52 North Venue

52 North Venue feels like a whole weekend given over to one wedding, with seven acres of Alberta woodland to wander and nobody waiting to set up for the next couple.

The venue sits nine kilometres north of Sylvan Lake, between Calgary and Edmonton, and opened in 2019. Its Signature Package hands the entire property to the couple from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. That includes two nights of on site lodging for up to 14 guests and two dedicated prep suites, so the wedding party can settle in the night before rather than arriving in a rush.

The ceremony happens outdoors among the trees, reached by a paved walkway to a spot beneath tall trunks with a creek winding past, with a hexagon arch, wood benches and an indoor backup if the sky turns. A two seater golf cart carries anyone who needs a lift.

The reception hall is 3,500 square feet of industrial chic: white tin walls, a brick feature wall with a New York feel, handmade wooden tables on pipe frames and metal chairs, with a sweetheart table and lounge furniture in barrels, stools and armchairs. There is a bar, a catering prep space with commercial fridges and a barbecue, a fire pit with the wood supplied, lawn games and furnished patios. On site hosts stay through the event, and setup and teardown are handled by the venue.

Up to 200 guests can be seated, the party runs until 1:00 AM with extensions to 3:00 AM, and the season runs mid May to mid October with a few winter dates in January and February.

Imagine the fire pit still glowing on Saturday night, and a slow Sunday breakfast with the people who stayed. At 52 North, the wedding gets to last.

• Outdoor ceremonies
• A barn for the celebration
• A ballroom or banquet hall
• Rooms for guests on site
• Bar service
• Wedding packages
• Exclusive use of the venue