Spacious and homey, with multiple seating areas

Breathe Easy Cottage was our fantastic home away from home for the weekend of our wedding. I found out about the cottage while looking at a photographer's website - he had photographed a wedding there.

My husband and I were living in England at the time and were planning our wedding for after our return to Canada. I had begun to think the relaxed cottage wedding I had imagined was going to be impossible, as I kept running into road blocks with every cottage venue I found, so I was so excited to find Breathe Easy Cottage - it seemed too good to be true! We were only back in Canada for a few weeks before we visited the property and knew then that it was perfect for us.

We had 50 of our very favourite people attend our wedding - people who had traveled from Toronto, Vancouver and Scotland. It was so important to us to have a venue where everyone could relax and spend the whole weekend. There were plenty of beds inside for our families and guests who had traveled by plane. For those driving from Toronto we asked everyone to bring a tent and camp in our very own little tent village on the property.

The property itself is gorgeous. The cottage is spacious but homey - with multiple seating areas to allow for some privacy. The cottage is split over 2 levels - so my husband and I got a whole floor each to get ready for the ceremony. With 50 guests on the property it didn't feel at all cramped and what I loved about it was that everyone just found their own little space to hang out - there were people eating breakfast in the screened porch, a group chatting around one of the campfires or throwing a frisbee around, friends doing each others hair in the basement sitting area. The kitchen was stocked with every appliance you could ever need. Our guests got to know each other while whipping up a huge batch of pancakes for breakfast!

Outdoors, it got even better - The two huge fields meant we could have our wedding ceremony site on one side of the cottage, we had a cocktail hour on the back patio/deck, and for the evening we had an event tent and a dance floor set up on the second field. The whole property is surrounded by a thick forest and beautiful wild flowers. The location felt so secluded and romantic - it really didn't feel as though there was anyone else for miles. The property was secluded enough so that we could keep the party going late into the night without disturbing any neighbors. Not only that - but the space was so big that we were able to have late night karaoke and fireworks in the North field without disturbing our jet-lagged guests who went to bed at a sensible time!

If I had to sum up our wedding in one word it would be...relaxed! The idea of having everything in one location - with no one having to worry about trying to get home afterwards was an absolute dream. We hired an event tent, tables and chairs from a local party rental company, and hired caterers from a local cafe (Both from the list of vendors that the owners of Breathe Easy kindly supplied) so all we had to do was turn up and have fun!

A lot of our guests were surprised that a venue such as this one exists, and I agree it is a hidden gem. One which I'm so glad we found!

The house has a lovely energy that infused our event

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home and property with us. We could not have asked for a better day or better location. Everything was perfect!! Our memories of the weekend will last a lifetime.

We chose Breathe Easy because it could accommodate our large country wedding. 30 people stayed in the house and 40 people camped around on the south side of it. We had 150 people for the wedding itself. (We rented tent.) The cottage was the perfect size to host our family and wedding party, with ample land to accommodate our large and casual wedding, at a price that was in our budget.

Breathe Easy exceeded our expectations! The house has a lovely energy that infused our event and the surrounding grounds allowed us to have a ceremony out in nature just the way we wanted to. There were plenty of beds and a comfortable, cozy design with a unique and personal energy that matched our vibes perfectly.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful time, it couldn't have been better for us.

The caterer had all the tools he needed in the large kitchen

My wife, my soon-to-be-wife at the time, and I knew what we wanted for our wedding, but we didn't know where or how to pull it off. We spend our summers camping and being outdoors as much as possible and wanted our wedding to reflect that. We also wanted the freedom to have a generally relaxed atmosphere with no formal dinner or process to follow. And we didn't have an abundance of money to spend. We scoured the internet for an appropriate place, but most sites for outdoor weddings were all inclusive to one degree or another. We wanted to do as much ourselves as possible, including the catering since one of our groomsmen owns a restaurant, and we wanted him to provide the menu.

Once we found Breathe Easy Cottage, we knew that was the place for us. It had ample room for camping, which my wife and I did on our wedding night, so our guests had the option to stay on the property for free or get a hotel room in the local area. Right away we had our ceremony and reception site picked, accommodations for us and our guests ready to go, and our caterer was set, but there was still much to do that we had no experience at all with. Bathrooms, a reception tent, and flowers to name a few, but once again Breathe Easy was able to help out. There were many local vendors that were familiar with the property, having done other weddings at the same site. I must admit I relied heavily on them for many decisions such as tent location, which bathroom to rent, even what to expect weather wise.

In the end, everything went exactly as we had wished. The property was beautiful, our guests enjoyed the camping experience (and the late night campfire), our older guests were able to stay in the comfort of the cottage itself, our photographer found many ideal areas for pictures, the caterer had all the tools he needed to provide the menu we wanted, and by arriving a few days before the wedding, we were able to avoid the hectic rush that weddings often require leading up to the big day. I even found a book to read to our 4-year old son in the library the night before the wedding.

A cozy environment to get to know one another

Bill and I had our dream wedding at Breathe Easy Cottage. We planned our wedding in a period of 3 months and couldn't believe our luck when we discovered the cottage was available the weekend of July 20th. When it came to venue, Bill and I had a wishlist of the kind of place we were looking for: we wanted the wedding to be outdoors in nature, we wanted a place which would allow all our guests to stay together under one roof, we wanted a place where we could enjoy a roaring bonfire and beautiful fireworks, and where we could dance to our hearts content without disturbing anyone. We got exactly what we wanted and more.

The 144 acre property surrounding the cottage was beautiful. The property provided our friends and family with the opportunity to go on picturesque walks and hikes. That said, the gazebo, swing set, and large living room gave our family and friends a cozy environment to get to know one another (the wedding was the first time our families had met each other).

In total we had 45 guests. Twenty of our guests stayed inside the cottage while the rest either camped outdoors or stayed at a nearby hotel. There were more than enough beds and bathrooms in the cottage to make everyone comfortable. Moreover, the cottage came fully stocked with plates, cutlery and everything we needed to feel at home. We started the festivities off on the Friday with a big outdoor BBQ followed by lots of dancing. That night we danced under the biggest full moon I'd ever seen. It was breathtaking.

Saturday was the wedding day, and our friends and family used the day to explore the trails and nearby towns. The wedding took place on the property at 5PM in front of a beautiful arbour. The wedding was followed by cocktails on the gazebo and dinner on the lawn. After dinner, we started a roaring fire and sat under the stars to watch incredible fireworks.

It was a weekend that we will never forget and the beauty of the weekend is tied to the beauty of the venue. Our friends and family often tell us how much they loved the weekend.

Thank you Breathe Easy Cottage!

Plenty of indoor and outdoor space for many activities

Having an outdoor wedding was always our dream. We wanted a sense of community at our wedding where we could enjoy the weekend together in a less formal setting, while still having the comforts of home.

The cottage allowed us to have a variety of activities for our 60 guests of friends and family during the weekend. We loved the size of the property; it gave us enough space to design an area for the ceremony, a dance floor covered by a tent, two campfires, an outdoor dining area, a tenting area, and plenty of space for lawn games! The field is similar to the size of a fairly large park in Toronto but is surrounded by a beautiful forest, providing a magical experience for our wedding ceremony. The combination of indoor and outdoor space was great for guests who wanted to soak in the beautiful sunny weather, and for those who wanted to be in the shade, lounging on a couch.

The 30 guests that stayed overnight were comfortable in the rooms at the cottage and tenting out in the field. We had a few couples with babies and young kids, and the various size rooms were great for accommodating the different size families. The basement rooms were quiet and comfortable providing younger kids a peaceful place to rest during the ongoing parties outside.

We had a catering Chef to prepare the dinner reception for the wedding. The indoor kitchen was used to prepare an absolute feast. The two outdoor grills were particularly useful, in order to accommodate for our vegetarian and halal food offerings. During the planning process, we received a lot of helpful information from Ed and Jerrine. During the wedding, in addition to getting some help from Ed and Jerrine’s local friends, Ursula and Johanna, we were also very fortunate to get a lot of help from our family and friends on setup and cleanup.

We have guests tell us that this was one of the best weddings that they have been to for years. Breathe Easy played a big part in providing this unique experience for our guests and we had a very happy weekend and will treasure this good memory for years to come.

Every room has something special to offer

Breathe Easy Cottage was the perfect choice for our intimate wedding with close family and friends. As we had family coming from Australia, the cottage provided the ultimate backdrop for everyone to really get to know each other over a long weekend as they celebrated with us. The setting was so peaceful and we could all relax and enjoy each others company.

The cottage itself is so spacious and bright. There was plenty of room for all of our 42 guests to sleep inside the cottage if they wished, although many opted to camp in the grassy field outside, to make the most of the beautiful setting. The kitchen was large and very well set up - just what we needed as we were cooking all of the meals for our wedding! There was a plentiful supply of appliances, crockery, cutlery and utensils, not to mention the dishwasher, which certainly came in handy for cleaning up. All we needed to bring was the food! Our guests really enjoyed taking walks around the property, especially down to the Styx River where there is a deck and picnic area over the water. We actually took some time away from everyone on the morning of our wedding, and wrote our vows together down by the river. This is such a great memory for us both and will be cherished.

The cottage has been designed to be environmentally friendly, which was important to us and was also appreciated by our guests. The owners have put much effort into creating a haven away from busy modern life. Every room has something to offer in terms of interesting items and decor. A favourite room was the library with its comfy couches overlooking the natural surrounds, providing a great space for some time-out in the midst of busy wedding preparations. From the windows we watched hummingbirds feeding, and squirrels and rabbits playing in the grass.

Thanks to Breathe Easy Cottage, our wedding day was more than perfect! The owners are such nice, genuine people and went out of their way to make sure everything we needed was there. Ed even used his meteorological skills to give us an accurate weather prediction a few days beforehand so that we could relax, knowing our outdoor ceremony and reception would go ahead. We enjoyed our buffet reception dinner which was held outside on the three tier deck, under the stars. After dinner we had singing and music around the fire pit. We wanted our wedding to be simple, yet warm and intimate, with all of our guests taking part. This was all made possible due to the amenities provided by the cottage, which meant we did not have to spend our money on hiring extra equipment. We have so many lovely photographs and memories of our special day. Quite a few guests commented that it was the most interesting wedding they had ever attended, if not the best! Thank you Ed and Jerrine for your warmth and hospitality. By the end of the weekend your place felt like home to us and will be fondly remembered by many.

A laid back, peaceful worry-free experience

We couldn’t be happier with the Breathe Easy experience for our wedding. We stumbled across the website when unexpectedly dealing with having lost our original wedding venue. Luckily, our date was still available, and Ed and Jerrine were very understanding and flexible around our last-minute planning. We were organizing this wedding from the US, and couldn’t be there in person during the planning phase, but they were happy to have our folks arrange a walk-through, and to provide detail about the accommodations, typical wedding setups and tips on local vendors.

We secured all our rentals and our awesome caterer through their recommendations, which was a major plus as we wanted to go local as much as possible (which is tricky when small town vendors don’t always have websites). Although it seems a little out of the way, all the vendors you need can be found locally, are very high quality and extremely affordable, as are the Breathe Easy fees. We slept more than 15 people in the house and could have easily had more there, which was affordable, easy, and a great way to get extra quality time with our large group of out-of-towners.

Ed & Jerrine emphasize a laid back, peaceful, worry-free experience and that really resonates with the whole experience of the cottage. Although we had seen photographs and the website, none of those can do justice to just how spacious, relaxed and beautiful it really is. The outdoor space is also extremely adaptable, with multiple options for coordinating parking, events, ceremony, etc. The two large firepits are a major plus, as they were great places to bond and socialize during our preparation and after the reception.

We had about 75 guests for our September wedding. We held our ceremony and reception outdoors, using a section of the property that has a natural amphitheatre feel. During our cocktail hour, guests played lawn games and milled around in the fresh air, which was exactly what we’d hoped for: more quality time to spend with family and friends. We had a tented reception, and everything came together beautifully. Our local caterers had been to Breathe Easy before, so they were able to take advantage of the large kitchen space to cook and serve the meal. The household amenities are even better than described on the website and renters package, with ample cutlery and platewear for the guests who were staying over (and likely enough for a smaller wedding if you are not picky about colours and matching). We held our rehearsal dinner in the cottage the night before the wedding, we prepped all the appetizers for the cocktail hour in the huge kitchen, and served a pancake breakfast the next morning, all without any problems.

Overall, it was an awesome experience holding our wedding at Breathe Easy, and we got everything we could have wanted and more. Our guests enjoyed all the quality time, the relaxed feel, and the beautiful atmosphere, and left raving about the experience – what more can you ask for?! We are SO, SO happy our original plans fell through and that we found Breathe Easy!

An atmosphere of pure joy and absolute bliss

Breathe Easy was the absolute easiest wedding decision I made! (Besides saying 'yes' to my husband.) The cottage itself was more than enough space for our small intimate September wedding, with about 45 people in attendance. It allowed each guest ample space to sleep or tent in, feeling cozy yet spacious all at the same time.

The atmosphere of the entire weekend was one of pure joy and absolute bliss! From the beauty of the surroundings, the uniqueness of the cottage, to the rustic mill down the road, I couldn't have asked for more! Our guests were absolutely stunned with the entire property and couldn't get enough of the endless beauty of the nature that surrounded us... which in turn made decorating very easy, as nature did most of the work!

The tiered deck was the absolute perfect location for our ceremony, and the yard perfectly housed the event tent we rented for the reception. We got great use of the bonfire pits, which led to both some intimate moments and moments of hilarity!

Waking up at Breathe Easy the next morning felt totally natural and completely stress free, and the remainder of our stay was just as relaxing. I wouldn't change a single thing about Breathe Easy Cottage, or my decision to have my dream wedding there!

I thank you from the Bottom of my Heart for bringing all my visions to reality with such a beautiful home!

A very laid back, outdoorsy wedding

Breathe Easy Cottage was the perfect location for our wedding. We wanted a very laid back and outdoorsy wedding to reflect us as a couple, and this location was ideal for this.

We lived a few hours away from the cottage, but Ed and his wife were wonderful to work with and helped make planning from afar easy. They were incredibly accommodating to our visits, especially considering this is their home when it's not being rented out. They quickly answered every question we had and were understanding and receptive to our 'out of the ordinary' requests (ex. firework display).

For other couples looking to have a smaller, more hands on and rustic wedding, we highly recommend Breathe Easy Cottage. I am also happy to answer any direct questions and give further reference upon request (phillips.jennL@gmail.com).

Thanks again Ed to you and your wife for absolutely everything.