We're Kevin and Sebrina - Halifax Nova Scotia Elopement Photographers and Small Wedding planning guides. Available worldwide to bring to life your unique and intentional wedding day.
Beautiful and Quaint Spaces for Intimate Weddings
Nova Scotia sure is a beautiful place to tie the knot, and we couldn’t be happier to share with our favorite small wedding venues in this wonderful province. The good news is, since the pandemic there have been a ton of changes in the wedding industry and smaller, more intimate venues have become so much more common place. It is even popular now to book out larger Airbnbs for a long weekend and use it as your own personal wedding venue (think on a lake, in the forest, or even an urban retreat!)
It’s also really become popular to pick a spot in nature, and do the ceremony overlooking a cliff, near a waterfall, or at the end of a beautiful hiking trail (if that’s more your thang, don’t worry, we’ve got a blog for those locations, too! CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTDOOR ADVENTUROUS IDEAS).
More traditionally speaking though, there are lots of really cool options out there. Even provincial parks allow you to have an outdoor ceremony in Nova Scotia! Take a look, one of them might be perfect for your special day!
1. Le CAVEAU WINERY in the Valley
This is one of the most elegant venues we have seen, and it’s in one of the most lovely towns: Wolfville. And we can’t say enough about the incredibly attentive and kind staff. Easily the best people we have worked with, with one of the most beautiful venues. The ceremony is held in the courtyard outside, next to the gorgeous vineyard. To top it off, it’s all just a 5 minute pop down from the Grand Pre National Museum, which is an amazing location for your portrait session. They have stunning gardens and an old fashioned church with unique architecture. And what’s more, the food at Le Caveau is amazing! You honestly have it all here.
One of the cutest and newest wedding venues in the HRM, the Owl and Otter is doubles as an Airbnb and Wedding Venue. It’s relatively affordable, nestled into the woods, and next to a beautiful little lake. The Venue itself is capable of housing several guests overnight, so your VIPs can stay right on the property. And to top it off, there’s a separate boathouse that can be booked just by the couple if you still want to have your alone time. Yeehaw! This venue is perfect for smaller weddings in nature!
3. COURTYARD MARRIOTT
This is another little gem that we completely love in downtown Halifax. If you’re having a smaller ceremony, they offer outdoor rooftop access. From there it overlooks the Halifax waterfront and has lovely city scapes that can’t be beat. You’re so close to everything waterfront with this venue, and also everything downtown. There is no shortage for amazing photo opportunities in this area. And the sun setting on the roof between the buildings and over the water just can’t be described!
4. Halifax Central Library
Are you looking for something more modern? The top floor of the Halifax Central Library can be converted into a stylish ceremony location, with a beautiful view of the surrounding city. The staff here are so lovely, and we can’t recommend working with them enough. Even if you’re tying the knot after dark, this space has so much potential. There are many spots in the building for a unique portrait session. As long as you hire the right photographers, creating beautiful light is no problem! What’s more, if you book during the right time of year, the sunsetting through the windows while you say ‘I Do’ is nothing short of magical. 🙂
5. HARBOUR MIST
This smaller venue is located in Blandford just a short 30 minutes outside Halifax. It can host up to 75 guests, and is completely suitable for 25 guests and under as well! It’s a beautiful estate house on the oceanfront just South of Chester, NS. The building itself is a stunning french-victorian home with a spiral staircase to boot, but the nature is what tugs at my heart strings. You can tie the knot cliffside and feel like you’re on a quaint seaside villa. It is absolutely breathtaking and it’s at the top of our list for shooting!
This oceanside venue comes equipped with several charming cabins for lodging, which means everything is all in one place! You don’t have to do much travelling, which takes a little stress away from your day. On top of that, the ceremony location has the most incredible view of the water, and the whole place is only 5 minutes from Peggy’s Cove! We’ve mentioned how wonderful of a place that is for your portrait session, with so much variety just around the corner.
7. Nova Scotia Provincial Parks
Did you know that you can have your ceremony in any provincial park in Nova Scotia? That includes (but not limited to!) places like Point Pleasant Park, Sir Sanford Fleming Park (The Dingle), most beaches, Mount Uniacke Estate, and so on! This is an amazing affordable option. You automatically have a beautiful background for your wedding, AND for your family photos and couples portrait session. Win Win Win!
8. Your own Backyard
Last but not least, we love a good ol’ fashioned back yard shindig. This makes things so special, always unique, and there is an air of carefree that you just can’t replicate anywhere else. Homestyle charm, full of family and friends, and full of comfort. These days there are so many amazing wedding caterers out there, you can have anything you want brought right to your home! If you’re willing to put in a little elbow grease (or have fam and friends to help out) this is an amazing way to celebrate!
