Planning a destination wedding in Niagara is a dream come true for many couples. With its breathtaking landscapes, stunning venues, and rich history, Niagara offers endless possibilities! As a Niagara-based wedding planner, I’ve been lucky enough to work with couples from all over the world - from the US, to the UK and even Australia.

Niagara is a perfect location for a destination wedding. With stunning views, easy transportation, and an abundance of unique venues, every couple can create their dream wedding here. However, destination weddings come with their own set of challenges, and that’s where a local wedding planner makes all the difference. Whether it’s navigating venue options, understanding local laws, or coordinating with vendors, hiring an experienced planner is the key to creating a seamless and stress-free experience.

A bride and groom pose in front of Gracewood Estate on Kurtz Orchards — Credit: Kat Arndt Photography

Why Hire a Planner for your Niagara Destination Wedding

Planning a wedding is hard. It’s basically a full-time job on top of your full-time job! Even if you and your partner are the most Type-A, project-management-oriented people in the world, a wedding planner will be able to anticipate logistical problems you never even thought of. From transportation schedules to weather contingencies, I’ll help you avoid potential headaches and make informed decisions.

This is especially true when planning a destination wedding! You want a local wedding planner who can stand in for you at venue tours and communicate with your vendors. Plus, I cannot tell you the amount of times a couple has fallen in love with a venue, only to learn that it’s 30 minutes away from downtown (when it looked so close on a map). As your planner, I will help you choose a venue that aligns with your style, needs, and logistics.

Can’t make every venue tour or vendor meeting in person? As your local planner, I can attend these visits on your behalf, acting as your stand-in and ensuring everything is on track.

"Where would we be without Lindsay!? Lindsay was absolutely phenomenal in planning and executing our tented private property wedding in just under 5 months. She saw our vision and made our dreams come true despite a host of pivots, last-minute changes, and speed bumps along the way. She was calm, cool, and collected and effortlessly solved every challenge. We couldn’t recommend her more." – Elizabeth Bassett

A bride and groom stand at the altar during their wedding ceremony — Credit: Nicole Plett

Everything You Need to Know When Planning Your Niagara Destination Wedding

When to Get Married in Niagara

In Niagara, the high season is from May to November. June and September are the most popular months for weddings. July is the rainiest month, and August is the hottest, though the evenings are quite nice after 7pm. Winter weddings in Niagara are stunning, but the weather can be unpredictable, so factor that into your plans.

Also, keep an eye on the Canadian holidays! While you can still get married on most holidays, it will be significantly more expensive and may affect your guests’ travel plans.

Wedding In Niagara on Lake at The Hare Wine Co. — Credit: The East Core

Transportation To and From Your Wedding

You and your guests can fly into the Buffalo or Toronto airports and will easily find transportation into Niagara. Toronto is further away, so you’ll want your guests to stay in Niagara itself. Be sure that your guests are aware of the travel plans well in advance, and that their passports, visas, or other travel documents are up to date.

Niagara lake wedding in the summer — Credit: Nicole Plett

Choosing your Officiant

Many destination wedding couples want a family member or friend to officiate their wedding. While this adds a beautiful, sentimental touch to your day, it's important to remember that in Ontario, your marriage must be performed by a legally ordained officiant. This means you have two options: hire a professional officiant to perform your ceremony or take care of the legalities by going to City Hall a few days before your wedding.

Keep in mind that your marriage license can only be obtained 90 days before your wedding day. So you have three months from the time you receive your marriage license to be officially and legally married.

A Niagara destination wedding ceremony at Gracewood Estate — Credit: Kat Arndt Photography

Canada-Specific Financial Considerations

Most of your vendors for your Niagara destination wedding will require payment in Canadian Dollars. You will also need to account for the GST (the federal goods and service tax) and the HST (the harmonized sales tax, a combination of federal and provincial goods and service taxes) and your gratuities.

You can check the current GST and HST rates here!

A bride and groom's first dance at their Niagara destination wedding reception — Credit: Brittany Williams Photography

Choosing Your Niagara Destination Wedding Venue

Finally, the fun part! There are so many gorgeous venues to choose from in Niagara. From downtown urban venues, historic buildings, and waterfront spaces to wineries, tented weddings, and luxury hotels! No matter your wedding style, I will find a wedding venue that matches your vision for your wedding.

I recommend 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa for weddings with an urban flair. If you prefer historical settings, check out Gracewood Estate on the Kurtz Orchards property! Or maybe wineries are your thing? Niagara has plenty of those! Personally, I love The Hare Wine Co., Château des Charmes, and Cave Spring Vineyard.

Check out this blog post full of amazing Niagara wineries for your destination wedding!

Destination weddings in Niagara often evolve into full wedding weekends—and for good reason! Travelling takes time, and having an extra day to settle in and recover after the wedding festivities makes for a more enjoyable and relaxed experience for you and your guests.

Fortunately, Niagara has a host of venues that can accommodate your guests for a whole weekend, and even have spaces for you to host a welcome party and farewell brunch.

Read more about wedding weekend venues here!

Spring destination wedding in Niagara, Canada — Credit: Kendra Ruth Photography

“From the moment we decided to have our wedding in Niagara-on-the-Lake, all the way from Australia, we knew finding someone we could trust was so important. Lindsay exceeded our expectations in every way! Her extensive knowledge of venues and trusted vendors within our budget gave us great comfort that we were selecting the best vendors to realise our vision. Lindsay was instrumental in creating the perfect atmosphere - the numerous compliments we received from our guests speak volumes about her expertise.” Abbey P.

So much detail, thought, and energy goes into planning a destination wedding in Niagara. Working with a local wedding planner alleviates so much stress and allows you to enjoy this season of your life. You’re only engaged once. Don’t spend your engagement stressing over details and let me handle them for you! Reach out to start planning your Niagara destination weddings and watch all the details come together to create the perfect wedding day.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING A NIAGARA DESTINATION WEDDING

Why Hire a Planner for your Niagara Destination Wedding