Venue: The Hideaway at Baxter’s Harbour

Nestled on the coastline overtop the 55’ Baxter’s Harbor waterfall, and a direct view of the famous Cape Split, The Hideaway transforms nature-focused living by day to an intimate coastal nest for two by night.

With a special emphasis on connection pouring from every square inch of this breathtaking and bright space, it’s truly a paradise for newlyweds. While this isn’t our traditional “venue” to spotlight, we envision a couple eloping at the falls and overnighting in this gorgeous getaway and we wanted to plant the seeds to make it happen.

We caught up with Melissa from The Hideaway at Baxter’s Harbor to give us all the juicy details about this rugged and romantic accommodation.

Location: Baxter’s Harbour, NS

Capacity: 12

Price Point: $$

Accommodations: sleeps 2

Catering Options: n/a

Perfect for the elopement purists; looking to tie the knot with as few people as possible and just soak in the views (or the sauna).

Tell us a bit about The Hideaway and how it came to be.

Picture a random drive-by, a hand-painted for sale sign, and the most romantic waterfall setting we had ever seen. That was our “buy-now” moment, despite the decrepit state of the property and the work that would surely be ahead of us. When we found links to our own family history in papers in the attic, we knew it was going to be magical, and in fact, this house has never held back! We didn’t expect a pandemic and the mountain of hurdles that were thrown our way but overcoming it all has given us an immense sense of accomplishment and the power to unite us. We wake up each morning still in awe, thinking, “Pinch me. Is this for real?!”

Dedicating the space as a couple’s retreat was inspired by our own weekend getaways to a cherished cabin, where we would go to recharge together and endlessly giggle. During those weekends without the kids and away from our busy routines, we solidified the value of making time and space just for each other. It became our dream to have a retreat space of our very own; we just never imagined it would be in such a dreamy setting.

What makes The Hideaway a unique getaway?

For starters - the romantic views. It’s access to breathtaking waterfall hikes, there’s a sauna overlooking the harbour and falls, wood-fired pizza oven, bonfires, floor-to-ceiling windows, a shower for two, peace and solitude, and endless starry nights are some of the quick things that come to mind. The property is a perfect mix of adventure and tranquillity.

The setting can’t be beat, and it was our challenge to create a house and a space that would be worthy of such a dramatic setting. We wanted it to be a space we would always cherish and anticipate our next time together there. Someone described it as a climax of the senses, and I think that’s as close a descriptor as we will ever get.

It’s been intentionally designed with connection as a priority - a connection to the landscape and views and a place for connection between people. We prioritize our experience while in the space and embrace outdoor living seamlessly with the indoors. Enjoying coffee on the patio overlooking sunrise, afternoon saunas, outdoor showers under the stars, and bonfire evenings giggling over fresh pizza were all the kinds of experiences we crafted so others could delight in them as well.

If you could design any pop-up wedding, what would it look like?

A pop-up wedding sidesteps the stress and expense, but there is no need to compromise on the perfect location. We are all about the waterfalls and chased them for our own honeymoon as well.

While we watch couples say their “I Do’s” on the ocean floor with a waterfall backdrop, we imagine creating the ultimate experience with vows at twilight and candles, and lanterns to light up nature’s already perfect altar. Ultimately, it’s about the two of you in the end, and you don’t need all the fuss to distract from that. We do wonder if our own kids will use the house for their future nuptials and are eager to offer that up to them.

What are you looking forward to most in the coming wedding season?

Newlyweds have been some of our most memorable guests, and we are looking forward to hosting many more as they create their own special experiences.

We have hosted two sets of honeymooners through hurricanes, and the smiles on their faces (through what could have been a disappointment) were simply inspiring. These couples had the power out, the storm winds wreaking havoc, and torrential rains upending their day, but they still reported back such excitement to just have uninterrupted time together. It reminded me of how much love can wash a challenging situation into a pure bliss-filled one with excitement aplenty. We love hosting people who leave happy, promising to be back and do it all again someday.

To learn more about The Hideaway, check out their website and follow them on socials at @thehideaway.ca