During the week we had planned to drive down to Niagara-on-the-Lake to check out a winery as a possible wedding venue. After going through the responses I got back from various wineries down there, we were left with one possible choice. Konzelmann Estate Winery. I made an appointment for Saturday at 10:30am to meet the function coordinator, PJ, and go through things.
A number of times during the week Glen and I wondered if we should cancel. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 90 minute drive away (on a good day) and we’re still very much stuck in that Perth habit where anything more than 20 minutes drive away is too far.
Nevertheless, we stuck it out and also invited Rob along as we also wanted to check out Niagara Falls, which was in the news again recently for being frozen, a sight we wanted to see.
So this morning we picked up the car, picked up Rob and headed down to Konzelmann. The drive was very easy, practically no cars on the road and we arrived well ahead of schedule. Luckily PJ was already there so we got straight to it.
We really liked PJ. There was no awkward moment when I said it was Glen and I getting married, which was great. He went through the process of what typically happens (a ceremony by the lake, an hour of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner.
He told us where the DJ would setup (and where the dance floor would be), as well as what’s included in the package, what others have done, what is possible, and pretty much everything we wanted to know, without being pushy or bored about it all.
And when we said we wanted it on a Wednesday (and at the end of October), his face lit up. No one gets married on a Wednesday so it’s good for their revenue.
Anyway, Glen and I were both really impressed and it looks like we will go with that venue. The logistics of getting people there and back and all that are still to be nutted out (or suggestions to be provided to people on what to do) but we’re feeling comfortable about it all now.
We checked out the outdoor ceremony location which is on the edge of Lake Ontario. Hopefully in October it won’t be too frigid. Right now, it’s frozen for quite a distance into the lake. Even that was impressive.
A few more things to discuss but I think we’re on to a winner.
By the time we were finished, it was nearly 11 and we were hungry. I drove us to Trius Winery but its restaurant doesn’t open until 12 so we just kept driving to Niagara instead.
How different the place is in winter!
There was about a fiftieth of the crowd size, which already made the trip worthwhile. Niagara Falls themselves aren’t frozen at the top but most of the American Falls are and the river is frozen solid. There are big chunks that have reared up, giant cracks running down the middle, and a couple of open bits where you can see down to blue-green water. It really is quite stunning.
We had lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the falls, then went for a bit of a walk. As we’ve already been there twice before, and there’s no Maid of the Mist running (perhaps they should bring an icebreaker down), we weren’t there long.
I think the only thing we have left to see at Niagara Falls are the lights at night. Perhaps we’ll see that in October.
Rob and Glen had little mini-naps on the drive back, which took only a little bit longer than 90 minutes, the traffic only getting heavy once we were back near Toronto. Still, we were home much earlier than anticipated so we could drop the car off before Avis closed and so wouldn’t get charged a late fee.
So it’s been a very successful day. Sadly, the one downside was seeing a dead skunk on the road. Apart from squirrels, that’s the only iconic North American animal I’ve seen so far. And it was dead. Poor Mr Skunk 😦
But dead skunk aside, it’s been a great day: wedding venue chosen, frozen Niagara Falls and a great road trip.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?