Towering pines, pink granite and the quiet water of Buckhorn Lake set the tone at Westwind Inn, a rustic lakeside lodge where a wedding can unfold over a whole weekend.
The inn sits at 37 Gallery on the Lake Road in Buckhorn, in the Kawartha Lakes, about 20 km north of Peterborough and roughly 90 minutes from Toronto. Its 60 acres of grounds include extensive perennial gardens and about 1,500 feet of shoreline, with thousands of acres of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park nearby.
Ceremony locations are wonderfully varied. Couples can choose the beach, the boardwalk, the lakefront deck, the lobby, one of the gardens, the arbour by the chalet or the meadow by the forest, and the beach and boardwalk suit up to around 70 to 80 guests. The inn can recommend an officiant.
Receptions take place in the Boathouse Lounge, an air-conditioned lakeside room with panoramic lake views, an oak dance floor, a brick fireplace and a large bar. It seats 70 comfortably for a served dinner, or approximately 80 to 90 for a stand-up cocktail-style reception.
The large lakefront deck sits right beside the lounge for fresh air between courses. From June through September, larger groups can rent a marquee to cover the 80 by 20 foot deck, and for 20 to 50 guests the Treetops Dining Room offers a smaller option.
Accommodation is part of the experience. With 35 guest rooms on site, couples can reserve the entire inn for their friends and family, and many lodge rooms have a fireplace and private balcony, while honeymoon suites sit in a separate lakefront chalet a short stroll away.
The inn suggests turning the weekend into a gathering: a casual barbecue and bonfire on arrival, a leisurely breakfast the next morning, then canoes, kayaks, trails or the pool before the wedding itself. At the end of the night, everyone simply walks back to their room.
For couples eloping, a package for up to 10 guests includes a ceremony location, a signing table and witnesses.
For couples who picture a lakeside ceremony, a cozy dance by the fireplace and everyone they love staying under one roof, Westwind Inn offers a Kawartha weekend wedding that feels like a retreat.
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