The Opinicon

A wedding at The Opinicon feels like a long summer evening on the Rideau, with Opinicon Lake glinting beyond the verandas and the trees leaning over the lawn.

The lodge sits on the shore of Opinicon Lake at Chaffey's Lock, surrounded by the waterways of the Rideau Canal. It began life in 1870 as a private home, and in 1921 it reopened as The Opinicon Club, run by one family for roughly 90 years as a gathering place for boaters, cottagers and returning summer families.

After the buildings fell into disrepair and closed, new owners with a personal tie to the place bought it in 2015, restored it and reopened it that same summer, keeping its old character alive.

Couples have been celebrating here for more than a century. The property spans 16 acres of waterfront grounds, with room for ceremonies outdoors and receptions inside.

The bright dining room opens onto wide verandas looking over the lake. The retro Tiki Lounge is ideal for a cocktail hour or a smaller group, while the Alford Room is a flexible space for dinner and dancing. Indoors and out, the lodge hosts groups of up to 100.

Everything is made fresh in the lodge's own kitchen, including passed appetizers, dinners of several courses and celebration cakes, with a full bar and a thoughtfully chosen wine list.

For couples who picture vows by the water and a dance on a historic veranda, The Opinicon offers a lakeside wedding that feels like a cherished Rideau summer tradition.