Andrea and Rafael’s CJ Country Events wedding in Rockwood was an intimate micro wedding filled with heartfelt family moments, an outdoor ceremony by the pond, golden-hour portraits, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a magical first dance under the stars. Set at one of Ontario’s hidden gem wedding venues, their celebration perfectly showcased the beauty and relaxed atmosphere of this family-owned property just outside Guelph.

Andrea and Rafael’s CJ Country Events wedding in Rockwood was a beautiful micro wedding that combined rustic elegance, family traditions, and a relaxed countryside atmosphere. Located only 20 minutes from Guelph, CJ Country Events offers a unique wedding experience with outdoor ceremonies by the pond, horse-drawn carriage rides, charming barn receptions, and stunning golden-hour photography opportunities.
Their celebration featured an emotional first look, an intimate ceremony where their daughter stole everyone’s hearts, cocktail hour on the patio, portraits among horses and pine trees, and a magical first dance beneath string lights and the stars.
As a wedding photographer experiencing this venue for the first time, I was amazed by the thoughtful design of the property, the owners’ hospitality, and the endless opportunities for storytelling and natural wedding photography. Andrea and Rafael’s wedding perfectly demonstrated how a shorter micro wedding can still feel complete, elegant, and unforgettable.

CJ Country Events Wedding in Rockwood

Andrea and Rafael’s CJ Country Events wedding in Rockwood was my first opportunity to photograph at this beautiful venue.

Andrea had described the venue to me so vividly beforehand, and I had even searched for it online. Still, nothing could have prepared me for the experience of arriving at this beautiful, family-owned property.

Just 20 minutes from Guelph, this charming Rockwood wedding venue offers a beautiful setting in one of the most picturesque areas within a 30-minute drive of my studio.

I first met them at one of my local wedding shows, where I connected with Andrea, although they officially booked a couple of months later.

Andrea and Rafael were one of those couples who had originally planned their wedding during COVID. With so many unknowns at the time, they decided to start a family first and put their wedding plans on the back burner until the time felt right. In the meantime, they welcomed their little daughter, “N.,” and postponed their wedding for two years.

They booked their CJ Country Events wedding using the venue’s Micro Wedding Package, which included six hours at the venue. I scheduled my time for the same duration, which allowed me to document their entire celebration.

Arriving at the venue, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As soon as I saw the entrance lined with evergreens and string lights, I had a feeling this would be a one-of-a-kind wedding venue. The spectacular entrance made me hurry toward the main area, excited to see what was waiting beyond it.

The Farm Set Up for The Elegant Celebration

Once I reached the main area, I immediately saw the true beauty of the venue. The owners had built a barn with exposed stone walls that created a warm, inviting atmosphere, while the wooden beams and structure surrounded the entire space in an elegant country-style setting.

The harvest tables were beautifully arranged, and everything felt so peaceful and serene that I almost didn’t want to speak for fear of disturbing the tranquillity.

Before my wedding party arrived, I wanted to introduce myself to the people running the venue and ask a few questions.

I met Lyssa, the owner of the farm, who was busy decorating the ceremony site beside the large pond at the back of the property. She was making sure everything was perfect before the wedding party arrived. Acting as both the venue owner and the wedding coordinator, she would be involved throughout the entire day.

She directed me to check with Stephen, her husband, to go over the plan for the horse carriage. For every wedding at the farm, Stephen drives the bride and groom in a horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony area, where they then continue on foot to the pond.

It was wonderful to see how excited the owners were to share their vision for the day. I found myself simply listening and enjoying the experience without needing to ask many questions.

I then headed to the reception area to photograph the beautiful setup. Knowing I would not have another opportunity later, I finished those photos, set up my lighting, and prepared for my couple’s arrival.

The venue also featured two cabins, one for the bride and her bridesmaids and another for the groom and his groomsmen.

The First-Look Photos at CJ Country Events Wedding

The moment Andrea arrived with her bridal party and family, we went into the bridal suite while the boys, along with the rest of the wedding party and guests, made their way to the pond where the outdoor ceremony would take place.

Inside the cabin, I focused on photographing the preparations for their first look as well as a few getting-ready moments with their little daughter. Andrea was already dressed, so there were no traditional getting-ready photos, but I made sure to photograph her on her own, with her bridesmaids, her dad, and her daughter.

Once everyone had gathered at the ceremony site, Rafael waited by himself facing the main building while Andrea emerged from the cabin. It worked out perfectly because we didn’t lose any valuable time during their six-hour booking.

After their emotional first look, filled with tears and excitement, I photographed them leaving in the horse carriage before literally running to the ceremony site. I wanted to be there to capture their arrival and some candid moments with their guests.

As I arrived at the ceremony site, I took a bunch of photos of their daughter with the other flower girls, who were all patiently waiting for the bride and groom.

The Outdoor Wedding Ceremony By The Pond

Once everyone was seated and ready, Stephen drove my couple toward the ceremony site in the horse carriage. I positioned myself between their path and the ceremony area so I could photograph them arriving from multiple angles before quickly moving into position to capture their walk to the altar.

As soon as they walked through the vintage wooden doors, the ceremony began. The weather was beautifully overcast, creating soft light against a breathtaking backdrop. I was thrilled with how smoothly their CJ Country Events wedding was unfolding and focused entirely on documenting these special moments.

During the intimate ceremony, their little daughter stole the show by happily wandering wherever she pleased, visiting her parents, playing with their rings, and scattering flowers throughout the aisle. I loved that none of it distracted Andrea and Rafael, who stayed completely focused on each other.

It had been a long time since I had photographed a ceremony quite like this. The children brought so much laughter, curiosity, and joy that every guest became even more engaged in the celebration.

The ceremony itself was short and sweet. Before long, the couple signed their marriage certificate and walked back up the aisle, ready for the next part of the day: immediate family photos. We only had to walk about 10 feet before a beautiful lilac tree became the perfect backdrop.

The Cocktail Ceremony and Photo Session at CJ Country Events Wedding

We finished the guest photos quickly, and once everyone moved to cocktail hour, I spent about 10 minutes photographing my couple before bringing them to join their guests.

Andrea and Rafael wanted to enjoy cocktail hour, so I suggested splitting their portrait session into two parts: one immediately after family photos and another during golden hour. Photographing in two different lighting conditions would give them much more variety in their final gallery.

We created a few portraits around the ceremony area before capturing some candid walking photos on our way to cocktail hour. We finished this portion of the session near the LOVE letters before letting them enjoy time with their guests.

During cocktail hour, I photographed additional reception details and candid moments of guests relaxing on the patio in front of the barn.

The atmosphere was relaxed, beautiful, and full of life. There was plenty of room for guests to sit, play games, enjoy drinks, and sample the delicious appetizers prepared by Platters, a catering company I have worked with many times before.

Capturing all of those genuine moments made it such a pleasure to photograph this wedding.

The Reception Dinner Under Twinkling Lights

Once the Platters team finished preparing the buffet dinner, Rafael’s brother, who served as master of ceremonies, introduced Andrea and Rafael. Dinner felt warm and family-oriented, with children, relatives, and close friends all gathered together. While my couple enjoyed their meal, I explored the property, looking for locations for golden-hour portraits.

I found out that next to the farm is a horse stable, giving us access to the open fields, where the golden hour would be amazing for capturing their CJ Country Events wedding photos. I knew I wanted to photograph them in the alley of pine trees, with wide, winding pathways lined with string lights along the entire length of the property.

After returning to the reception, I photographed several speeches and the shoe game before asking my couple if we could head out for the second part of their portrait session. Both of them were excited, and we went first to the outdoor area, where two horses were freely roaming in their enclosure.

As we approached, the horses walked toward my couple, and from then on, I photographed only candid moments of them interacting with the horses and with each other.

As we walked towards the alley of pine trees, where I was excited to photograph them at golden hour, I realized I would benefit from the sun on one side of the pathway.

I set up my backlight as the sun illuminated my couple from the front, creating amazing lighting and allowing me to capture the perfect photos for my couple at their CJ Country Events wedding.

It was so magical and whimsical that I couldn’t believe this venue was so close to me, and I only discovered it now.

The First Dance Under The Stars

When we returned, Andrea and Rafael cut their beautiful two wedding cakes. Stephen, the owner, then asked where I would like them to have their first dance. Honoured that he trusted my opinion, I suggested the open space in front of the barn, where the couple would be surrounded by the venue, the soft twilight, and all of their guests.

I had never been happier photographing a first dance under the stars. The lighting was magical, and the backdrop allowed me to create some truly unique images.

Toward the end of the dance, Andrea and Rafael invited their daughter to join them, finishing their first dance together as a family. It was incredibly sweet.

As the outdoor fireplace created an even more magical atmosphere, guests began dancing outside beneath the stars. The reception felt elegant and relaxed, with fresh air, beautiful décor, LOVE letters, and countless string lights adding to the charm of the evening.

Since my couple had booked the venue for six hours, the celebration wrapped up around 10 pm. Although it ended earlier than many weddings, the time had been perfectly planned and used so well. While the venue offers longer packages, Andrea and Rafael enjoyed exactly the amount of time they wanted.

Andrea and Rafael’s wedding reminded me that intimate celebrations often create some of the most meaningful memories. With its beautiful countryside setting, welcoming owners, and thoughtfully designed spaces, CJ Country Events quickly became one of the most charming hidden wedding venues I have photographed near Guelph. I look forward to returning and creating more unforgettable memories for future couples.

Thank you, Andrea and Rafael, for introducing me to this beautiful venue and trusting me to capture your special memories. I enjoyed every second of your wedding day.

Credits to below wedding professionals and locations that helped Andrea and Rafael’s wedding to be one-of-a-kind.

Here is another farm wedding at family own property. In the blog post ” Troy Farms Wedding: Where Rustic Charm Meets Nature “ with Amy and Tyler you can find some more inspirations for your own wedding photos.