That’s it, you’ve decided to have an intimate wedding or elopement in Quebec! But now, you find that the idea of ​​getting married at the courthouse lacks romance. Like a lot! You still want to make your wedding day a memorable one. A day that allows you to experience significant moments between you two or with a few people very close to you. So you are looking for exceptional intimate wedding or elopement location ideas in Quebec to exchange your vows surrounded by beautiful nature, preferably by the water. Even cooler, if it’s on an island in the open sea!

Keep reading! Because Patrick and I have been travelling around Quebec for years. We are fascinated by the St Lawrence River, its maritime landscapes and its wide open spaces. Quebec is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for us … So we have plenty of ideas for your intimate wedding in nature in Quebec.

Here are 6 favorite locations that offer the perfect setting for an exceptional intimate wedding or elopement and where the water, the river or the sea are never far away. And even if you have decided to elope, that does not mean that you have to forget about the festivities, on the contrary! We have therefore added suggestions for having drinks, a great meal and cool sleeping arrangements, so that your wedding day is epic, festive and romantic!

FOR EPICURIAN COUPLES: KAMOURASKA REGION

You don’t have to go far from the big city centers to get away from it all. Kamouraska is an exceptional region which has its own unique identity. If you are looking for romanticism fused with bucolic, this is the place. Sunsets (which many claim to be the most beautiful in the world), St. Lawrence River which asserts its maritime character, and the Charlevoix mountains in the background. And that’s not to mention the cabourons which offer fairly easy hiking opportunities and breathtaking views.

For Patrick and I, traveling the back roads of Kamouraska in the grazing light of the end of the day will always remain the perfect symbol of summer …

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How to get to Kamouraska?

Kamouraska region is located about 1 hour 30 minutes from Quebec City and 4 hours from Montreal by Autoroute 20. Do not hesitate to take the side roads or those that indicate cul-de-sac, that’s where you can often find the best views!

Where to drink and eat in Kamouraska?

It is the perfect place for epicurean lovers who want to celebrate their intimate wedding in nature in Quebec, since everything is nearby for a feast. You can start the festivities with a pint or two at La Tête d’Allumette, a microbrewery with a luminous riverside terrace. Then, have a great meal at Bistro Côté Est, which offers a menu featuring local products, a must for a tête-à-tête between newlyweds. If you want to eat quickly and go on an adventure straight away, Mamie offers a local canteen. And finally, the Poissonnerie Lauzier offers an unpretentious menu with local flavors for lovers of fish and seafood.

Where to sleep in Kamouraska?

A little research on AirBnB will convince you of the multitude of accommodation offers in Kamouraska. But if you feel like supporting local businesses, La Maison aux Coquillages and Auberge des Aboiteaux each offer beautiful rooms with a view of the river or the foreshore.

What if you are more of the camping style? La Sebka offers an extraordinary experience with the possibility of pitching your tent a few meters from the riverbank. A campfire, the sound of the waves and the sun setting in the mountains in the distance… It’s hard to beat that kind of a wedding night!

FOR COUPLES WHO HAVE SEA-LEGS: THE ISLANDS OF ST. LAWRENCE

The St. Lawrence River is dotted with a multitude of islands. Past Quebec City and its Île d’Orléans, none are accessible by the road. So you need to be a little more organized and get there by boat, but OMG how much you will be rewarded!

Isle-aux-Grues, Île aux Lièvres, Île du Phare du Pot à l’eau-de-vie, Île-Verte or Île Saint-Barnabé, each one is accessible by boat (ferry, water taxi or zodiac). All of them offer unique maritime landscapes. Hikes along the deserted shores, wind that smells of the sea, tides that constantly renew the scenery. You guessed it, we love these islands in the St. Lawrence, we have explored each of them and we are convinced that they are exceptional locations to exchange your wedding vows.

For couples who think outside the box and seek intimate wedding or elopement location ideas in Quebec, getting married on an island is a magical experience.

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How to get to the different islands?

The aforementioned islands are located east of Quebec City, the closest to the later being Isle-aux-Grues, off Montmagny (less than 1 hour from Quebec or 3 hours 30 minutes from Montreal) and the most far away being Île-Saint-Barnabé, off Rimouski (about 3 hours drive from Quebec City and 6 hours from Montreal).

If you are interested in getting married on an island, contact us and we can give you more information about each one and how to get there 🙂

Where to eat and sleep on the islands?

On some islands, it is imperative to plan something to eat and drink before disembarking there since no service is offered and you have to be self-sufficient. Others have a few good restaurants.

Of course, the accommodation offer differs on each island. It is therefore possible to sleep in a lighthouse, camp, book a room at the inn or secure a bright and isolated chalet. We suggest you take a look at La Société Duvetnor ltée website, which administers some of these islands.

Since each island could be the subject of an entire blog post, we’ll keep it to a minimum here. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us, it will be our pleasure to discuss it with you.

FOR CONTEMPLATIVE COUPLES: THE BIC NATIONAL PARK

We could not pass over the Bic National Park. It is a must see in Quebec. Raw nature and islets easily accessible at low tide… Vertiginous cliffs and a cape with a jagged silhouette recognizable among all! Perfect for an epic and easily accessible elopement, summer or winter. Yes Yes! Because getting married by the sea in winter is crazy and your wedding photos will be gorgeous!

This is a location that we particularly suggest to couples who want it to be easy to access without compromising the majestic side of their wedding photos. And by ease of access, we mean that very often you can park, get out of your car and have this breathtaking vista at your feet. When we lived in Rimouski, we went there every week, sometimes even several times a week. We have had many photoshoots, weddings and elopements in this wonderful place. This is Josée’s favorite national park in Quebec 😉 If you are more contemplative than athletic, this is the place to be.

For a little inspiration, check this out.

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How to get to Bic National Park?

Located just before Rimouski, the Park is accessible by Route 132 in just 3 hours from Quebec City or 5 hours 30 minutes from Montreal.

Where to eat and drink in the vicinity of Bic National Park?

A few years ago, we were regulars at the artisanal microbrewery Le Bien, Le Malt in Rimouski… An often changing and always surprising drinks card. We still remember the Noctambule, that is to say! Please ell us if it made a comeback on the menu 😉

When it comes to good dining, we suggest Le Bistro des Îles, Les Affamés or Chez Saint-Pierre, whose reputation has spread far beyond our borders.

Where to sleep in the vicinity of Bic National Park?

Let’s put it like this: we are blown away by the aesthetics of Le Refuge du Vieux Loup de Mer. The owners of the estate are buying ancestral houses and rebuilding them piece by piece on their immense land located by the river. Watch out for serious #cabinporn !

Another exceptional accommodation, Domaine Floravie offers unusual and ecological mini-chalets along the river.

If you prefer to sleep within the grounds of the park, you can decide to pitch your tent there, rent a minimalist chalet or even a yurt!

FOR LOVERS OF BOTH SEA AND MOUNTAINS: HAUTE-GASPÉSIE

Are you hesitating between getting married on top of a mountain or by the sea? What if we told you that it is possible to do both on the same day? Haute-Gaspésie is our favorite region throughout the immense Gaspé peninsula. Here the river is an ocean and the cliffs that flow into the sea are spectacular. It’s epic, wild and awe-inspiring. But it is also here that some of the highest mountains in Quebec are found, in the Gaspésie National Park and the Chic-Chocs Wildlife Reserve.

Because it is possible to combine sea and mountain here, it allows you to experience the best of both worlds, and to obtain a wide range of landscapes for your wedding photos. Imagine exchanging your wedding vows at the top of one of the many mountains of the Gaspé National Park and ending the day with a picnic and a breathtaking session on the seashore…

Of course, you can decide to get married at the top of the park’s jewel, Mont Albert (870 m vertical drop). You will need to be in excellent physical condition. But as there are many hiking trails in the park, it is also possible to choose an easy or intermediate hike, and still have the impression of being in the middle of a mountain sea or finding yourself in the hollow of a glacial cirque. No matter your physical condition, you will not be left out.

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To see Cyndie & Sébastien’s marriage proposal on top of a mountain in winter, click here.

How to get to Haute-Gaspésie?

No point beating around the bush, Haute-Gaspésie is far from Montreal or Quebec, respectively about 7 or 5 hours drive following Route 132. But if you plan to combine that to a road trip, it’s one of the most perfect intimate wedding or elopement location ideas in Quebec!

Where to eat, drink and sleep in Haute-Gaspésie?

In bulk, we suggest:

Le Malbord – a friendly microbrewery

Auberge & Pub Chez Bass – a terrace with a view of the sea

Gîte du Mont Albert – catering and accommodation within Gaspésie National Park

Auberge de Montagne des Chic-Chocs – a total immersion experience in a wilderness area accessible only by the hotel’s transportation service

Camping in Gaspésie National Park (several sectors and sites for trailers or tents)

FOR SOLITUDE LOVERS: THE MINGAN ARCHIPELAGO

If being alone in the world in a breathtaking landscape is the epitome of happiness for you, the Mingan Archipelago will be the perfect location for you. During your visit, it is possible to dock on several islands and explore them on foot or, on the contrary, choose to explore an island more in depth by camping there (with your own tent or a ready-to-camp solution). This last option is the one we warmly recommend: there is nothing like the feeling of having an island of your own, of being alone in the middle of the sea and exchanging your wedding vows in the greatest privacy possible.

With limestone landscapes sculpted by the sea, each island has its own personality, and the monoliths for which the archipelago is famous are completely different from one island to another. Several even have their own little nickname: Le Sorcier, Le Zoo, Le Château, La Montagnaise, La Dame de Niapiskau, and “ the flower pots”… Everything here can fuel your imagination.

It is a place that is completely out of the ordinary and it is perfect for adventurers who are searching for intimate wedding or elopement location ideas in Quebec.

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To see Sylvia & Maxime’s adventure session, we invite you here.

How to get to the Mingan Archipelago?

The Mingan Archipelago is a group of islands located on the North Shore off Havre-Saint-Pierre. if you’re still reading this, you have understood that the further we advance in our article, the further we move away from Montreal and Quebec. It is therefore necessary to count a little less than 1200 km from Montreal to reach Havre-Saint-Pierre. It goes without saying that choosing to elope in the Mingan Archipelago is a great adventure and that we strongly advise you to take the opportunity to take a road trip and discover the great region of the North Shore which is without a doubt our favorite region in Quebec! We could make a completely separate article because we have so much to say about it 🙂

The various islands that make up the archipelago are accessible by cruise ship or water taxi from two locations: Havre-Saint-Pierre or Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan.

Where to eat, drink and sleep in Minganie?

When it comes to having a drink, frankly, there’s really no other option than to bring your own beverage to the seashore and while watching the waves crash on the rocks. But if you’re like us, this is still your go-to option anyway 😉

As for catering, we suggest La Promenade or Restaurant Chez Julie (where the seafood pizza is so good that my aunt Marie-Paule told me she had it fly to Sept-Iles – more than 200 km from there LOL).

For sleepovers on the Archipelago, Utopia campsites and tents are managed by Parc Canada. There is also the possibility of sleeping in a lighthouse on Île aux Perroquets. On the mainland, there are Les Chalets Minganie and the Gîte La Chicoutée. For our part, each time we have been to Mingan, we choose Gîte Dupuis. Okay, it’s not fancy at all and very kitsch (it’s Patrick’s favorite!) The bedrooms are in the basement with a private entrance. But since the lady who operates these lodgings often accommodates temporary workers, she provides travelers with an equipped kitchen as well as a washer and dryer. Believe us, after having camped self-sufficiently for 4 days on an island, you just feel like taking a long and steaming shower and doing a load of laundry!

FOR COUPLES WHO WANT TO BE SURPRISED: MAGDALEN ISLAND

We saved the best for last! In 2021, this will be our 6th trip to the Magdalen Islands. We can’t wait to go back and photograph the intimate wedding of Camila & Nicolas who have chosen this destination for their elopement.

The Islands were the very first trip that Patrick and I took together. This is probably why they have a special meaning for us. The first time we went there, we understood the feeling ancient sailors must have felt when one of them shouted « Land ahoy » !!! And every time since that first time, when the red flanks of Entry Island begin to loom on the horizon, we experience the same thrill: a magical sense of accomplishment and wonder. We have finally arrived in paradise!

Once you set foot in the archipelago, you quickly realize that you are in another world that is unlike anywhere else in Quebec. Red sandstone cliffs sculpted by the sea, endless sandy beaches, round, barren hills and mounds that allow 360-degree views. Everything here contributes to make the Magdalen Islands one of the best intimate wedding or elopement location ideas in Quebec! Romanticism, raw nature, and vast panoramas where the sea is omnipresent.

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How to get to the Magdalen Islands?

A little before Rivière-du-Loup in Quebec, branch off towards New Brunswick, which you have to cross entirely before taking the Confederation Bridge to reach Prince Edward Island. Then embark at Souris in the CTMA ferry to the islands. From Montreal, it takes about 13 hours of driving plus 5 hours of ferry. That said, it’s also possible to get there very quickly by plane 🙂

Where to eat and drink on the Magdalen Islands?

The Islands are a must-see destination for lovers of the maritime culinary terroir. Fish, seafood, molluscs, but also cheeses and charcuteries. Several artisan decline them in all possible ways and it is a real pleasure to discover the islands through the palate. One thinks among others of the many fishmongers of the island, the Fumoir d’Antan, Gourmande de nature, the Café de la Grave, the artisanal microbrewery À l’Abri de la tempête, the Fromagerie du Pied-De-Vent and Les Cochons tout ronds. Enough to have a splendid wedding picnic!

Where to sleep on the Magdalen Islands?

If you have a huge budget or if you just want to dream a little, take a look at the website of Les Rochers. You will be amazed! But since we are also realistic, we advise you to search for accommodation on the Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine portal, which lists all the accommodation offers (hotel, motel, campsite, tourist homes, lodges, etc.) available according to the dates you specify. It’s a super handy search tool that will save you a lot of time. You can also take a tour on AirBnB since the Madelinots traditionally rent their houses to tourists during the summer period. This is the way we recommend because it allows you to really take the pulse of the Islands!

We hope these elopement location ideas in Quebec have managed to inspire you to organize your intimate wedding in nature? If you feel like digging deeper into your research, we still have plenty of other suggestions for you, so don’t hesitate to contact us 🙂