PALETTA MANSION
A wedding ceremony is an occasion that draws friends and families together to witness a union. Hence, every wedding is significant in its own way. Some are casual backyard events. Others are full of glitz and glamour. Weddings at Paletta Mansion are the latter. It seems every wedding I photograph here has an elegant touch. Clearly this venue has a beautiful ambiance and nice aesthetics. In fact, its the type of space that, no matter what your decor might be, you’ll make a statement.
Some of the venues I feature on this blog are transformation spaces. Indeed, they are blank canvases that allow you to build your wedding from the ground up. Paletta Mansion, on the other hand, comes move-in-ready. So if you have decor, great. If you show up with nothing but your wedding dress, that works too. The venue offers a number of stunning event spaces suitable for weddings. And as a photographer, I honestly can’t decide on a favorite between the options. So I suppose it’s a good thing that couples get everything when they book here.
THE GREAT ROOM
The Great Room is the largest function room at Paletta Mansion. It’s on the second floor of the building and can accommodate 85 guests for seated dining. Also attached to this space is the Sunroom, which overlooks the immaculately manicured grounds and offers guests additional space to mingle.
CARMINE ROOM AND VERANDAH
Alternately, The Carmine Room and Carmine Verandah are suitable for intimate celebrations at Paletta Mansion. They provide indoor and outdoor settings. During peak season you can also recite your vows on this historic property surrounded by the invigorating woodland air. Indeed, the verandah is a spectacular location for ceremonies. It overlooks lake Ontario and provides a shaded area for your guests on sunny days.
PALETTA MANSION SUITES
The Paletta Mansion offers two stunning suites for morning prep. Who gets which one is totally up to you. Normally I find venues have one “bridal suite” and a spare room that that groom can use. However, this venue will make your decision, on who gets which room, a bit of a challenge.
The Warman Room is on the upper floor. It has tons of natural light. It also offers ample closet room and styled furnishings. In addition to this, The Warman Room even has a cozy reading nook. It’s an elegant quiet space to pamper yourselves before the festivities.
PALETTA LAKEFRONT PARK
However, if you think the Paletta Mansion is gorgeous, just wait till you see the surrounding grounds. The Paletta Lakefront Park offers private walkways, gardens, and a waterfront. These locations are guaranteed to produce elegant, classy, and glamorous photos. The grounds offer a serene romantic and classy backdrop no matter what the season.
Even in the winter, a venue grounds offer the perfect photographic backdrops. Indeed, the bare branches and emptiness in the sky created a very dramatic look. There are so many simple yet stunning backdrops available at the Paletta Lakefront Park that I love. In fact, I can focus on capturing my couple’s emotions and chemistry instead of worrying about the background. Rather, I know the backdrop will compliment them perfectly no matter where I take them.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The natural features of Paletta Mansion make the couple’s wedding photos more expressive and immersive. So they can explore areas along the waterfront with privacy, or take photos with their family right on the property. How you decide to capture your day is up to you. This venue simply offers you a lot of options to play with.
Couples who hold their wedding here have exclusive access to the venue for the duration of their event. Unlike most venues host multiple weddings simultaneously, you have the place to yourself.
BACKUP PLAN
Couples nowadays are looking for convenience for their guests, which usually means having the ceremony and reception at the same location to avoid guests having to travel. Paletta Mansion offers all that and more. Hence, one of the features that I really love about this venue is its contingency plan.
You can plan so much for your wedding day but you have no control over the weather. So having a venue with a proper backup plan comes in handy. If the outdoor ceremony gets rained out, it moves into the sub-level Cummins Room. If the outdoor portrait session is too cold, each room within the venue can serve as a backdrop.
In short, each couple I photograph at the Paletta Mansion falls in love with the atmosphere and charm there. In my opinion, pictures do not do this venue justice. Therefore, you really have to get out and experience it.
PALETTA MANSION HISTORY
In 1809, the British Crown sold this lot of land to Laura Secord. She would later become a heroine in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane during the War of 1812. Over the next hundred years, the property underwent a series of land transactions. In 1930, Edythe MacKay acquired the land. She was the daughter of industrialist Cyrus Birge who was founding director of the Canadian Steel Company. Eventually, they would build the Paletta Mansion itself.
Edythe Mackay would travel to Europe and the southern US for furnishings, wall coverings, tiles, and carpeting. As a result, the venue painted a vivid picture of high society living during this time period. The floorplans below provide the exact layout and measurements of the beautiful and traditional venue.
HOW TO BOOK
There are so many wonderful locations to photograph wedding portraits at this location. For more information about wedding photography at the Paletta Mansion, send an inquiry. More information about the venue’s wedding packages is available on their website. If you’re interested in using the Paletta Waterfront Park strictly for portraits, fill out their application for a photo permit.
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS
4250 Lakeshore Rd
Burlington, ON L7L1A6
If coming by car, take Queen Elizabeth’s Way. Take the Walkers Line exit heading South. You’ll be making a left on Lakeshore Road. And Paletta Mansion will be on your right side.
PARKING
There is ample free parking available. However, if you’re looking for a nearby hotel to spend the night, there are two just before you get back on Queen Elizabeth’s Way.
Quality Hotel – 950 Walkers Line, Burlington, ON L7N2G2
Admiral Inn Burlington – 3500 Billings Ct, Burlington, ON L7N 3N6