Top 10 Unique Wedding Venues – Toronto

Photo via Christopher Luk Photography

Updated January 8th, 2016.

Looking for the best and most unique wedding venues in Toronto? Get the scoop from and industry insider!

I have attended over 400+ weddings during my seven-year career as a wedding DJ. Which means I’ve had the chance to tour almost every wedding venue in Toronto and the GTA. A lot of my friends who are getting engaged these days are moving more towards a cocktail reception format, where guests can easily mix and mingle with hearty food stations to feed hungry friends and family.

While working in the wedding industry, I paid super close attention to the wait staff, the venue co-ordinator, how well I’m treated as a vendor and how good (or bad) the food is! So I’m sharing with you my favourite and most unique wedding venues in Toronto as an industry insider:

1) The Berkeley Field House – You cannot go wrong with the indoor/outdoor space that is The Berkley Field House. The white walls are the perfect blank canvas to add your wedding colours to and I truly love the garden patio space for guests to sip champagne under the summer stars. I have also never eaten a bad meal here from their preferred list of caterers. The venue also features big windows, LOTS of natural light and a treehouse as your bridal suite. DO ask about the bridal suite that features a lion seat from a vintage merry-go-round

2) The Argo Rowing Club – Hidden gem alert! If you’re priced out of Palais Royale down the street, head over to The Argo Rowing Club which features a grand main room and a huge outdoor patio overlooking Lake Ontario. Just make sure you order lounge chairs and a few tables to fill up the empty space and to give it a bit more personality. Definitely one of my favourite unique wedding venues in Toronto.

3) The Algonquin Island Association Clubhouse – If you’ve dreamed of having a wedding on the Toronto Islands, one of the most affordable and adorable options is The Algonquin Island Association Clubhouse. You could easily host your ceremony outside on the lawn with a view of the lake and Toronto skyline and then move guests inside for your reception. It’s like a wedding at a cottage without the two-hour commute.

Photo via BlogTO

4) St. Lawrence Hall – This city-owned property in the heart of Downtown Toronto features soaring ceilings, pretty gold accents and an ornamental ceiling. Best part? Get your own permit and stock your own bar! You’ll save a ton of money and because St. Lawrence Hall is city-owned, the rental fee is incredibly reasonable. Bring your own caterer and furniture. Last I checked, they included Chivari chair rentals with your venue rental! Big savings right there and they look fantastic in this room.

Photo via BlogTO

5) The Arts & Letters Club – Another hidden gem which features a large fireplace, soaring ceilings, a stage and grand piano inside The Great Hall. The Arts & Letters Club is listed in the National Historic Sites of Canada. The space feels cozy and intimate – perfect for a winter wedding. I’ve seen couples do ceremonies on the stage and have sat the head table up there as well.

6) Wychwood Barns – Have you considered hosting your reception inside an urban barn in the middle of the city? This former transit hub has been coverted into an artist and event space with warm exposed brick walls, slick steel beams and lots of space – so your guests never feel squished. Lots of capacity at Artscape Wychwood Barns and I love that it’s flooded with natural light. It’s one of the more unique wedding venues in Toronto.

7) Todmorden Mills – A little bit off the beaten path off Pottery Rd, Todmorden Mills features a huge smoke stack that you just can’t miss. This former lumber mill now features rotating works of art and a full-sized theatre for your ceremony. This venue is also city-owned which means lower rental fees and the ability to stock your own bar and bring your own caterer.

8) Arta Gallery – I’ve hosted many events myself at Arta Gallery in Toronto’s Distillery District. I find the space to be intimate, full of interesting works and can fit approximately 150 people for a cocktail reception. The prices are very reasonable and you can bring in your own caterer and stock your own bar. The space is modern and raw, plus you can do photos around the Distillery District.

Photo by: Jenn Stark Photography

9) Hart House – As a University of Toronto Alumnae, I have always loved the quad in the middle of the historic Hart House. This student recreation centre is the fanciest place ever bursting with character and history. A tented cocktail reception in the quad would be incredibly dreamy. Catering is all done in-house by Hart House. The food has always been good.

10) Sunnyside Pavilion – Are you dreaming of an outdoor wedding but can’t bear to risk rain and bad weather? Toronto’s Sunnyside Pavilion is a unique venue located on a covered second floor terrace with views of Lake Ontario. A pretty courtyard on the main level features a fountain with leafy trees and another option for a ceremony spot. Catering is done in-house.

 

Do keep in mind that most unique wedding venues in Toronto book up over a YEAR in advance – especially if you’re looking at a prime Saturday in the summer. The typical engagement period is now 18 months, so start looking at venues at ASAP and booking your other wedding vendors now before they get all booked up.

Congratulations on your engagement!

 

Do you have any unique wedding venues in Toronto in mind? Please share with me in the comments!

 

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