Sir Sam's Inn & Spa

At Sir Sam's Inn & Spa, couples say their vows in a gazebo at the water's edge, with the breeze coming off Eagle Lake and the Haliburton Highlands rising all around.

The inn began as the summer estate of Sir Samuel Hughes, the minister who led Canada's military through the First World War. He built a ten bedroom stone and timber mansion on the shoreline, and that historic house is still the heart of this adults-only lakeside resort.

Weddings here are intimate, with exclusive use of the inn for up to 50 guests. Ceremonies can be held at the lakeside gazebo or on the lake view terrace, or indoors in the Hughes Wing, a high ceilinged room with windows looking over the water. The Lounge by the Fire, once the living room of the Hughes retreat, is another cozy spot for an indoor ceremony or a pre-dinner gathering.

Dinner is served at Twin Fires, a dining room seating up to 60, with big windows facing the lake and soft, warm lighting. Afterward, guests move to the historic Gunner's Pub for the private bar, billiards, darts and shuffleboard by the fire, with room for a band or DJ. In season, an outdoor barbecue is also an option.

Packages include a bartender, music and a dance floor, help with setup, a table for gifts and the guest book, the standard tableware, a luxury suite for the couple's wedding night at no charge and unlimited use of the inn's facilities, including the WaterSpa.

Guests can stay in rooms in the Main Inn, lakeside units, two storey suites or a private cottage, many with patios or balconies, spa tubs and wood burning fireplaces. Summer brings swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, tennis and cruises aboard The Lady Hughes, while winter offers skiing, snowshoeing and dogsledding. The town of Haliburton is about 15 minutes away, and Toronto is roughly two and a half hours south.

For couples who picture a small, unhurried weekend by the lake in a house full of history, Sir Sam's Inn & Spa offers a wedding that feels like a true Highlands escape.