Your Wedding Guide
Getting married at Fernwood Hills.
We put this together for couples who want to understand exactly what a Fernwood wedding looks like before they reach out — or for couples who have already inquired and want to think through the details.
Everything is here: the tiers, the ceremony locations, the food options, the add-ons, the process, the costs. Read it at your own pace. Share it with your partner. Come back to it. When you have questions, just reply to any email we've sent — or use the form at the bottom.
The Property
40 private acres of Carolinian forest.
Fernwood Hills is ten minutes from London, Ontario, but it doesn't feel like it. Forty acres of Carolinian forest, a gravel drive in from the road, and nothing visible beyond the treeline. The four buildings — Studio Loft, Farmhouse, Adler Cabin, Bracken Cabin — sit in clearings in the forest. There's a meadow, seasonal ponds, a fire pit, and trails that go quiet quickly.
We're a private property, not a venue campus. One wedding per date — we don't double-book ceremonies.
The forest does most of the visual work. Couples spend a fraction of what they would on décor at a traditional venue because the backdrop is already there — the trees, the light, the quiet. You add the people and the food. That's basically it.
Two Packages
Pick the format, not the size.
The wedding packages include Farmhouse getting ready and forest ceremony with the white pine timber frame arch. The difference is guest count, timing, dinner, and whether overnight in the Studio Loft is included or booked separately.
Elopement
Up to 10 guests
$3,800
$3,200 Mon–Thu
An all-in forest elopement: Farmhouse getting ready, ceremony under the white pine timber frame arch, Studio Loft for the evening (just the couple), Manna dinner for two, overnight, and breakfast. Weekend $3,800, Mon–Thu $3,200.
Included
- Farmhouse for getting ready
- Forest ceremony — white pine timber frame arch, built from trees our grandfather planted on this land
- Photos on the property
- Guests gather briefly under Timber Pavilion after ceremony, then head home
- Studio Loft for the evening — always just the couple
- Manna dinner for two
- Overnight in the Studio Loft
- Breakfast basket at the door
Best for
Couples who want the complete experience without the production. Second weddings. Anyone who wants the whole day — from getting ready through breakfast — handled as one thing.
Not for
Groups larger than 10, or couples wanting a reception-style dinner with guests.
Micro Wedding
11–30 guests
$5,500
$4,600 Mon–Thu
Farmhouse getting ready, forest ceremony, dinner under the Timber Pavilion (or Studio Loft in bad weather). Guests leave by 8pm. Weekend $5,500, Mon–Thu $4,600. Ceremony-only option available from $2,500.
Included
- Farmhouse for getting ready
- Forest ceremony — white pine timber frame arch, built from trees our grandfather planted on this land
- Dinner under Timber Pavilion (good weather) or Studio Loft (bad weather)
- Guests leave by 8pm
Best for
Couples with tight guest lists and loose itineraries. People who want to actually spend time with their guests. Anyone tired of weddings that feel like a corporate banquet.
Not for
Couples who need more than 30 guests, or want a late-night party (guests out by 8pm).
Ceremony Locations
Four options. One is the plan, three are the backup.
Every ceremony has a weather plan built in before your day — no tent scramble, no morning-of calls. We work through the cascade with you during planning.
Forest Ceremony Site
Clear or light cloudThe default. A clearing in the Carolinian forest with dappled light, birdsong, and nobody else around. The arch sits where the trees thin enough to let the afternoon light in. This is what most couples picture when they picture Fernwood.
Available for all tiers.
Timber Pavilion
Iffy weather, light rainA covered open-air structure in the forest. Heated for shoulder-season and winter weddings. Feels like a ceremony in the trees — because it is — just with a roof. No scrambling, no tents, no morning-of decisions. The rain plan is built in before you book.
Backup for all tiers. Also used for Micro Wedding dinners.
Studio Loft
Heavy rain, winterVaulted ceilings, exposed beams, panoramic windows looking into the forest. A full indoor ceremony space that doesn't feel like a ballroom. The built-in sleeping loft means the couple can stay in the space they got married in.
Available as ceremony Plan C for any tier.
Farmhouse
Smaller indoor alternativeWarm, residential, 1,200 sq ft. Full kitchen, long dining table, open-concept living. Works for smaller ceremonies that want the feeling of a home, not a venue. Farmhouse has its own character — rougher, more honest than the Loft.
Best for Elopement and Micro tiers.
Sample Day
What a Micro Wedding evening looks like.
This is a reference timeline for a Micro Wedding. Elopements are shorter and simpler. We build a custom timeline with every couple during the planning process.
2:00 PM
Getting ready
Couple arrives at the getting-ready space (Studio Loft or Farmhouse). Hair, photos, a quiet hour before the day begins.
4:30 PM
Guests arrive
Up to 30 guests walk in on the forest path. Drinks are waiting. Nobody is rushing yet.
5:00 PM
Ceremony
30–40 minutes under the trees at the forest site or Timber Pavilion. The officiant you chose or one we can refer.
5:45 PM
Cocktails and portraits
Guests move to the deck for drinks. Couple slips into the forest for portraits during golden hour.
7:00 PM
Farm-table dinner
Long-table dinner under string lights — Manna by Fernwood Hills, seasonal and generous. Speeches at the table, not a podium.
8:30 PM
Fire and toasts
Move to the fire pit. Dessert. Quiet music. The evening winds down on its own. Cabin check-in for those staying overnight.
Food
Two options. Both are good.
Food is one of the things guests remember. We've built a catering option that fits the setting — and we make it easy to bring your own if you have something specific in mind.
Manna by Fernwood Hills
$75 per person
Our in-house catering. Seasonal menus built around what's growing and what travels well to a long table in the forest. The food has a point of view — it's not wedding-neutral catering. Generous portions, unhurried service, farm-sourced where possible.
- Seasonal menu built around your date
- Family-style dinner service
- Dietary accommodations (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies)
- Setup and cleanup included
Couples bring their own wine, beer, and spirits. No corkage fee. No cakes provided — BYO or order from a local bakery.
Bring Your Own Catering
No fee
Bring your own caterer, food truck, family cook, or meal kit. The Farmhouse and Studio Loft both have full working kitchens. Long tables are set up and ready. No corkage fee, no surprise charges.
- Full kitchen access (Farmhouse or Studio Loft depending on tier)
- Long-table setup and takedown
- No corkage fee
- No surprise service charges
Popular with families who want to cook together the morning of. Also great if you have a caterer you already love.
Add-Ons
Getting ready and staying over.
None of the add-ons are required. All of them make the day better.
Getting Ready — Studio Loft
$295Half-day access to the Studio Loft before the ceremony. Vaulted ceilings, big windows, natural light — it photographs beautifully and it's actually a calm place to get ready. Full kitchen for coffee and food. Space for a hair and makeup setup and a wedding party of 4–6. Loved by grooms, wedding parties, and anyone who wants the morning to feel like the day it is.
Getting Ready — Farmhouse
$295Half-day access to the Farmhouse — 1,200 sq ft, open-concept, warm and residential. Full kitchen, long dining table, plenty of natural light. Better for larger wedding parties, brides with hair and makeup teams, or couples who want both parties getting ready on-site. The Farmhouse has a different energy than the Loft — more grounded, more kitchen-table morning.
Overnight Stay
Regular unit rates — no wedding markupThe Adler and Bracken cabins are available at regular nightly rates for couples staying after the ceremony. The Farmhouse is also available if you want more space. Walk to your cabin when the evening winds down — no parking lot, no hotel lobby, just the forest path.
Most couples who stay overnight say it was the best part. The next morning is quiet. There's coffee, there's the forest, there's nobody else around. The wedding is over but you're still there.
Preferred Vendors
People we work with regularly.
We don't mandate vendor lists or charge referral fees. These are people we've worked with and trust to show up right, know the property, and make your day better — not their Instagram portfolio. Photographers especially: the forest light here has a character that some photographers work with and others fight. The ones on our list know what they're walking into.
View our preferred vendor list →If you have vendors you already love, bring them. BYO caterer, BYO photographer — no restrictions, no fees.
What It Costs
Real numbers, no surprises.
Every proposal we send is fully itemized. Nothing is bundled in a way that hides cost. Here are three concrete examples.
Elopement (Weekend)
2 people, all-in package
Mon–Thu: $3,200
Micro Wedding with Manna Dinner + Guest Cabin
15 guests, Manna dinner, overnight guest cabin
Fully-Loaded Micro Wedding
30 guests, ceremony + The Evening, Manna dinner, Farmhouse getting ready
That's less than the deposit at most Ontario venues.
How It Works
Five steps from inquiry to confirmed.
No pressure tactics, no "venue packages", no upsells in the booking flow. We send you what it costs, you decide, and if it feels right you put down a deposit.
You fill out the inquiry form
Takes about 3 minutes. We ask about your date, guest count, which tier feels right, and a bit about what you're after. No commitment — just a conversation starter.
We reply same day
We'll confirm availability for your date, answer your questions, and share a custom proposal with a full cost breakdown. No pressure, no sales tactics. Just the information you need to make a decision.
You review the proposal
We send a detailed written proposal via email with every line item, your exact tier, add-ons, and the deposit amount. Read it, share it with your partner, ask questions. We'll adjust anything that doesn't feel right.
A deposit holds your date
When you're ready, a deposit confirms your booking. Your date is blocked on our calendar immediately. Nothing else is due until closer to the event.
We coordinate the details
We check in at the two-week and three-day marks to confirm headcount, logistics, and any setup notes. The day itself runs on a timeline we build together.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Can we visit before we book?
Yes — and we recommend it. Email us and we'll schedule a property visit. Seeing the forest ceremony site, the Timber Pavilion, and the Studio Loft in person makes everything click. Most couples visit once before inquiring and once before signing.
What's the difference between the two tiers?
Format, not size. Elopement is $3,800 weekend / $3,200 weekday, with up to 10 ceremony guests before the evening becomes just the couple. Micro Wedding is $5,500 weekend / $4,600 weekday, up to 30 guests. Ceremony Only is $2,500 weekend / $2,000 weekday. You pick the experience you want, not the largest one you can afford.
Do you host multiple weddings on the same day?
No. One wedding per date — we don't double-book ceremonies.
Can we have more than 30 guests?
Our maximum is 30 guests for micro weddings and ceremony-only weddings. This is a feature, not a constraint — it's why the ceremony feels like a ceremony and the dinner feels like a dinner. If you need more than 30, we're probably not the right fit and we'd rather tell you now.
What about music?
Acoustic and small amplified music works well at Fernwood. Live ceremony musicians, a small speaker for cocktail hour, background music during dinner. We are in a rural setting — sound carries — so we ask that amplified music wraps by 9pm.
Can we stay the night?
Yes, and most couples do. The Adler and Bracken cabins are priced at regular nightly rates — no wedding markup. Walk to your cabin when the evening winds down. The Farmhouse is also available if you want more space.
How does catering work?
Two options. Manna by Fernwood Hills is our in-house kitchen — seasonal menus, family-style service, menus and pricing worked out as part of your booking. Or bring your own caterer, food truck, or cook — full kitchen available, no corkage fee. Many couples combine both: Manna for the ceremony-day dinner, family cooking for the getting-ready morning.
What is the rain plan?
The Timber Pavilion is covered and heated. It's a real structure — not a tent, not a last-minute scramble. The rain plan is built into your booking before your day. You won't be making a call at 7am the morning of your wedding.
Do you provide flowers, décor, or a photographer?
We don't provide those directly — but we have preferred vendors we trust and can refer. Most couples work with their own florist and photographer. The forest does a lot of the visual work; décor requirements are usually simpler than at a traditional venue.
What's the fully-loaded cost?
A Micro Wedding for 30 guests with Manna catering and a Farmhouse getting-ready half-day comes to around $8,050 total. That's comparable to the *deposit* at most Ontario venues.
Can we see the property on our own?
The property is private and not open for unannounced visits, but we're happy to schedule a showing. Reach out via the inquiry form or reply to any email we've sent you.
Is there parking?
Yes — a gravel lot at the front of the property with room for 20+ cars. We can also help coordinate a shuttle from London if you'd prefer guests not drive.
What couples say
“We'd toured a dozen venues and every one felt like a sales pitch. Fernwood was the first place that just showed us around and let us decide. We knew within ten minutes.”
“The ceremony site was exactly what we'd imagined — we just didn't know places like this existed an hour from the city. Our guests are still talking about the dinner.”
Ready to talk about your date?
Tell us what you're thinking.
Fill out the inquiry form — takes about 3 minutes. We'll confirm availability and send back a custom proposal within 24 hours. No commitment, no sales tactics.
Inquire about your dateOr reply to any email we've sent — we read and respond to every one.