Planning a Domaine Cataraqui Wedding: A Photographer's Guide

Domaine Cataraqui is the venue that couples looking for a garden wedding in Quebec City find again and again, and for good reason. I photographed Jade and Guy-Olivier's wedding here, and this guide collects what I would tell any couple considering it, so that the photographs look like the place feels.

A 19th-century estate above the river

The estate sits at 2141 chemin Saint-Louis, in the heritage district of Sillery, a short drive from Old Québec. It began as a 19th-century English estate and covers close to ten hectares: a white villa, nine outbuildings, a terrace with a rose garden, a former greenhouse and lawns that run to the edge of the cliff above the St. Lawrence. Today it belongs to the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec, which hosts events there.

How a wedding day moves through the estate

The ceremony. Jade and Guy-Olivier married outdoors, with their guests seated in the gardens. Outdoor ceremonies here are about shade and direction: choose the hour so the light falls across you rather than straight into your guests' eyes.

Cocktail hour. After the ceremony, guests moved to cocktails with a view over the St. Lawrence. This is when the estate shows its full scale, and a good moment for family photographs while everyone is still outside together.

The reception. Dinner took place indoors, in a bright room with tall windows. The light there is soft and even, which suits pastel palettes and delicate table design, exactly what Jade, a wedding planner herself, chose.

Portraits in the gardens

The gardens are the reason most couples choose Cataraqui, and the portraits should use them. I like twenty minutes in the late-afternoon light among the paths and the old trees, then a few minutes at the edge of the lawn where the land falls towards the river. Everything is a short walk from the reception, so you are never far from your guests.

Choosing your season

Late spring and early summer: the gardens are fresh and green and the evenings are long. High summer: the terrace and the rose garden are at their fullest, so plan shade for the ceremony. Autumn: the trees turn and the light comes in low and warm across the river, which suits portraits beautifully. Ask the venue which outdoor spaces are available outside the summer season.

Questions to ask the venue

• Which spaces are available for the ceremony, the cocktail hour and the reception, and what is the rain plan?
• Is there a space on site for getting ready, and from what time?
• Which caterers and vendors are required or recommended?
• Where can guests park, and is there an easy drop-off for older relatives?
• Are there rules on music, sparklers or the end time of the evening?

I have left guest numbers and prices out of this guide on purpose. The venue is the right source for current capacity and policies.

A real wedding at Domaine Cataraqui

You can see the full gallery from Jade and Guy-Olivier's wedding, planned with Bulles et Rosé Événements. In their words: “All the little details are considered, nothing is left to chance and he is very meticulous in his work.”

If you are still comparing venues, my guide to Quebec City wedding venues and my guide to the Château Frontenac are good next stops.

Planning a wedding at Domaine Cataraqui?

I photograph weddings across Quebec City all year, and I am always glad to help plan a timeline around the gardens and the light. Tell me about your plans.