When Nick and I discussed where we would most like to get married, we decided that two of the main things we were looking for in a location were: 1) a beautiful setting in nature and 2) a place where people could stay together and have a whole experience for the weekend. When a music camp that my sister had attended for years in the summers came up, I drove with my mum and then a second time with my dad to visit it and decided it was a truly wonderful spot for a wedding. CAMMAC is on a lake and surrounded by woods. They recently built an eco-lodge that has won awards for green architecture and has many lovely, simple rooms and a large space for dancing and music and the wedding feast! The ceremony is going to take place in the boathouse which is a beautiful wooden structure with a wrap around porch and views on three sides of the lake. One of the things that concerned me most with Nick being on the other side of the world while we were picking a wedding location was that it would be a place Nick felt good in. It just so happens my mother, Nick and I all drove up to CAMMAC in the summer of 2004 when my sister was giving a recital in one of her voice classes. I distinctly remember Nick chanting "Nerds, nerds, nerds" at all the musicians, having a fabulous swim in the lake and playing frisbee with one of the campers. Definitely a highly successful location for us both! I find it to be a really peaceful and beautiful setting and one in which we can just kick back and relax by a bonfire, go for long walks, swim in the lake and generally have some time together away from the bustle of a city.
Schedule for the WeekendFriday, August 31st
We are planning to stay at CAMMAC for the night and arrange things for Saturday's celebrations. Any guests who would like to join us that night are most welcome. There will be a bonfire that evening, weather permitting.
Saturday, September 1st
5pm Hors d'oeurves and a glass of Champagne on the verandah of the Lake House
6:15pm Ceremony begins in the Boat House
7:30pm Dinner in the Main Hall of the Lodge
Reception to follow with dancing and wonderful music by Kate and Edith
Sunday, September 2nd
11:00am Brunch in the dining hall
Afternoon of Frisbee, swimming and canoing on the lake and walking in the woods...as you wish! Guests are welcomed to stay over on Sunday night as well. We will be leaving CAMMAC on Monday after breakfast.
Booking a RoomYou will need to book your accommodation for CAMMAC in advance. Please call Johanne Guerin 1-819-687-3938 ext 224 or 1-888-622-8755 ext 224 (toll free number in Canada and USA only) or email j.guerin@cammac.ca The rooms are $55 per person (bedding is provided) and you can book by credit card.
Meals and Charges
Aside from the wedding meal on Saturday night and the brunch on Sunday, meals are charged as follows: $8 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $12 for dinner. So, if you are staying Friday night you will be charged $85 (which includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch). If you are staying Saturday and coming up after lunch you will be charged $55 as dinner and brunch the next day are on us. If you are staying Sunday night you will be charged $75 (which includes Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast).
CampingAs well, there is the option of camping for $25 per tent. If you are camping you are welcome to prepare your own food or join us in the dining hall for meals at the cost mentioned above, please let Johanne know when booking if you are planning to prepare your own food or eat in the dining hall.
Other Accommodation
If you would prefer to stay in posher, more refined accommodation and not commune with all of us for the weekend, here are two suggestions nearby:
Lake Carling - a luxury 4 star resort and golf course
http://www.laccarling.com/en
Domaine de L'Etang - a bed and breakfast in the area
http://www.domainedeletang.com/
Weather
The average temperature in September in Montreal is 20c. Anything can happen though and CAMMAC is in the mountains on a large lake, so the temperatures will no doubt be lower there than in Montreal. It can rain as well, so please come prepared with warm, layered, waterproof clothes and shoes as well as hot weather gear. The lake will have warmed up by September, so bring your bathing suit and jump in!
Activities at CAMMACAside from swimming in the gorgeous lake, the camp has canoes, kayaks and rowboats we can use. As well, they have equipment for playing soccer and volleyball. There are tennis courts on the premises and nature trails through the woods. If the weather does not cooperate, I will be giving a class on mime skills and Nick will be leading interpretive dance lessons in the boat house.
Public Holiday
September 1st is Labour Day weekend in Canada, a national holiday. It will be busy in town and on the roads and many services will close on Monday the 3rd.
DirectionsThe wedding shuttle will leave from Montreal on Friday, August 31 at 2pm from 1166 De la Gauchetiere, (Metro Bonaventure) and will return on Monday, September 3 at 12:30pm (leaving CAMMAC at 11am).
For those of you with cars, here are the driving instructions. If you have space in your car and don't mind an Australian or two traveling with you (!) please let us know so we can arrange some carpooling.
- From Montreal, take the Laurentian Autoroute, RTE 15 NORTH, to EXIT 60 - RTE-364 WEST toward Saint Sauveur/Morin Heights
- Turn left onto ROUTE 364 West (exit curves to the right, Chemin Jean Adam) for about 36 km until you come to the intersection of RTE 327.
- Turn Left onto RTE 327 SOUTH towards Harrington/Lachute
- Pass the town of Lakeview. Start looking for the turn-off to CAMMAC on your right (Chemin Cammac - dirt road). This road leads directly to CAMMAC. You cross 3 small bridges before you see a blue sign for CAMMAC - it is quite a sudden turn on your right just after the third bridge-like structure.
- When you drive down the dirt road to CAMMAC there is one point where the road veers off to the left, stay right! You will soon reach the parking lot for the camp and see the tennis courts.
- If you reach the town of Lost River you have driven 4km too far, turn around and go back!
Car Rentals:
Thrifty
Enterprise
1 comment:
Mazel tov Tal & Nick!! I hope I can be there for your wedding! Meantime, I send my love. Maijaxoxo
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