Shannondoe Farm

At Shannondoe Farm, a wedding can begin with a walk across a long wooden bridge to a tree-shaded island in the middle of a spring-fed pond, while swans and ducks glide below.

This country property in Elgin County near St. Thomas was founded in 1968 as a horse farm and fish hatchery and has grown into one of Canada's leading Thoroughbred breeding farms. The hatchery is gone, but its ponds remain.

At the heart of the farm is a six-acre pond around a one-acre island, reached by a bridge about 100 feet long. The crossing makes a memorable entrance and a lovely spot for photos above the water. A member of the family was married on that island, followed by a reception in a tent under the stars.

Mature trees shade the grounds, and horse pastures surround the whole setting, so there is often a horse or two nearby for pictures.

The farm can host anything from a small ceremony to a wedding of 250 to 300 guests with a tented reception. A gazebo among the trees suits smaller gatherings, and an open or fully enclosed tent can be added for larger ones.

The family can also coordinate, set up and decorate the celebration.

For couples who picture vows on an island ringed by water and pasture, with a starlit tent reception to follow, Shannondoe Farm offers a country wedding unlike any indoor hall.