I have been photographing couples in beautiful Nova Scotia for over 10 years, and have lived here for most of my life. I know the best small wedding venues in Nova Scotia, the logistics, and it’s wild outdoor spaces like the back of my hand. And I want to share my knowledge with you wonderful humans searching for the perfect place for you to get married.

Let’s do some Myth Busting, shall we?

A venue does not have to be inside. It can be in a secluded outdoor spot, too!

Did you know that if you’re planning a wedding with less than 25 guests that you’re basically planning an elopement/micro wedding? And did you know that you can get married in the stunning, secluded wilderness in Nova Scotia for FREE?

I’m going to mention some amazing outdoor locations for small weddings below, but for more on micro weddings or elopements, definitely check out Places to Elope in Nova Scotia.

Beautiful Spaces for Intimate Weddings

On the hunt for small wedding venues in Nova Scotia? NS sure is a beautiful place to tie the knot. It has the quaint east coast charm, with some banger views and landscapes most people don’t even know exist.

Spoiler Alert: There are a TON of gorgeous venues for small wedding here BUT in my honest opinion, nothing beats an airbnb. It’s cheaper than a venue, and often really unique, cozy, and on amazing properties. It is 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!) This is extra perfect for introverted and neurodivergent wedding planning (see a guide on that here!).

BUT I’ve been around the wedding block, and I couldn’t be happier to share my favorite small wedding venues in this wonderful province. The good news is there have been a ton of changes in the wedding industry and smaller, more intimate venues are on the rise! Let’s dig in!

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Already feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! You absolutely do NOT have to figure this all out on your own.

As your elopement photographer and planner, I help you find your perfect spot, whether that’s a windswept coastline, adorable chique venue, or a little of both! And those locations you’ve been swooning over in these photos? Yep, I personally helped those couples find them.

Ready to start dreaming up your own adventure? Inquire here and let’s kick things off with a FREE planning consultation! 🎉

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Small Wedding Venues in Nova Scotia

Le Caveau Winery in the Valley

One of the most elegant small wedding venues in Nova Scotia I have seen, and it’s in one of the most lovely towns: Wolfville. I can’t say enough about the incredibly attentive and kind staff. Easily some of the best people I have worked with. 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.

Guest Count: Up to 50

Pro Photo Tip: The vineyard at sunset is gorgeous. Ask them if there is a ladder than the photographer can borrow, because if they can get some height, you can actually see the rows of vines and it makes for amazing photos. Or make sure your photographer has a drone!

Best for: Couples who love the upscale vineyard vibe and aesthetic, and delicious restaurant quality hors d’Oeuvres, and a fancy pants dinner with their loved ones.

White Point Trail in Cape Breton

I’ll repeat it for those in the back! You do NOT need an interior space for a place to be a small wedding venue in Nova Scotia. Honestly some of the best ones aren’t! White Point is legit one of the most incredible views in Nova Scotia. I am absolutely obsessed with this Trail. It brings some serious Scottish Highland vibes, and it’s so off-the-beaten-path and the radar others. It’s also only a 15 min hike to get to the amazing views. It is perfect for those couples who want more privacy that a popular wilderness area, and it’s completely free to have your wedding here. It’s not a provincial park, so no permit required, either. Bring your loves, just yourselves, or even your pups!

Guest Count: No Set Limit

Best Accommodations Nearby: The Keltic Lodge

Best For: Couples who are up for a little wild adventure and don’t have guests with mobility issues. The hike is short and relatively easy but it is on uneven ground.

Harbour Mist

This smaller venue is located in Blandford just a short 30 minutes outside Halifax. It is completely suitable for 25 guests and under! 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! You can book it as an airbnb and boom, small wedding perfection.

Guests: Up to 25

Pro Photo Tip: The interior is also gorgeous! You could have your ceremony inside or outside and it would be magical. This makes it awesome for any time of year, winter included.

Best For: Couples who want unique villa vibes and the space to have some guests stay overnight with them.

The Ovens Natural Park

Located on the South Shore, The Ovens is such a neat coastal location surrounded by gorgeous forest, sea caves, and the rugged ocean. Technically a campground too, you can rent out an inexpensive site for a lovely spot surrounded by the trees OR have your wedding along the coast near the peninsula! It’s one awesome alternative for a small wedding venues in Nova Scotia.

There also bonus goats just hanging around which I am pretty happy about, not going to lie.

Also there a ton of ways to make this experience “you”. This couple rented an antique VW van aka Vandelion (yes I can hook you up!) and had an awesome boho wedding experience. You do you!

Guest Count: Up to 20

Best For: Couples who want a bit of ocean AND forest vibes, and want to save on the venue expenses.

Sidanna Retreat in Hunts Point

This little resort is perfect for less than 40 guests! Located on the South Shore of NS, it’s quaint, near one of my favorite beautiful sand beaches (Summerville beach), and it’s the perfect secluded spot to celebrate with your closest humans. You can rent the retreat by the night, and to make it even better, Sidanna has several Retreats across the province of varying sizes you can check out! From chalets, cottages, luxury cabins, and more. Most of them are seaside, and all of them are beautiful.

Guest Count: Up to 50, Up to 30 overnight

Pro Photo Tip: Summerville beach is SO MUCH better at low tide, you can get amazing aerial views of the sandbars and long stretches of white sand!

Best For: Couples who want oceanfront, pool, and easy beach access, with enough space to allow guests to stay overnight

Baxters Harbour Falls in the Valley

Want to get married beside a waterfall that spills right onto the beach? Umm, YES PLEASE! Baxters Harbour Falls is such a cool spot for a micro wedding with your favourite people. Think dramatic Bay of Fundy views, a gorgeous waterfall, rocky shoreline, and all the wild, moody Nova Scotia vibes. It’s perfect for couples who want something a little adventurous and WAY less traditional than your typical wedding venue. And guess what? You can basically drive right up to it. No need to hike to get this gorgeous spot!

Guest Count: No set limit

Pro Photo Tip: The falls look amazing anytime (even in winter!), but if you want to explore the area, go at low tide. You can get across the rocky beach to the amazing rocky cliffs!

Best For: Couples who want a bit of adventure without having to hike at all. Great for a ceremony that is still outdoors and gorgeous, but can include family with mobility issues.

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The August House

I love this property for a unique small wedding venue in Nova Scotia. This boutique Inn is perfect for less than 60 guests! Located in Windsor, NS. It has several options for ceremonies, 2 outdoors in the grounds and 1 interior. With vineyards, breweries, and cute towns nearby it’s a wonderful option for an intimate wedding. The Inn also has 12 rooms for in-house accommodation, as well as catering on site.

Guest count: Up to 60

Best For: Couples who want that charming boutique inn vibe, and want a spot that can house some guests.

Oak Island Resort

Oak Island Conference & Event Centre is a pretty well known venue for weddings, but did you know they have more than one outdoor ceremony location? And it’s really cute! You can rent oceanfront cottages behind the actual main building, and they have a lovely smaller area near the pier where you can overlook the ocean and tie the knot. You could rent out a couple of the cottages with your closest humans, and have a cozy intimate wedding day celebrating away from the bustle of the main venue.

There are also several cute little beaches nearby if you want to head off the premises for a private photo sesh.

Guest Count: up to 50

Pro Photo Tip: There is an insanely gorgeous foresty glen that is directly across from the cottages. You can say private vows to each other there, or take some stunning portraits.

Best for: Couples who want to roll in a reception, don’t mind other random people around, and want everything rolled into one place

Tangled Garden

My favorite of the garden small wedding venues in Nova Scotia. This beautiful little gem is located outside of Grand Pre in the Valley and it’s a gorgeous spot for an intimate garden wedding. With ample room for up to 40 guests, it’s the perfect spot for a secluded whimsical ceremony and tea party reception. Legit the perfect set up for that garden party celebration! It’s only available from May-Oct and they have 3 different venue packages, depending on the size/scope of your vision. Everything from just a couple hours to a full day booking!

Guest Count: Up to 40

Pro Photo Tip: June and July are the best time for the most colourful blooms in the gardens.

Best For: Couples who love the garden party atmosphere, tea, and flowers!

Seek Wilderness Retreat in Truro

This is another little gem of a small wedding venue that I completely love in Nova Scotia. Bet you didn’t know you could get married there! It’s right on the gorgeous Victoria Park, and has the cutest accommodations surrounded by the forest and all things nature. It’s also conveniently located just 45 mins from Halifax, and within the town of Truro if you need access to other vendors (cakes, make-up, flowers, etc!).

Guest Count: Up to 50

Pro Photo Tip: This venue is lovely any time of year but really shows it’s magnificence in the Fall with all the colourful trees, and rushing waterfalls!

Best For: Couples who want that forest wilderness vibe but right on their doorstep. Glamping vibes for overnight stay, and surrounded by nature without a ton of effort!

Anenome Dining in Halifax

Such a lovely venue! Anenome is located in the downtown Historic Brewery Market near the Halifax Waterfront. The old stone pub vibes are real here! It has a capacity for up to 23 guests, and is the perfect place for a historical-meets-modern wedding vibe. And the food? INCREDIBLE. They have wedding ceremony as well as just reception packages so there’s lots of flexibility.

Since it’s located on the historical waterfront, there are a ton of amazing portrait opportunities nearby, too. Halifax is a colourful city, and it makes for an awesome elopement background!

Guest Count: Up to 23

Pro Photo Tip: Book this venue on a weekday to avoid the waterfront crowds on weekends, you’ll have a way more relaxed experience and all the good spots for photos to yourselves!

Best For: Couples who want boutique urban vibes, and city portraits.

The Marmalade Motel

Really gorgeous ocean-side venue on the Eastern Shore. It’s where charm meets quirky modern motel, and the vibes are on point! It’s a newer venue in Nova Scotia, and it’s perfect for couples who want an intimate affair without breaking the budget. Up to 35 guests allowed, with tons of flexibility in package options. It’s also near some amazing spots for photos, including Taylor Head Beach, and Paddling Adventures at Norse Cove!

Guests: Up to 35

Best For: Couples who love quirky-ness meets charming cottage vibes, and want a space that can house guests overnight too.

Halifax Central Library

Are you looking for more modern small wedding venues in Nova Scotia? 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 I 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. 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. 🙂

Guests: Up to 70

Pro Photo Tip: The library is only available after public hours, but sunset is AMAZING on the 5th floor with the panoramic windows. Plan your portraits or ceremony around this.

Best for: Couples who want modern urban vibes and easy city access

OceanStone Seaside Resort

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 traveling, 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

Guests: Up to 110
Up to 77 overnight

Pro Photo Tip: Peggys Cove is only a short drive down the road and it’s gorgeous for a portrait session/break on your own!

Best For: Couples having a wedding with 50+ish guests, love ocean vibes, and want a space where a lot of guests can be accommodated overnight.

Moonshine Lodge

Anybody ever watch Moonshine? Well, there is where they filmed it! And now it’s a small wedding venue in Nova Scotia! How cool is that? Located in Hubbards on the south shore, it’s a pretty amazing ocean venue for smaller weddings. It’s colourful, unique, and has a fun history. Also located near a lake, beach, and it’s seaside!

Guests: Accommodates elopements/micro weddings or up to 60 guests for interior ceremonies.
Up to 80 for outdoors

Best For: Couples who want that wooden lodge look, and a neat story behind their venue!

Hirtles Beach

Located in Kingsburg on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Hirtles Beach is big and beautiful. It has rock coverage during high tide, and lovely sand coverage at low tide. The Beach is large enough to escape the crowds, and on a weekday it couldn’t be more perfect!

Guests: No set limit

Pro Photo Tip: There is a secret beach at Gaff Point, a trail that is only accessible from Hirtles Beach. It’s about a 30 min walk to get there, and it is an amazing spot for secluded and epic portraits!

Best For: Couples who love a quiet beach, are into the windswept look, and the sound of the ocean waves while they say “I do”

Wanna see more? Best Beaches for Small Weddings and Elopements in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia AIRBNBs.. seriously!

Airbnbs have some of the BEST little landscapes for weddings on the smaller scale. You can rent an adorable spot in the forest, or with a view, and get married with your closest humans on private property that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Cute Airbnb rental for 2 or 3 nights vs thousands on a venue? Yes please! It’s one of the best no-stress venue ideas when you want something chill but don’t want all the clean up and planning of a backyard wedding in your own home/ mom’s house.

You can have a ceremony with guests, say private vows if you want, and spend the day with just each other or celebrate with a potluck or a BBQ with those you love the most.

Book a place for just the two of you or a whole cottage so guests can stay over as well. Your call!

Guest Count: Usually up to 25

Pro Photo Tip: If you book a space with a lawn, on a lake, or in the woods, you can have unique and beautiful areas for a ceremony, private vows, and portraits!

Also, make sure the airbnb has some lovely windows for bonus beautiful interior lighting!

Best For: Couples who don’t want to spend a ton on a venue, want a totally private space, and want to keep their guest list under 20 or 25.

Nova Scotia Provincial Parks

Did you know that you can have your ceremony in any provincial or municipal 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! All provincial and municipal parks can be used for small wedding venues in Nova Scotia.

Guests: No set limit

Pro Photo Tip: A ton of these parks gave gazebos but don’t be lured into one! When a couple stands inside a gazebo, they are in shadow and the background will be overexposed. Your photos will be better if you stand just in front of one, and that way the light is gorgeous on you AND you can actually see the cute gazebo, too!

Best For: Couples who want the simplicity of a park wedding, a budget friendly option, and don’t mind there being strangers around

Your own Backyard

There are some many small wedding venues in Nova Scotia but let’s not forget our own backyard! I 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!

Best For: Couples who just want to be in their comfort space, and don’t mind the effort of hosting/clean-up!

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Want more ideas for your Small Wedding?

Small Weddings = less than 50 guests
Elopement = less than 25 guests

Related Reading:

How to Elope in Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Highlands: The Closest thing to Scotland in North America
Cost to Elope in Nova Scotia vs a Wedding
Best Places to Elope in New Brunswick

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