse Ottawa wedding venue guide.

Wedding Portrait Locations Around Strathmere Estate

One of the biggest advantages of having a Strathmere wedding is that the property already has so many portrait locations built into the day. Instead of leaving the venue for photos, couples can use the gardens, pathways, mature trees, open grounds, farmhouse exterior, veranda, and outdoor ceremony areas all within the same property.

Each space also gives the portraits a slightly different feeling. A Strathmere Farmhouse wedding has more of a classic estate look, with the stone farmhouse, veranda, Heritage Garden, staircase, and old trees creating softer, more intimate backdrops. A Strathmere Lodge wedding brings in warmer rustic textures, with wood, stone, fireplaces, and outdoor spaces that work especially well for fall weddings and golden hour portraits. For couples planning a Strathmere Garden House wedding, the wraparound windows, outdoor ceremony site, greenery, and orchard views create a lighter, more garden-inspired feel.

I especially love venues where portraits can happen naturally throughout the day without pulling the couple too far away from their guests. At Strathmere, we can step outside for a few quiet portraits, use the gardens or pathways for family photos, or move to a different part of the property if the light is better somewhere else. That flexibility makes the timeline feel easier and gives the final gallery more variety.

Portraits from Carley and Scott’s Fall Wedding at Strathmere Lodge:

Portraits from Caitlin and Garett’s Strathmere Farmhouse Wedding:

Why Strathmere Works for Weddings All Year Round 

One thing that makes Strathmere such a strong wedding venue is that it does not only work in one season. The property changes throughout the year, so the feel of a Strathmere wedding can look very different depending on when you get married.

Spring and Summer Weddings at Strathmere

In spring and summer, Strathmere feels fresh and full of life. The gardens, trees, outdoor ceremony spaces, and open grounds give couples plenty of pretty options for portraits.

This is when a Strathmere Garden House wedding really makes sense if you want that bright, garden-inspired feeling, with greenery outside and lots of natural light coming through the windows.

Fall Weddings at Strathmere

Fall is probably the season people picture most when they think of Strathmere weddings. The countryside setting, warm colours, rustic textures, and outdoor spaces all work beautifully together.

A Strathmere Lodge wedding can feel especially suited to fall because the wood, stone fireplace, autumn colour palettes, and golden light all match the season so naturally.

Winter Weddings at Strathmere Weddings Estate

Winter gives Strathmere a quieter, cozier feeling. Instead of focusing as much on the gardens and outdoor spaces, the indoor details become more important, including fireplaces, wood beams, candlelight, warm rooms, and smaller moments with guests.

A Strathmere Farmhouse wedding in the colder months can feel intimate and classic, while The Lodge gives couples that warm indoor reception feeling with space for a larger guest list.

That is the nice thing about choosing Strathmere Weddings Estate. You are not choosing a venue that only looks good in one type of weather. Whether you want spring gardens, summer greenery, fall colours, or a cozy winter celebration, Strathmere gives each season its own look.

Planning a Wedding Timeline at Strathmere

Because Strathmere has ceremony spaces, reception spaces, and portrait locations all on the same property, it’s easy to build a wedding timeline that feels relaxed instead of rushed. Once you choose whether you’re getting married at The Lodge, The Farmhouse, or The Garden House, the rest of the day can flow around that space without needing much travel.

Many couples choose to keep portraits on the property, using the gardens, pathways, veranda, open grounds, or outdoor ceremony areas before the reception begins. You can also plan a few extra minutes later in the day for sunset portraits, especially if the light is soft across the fields or around the trees.

Keeping everything close together is one of the biggest benefits of this Strathmere wedding venue. It gives you more time with your guests, more flexibility if family photos run long, and more room to slow down between the ceremony and reception.

For Caitlin and Garett’s Strathmere Farmhouse wedding, their smaller guest count and no-wedding-party structure helped the day feel simple and focused. For larger Strathmere weddings, especially at The Lodge or The Garden House, building in a little extra time for wedding party photos, family portraits, and guest movement can help the day stay easy and comfortable.

How Much Does a Strathmere Wedding Cost?

The cost of a Strathmere wedding will depend on which space you choose, your guest count, menu, bar arrangements, and any upgrades you add to your day.

According to Strathmere’s 2026/2027 wedding package, the current minimum food-and-beverage spend is $12,000 for The Farmhouse, $16,000 for The Garden House, and $18,000 for The Lodge. A 15% resort fee and applicable taxes are added to these amounts.

Strathmere’s dinner packages currently start at $169 per guest for the Gold menu and $189 per guest for the Platinum menu. Couples must still meet the minimum food-and-beverage spend for their chosen venue, even if the per-person total falls below it.

These minimums are not necessarily the complete cost of the wedding. Your final total may also include bar service, menu upgrades, accommodations, upgraded linens or furniture, décor, and other optional services.

Because The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House all work for different guest counts and wedding styles, pricing can look very different from one couple to another. A smaller Strathmere Farmhouse wedding will not be planned or priced the same way as a larger celebration at The Lodge or Garden House.

If you are seriously considering Strathmere Weddings Estate, I recommend contacting their team with your estimated guest count, preferred date or season, and the type of celebration you are planning. They can provide the most current pricing, explain what is included, and help you decide which space makes the most sense for your plans.

Your Strathmere Wedding Photographer

As an Ottawa wedding photographer, I love documenting venues where the setting becomes part of the story rather than simply acting as the background. After photographing weddings at both The Lodge and The Farmhouse, I know how to use Strathmere’s gardens, historic buildings, indoor spaces, and changing light to create a gallery that feels varied while still capturing the day naturally.

My approach focuses on preserving both the important moments and everything happening around them: the nerves before the ceremony, your guests enjoying the property, quiet portraits together, and the energy of the reception.

You can explore more Ottawa wedding venues and real weddings on the blog. If you’re planning a wedding at Strathmere Weddings Estate and want photography that captures both your people and the feeling of the property, get in touch through my contact page. I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

Strathmere Weddings Estate: Venue Facts

• Address: 1980 Phelan Road West, North Gower, Ontario K0A 2T0
• Phone: 613-489-2409
• Website: strathmere.com
• The Farmhouse capacity: Up to 65 guests for dinner and 80 guests for a reception
• The Garden House capacity: Up to 160 guests for dinner
• The Lodge capacity: Up to 180 guests for dinner and 225 guests for a reception
• Ceremony options: Outdoor ceremony spaces are available from April through November, with indoor options available for winter weddings or inclement weather
• Catering: In-house catering featuring locally sourced ingredients, plated dinner packages, customizable menus, bar service, late-night food options, and accommodations for cultural and dietary requirements
• What’s included: Access to the selected venue and designated portrait locations, ceremony space, preparation areas, a wedding coordinator, tables, wooden cross-back chairs, standard linens and napkins, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, sound equipment, overnight rooms, and guest parking
• Accommodation: On-site guest rooms are available, with four rooms included on the wedding night according to the current wedding package
• Wedding spaces: The Lodge, The Farmhouse, and The Garden House