New: To preserve the exclusivity of our venue and ensure the best possible experience for our couples, our property is reserved exclusively for weddings and events booked with us.

We truly appreciate your understanding and remain happy to share information about hosting your wedding or event with us.

We receive many requests to use our grounds for photography, and while we are honored that you find our space beautiful, we have made the firm professional decision to discontinue all outside photo sessions and styled shoots.

As one of the premier venues in Southern Manitoba, we take our role as stewards of this property very seriously. To ensure the estate remains a pristine, top-tier destination for our region, we have moved to an exclusive Event-Only model. We understand this may be disappointing, so we would like to share the reasoning behind this policy. Our decision is based on the following operational realities to help disclose the “why” to our decision:

1. The "Empty Space" Misconception: While the venue may appear "empty" on a calendar, these days are vital for our operations. Non-event days are dedicated to deep cleaning, landscaping, and essential maintenance. Opening the doors for a "simple" shoot requires us to pause this work, staff the building for liability reasons, and run climate control (heating/cooling), especially during our Manitoba winters. The labor and utility costs for these sessions have consistently resulted in a financial loss for our business.

2. Protecting the Exclusivity of Our Couples Our wedding clients invest in our venue for its "pristine" and exclusive atmosphere. Every outside session, regardless of how "quick" it is, including undisclosed "quick evening shoots, contributes to wear and tear on our buildings, furniture, and gardens. To maintain the integrity of the property for those who have booked full events, we must limit traffic to contracted guests only.

3. The Complexity of "Simple" Shoots We have found that sessions often exceed their original scope. "Small" fun shoots frequently turn into engagement or anniversary shoots, large group sessions or full-scale bridal shoots with undisclosed guest counts and equipment. This creates a significant liability and staffing burden that our facility is not currently set up to manage on an hourly basis.

4. The "Advertising" Reality While we appreciate the offer of "exposure" through social media, the high-end nature of our venue relies on the quality of the physical space rather than digital advertising. "Free advertising" does not cover the real-world costs of staffing, cleanup, and property repairs.

5. Privacy, Safety, and Staff Availability To ensure the safety of our team and the security of our estate, we do not allow the public to "check out" our event spaces without prior permission. Access to our venue is by appointment only. We often have intensive maintenance occurring between events; for the safety of our visitors, the property remains private outside of scheduled tours for contracted clients. Furthermore, our maintenance and cafe staff are not authorized to assist with photography needs, move garden hoses, or provide access to restricted areas. Their priority is the upkeep of the estate and the service of our cafe guests.

6. To Our Cafe Guests and Casual Visitors: We genuinely love it when our cafe guests support our business and then take a stroll to the back of the property to take in the beauty of the estate! We fully encourage you to snap a quick, respectful phone photo to remember your visit or to share with friends. This type of casual, candid appreciation is exactly what we love and expect.

However, we ask for your respect in not crossing the line into using the venue as a professional photoshoot space. There is a significant difference between a guest enjoying a meal and a coordinated production involving outfit changes, professional gear, or prolonged sessions. We must draw this clear line to ensure our cafe guests can enjoy the views without disruption. We appreciate your respect for our business boundaries and the care we put into our space.

If you are interested in hosting a full-scale event with us, we would be happy to share our booking information. Otherwise, we absolutely wish you the best of luck in finding a location that fits your needs. Thank you so much for understanding!

Sincerely, The Buttercup Management Team