Let's Get Married

Fort Henry Weddings

A wedding venue is a place where memories are created and where a new story begins as two people come together. Fort Henry provides a unique setting for your special day. With incredible waterfront views, a seasonal outdoor patio and stunning natural beauty, we have the perfect spot for you! Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a large wedding extravaganza, our team is here to assist you with all your 'I do' needs to make your day everything you've dreamed of.

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Learn More About Fort Henry Weddings

Your Perfect Venue

Fort Henry's Great Hall

This is a unique and beautiful venue option for any private function and is available throughout the year. The high ceilings, outdoor patio, and stunning views will be sure to leave your guests delighted and provide the perfect backdrop for your special day. Included in the rental fee is the use of all parking, washroom, and kitchen facilities. The Great Hall is able to accommodate a maximum of 140 guests in a banquet-style seating arrangement or 190 guests for a reception event.

East Park / South Hill

Fort Henry's East Park amongst the mature trees or South Hill overlooking the 1000 Islands are unique options for outdoor wedding ceremonies.

Pricing

We are pleased to offer package estimates for your consideration. Rental rates vary by season. Additional charges apply for food and beverage service, any rentals that may be required to support your event, and any event enhancements of your choosing. Food and beverage services are available and exclusive to the Great Hall by Bytown Catering.

For inquiries, contact:

Venue Consultant

Food and Beverage

Our food and beverage service provider at Fort Henry's Great Hall is offered by Bytown Catering. With over 25 years of experience in the food services industry including 18 years of delivering high quality and responsive catering service, Bytown Catering has the knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to satisfy and “WOW” you.

Whether your style is classic or casual, our expert catering team will surprise and delight your guests no matter the occasion. Every detail is attended to, before, during and after your event.

For food and beverage inquiries, contact:

Bytown Catering
sales@bytowncatering.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Booking & Planning

Who should I contact for additional venue information, available dates or to book my Great Hall wedding?

Please contact our Venue Consultant by clicking here.

Do you have a virtual tour of the Great Hall?

To view a 360 tour of the venue space and its exterior, click here.

What is required to book?

A signed contract and deposit are required to secure your Great Hall wedding booking.

When are payments due? What methods of payment are accepted?

A 50% venue deposit is due upon contract signing and the remaining balance is due 10 days prior to your wedding day. We accept credit card and can facilitate remote payment upon request.

What is the timeline for meetings?

A Floor Planning meeting (3-6 months before your wedding date) will be approximately 45 minutes in length. A Ceremony rehearsal will be scheduled to take place within 72 hours of your wedding, and will include an opportunity to review final details. Rehearsals are up to 45 minutes in length.

Do you allow pets at the wedding ceremony/reception?

We love our pets and bet you do too! You may bring your well-mannered dog to your outdoor ceremony and include them in your exterior wedding photos as long as they remain on a leash at all times. For the safety and comfort of your guests, we do not permit pets inside the Great Hall at any time, except for trained service dogs. Please ensure to make adequate arrangements for your pets in the event of inclement weather and arrange for a safe ride home following your ceremony.

Do you have a list of preferred vendors or any recommendations?

Please contact your Great Hall representative about some fantastic local suggestions.

Do I need to include vendors in my seating plan?

Please ask their preference. Note: all vendors attending your reception must be included in your final guest count.

Do you offer a time for a rehearsal at the venue?

Yes. We will schedule a 45 minutes Ceremony Rehearsal to take place within 72 hours prior to your wedding day. Your Venue Consultant will be in attendance, though, we also recommend having your wedding planner or individual completing the ceremony present to assist in the rehearsal.

Is the Great Hall open year-round?

Yes! The Great Hall is fully climate-controlled to provide you with comfort year-round. Please contact your venue representative regarding off-season wedding rates.

Set-Up and Teardown

What time can vendors set-up?

Vendors may start to arrive at 10:00 am on the day of your wedding. Deliveries must be made on the day of your wedding and must be removed within your allocated teardown period. The Great Hall will not store or hold items in advance of your contracted event timeline.

Will someone place my decor for me?

The Great Hall does not allocate staff to place your decor items. Your reception room will be available at 10:00 am to give you ample time for delivery and placement of your personal items. We suggest if you don’t have a decorator, assign a decor assistant to ensure that your decor is placed to your liking and can be moved throughout the event as needed.

Are there any decor limitations?

We ask that confetti, sprinkles, petals and glitter not be used for decoration. Please refer to your venue rental agreement for further details.

Can I use real candles indoors?

Yes. Please ensure the candle holder fully contains the open flame; as a rule of thumb, aim for a height of 2 inches beyond the wick of the flame. All candle holders or containers must be non-flammable.

Are we allowed to hang ceiling decor?

Yes. All ceiling work must be completed by a licensed decorator and approved in advance by the venue

When can I pick up my belongings following the wedding?

Please ensure all personal items and décor are removed from the Great Hall during the Move-Out period listed in your venue rental agreement. We recommend allocating a friend or family member to assist you with this. The Great Hall will not be responsible for any personal items or décor left behind.

Catering Services

How long does dinner service usually take?

Including speeches, please allocate 2 hours for your dinner service.

I have a question about the catering and bar services at the venue. Who should I contact?

Our exclusive food service provider at the Great Hall is Bytown Catering. The Bytown sales team will be happy to provide you with a complimentary catering quote; please contact them directly at sales@bytowncatering.com. You can also preview their menu offerings and pricing at www.bytowncatering.com.

Who do I contact regarding table linens, napkins, tableware and glassware?

Please contact sales@bytowncatering.com to discuss the available styles, colours and fabrics.

May I use my own caterer at our reception?

No. We do not allow any outside food or beverages, other than your wedding cake to be brought into for your reception. Our exclusive caterer, Bytown Catering, will be more than happy to work with you to discuss and customize your catering needs for your event.

Wedding Day

Where can I have my pictures taken at Fort Henry’s Great Hall?

Great Hall couples will have the opportunity to take wedding photographs throughout the grounds of Fort Henry, including within the walls of the Fort if seasonally appropriate.

Is the venue accessible?

The Great Hall is fully accessible. This includes the first tier of the outdoor patio as well.

Can I leave my car overnight?

Yes! We encourage your emcee to announce this to your guests

Does the Great Hall have a private suite to get ready?

Our Wedding Suite is available for your exclusive use and your wedding party or special guests. It is located adjacent to the reception space and complete with a powder room, large full-length mirror, make-up vanity, and storage space. The room is a locked and coded room for the safe storage of your personal belongings.

Are there any activities in the area for my guests prior to the wedding?

Absolutely! Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy many exciting local activities such as a guided tour of Fort Henry National Historic Site. We recommend directing your guests to check out our seasonal offerings at www.forthenry.com.

What happens to my outdoor ceremony if it rains?

In case of inclement weather, your ceremony will be held inside the Great Hall. We will work with you to create a plan that will accommodate both your ceremony and reception.

Are there site restrictions that my photographer should be aware of?

Drone photography/videography is not permitted on the grounds of Fort Henry National Historic Site

What is the role of my appointed Wedding Consultant?

They will work directly with you to create an event plan to support your wedding day from booking until your big day. They will be available to:

answer questions and provide suggestions throughout the planning process
design a personalized floor plan for you
facilitate the set-up and teardown of your event furniture
grant building access
set-up time for your booked vendors
monitor day-of timeline
host your onsite ceremony rehearsal and assist with queuing you down the aisle on your big day
escort you throughout the Fort Henry grounds for your wedding photographs and assist with your Grand Entrance if requested.

Your Wedding Coordinator will transfer event responsibilities to the Catering Manager following dinner service, who will remain on site until the bar and venue close for the evening. Please note your Wedding Coordinator will work directly with your Wedding Planner where applicable

Testimonials

"The Great Hall at Fort Henry truly is a hidden gem. From the beauty of the venue itself and its location on the water beside historical Fort Henry, to the helpful staff, this was the perfect venue for our wedding. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone. We dealt primarily with Krysten and Heather, who were both very helpful throughout the whole process. From the first time we visited the venue, to promptly answering any questions we had throughout the year of planning, to Krysten’s coordination on the day of the wedding, the staff at Fort Henry is committed to helping their clients create a perfect day. All of the guests were raving to us about how beautiful the venue is. Everything went smoothly on the wedding day, and any issues that arose were dealt with quickly and professionally."

- Heather and Joshua

"To start, we have no negative feedback. The venue itself is unique and one-of-a-kind. The picturesque scenery that surrounds the Great Hall is breathtaking and makes even non-professional photographs high quality.

Our venue representative Heather was impressively effective. She was a professional in the the highest regard and helped navigate a stressful event with ease. She ensured the venue was open to outside agencies to come in and set up prior to the wedding. Heather is an extremely personable and approachable individual that made us feel comfortable to ask any questions we had prior to the wedding and gave us guidance and a clear view of what the wedding day would look like. Honestly, we cannot say enough positives about her.

Bytown Catering provided a spectacular three-course meal. They were easy to work with. Our representative Cheryl was very accommodating. She helped us manage last-minute changes to the menu, provided alternatives for individuals with dietary restrictions, and answered any questions we had as we got closer to our wedding day.

All in all a perfect day with high-quality services. We could not have asked for better. Thank you for all you did to make our day perfect."

- Nick and Val