A Small Campground Wedding

Awenda Provincial Park - Karen and Robert

     Karen 28, and Robert, 44, got married at their favourite campsite in Awenda Provincial Park, in Penetanguishene, Ontario.

     “We’re both into cycling, running and camping and we wanted something fun and different,” says Karen.

     The ceremony took place on the beach. Shells and stones lined the aisle, and an archway draped in tulle and flowers served as the focal point.

     Karen wore an empire-waisted gown, a wreath on her head, and no shoes. Her groom wore a red Hawaiian shirt, shorts and no shoes.

     Although the couple didn’t expect to have a huge audience - they only invited 75 guests, there were hundreds of unexpected onlookers.

     “There were literally hundreds of other people on the beach that sunny, hot day, all watching. Some even stood in front of my grandparents during the ceremony! In their bathing suits!” says Karen. “I didn't expect it …but I kind of liked it in the end. I think we gave them a good show.”

     The couple rented a tent for the reception, which was held in a wooded area on the other end of the park.

     “I think coming down the pathway to the clearing in the woods and seeing the tent and everything all set up so nicely was the highlight for me. My friends finished the job for me and it was like being a princess coming into my own little world or something. I was floating on air,” she says.

     The couple used yellow and white balloons and ribbons to decorate, and covered picnic tables with white plastic tablecloths. 

     For food, the couple had a barbecue.

     “We hired guys in cute little suits to cook beef and pork on a big steel barbecue. We also had close friends and family bring food for the reception,” says Karen.

Instead of hiring a deejay, the couple played CD’s and danced with their guests under the tent until dark. Some of the guests stayed for a campfire – and some even pitched a tent and stayed the night.

     “We all had bacon and eggs and cleaned up together,” says Karen.

     Karen admits that during the 7 months it took to plan the wedding there were moments when she was frazzled.

     “I was trying to make both my husband and my mother happy and that made me crazy,” she says. “Bob wanted a cool, fun, easy wedding and my mother was horrified by the non-traditional aspects.”

     The fact that the wedding was at a campground, also meant that there was lots to figure out.

     “The wedding was a logistic nightmare. You had to think of every little thing, including mustard and serving spoons and hand washing stuff. There was no electricity and just one tap with water that you couldn't drink. So we had to bring in a generator,” she says. “It was a tremendous amount of work.”

     Was it worth it?

     “It was the best day of my life,” says Karen.