Noteworthy setting, facilities, services and amenities for the day of your dreams
At Thee Farm Event & Wellness Centre, the motto is “Connect. Celebrate. Cherish.”
Just a 30-minute drive south of Kanata and set on 110 acres of rural land in Kemptville, the property is intended to be a wedding venue on weekends and a site for corporate and wellness retreats during the week.
The owners, Doug and Greg Clunie, are contractors who own a diversified group of construction-related businesses. They have a multi-year expansion plan that includes a 12-suite guesthouse pavilion, saunas, a cold plunge, hot tubs and a heated saltwater pool as well as a reception building with a lobby coffee bar, meeting space and online meal-ordering options.
At this point, Thee Farm has six 400-square-foot geodesic glamping domes that each feature a king-sized bed, full bathroom, a barbecue, privacy walls on a stone piazza that also includes a fire table, dining table and stellar views of the 60-acre man-made lake.
Though the domes are novel and indeed gem-shaped, the property’s jewel—at the moment—is a completely renovated 1854 farmhouse that has five bedrooms and boasts a dream kitchen, pool table, dining room and comfortable den. It’s an ideal space for the family of the bride or groom, or even the wedding party. A Mercedes limousine van is on hand to transport guests to and from the airport and the crew is trained to attend to small details—the guests’ favourite wine or a special local beer in the fridge of their room, for example, or umbrellas delivered on demand. And then there’s the Frette Italian linens and bathrobes that come with each dome or bedroom in the farmhouse.
Just weeks after launching its booking system, the summer wedding schedule was filling up. “We get at least five to 10 wedding inquiries every week,” says Sean McGrath, president of Thee Farm. “But we still have some slots and we have availability on Fridays and Sundays as well.”
Thee Farm’s Event Barn can accommodate 150 for dinner and 200 for a standup reception and the caterers provide some decor and even Christmas trees. The barn also has bathrooms with showers and a “green room,” which would work well as a bridal preparation area. Outside, a pond and cascading gardens offer a perfect spot for afternoon photos while lit-up trees create a magical evening landscape.
The site’s full-time chef was previously the executive chef at Minto Suites Hotel, a banquet chef at The Westin and worked with Sean for about 20 years at the Centurion Conference and Event Centre. Sean ran the Centurion Centre for 25 years and also worked as a convention director with Westin Hotels and catering director with Delta Hotels, so they know what they’re doing in terms of pulling off a good event.
Kitty-corner to the event barn is a 2,500-square-foot Italian pergola with retractable roof. It can remain open to the outside, or can be converted in the event of rain, allowing brides and grooms to have their ceremony outside regardless of Mother Nature’s whims. Thee Farm’s staff will also allow wedding dinners or receptions in this space.
For more casual gatherings, there’s a shipping container that’s decked out to look like a food truck, with the capacity to make wood-fired pizzas that can be served on its adjoining seated piazza.
For those spending the weekend, there’s a 3.7-kilometre walking trail that circles the lake, two full-size tennis/pickleball courts, a three-quarter-length basketball court, two beach volleyball courts and a lawn-bowling court.
Future plans include a 3,500-square-foot chapel and meeting space, where ceremonies can be held. It will be used for yoga and other wellness classes in the off hours. theefarm.com
