Memory Lane Heritage Village

Step through the gate and the clock turns back to the 1940s. A church bell rings across the village green, and a wedding feels like a story from another time.

Memory Lane Heritage Village is an award-winning living history museum in Lake Charlotte, about an hour east of Halifax on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore.

Ceremonies can be held in the 1894 historic church, which seats up to around 120 in its pews and balcony, or outdoors on the Village Green beneath a spreading maple tree.

Dinner is served in the Cookhouse, with a wood stove, a separate bar and a preferred seating of about 85 guests. Later, the Clam Factory overlooks Dufferin Pond and offers a small stage and space for dancing and the reception, with around 60 to 70 guests at small round tables alongside a dance floor.

The wedding package welcomes up to 100 guests and includes the Schoolhouse for the wedding party, the Garage for a guestbook or bar, vintage props, and heritage buildings open for tours and photos until 9 pm.

Village staff are part of both the planning and the day itself, with an Event Planner, three event assistants, set-up and tear-down, a rehearsal night and cleaning included.

Catering is available on site, from simple 1940s fare to modern specialties, and the Village holds a permanent liquor licence with experienced bar staff.

Guests can find a motel right next door, along with inns, B&Bs and campgrounds nearby, and Clam Harbour Beach is about 10 km away.

For couples who dream of a vintage wedding with a church bell, lawn games and a pond-side dance, Memory Lane Heritage Village offers a celebration steeped in Eastern Shore heritage.