Must-knows About Getting Married in Toronto

One of the amazing things about getting married in Toronto is that you have so many options available to you when it comes to picking a wedding venue. Being home to the majority of the wedding venues in Southern Ontario, couples that are venue hunting have a lot to consider if they are planning a wedding in the GTA. Whether you’re choosing to invite hundreds of people to your wedding at the luxurious Arlington Estate, or you want a small and intimate reception at a modern and stylish restaurant like Oretta, the world is your oyster.

While having so many options is a wonderful thing, it can also create a lot of indecision and confusion. Nowadays more and more couples are foregoing their Saturday wedding in June for a Thursday wedding in March. Others are trading in their buffet dinner at a banquet hall for gourmet multi-course meals at hotels or wineries. As a wedding planner in the GTA, I’m here to share some of my top must-knows about getting married in Toronto that I think every couple should think  about before they finalize the venue of their dreams.

Photo by: The Wedding Hive

The Best Time of Year to Get Married in the GTA

The best time of the year to get married can be very different for everyone. Historically, the months of June-September are the busiest time for weddings, with a few weddings trickling into May and October. This is the traditional “wedding season” for couples getting married in Toronto. However, many couples are choosing to plan non-traditional weddings and are getting married during the fall or winter months.

Summer Weddings in Toronto

The summer months have many advantages, such as warm and sunny weather. Some brides have their hearts set on certain dress styles that would be most suited to summer weather. There are also many more options for outdoor photos that will look lush and beautiful while the gardens are in bloom. This is also evident in the floral blooms that are available for décor and bouquets. For some people, the beautiful bright summer colours or spring pastels that they want to incorporate in their wedding would feel odd during the fall or winter.

The summer is also the busiest wedding season. Venues tend to book up quickly, as do other wedding vendors. There is usually a higher price point for summer weddings in Toronto as well, although if you choose to get married on a weekday you can usually save some money. Your wedding can also feel like it’s lost in a sea of weddings as your circle of friends goes to a different wedding every weekend.

Fall and Winter Weddings in Toronto

Fall and winter weddings in the GTA are growing in popularity for many of these reasons. Venues and vendors tend to charge less for “off season” weddings during the months of November-April. For couples who are hoping to avoid hot sticky weather, the cool autumn weather is perfect. For many couples, they are excited at the prospect that their wedding will be the event of the season as it stands out from all of the summer weddings.

There can still be some beautiful outdoor photos at fall and winter events, whether you are taking advantage of the fall colours on the trees, or enjoying the white wonderland of a snowfall. If you are planning a fall or winter wedding, keep in mind that it gets dark earlier, so you may need to adjust your ceremony or photo times around sunset. It’s also important to remember that if there’s a heavy snowfall or a snowstorm on your wedding day, this could throw off your vendors’ and guests’ arrival times.

Whichever season you choose should be the best time of year for you. Think through your preferences for weather, venue, dress style, and of course budget. Then make the decision that best reflects you as a couple.

Photo by: Ashlee Ellison

When to Book Your Toronto Wedding Vendors

When it comes to when to book services, every Toronto wedding vendor is different. Some wedding vendors don’t open their books up more than a year in advance, while others (such as wedding venues and ‘planners) are booking two to three years out. In any case, if you’re getting married in Toronto you should inquire as soon as possible.

The most popular Toronto wedding venues are booked on prime wedding dates up to two years in advance. Your most desirable vendors such as your florist or your photographer will also book up quickly, so I recommend inquiring at least a year in advance to make sure you lock in your wedding date! Other wedding vendors such as your DJ or hair and makeup artists can usually be booked within one year, or even six months, of your date.

Booking Your Wedding Planner

When it comes to wedding planners, it really depends on which service you are hoping to book. If you are looking into booking a full planning package, it’s beneficial for you to book your wedding planner before you even go venue hunting. Your wedding planner will save you time and money as you book your vendors and they will guide you through the industry specifics that you may not be aware of.

To read more about how a wedding planner can help you, be sure to check out my blog post on How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue.

If a wedding coordinator sounds more like what you need, I still recommend reaching out pretty early in the process. For all of my clients, I provide planning templates that help keep them organized along the way and I like to give them vendor referrals and extra tips as they hit each planning milestone. Be sure to check out all of my services to see what else is included!

The important thing to remember when it comes to booking your Toronto wedding vendors is that the earlier you inquire the more options you have available to you. Couples who wait until the last minute may still find a wonderful photographer, but they may not get their dream photographer or they may find themselves spending more than they planned. If you have the luxury of time on your hands, I recommend doing the hard work early to book your vendors and then spend some time relaxing and basking in your engagement.

Photos by: Danica Oliva Photography

Unique Considerations for Getting Married at Downtown Toronto Event Venues

Though I’m sure this sections comes as no surprise to to many of you, I can’t in good conscience skip over it for any out-of-towners who are getting married in Toronto. Even for locals it’s a good reminder of some of the additional “eccentricities” that come with booking one of the popular downtown Toronto event venues. The three main things that come to mind can all be summed up in one familiar concept: Toronto driving.

Traffic

Traffic is of course very common downtown and this is definitely something to think about as you book your venue. Booking a ceremony downtown at 6 pm on a weekday might seem like a good idea so you can save some money and make sure your guests can make it after work. However, your guests (and even your wedding party!) will probably get caught in some pretty gruesome rush hour traffic that could delay your ceremony start time and throw off your whole wedding timeline. Weekends are generally busy downtown, but it usually isn’t as bad as the stop and go, bumper to bumper traffic the average weekday commuter will face. Keep this in mind if you are planning to tie the knot in a modern downtown venue like the Globe and Mail Centre or Hotel X.

Parking

Another important driving concern for downtown weddings is the parking situation. While there may be a lot of public parking, many Toronto venues don’t have their own parking lots or garages and your guests may struggle to find parking if they’re unfamiliar with the area or don’t want to walk too far in heels. Some downtown Toronto event venues will actually provide parking vouchers for your guests at nearby lots. Other venues may not provide parking vouchers but they can help you arrange for them at your expense.

The parking situation can also make load-in more complicated for your wedding vendors. If your vendors are not familiar with your venue it’s important to give them clear instructions for load-in so that this doesn’t cause any delays on your special day. As a wedding planner, I will always connect with a venue and have a site visit where I will check in on load-in instructions and even take pictures and videos to provide detailed instructions to other vendors. I will also be your on-site manager to make sure that everyone is arriving on time and getting directed to the appropriate place for their set up.

Special Events

The final thing I think every couple getting married in Toronto should think about is special events and festivals. Whether it’s a Jays Game, a Taylor Swift concert, or a multi-day festival like Caribana, traffic will be at an all-time high and roads may even be closed and re-routed. A venue such as the Florist’s Loft that is on Danforth Ave. will be particularly hard to access during Taste of the Danforth when roads are blocked off, traffic is higher, and surrounding parking lots are full. Make sure to ask about festivals and big events when you are on your venue tours because most venues know of the biggest events that impact their business. If you’re unsure, it never hurts to quickly search online for what is happening in Toronto in a particular week.

Work With a Toronto Wedding Planning Expert!

No matter what you choose to do, know that getting married in Toronto doesn’t have to be scary or confusing. A wedding planner can help make your Toronto wedding a stress-free experience! If you have more questions or you’re interested in working with a wedding planner, let’s connect about your upcoming wedding! If you’re just getting started with your planning process, be sure to get my free wedding planning guide to help you along the way.

Photo by: White Lotus Wedding Studio