Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature

At Le Baluchon, a wedding can begin in a forest pavilion or a meadow and end with guests riding by horse-drawn carriage to dinner.

This eco-resort in Saint-Paulin covers 1,200 acres of nature along the Rivière du Loup, with pine groves, maple forest, farmland and a stone windmill and wooden chapel that recall the area's heritage.

Two outdoor pavilions host ceremonies, one in a meadow and one in the forest. Receptions take place in Être aux oiseaux, a modern banquet hall with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace for up to 130 guests, or at La Table du Roy, a rustic round-log building with a windowed extension for 50 to 80 guests.

Carriages carry guests to La Table du Roy and back, and couples can book a private calèche for their photos. A coordinator builds a custom package for each couple.

Guests can stay in four inns with 90 rooms, plus chalets and lofts. The resort has two restaurants and a health spa with Nordic baths.

Activities fill the weekend, with 35 km of hiking trails, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, archery and tennis in summer, and dog sledding, skating and snowshoeing in winter.

For couples who picture a river, a forest and a carriage ride to their reception, Le Baluchon offers a wedding that feels rooted in nature and Mauricie charm.