Cabot Shores Wilderness Resort & Retreat

At Cabot Shores, a wedding can begin wherever the land feels right: by a pond, in an orchard, along a brook or on a wild Atlantic beach.

For more than 21 years, this 55-acre wilderness resort at the start of the Cabot Trail near Englishtown has welcomed couples from around the world. The property includes beaches, ponds, rivers, orchards and forest trails.

Ceremony spots include the Chalet Lawn overlooking Church Pond and the Bird Islands, a forest setting along Indian Brook, the Orchard Meadow among wild roses and apple trees, and EagleFeather Beach, a stretch of sand along the Atlantic reached by a bridge.

Receptions can move indoors or out. The Great Room of the Lodge hosts up to 80 guests with its bistro, music space and separate bar. The Event Space welcomes up to 50, and the Red Dragon Event Yurt, a 30-foot yurt with painted woodwork, welcomes up to 30. Each can serve as a backup ceremony spot if the weather turns.

Food is prepared by Chef Ron MacNeil using fresh, local ingredients, with options ranging from buffet or plated dinners to wood-fired pizza from the outdoor oven near the Lodge.

Guests can stay on site in yurts, domes, chalets, lodge rooms and other unique accommodations, many with private hot tubs. Weddings require a minimum two-night stay, which turns the celebration into a weekend retreat.

Between events, guests can kayak on Church Pond, walk the beach, gather around a bonfire or explore the Cabot Trail. An online Wedding Builder helps couples plan their ceremony, reception and meals.

For couples who want ocean, forest and mountains woven into a weekend with the people they love, Cabot Shores offers a wedding that feels like a true Cape Breton getaway.