Manoir Mauvide-Genest

A wedding at Manoir Mauvide-Genest feels like stepping into New France, with stone walls from the 1700s and the St. Lawrence just beyond the trees.

Built in 1734 and enlarged twice since, the manor was home to Jean Mauvide, a surgeon, merchant and seigneur, and his wife Marie-Anne Genest dit Labarre. It is one of the few houses of its kind still standing from the seigneurial era, and a foundation restored it with great care around 2000.

The manor sits in the village of Saint-Jean on Île d'Orléans, with its own access to the river and views from the park behind the house.

For a small ceremony, the manor's chapel seats up to 20 guests in a setting full of old-world character.

Larger celebrations move outdoors to the wooded park, where a marquee can hold up to 200 guests beside the river. The grounds also include an interpretation garden with apothecary herbs and a picnic area known as the Halte du seigneur.

The outdoor season runs from June to October, and in autumn and winter the exhibition rooms can welcome intimate gatherings among period furnishings. Parking is on site, and a guided tour of the museum can be added for guests.

For couples who picture vows in a historic chapel and a reception under the trees by the river, Manoir Mauvide-Genest offers a wedding rooted in nearly three centuries of island history.