Windermere House

Some wedding venues feel unmistakably Muskoka from the moment you arrive.

Windermere House has been standing on the shores of Lake Rosseau since 1870, with its white Victorian exterior, broad verandah and lake views creating the kind of setting that already feels romantic before the wedding begins.

The ceremony can take place on the front lawn with Lake Rosseau stretching beyond the vows.

Guests gather on the grass.

The water sits quietly behind everything.

And for a few minutes, one of Muskoka's best-known views becomes the backdrop to something deeply personal.

Afterwards, cocktails can move onto the covered verandah while the newlyweds slip toward the waterfront for photographs.

Then everyone gathers again in the Islandview Room, where up to approximately 120 guests can sit for dinner surrounded by lake views and the character of the historic hotel.

The lovely thing about Windermere House is that the wedding does not have to disappear when the last song ends.

Guests can stay at the hotel.

The next morning brings coffee, stories from the night before and another look across the same lake where everything began.

For couples who picture a classic Muskoka wedding with water, history and an entire weekend together, Windermere House feels beautifully at home on Lake Rosseau.