Wedding Officiant in Peterborough & the Kawarthas
Lakeside resorts, century barns, and cottage-country celebrations across the Kawartha Lakes.
Getting married in the Kawarthas.
Peterborough sits at the gateway to the Kawartha Lakes, a region defined by water, with chains of lakes (Stoney, Buckhorn, Pigeon, Rice, Chemong, Clear) connected by canals and locks. Couples come here for the cottage-country atmosphere: outdoor ceremonies on docks, century barns surrounded by farmland, and lakeside resorts that double as wedding weekend escapes.
Peterborough City offers a more urban option with downtown venues and the historic Hutchison House. Marriage licences are issued by the City of Peterborough for couples within the city, and by the surrounding townships (Selwyn, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, and the City of Kawartha Lakes for Lindsay-area weddings) for the rest of the region.
Where Kawartha couples say "I do."
Elmhirst's Resort
Keene · Rice Lake
Family-run cottage resort 20 minutes from Peterborough, popular for full-weekend weddings on the shore of Rice Lake.
Eganridge Resort & Country Club
Fenelon Falls
Historic resort with golf course, lakefront ceremonies, and an in-house reception venue, perfect for destination-style Kawartha weddings.
Beachwood Resort
Buckhorn · Lower Buckhorn Lake
Lakeside ceremony spot on Deer Bay, with cottage accommodations for guests and effortless waterfront photography.
Century Barn Weddings
Cavan
A restored century barn in the rolling hills of Cavan, an hour east of Toronto and a Kawartha favourite for rustic-elegant weddings.
Black Diamond Golf Club
South of Peterborough
Banquet hall and outdoor gazebo ceremonies surrounded by mature countryside greens.
Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat
Near Peterborough
Rustic outdoor wilderness venue for couples who want a forest-and-lakeside ceremony with a true cottage-country feel.
Peterborough Lions Community Centre
Peterborough City
A park-like setting close to downtown, ideal for relaxed, mid-sized celebrations.
Hutchison House Museum
Peterborough Downtown
Historic 1830s home for intimate ceremonies with character, charm, and Peterborough heritage.
Don't see your venue? Ask Maureen . She's likely officiated there.
Lakefield
Buckhorn
Bridgenorth
Peterborough
Apsley
Kawartha Lakes
Cottage country ceremonies, made unforgettable.
From Peterborough to Fenelon Falls.
Getting married in the Kawarthas: the practical bits.
Where to get a marriage licence
Apply at the City of Peterborough City Hall, or at the township office covering your venue. Licences are valid for 90 days and can be used anywhere in Ontario.
City of Peterborough City Hall
500 George St N · Peterborough City
Township of Selwyn
1310 Centre Line, Selwyn · Lakefield & area
City of Kawartha Lakes
26 Francis St, Lindsay · Lindsay & Kawartha Lakes
Township of Cavan Monaghan
988 County Rd 10, Millbrook · Cavan / Millbrook
Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
20 Third St, Keene · Keene & area
Ceremony venues by style
The Kawarthas excel at four distinct wedding styles. Lakeside resorts (Elmhirst's, Beachwood, Eganridge) turn weddings into weekends; century barns in Cavan deliver rustic warmth without sacrificing elegance; wilderness retreats like Whispering Springs offer true forest-and-water immersion; and small-town heritage shines at Hutchison House and the Lions Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Travel and rehearsals
Peterborough is approximately 90 minutes from Maureen's Durham base, so a travel fee applies, quoted transparently at booking. For weekend resort weddings (Elmhirst's, Eganridge, Beachwood), Maureen can sometimes stay overnight to accommodate Friday rehearsals, which makes Saturday mornings feel a lot calmer for everyone.
Kawartha-specific questions.
Let's plan your day.
Ready to plan your Kawartha wedding?
Whether it's a dock ceremony on Buckhorn Lake, a barn wedding in Cavan, or a downtown Peterborough celebration, let's start the conversation.