More Than "I Do": By Lea Gunner

The Gates on Roblin offers a beautiful backdrop for both weddings and fine dining

The Gates on Roblin, a locally-owned wedding venue and restaurant, has wowed brides and diners alike in it’s short history. In just five years, the Gates has already won the Consumers’ Choice Award for Fine Dining in Winnipeg three years in a row. This year, the Gates also received the Consumers’ Choice Award for Weddings and Banquet Halls. This locallyowned wedding venue and restaurant has wowed brides and diners alike in its short history.

The Gates on Roblin is a restored country estate that offers modern sophistication in the elegance of a rural setting. Only seconds outside the city, the property is nestled on the banks of the Assiniboine River with seven acres of manicured lawns, flower gardens and a picturesque horse corral.  Couples can choose to get married anywhere on the property, which boasts two all-season buildings with multiple rooms of varying sizes, including a ballroom that accommodates up to 400 guests.

A gorgeous backdrop for wedding nuptials is important, but at the top of every bride’s list is the food they will serve their guests. The Gates offers couples the opportunity to create their own menu and sample all of the items before their big day so that everything is perfectly suited to their tastes and desires.

“Food is what keeps people coming back,” says General Manager and Co-owner, Ray Louie, who operates the venue for his business partner Don Carson. “A lot of couples have come here first as a guest for someone else’s wedding, so they already have high expectations. Our goal is then to meet and exceed that.”

The Gates is truly a one-stop shop for weddings, providing everything from on-site wedding coordinators, access to numerous private photo locales, to full use of the venue’s substantial inventory of equipment. “Because we only do one major wedding per day, that wedding becomes our only focus. We can then apply our considerable resources to the task to make your day and your memories extra special,” says Louie.  The objective of the restaurant at the Gates on Roblin was to hook couples with the food so they would consider the venue for their wedding.  However, if the awards are any indication, the restaurant has carved its own special niche outside of the wedding industry.

“The House (the Gates restaurant) offers a full lunch and dinner menu and an impressive Sunday brunch,” boasts Louie. The Gates also provides catering services for off-site weddings or functions of any size or type.  “The consistency and quality of our food cannot be matched. We have the same food philosophy for our restaurant as we do for weddings – using local suppliers and producers to bring you the best possible products for any menu,” he says, crediting banquet and catering chef, Toby Kidd for much of the business success.

Many of the restaurant’s patrons are former wedding clients who are celebrating their anniversaries. The first couple married at the Gates on Roblin – Kelly and Steve in August, 2006 – still come back every year. “We develop relationships that we’ve hung on to,” says Louie.

“We’re creating memories by building your special occasions and executing them to the best of our abilities.”