Inn on the Lake, Fall River

At Inn on the Lake, a wedding can spill from the patio out across groomed parkland toward the shore of Lake Thomas, with gazebos and decks waiting along the way.

This boutique hotel sits on four acres of parkland in Fall River, about 10 minutes from Halifax Stanfield International Airport and 20 minutes from Halifax. It first opened in 1972, and since 1986 the Nelson family has grown it into a hotel and special event facility with a French Mansard exterior and an old-world feel inside.

Celebrations here have been held in the parklands, on the patio, in the pub, in the dining room and in the special occasion rooms. The Banquet room seats 64 to 80 guests, Lakeview seats 30 to 40, and Fletcher and Thomas suit smaller gatherings.

The kitchen can serve anything from passed hors d'oeuvres to a seated six-course dinner. Encore, the contemporary dining room, seats 75 to 80, and Oliver's Gastro Pub glows with mahogany, brass, stained glass and a warm fireplace.

Guests can stay in 39 individually styled rooms and suites, some with seasonal fireplaces or whirlpool tubs and some on two storeys. An outdoor pool and the grounds are there to enjoy between events.

A meeting and banquet coordinator helps plan the room setup and menu so the details are looked after.

For couples who picture a lakeside celebration with a fireside pub and rooms for everyone just steps away, Inn on the Lake offers a wedding that feels relaxed, welcoming and close to the city without feeling like it.