This review is published in
Kitchener-Waterloo Area
Nestled on the river, NithRidge’s amphitheatre, gardens and tent allow for outdoor dream weddings
Reviewing Terry & Marlene Schmidt, Owners of NithRidge Estate Weddings & Events
Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor
We first discovered NithRidge Estate Weddings & Events just before their Grand Opening in June 2009. The property, owned by Terry and Marlene Schmidt, was already naturally beautiful on its own. Then, when you add in its renaissance ambiance, an amphitheatre for outdoor ceremonies, beautifully landscaped gardens and a horse drawn carriage, we knew that if this location wasn’t already booked solid, it would be shortly.
Terry and Marlene told staff at The Ring that once word began spreading about their quaint, country estate nestled on the edge of the Nith River in Ayr, they were almost completely booked for 2009 and had begun to book for 2010 and 2011.
Just twenty to thirty minutes from Kitchener, NithRidge is an all-in-one location offering amenities for just about every aspect of your day from a bridal suite for you and your attendants to onsite hair and make-up, and picturesque photo locations to unique outdoor ceremony and tent reception spaces. There doesn't seem to be much that Marlene and Terry won't help you with on your wedding day – including creating customized menus with local ingredients and providing shuttle service to and from parking. So we sat down with this outgoing and enthusiastic couple to find out more about what they do and offer brides – here's what we found out…
While the estate was under construction, it attracted much media attention and created hype and anticipation among the awaiting bridal community, including an article in The K-W Record, which is where we learned that before brides came along, Terry ran a millwright business on the land and Marlene had a hairstyling salon in the brick farmhouse – which she still does and is quite useful for bridal clients.
Marlene's clients often said, while Marlene primped them for their weddings, that they would love to get married in a place like NithRidge Estate and clients often had getting ready photos in the surrounding gardens.
So, after helping with weddings for Terry's niece and stepdaughter, they both felt inspired to turn the property into a wedding venue, though they do also intend to bring music and theatre events to the outdoor amphitheatre. NithRidge Estate's Grand Opening officially took place in June 2009 and though some of the additions are brand new, Terry and Marlene say that they've been "Sharing their knowledge and experience of professional services for over thirty years."
Since renovations to the property began, Terry and Marlene have purchased a tent that accommodates 450 people, a carriage and two Percheron draft horses and excavated the land behind the house for a terrace, carriageway and a parking lot. Plus, by the Nith River, which runs through the property, they have arranged small retaining walls and concrete blocks in a semicircle, creating an amphitheatre for outdoor ceremonies. In the future, Terry and Marlene say they plan to install a pool and a two-tiered fountain on the terrace, stone paths, a carriage house, a six horse stable, a commercial kitchen, and washrooms and a lookout in the silo – though we happen to think that the estate is pretty fabulous as it is.
With the trend towards conveniently having your ceremony and reception at the same venue, we wouldn't be surprised if even more brides fall in love with NithRidge Estate. After primping, brides can have getting ready photos onsite among the exclusive and luxurious gardens and landscaped, picturesque river and the surrounding forest and nature trails. It's hard to believe that these beautiful grounds are within thirty (and less in some places) minutes from the core of Kitchener-Waterloo and are tucked behind a seemingly everyday subdivision – it's a hidden gem, that's for sure.
With the owners living right on the premises, it seems that Terry and Marlene are sure everything is taken care of and say that there's nothing that they won't help you with. And if they can't do it all, they'll find people who can. They can even hook you up with a photographer for packages that start at $1100 (including an engagement photo session) and videographers starting at $2200.
After photos, you're ready to walk down the aisle of the onsite amphitheatre, which costs $350 to rent, surrounded by multi-level concrete block for chairs (a great idea for guests in the back who would otherwise have trouble seeing). Plus, what better (natural) backdrop then the Nith River? Full property rental for the day, which includes full access to the grounds (except the amphitheatre), is $3500.
After the ceremony, guests can explore the nature trails or head to the reception tent while you, your new husband and friends and family take photos or go for a ride in their Queen Victoria carriage with McAllister (MAC) and Torino (RINO) – those are the horses. When you book the horse and carriage (for $1,000), you get them for three hours – perfect for arrival and departure to the ceremony and for photos – as well as complimentary champagne and engraved glasses. Marlene suggests that you and your new husband take a ride in the carriage alone so you can have a few moments to yourselves.
Oh, and you can book the amphitheatre, grounds for photos, reception tent and carriage each separately and do not have to have all of them as part of your package, nor do you have to have your ceremony or reception at NithRidge if you just want photos.
If you do want to host your reception onsite, Terry and Marlene have a huge, beautiful tent complete with a portable restroom trailer that is wheelchair accessible. Starting at $2500, the 60x100 tent can accommodate up to 450 people and includes basic linens and décor, chairs, tables, place settings, set-up and dance floor.
For your entertainment needs, Terry and Marlene also have music and DJ services available at your convenience. The DJ costs $800 for the entire reception and $200 for the ceremony. They also have live music available, including bagpipes, quartets and harps, starting at $500.
They even have cake services available (we told you this was an all-in-one location!) where you can have a cake customized for as little as $2.50 per serving, dependent upon the complexity of the design.
NithRidge also has full bar services available with non- and alcoholic punches, pop, liquor, domestic and imported beers, coolers, cocktails and wine. In fact, they actually have an onsite wine making facility in their 130 year old cellar for "an ultimate wine making experience for an exceptional presentation." You get to choose the types of grapes and labels (pre-wedding, of course) and for $10 per bottle you can have intermediate tastings and racking.
They also have custom decorating and floral services available, with prices dependent on the décor and flower details you choose.
Plus, to make it even easier on you, Terry and Marlene offer wedding coordinator services, which can include planning themes and colours, table settings and floral arrangements, picking invitations, providing help with wedding gowns and looking for particular items, among other things you may need help with. This service costs 10% of the net cost of wedding services.
Between booking and the wedding, you'll meet with Terry and Marlene a few more times to select the menu, décor and other wedding day details. Then, on your wedding day, you just get to enjoy the ease and convenience of NithRidge's all-in-one location.
• A $1000 deposit is required to book NithRidge Estate.
• Rental and service prices vary depending on what you book, but the average bride spends $20,000 at NithRidge, which includes EVERYTHING from getting ready to photos, the ceremony, reception and more.
• Taxes and gratuities are extra.
Terry and Marlene told staff at The Ring that once word began spreading about their quaint, country estate nestled on the edge of the Nith River in Ayr, they were almost completely booked for 2009 and had begun to book for 2010 and 2011.
Just twenty to thirty minutes from Kitchener, NithRidge is an all-in-one location offering amenities for just about every aspect of your day from a bridal suite for you and your attendants to onsite hair and make-up, and picturesque photo locations to unique outdoor ceremony and tent reception spaces. There doesn't seem to be much that Marlene and Terry won't help you with on your wedding day – including creating customized menus with local ingredients and providing shuttle service to and from parking. So we sat down with this outgoing and enthusiastic couple to find out more about what they do and offer brides – here's what we found out…
Personally speaking…
The 19th Century brick farmhouse on the NithRidge Estate property was built in 1868. Terry and Marlene purchased the thirty-three acre property from Terry's parents in 2000 and have been busy turning it into their dream event location ever since.While the estate was under construction, it attracted much media attention and created hype and anticipation among the awaiting bridal community, including an article in The K-W Record, which is where we learned that before brides came along, Terry ran a millwright business on the land and Marlene had a hairstyling salon in the brick farmhouse – which she still does and is quite useful for bridal clients.
Marlene's clients often said, while Marlene primped them for their weddings, that they would love to get married in a place like NithRidge Estate and clients often had getting ready photos in the surrounding gardens.
So, after helping with weddings for Terry's niece and stepdaughter, they both felt inspired to turn the property into a wedding venue, though they do also intend to bring music and theatre events to the outdoor amphitheatre. NithRidge Estate's Grand Opening officially took place in June 2009 and though some of the additions are brand new, Terry and Marlene say that they've been "Sharing their knowledge and experience of professional services for over thirty years."
Since renovations to the property began, Terry and Marlene have purchased a tent that accommodates 450 people, a carriage and two Percheron draft horses and excavated the land behind the house for a terrace, carriageway and a parking lot. Plus, by the Nith River, which runs through the property, they have arranged small retaining walls and concrete blocks in a semicircle, creating an amphitheatre for outdoor ceremonies. In the future, Terry and Marlene say they plan to install a pool and a two-tiered fountain on the terrace, stone paths, a carriage house, a six horse stable, a commercial kitchen, and washrooms and a lookout in the silo – though we happen to think that the estate is pretty fabulous as it is.
All-in-one location…
In our research of NithRidge we also discovered that Terry and Marlene live at work – literally. Brides and grooms have the run of the estate from even before they say I do, as brides and their bridesmaids can stay overnight at the farmhouse and are guaranteed to be on time for their onsite hair and make-up appointments with Marlene in the morning. Up do's (and trials) cost $50, which includes a consultation, and make-up services are $50 per person.With the trend towards conveniently having your ceremony and reception at the same venue, we wouldn't be surprised if even more brides fall in love with NithRidge Estate. After primping, brides can have getting ready photos onsite among the exclusive and luxurious gardens and landscaped, picturesque river and the surrounding forest and nature trails. It's hard to believe that these beautiful grounds are within thirty (and less in some places) minutes from the core of Kitchener-Waterloo and are tucked behind a seemingly everyday subdivision – it's a hidden gem, that's for sure.
With the owners living right on the premises, it seems that Terry and Marlene are sure everything is taken care of and say that there's nothing that they won't help you with. And if they can't do it all, they'll find people who can. They can even hook you up with a photographer for packages that start at $1100 (including an engagement photo session) and videographers starting at $2200.
After photos, you're ready to walk down the aisle of the onsite amphitheatre, which costs $350 to rent, surrounded by multi-level concrete block for chairs (a great idea for guests in the back who would otherwise have trouble seeing). Plus, what better (natural) backdrop then the Nith River? Full property rental for the day, which includes full access to the grounds (except the amphitheatre), is $3500.
After the ceremony, guests can explore the nature trails or head to the reception tent while you, your new husband and friends and family take photos or go for a ride in their Queen Victoria carriage with McAllister (MAC) and Torino (RINO) – those are the horses. When you book the horse and carriage (for $1,000), you get them for three hours – perfect for arrival and departure to the ceremony and for photos – as well as complimentary champagne and engraved glasses. Marlene suggests that you and your new husband take a ride in the carriage alone so you can have a few moments to yourselves.
Oh, and you can book the amphitheatre, grounds for photos, reception tent and carriage each separately and do not have to have all of them as part of your package, nor do you have to have your ceremony or reception at NithRidge if you just want photos.
If you do want to host your reception onsite, Terry and Marlene have a huge, beautiful tent complete with a portable restroom trailer that is wheelchair accessible. Starting at $2500, the 60x100 tent can accommodate up to 450 people and includes basic linens and décor, chairs, tables, place settings, set-up and dance floor.
For your entertainment needs, Terry and Marlene also have music and DJ services available at your convenience. The DJ costs $800 for the entire reception and $200 for the ceremony. They also have live music available, including bagpipes, quartets and harps, starting at $500.
Food: local and customizable
Terry and Marlene's menu draws from a variety of banquet and catering feasts. They told us that they use local ingredients wherever possible and can create an organic menu upon request. Since menus are customizable, prices are dependent upon what you select and the number of guests.They even have cake services available (we told you this was an all-in-one location!) where you can have a cake customized for as little as $2.50 per serving, dependent upon the complexity of the design.
NithRidge also has full bar services available with non- and alcoholic punches, pop, liquor, domestic and imported beers, coolers, cocktails and wine. In fact, they actually have an onsite wine making facility in their 130 year old cellar for "an ultimate wine making experience for an exceptional presentation." You get to choose the types of grapes and labels (pre-wedding, of course) and for $10 per bottle you can have intermediate tastings and racking.
There's more…
As if we haven't already listed enough reasons to love NithRidge, we discovered even more ways that they make your wedding day convenient so you can just sit back and enjoy. Since parking can be a bit of a hike for larger affairs at NithRidge (it is 33 acres after all), Terry and Marlene offer shuttle service from parking to the ceremony and reception sites.They also have custom decorating and floral services available, with prices dependent on the décor and flower details you choose.
Plus, to make it even easier on you, Terry and Marlene offer wedding coordinator services, which can include planning themes and colours, table settings and floral arrangements, picking invitations, providing help with wedding gowns and looking for particular items, among other things you may need help with. This service costs 10% of the net cost of wedding services.
Walking you through…
Email or call Terry or Marlene to book an appointment for a tour of the grounds and to discuss your wedding with them in further detail. Based on what you need, they will provide you with a quote, then the contract is signed if you want to book and a $1000 deposit is paid to reserve your wedding date.Between booking and the wedding, you'll meet with Terry and Marlene a few more times to select the menu, décor and other wedding day details. Then, on your wedding day, you just get to enjoy the ease and convenience of NithRidge's all-in-one location.
Details, details, details
• Book 8 to 12 months before your wedding to reserve your date.• A $1000 deposit is required to book NithRidge Estate.
• Rental and service prices vary depending on what you book, but the average bride spends $20,000 at NithRidge, which includes EVERYTHING from getting ready to photos, the ceremony, reception and more.
• Taxes and gratuities are extra.
Contacting NithRidge Estate Weddings & Events
Terry & Marlene Schmidt at NithRidge can be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 519-632-1234. You can also visit NithRidge online at http://www.nithridge.com.Good to know: Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of NithRidge Estate Weddings & Events. Photos 1-2 and 6-10 courtesy of iCandy Photos Please contact Terry & Marlene Schmidt at 519-632-1234 with any questions or concerns regarding the photos seen above.
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