Planning Your Dream Wedding at Kintail
My name is Christin, though many adults and campers alike know me best as Hydra. On August 22nd, Chris and I were married at the place that started it all, and we couldnt' have written a more perfect day! Everything worked out exactly how we hoped- or better.
Summer camps are such a wonderful place to get married. The beauty of the site is perfect for atmosphere (and the family photos) and it's such a treat to be able to have everyone stay over with a chance to hug and say goodbye in the morning after breakfast rather than folks trickling away as the evening goes on. Here's how it all worked out for us!
Jennifer van Son Photography
First and in many ways foremost, the photos shared here were taken by Jennifer van Son and we love each and every one of them with our whole hearts. We didn't know her personally, we googled "Camp Kintail Wedding" and opened up tabs for each photographer who had been here and closed them one by one. We agreed we loved Jennifers photos the most, and couldn't believe our luck that she was avialable for our big day. At first I said we didn't need an engagement shoot- we had great photos from the day we actually GOT engaged.
Then I realized, why say no to MORE great pictures with my man?! It was the BEST call. Meeting our photographer in advance made the day seamless. My dad said after the fact "I can't believe you haven't know her your whole life, that girl felt like family!" and my youngest brother said "Your photographer was unreal, like she was working hard but not just that she was so legitimately invested in both of you!" We can't recommend her enough. She impressed us through every step of the journey and it wouldn't have been the same without her. If you read this, thank you Jen <3
The Specs
We had 80 guests and 6 vendors to factor into our timelines and seating chart!
The Plan
We didn't rent any tables or chairs, we didn't rent any linens or chair covers. We got some runners from marketplace, and tried to keep things pretty minimal/ simple. Kintail puts up the white sheets on either side of the fireplace, and takes care of the glassware. All other decorations/ the orange runners draped were our own touch. I left this diagram with a friend on Friday night, and everything was in place by the time the rehearsal had ended!
The Decor
All we did was put emerald runners on the tables, had a wood disc (Kintail has em') with a floating candle and babies breath at each, and popped some orange runners on the walls to bring everything together. The flowers in my bouquet and centrepieces were from Etsy and were made of wood, the babies breath was picked up on Friday on the way to the camp from Olive & Rose in Goderich. Nothing needed refrigerating, and everything was finished on Friday leaving Saturday hastle-free! *The only unique thing we did was bring our kitchen table for the head table, and I got one specific table cloth for it that we will continue to use in our home for holidays etc.
The Rehearsal Dinner
Delicious, helpful, and fun! We had a fantastic meal with our wedding party, immediate family, and guests from out of province who we invited to come earlier. All of our guests were welcome to stay Friday night if desired, but select guests were extended an invitation to the catered meal. After that we paid for a Kintail life guard, and had a fire at the swing circle to visit with everyone before bed.
Our Private Vows & First Look
We did a first look and read our vows together in private before the ceremony. I wasn't sold on this, I was worried the chapel would lose it's intensity, but I am SO glad we did it this way. We cried so hard, with no audience. We got out all the jitters. We had an intense and long hug- with no one watching/ waiting for it to end. We said what was on our hearts to one another, then shared the same words during the service. It also allowed for some of our favourite photos in a different location, and a breath away from everyone else.
The Ceremony
Guests sat at the chapel on the wooden benches. We did have a few chairs set up in the front row for parents and close family. The chairs have arms, so if you have any elderly guests this may be better for them for ease of getting up and down. There are also platforms at the top of the chapel for wheelchair users or folks with walkers to sit, you can ask for a chair to be left on the platform as well so your guest can sit with friends and loved ones. The lake and trees add a perfect back drop and out-door ambience. We hired a DJ to do the service and the dancing, and had Kintail take care of the music for cocktail hour.
Our day was over-cast and eventually rained- but I am still beyond obsessed with these photos!
The Cocktail Hour
Kintail catered the cocktail hour with the standard (and beautiful) charcutterie boards. We splashed out for the hot apps to be served by staff- Chris is British and wanted some "real pigs in blankets" and I LOVE the Kintail bruschetta. We opted to just have ice bins with beverages guests could help themselves to, and we cut the cake on the porch. For the cake cutting we didn't make any announcements or anything and served cupcakes for dessert up at the lodge from the same talented baker (who happens to be the camps accountant and dear friend).
Many couples have bartenders for this part, but we figured it was easier to just have them set up shop at the lodge and keep this part light. Many lovely choices for family photos, easy to keep everyone near enough if you don't do a first look!
The Dinner
Kintails food is truly top class. It surprises and delights everyone, because it's SO not what you would expect from a summer camp. We served the signature Stuffed Chicken Breast served in a Balsamic Reduction Cream Sauce (listen, just get it, it's SO good!) and BBQ Ribs with Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Carrots, and Bread & Salad served to the table. For dessert we went a less normal route and served sticky toffee pudding with ice cream and a tray of squares/ bars/ the cupcakes from the cake-cutting.
The Dancing
We set up the DJ at the end of the dining hall, that way if it was rainy we could just put the buffet on the patio and dance indoors. It didn't rain but it was easy to hear the music and everything worked smashingly to have the dancing on the patio! Kintail leaves round tables in a semi-circle so there's a spot for people to take a beat and set their drinks. Even for weddings of 150 it's nice to have the dance floor feel close enough that people are together not all spread out. We loved it!
"We're getting MARRIED. Everything else is just silly." - C&C 2026 Official Wedding Mantra
I also shared a ton of information with our guests in advance, and as a person who understands how much work goes into everything behind the scenes, I figured I'd share my pride and joy PDF's with ya'll here! Don't get me wrong, this is all a little over the top, but maybe you'll find something you hadn't actually thought of that you should decide. How DO you want the napkins folded? How will people know where to go when they get here? Who do they call if they run into troubles? Anyway, here's the wedding website that was sent to guests to RSVP with, the PDF I sent everyone by email a week before the wedding, and the master timeline I used for the day!
Email we sent to all guests
My master timeline (Set-Up/ Hair & Makeup/ DJ/ Photography/ Catering/ Speeches)
More pictures, because we just want you to see more!
