Let’s Find Your Dream Toronto Wedding Venue by Mango Studios Wedding Photography Team!
Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of finding the best wedding venue in Toronto. Don’t worry; we won’t judge if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. It’s not every day you have to pick a spot to celebrate your love that will make even your in-laws happy. Think of it like choosing a Netflix movie, but with higher stakes. You need something that will appeal to both you and your partner, but also something that won’t make you want to pull your hair out.
We get asked all the time at the studio if we’ve photographed weddings at a specific Toronto wedding venues before, and almost always, our answer is “Yes!”. With nearly two decades of experience in the wedding industry, we’ve had the privilege of shooting all over Canada, the United States, and even internationally. Wedding venues come in all shapes and sizes, with varying lighting conditions. As photographers, we often categorize venues as either “light” or “dark” locations. When helping clients choose a venue, we highly recommend looking at a venue’s lighting in addition to its capacity and aesthetic.
Whether you’re interested in a classic hotel ballroom, a trendy restaurant, or a country club, each type of wedding venue comes with its own pros and cons. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a list of our top five most popular wedding venue types and what you need to know before booking.
1. Restaurant Wedding Venue
Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if a restaurant is the right wedding venue for you!
Pros:
- Cozy and intimate: Restaurants have a warm and inviting ambiance, perfect for a smaller wedding celebration.
- Unique culinary experience: Talented chefs create customized menus, providing a unique and memorable culinary experience for you and your guests. A foodies dream!
- Cost-effective: Restaurants often include catering and table settings, making it more cost-effective than renting a larger event space, and they have high quality service.
- Flexible: Many restaurants are open to accommodating different wedding styles and themes, and some even allow you to rent out the entire space.
Cons:
- Limited space: Restaurants have limited capacity and may not be able to accommodate larger guest lists.
- Decor restrictions: There may be limitations on decorating options, which can be challenging if you have a specific vision for your wedding décor.
- Limited timing: Restaurants often have set opening and closing times, which means that your wedding may need to end earlier than if you were renting an event space.
2. Country Club Wedding Venue
Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if a Country Club wedding venue is the perfect match for you!
Pros:
- Nature: The natural surroundings make for a stunning backdrop, no matter the season.
- Blank canvas: There are no restrictions on decor, so you can get as creative as you want!
- Unique location: Country clubs often have beautiful scenery, like lakes and woods, making for unique photo opportunities with your photographer.
Cons:
- Temperature control: Outdoor and tented receptions can get chilly at night, so be sure to plan accordingly.
- Transportation: Country clubs are often located outside the city, so transportation can be a challenge.
- Restrictions: There may be limitations on the setup or use of amenities, like golf clubs not allowing guests to go outside designated areas.
3. Private Toronto Estates Wedding Venue
Do you love the classic sophisticated look of a private estate for your wedding venue? Let’s see the pros and cons of having your wedding venue here.
Pros:
- Both indoor and outdoor locations: What we love about private estate weddings like Graydon Hall, is that they have a great variety of photo locations indoors and outdoors.
- Nostalgia vibe: Historic venues are cozy for family-centered celebrations and ethereal bridal portraits.
- No restrictions on decor: These venues are pretty flexible when it comes to decor and have no decor restrictions: Perfect for those looking to create a sophisticated ambiance.
Cons:
- Rentals required: Furniture and DJ rentals add to costs.
- External catering: May need to bring in catering company, increasing expenses.
4. Toronto Banquet Hall Wedding Venue
Are you looking for a Banquet Hall venue to fit your large guest list but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit? Here are some pros and cons to help!
Pros:
- Capacity: Banquet halls are made for grand, glamorous celebrations so go all out! They usually fit the most guests and are perfect for dancing the night away.
- Variety: There are so many banquet halls to choose from in the city and you can find any aesthetic to your liking.
- Experienced staff: As banquet halls specialize in weddings, their in-house staff is knowledgeable and can help with wedding planning.
- Built-in accommodations: Banquet halls usually provide tables, chairs, and may even have a DJ and lighting equipment already.
- Location: Banquet halls are usually located in the city, making it easy to find great locations for photos and parking for you and your guests!
Cons:
- Hidden costs: Watch out for extra fees like overtime, valet parking, and cake cutting services.
- Limited flexibility: Popular wedding venues might have other weddings happening at the same time, limiting photo locations.
- Tricky lighting conditions: Grand ceilings and spotlights can make lighting difficult, so make sure your photographer is experienced with these lighting conditions.
5. Barn Wedding Venue
Do you love the outdoors and want a country side feel to your wedding photos? Let’s see if our list below can help you decide on booking a barn for your wedding venue!
Pros:
- Capacity: Barn weddings can host unlimited guests inside and outside, perfect for large groups. The sky’s the limit!
- Charm & textures: As artists, we love that barn locations offer diverse textures and lighting scenarios for stunning wedding photos inspired by the countryside.
- Intimate wedding feel: Barn weddings provide an intimate and laid-back setting with a small wedding feel and vibe.
- Blank canvas: Barns are a blank canvas for decor and styling, from dramatic chandeliers to intimate candles. You have free rein over decor and styling!
- Natural light: Barn weddings offer ample natural light for ceremonies and creative portraits in nearby nature. Taking some creative couple portraits during golden hour here also makes for beautiful photos with your partner!
Cons:
- Unpredictable weather: If you’re committed to an outdoor ceremony or reception, make sure you’re prepared for the craziest of weather scenarios.
- Indoor lighting: Barns can be dark, so ensure adequate reception lighting. Wooden walls and ceilings can pose flash challenges, hiring an experienced photographer is important.
- Transportation: Barns and farms are usually located at least an hour or two away from the city. Make sure you consider transportation time for your guests and make necessary accommodations.
Ultimately, choose a venue that fits your style, vision, and budget. We’re here to help you capture all the special moments of your big day, regardless of the venue you choose!
We hope you find this guide helpful! Whether we’ve shot at your venue or not, our photographers always prepare ahead and scout your venue. We also pride ourselves in maintaining great relationships with top venues who pinpoint the best backdrops, suites and views. As always, feel free to pick our brain on all things weddings and reach out to us using the form here.
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