The 5 Best Wedding Photography Locations in Ottawa (2025 Guide)
If you’re searching for the perfect spot for wedding photography in Ottawa, you’re in luck. Our city is full of stunning backdrops that set the stage for your love story. The right location doesn’t just frame your photos. It creates memories you’ll treasure forever. After years of photographing weddings here, these are the five locations we believe always deliver magic.
Parliament Hill
Standing on Parliament Hill with your partner feels both intimate and grand at the same time. The gothic buildings rise behind you, while the wide lawns open into the skyline. We love bringing couples here just before sunset. The light softens, the sky glows, and Ottawa itself seems to pause for a moment.
One of our favorite memories was with a couple who wanted something timeless. They held hands in front of the Centennial Flame, laughing as tourists stopped to clap for them. Later, we captured them framed against the Peace Tower as the evening lights flickered on. Those photos felt like history and love blending together — the kind you’ll show your grandchildren one day.
Major’s Hill Park
Major’s Hill Park is a gem because it offers so many moods in one spot. You can stand with Parliament behind you, wander toward the Château Laurier, or disappear under a canopy of trees. The park changes with every season. In spring, soft blossoms float in the breeze. In fall, bold colors wrap couples in warm tones that make every photo feel cinematic.
We once photographed a couple here who decided to sneak away from their reception for fifteen quiet minutes. They spread a blanket on the grass, shared a glass of champagne, and just breathed together. The photos from that moment captured something rare — not just how they looked, but how they felt. That’s the beauty of this park: it gives couples space to be themselves.
ByWard Market
If Parliament and Major’s Hill are about grandeur, the ByWard Market is about playfulness. It’s lively, colorful, and always full of surprises. Cobblestone streets give a European feel. Murals and shopfronts add character. Twinkle lights make the evenings feel magical.
Some of our most candid photos come from this neighborhood. One couple stopped mid-session to grab a BeaverTail and ended up laughing as powdered sugar dusted their clothes. Another danced under the string lights while a street musician played nearby. These moments aren’t staged — they just happen, and they’re often the ones couples love most. That’s the Market’s gift: it invites you to have fun and let go.
Dominion Arboretum
The Dominion Arboretum feels like stepping into another world. It’s quiet, lush, and endlessly photogenic. Winding paths lead to hidden corners, bridges cross little streams, and the trees put on a show in every season. In spring, blossoms create a romantic haze. In autumn, fiery reds and oranges surround you like a painting.
We’ll never forget a session here with a couple who wanted something natural. They walked barefoot across the grass, stealing kisses as leaves fell around them. We didn’t need to pose much — the setting itself brought out their connection. That’s the Arboretum: a place where love feels unhurried, like time slows down just for you.
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is Ottawa’s heart, and it makes wedding photography unforgettable. In the summer, the water sparkles as boats glide past, creating a calm, romantic vibe. We love walking with couples along the pathways, catching little in-between moments — a glance, a laugh, a quiet hand squeeze.
Winter, though, is where the Canal truly shines. Couples lace up their skates and brave the cold for photos that are pure Ottawa magic. We once photographed a pair who brought hot chocolate onto the ice. They sipped, laughed, and hugged against the winter chill. The photos weren’t just beautiful — they captured who they were together: playful, warm, and in love.
Why We Love These Spots
Each of these locations is special on its own, but together they show the spirit of Ottawa — historic, lively, natural, and full of heart. We’ve been lucky to see couples write their love stories across these places, and each time we’re reminded why we love what we do.
If you’re planning your wedding and looking for wedding photography in Ottawa, let’s chat. Whether you picture yourselves in front of Parliament Hill, laughing in the ByWard Market, or skating hand-in-hand on the Canal, Palm Tree Studio would love to capture your day in the places that mean the most to you.