Windermere House

Windermere House is a Victorian-style resort hotel on Lake Rosseau that has operated since 1870.

About the venue

The Islandview room is the largest event room, at about 2,000 sq ft with lake views. A waterfront lawn is used for outdoor ceremonies of up to 130 guests. An outdoor verandah can host cocktail receptions of up to 130 guests. The resort includes a restaurant (The Rosseau), a pub with a lakeside patio, a spa and a pool.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a hotel in Muskoka, at 2508 Windermere Road, Windermere, ON P0B 1P0.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Islandview
• Tobin
• Boardroom
• The Rosseau
• Windermere Pub
• The Waterfront Green Space
• Verandah (outdoor)

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 120 seated, 130 standing reception. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Is there a minimum food and beverage spend for the date, and does it include the service charge and HST?
• Can you hold a guest-room block, and what is the release date and attrition clause?
• Is in-house audio-visual required, or can you bring your own production company, and is there a patch fee?
• Which loading dock and freight elevator will vendors use, and at what times?
• Is there a second room available as a weather or overflow backup?
• What are the parking rates for guests, and is valet available?

Planning entertainment here

Hotel ballrooms usually have the power and access for stage acts, but ceilings and rigging vary from room to room. Ask for the ceiling height under any chandeliers, and check whether in-house audio-visual must be used for performers.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: windermerehouse.com/weddings