Pine Vista Resort

At Pine Vista Resort, a wedding feels like a lakeside weekend with the people closest to you, set beside the clear water of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas.

The family owned resort sits on Gilchrist Bay in Douro-Dummer, near Lakefield, about 150 km north of Toronto. Its grounds cover more than 200 acres of woodland with 1,000 feet of waterfront.

The story goes back to 1945, when Walter Hamilton, a carpenter, and his wife Alma, a teacher, built their first rental cottages on the bay. Their son Vernon and his wife Bonnie took over in 1968 and gave the place the name Pine Vista.

Pine Vista welcomes small weddings, reunions and milestone celebrations of up to 30 guests. The social room has a warm country feel, a kitchenette and a large deck with a barbecue, and comes set up with tables, chairs and dishes. Couples are free to bring in their own caterer or host a barbecue or dinner themselves.

Guests can stay right on site in smoke-free cottages and townhouses, from traditional cottages to deluxe units, some with whirlpool tubs. Every unit has a full kitchen and linens, which makes it easy to stretch the celebration into a weekend or a whole week.

Between festivities there is plenty to do: a golden sand beach, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub with lake views, complimentary canoes, kayaks and paddleboats, hiking trails through the forest, a games room and a sports court.

For couples who picture family and friends gathered by the water on Stoney Lake, Pine Vista Resort offers a relaxed cottage country wedding that becomes a holiday for everyone.