A new multifunctional wedding venue has opened at the Gilbert Plains Country Club.

“But it’s also going to serve the community as just being open for anyone to rent for whatever they might need or want,” said Easton Hedley, proprietor of The Grounds. “So we will have a ceremony site available. They’re going to be planting a bunch of trees and flowers and making it look very beautiful this spring.”

Hedley said it will take a few years to make the ceremony site feel like a park setting, which is the goal.

“But we’re pretty convinced that the wait will be worth it,” she said.

The community hall, which was built over the last couple of years, will be available for other events, such as retirement or birthday parties or meetings.

“Whatever you may want. We want to book that out and make it as busy as possible,” Hedley said.

Hedley pointed out the hall was originally built to host golf tournaments and golf-related events.

“But it started to take on a life of it’s own. And we took a look at it after it was built. And it was like, ‘how can we share this with more people? How can we generate more revenue that we can put back into the course? How can we use it more effectively’?” she said, adding she had gotten married last summer. “And getting married in the Parkland was quite difficult, because we don’t have any wedding venues. That is, a hall and a ceremony site available,” Hedley said. “And there is also nowhere within an hour that is a wedding venue that is also a golf course. So they thought that this is something that we could bring to people outside of Winnipeg, essentially,” she said.

Planning a wedding can be expensive, as well as time consuming. So The Grounds has partnered with more than 40 local vendors, such as makeup artists, photographers, hoteliers, Air BnBs, DJs and caterers.

“All the things you need to really make your wedding special and to make it go. So they’re offering their services to our couples for a monetary discount. And it’s also going to help our couples who book with us in they’re planning process, because they don’t have to sort everything out on their own,” Hedley said, adding there is no obligation to use their vendors as it is being offered as a service.

Anyone who wishes to make a booking can call Hedley at 204-648-5047 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

There is also an Instagram and Facebook page, both at The Grounds. There is already one confirmed booking for this September and interest in another wedding in 2024.

“So I’m hoping with some of this media, we’re going to be some more bookings and, hopefully, get this thing off the ground, because we really want to share the golf course with people. Gilbert Plains is beautiful and it’s kind of a hidden gem. So we really want to share it and bring people together in the Parkland,” Hedley said.

The ceremony site, located along side the driving range, includes wooden arches, which can be decorated however the couples want.

“There’s a horseshoe area that we’re going to make a little more private with trees and how we’re going to landscape that part. So it’s going to be your own private area close to the parking lot so people have easy access,” Hedley added. “Then you can walk right across the beautiful bridge right into your reception.”