Waterloo Region Museum

Few wedding days include a covered bridge, a historic train engine and horses grazing in the fields as the sun goes down.

The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum in Kitchener sits beside Doon Heritage Village, a living history village depicting rural life in 1914. Together, the museum and village span 60 acres, and couples can hold both ceremony and reception on site.

For the ceremony, the Freeport Historical Church is a non-denominational chapel built in 1861, complete with an operating church bell, a piano and oil lamps. It seats approximately 100 guests, and rental includes a one-hour rehearsal.

Outdoors, the Willow Green Gazebo in Doon Heritage Village is lined with willow trees and seats around 120, while the Museum Patio offers a more intimate setting near the train engine. Outdoor functions are available from May to October.

Receptions take place in the Grand Foyer, a 5,200 square foot space with limestone, barn timbers, floor-to-ceiling windows and illuminated tracks set into the floor. It seats around 150 guests, or more than 300 for a standing reception, with a corner bar and a licensed patio.

Next door, the 114-seat Christie Theatre could be a sweet place to share home movies or a slideshow with guests.

Booking a ceremony or reception gives the wedding party exclusive access to Doon Heritage Village for photographs, with its gravel paths, railway station, covered bridge, fire hall, blacksmith shop and gardens. The museum works with exclusive local caterers, from casual receptions to plated dinners.

For couples who love history, open landscapes and a reception space with real architectural presence, the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum offers a wedding day with a story all its own.