Looking to book a kick-ass venue that hits the mark on aesthetics, food and originality? We got you!
Tis’ The Season of Proposals and Planning!
We’ve been in the photography game for a looooong time and have seen it all! Over the years, we’ve been asked a bazillion times what places we think are the best downtown wedding venues in Toronto. Since we might not have the opportunity to meet couples this year in person at Canada’s Bridal Show, we thought we’d give you our list of what we believe to be the 5 Best Downtown Wedding Venues in Toronto on aesthetics, service, views, food and vibe.
Narrowing down the list was difficult. It’s no secret that there are a lot more than 5 incredible downtown wedding venues in Toronto, but for the sake of the length of this blog, we’ve narrowed it down to 5.
Jam Factory
2 Matilda St. 2nd Floor Toronto, ON 647.478.9526
Located in the downtown trendy neighbourhood of Riverside right off of The Don Valley.
This place is super cool. If you head over to their site, you’ll see that they describe themselves as “Retro Rustic,” and we couldn’t agree more.
What we love about them is the downtown, rustic loft feeling, from the exposed brick walls, the wooden floors to the gorgeous bar. This place is the perfect backdrop for your downtown Toronto wedding dreams.
(Check back soon to see a full blog on one of our fave winter weddings we shot here. The details were so amazing we have to share it.)
If you’re looking for comfortable spaces for guests to sit and enjoy each other as well as opportunities for live music Jam Factory does not disappoint.
Photographers live for diverse environments to shoot in. Merchants of Green Coffee, a coffee shop located on the main floor, provides space for couples to get cozy and spend time together where we’re able to capture authentic moments like this one. Your guests will love this place too!
Beams — check
Exposed Brick — check
Large Windows — check
Edison Lights — check
What can we say? Jam Factory has it all if you’re looking for a cozy, rustic, retro, jazz-age spot to start your new life together.
The Broadview Hotel
106 Broadview Ave. Toronto, ON 416.362.8439
There’s something about staying and getting married all in the same location. Less time spent travelling and the time saved in the morning are just a few reasons we think this is a great option. It’s ideal for photography because there’s less rush between locations and more time for capturing connections between you, your spouse and all your guests. Not to mention, The Broadview Hotel is known for its unique rooms and details throughout the entire property.
Typically, when we arrive on scene, the morning of a wedding, we see chaos and a house turned upside down with the bridal party scurrying to get things ready. The facts are it doesn’t have to be like that! You, too, could start your day lounging with your ladies in a big comfy bed, with massive windows overlooking the streets of Toronto. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?! The additional benefit is a tidy home when the day is over. The last thing you want is to arrive home with wedding prep everywhere.
As photographers, this place is a dream to shoot because of its undeniable charm and character at every turn. There are so many places to play with light in turn, giving our clients backdrops full of texture and interest.
The Broadview Hotel not only has beautiful indoor options but outdoor options as well. If a rooftop terrace is something you’ve been considering, you must put it on the top of your list. The view of the city is amazing, and the surrounding area is ideal for city street shots. Which, as you know, we thrive on.
The Burroughes Building
639 Queen St. W. Toronto, ON 416.360.5757
The Burroughes, once a department store in the early 1900s, stands tall and proud in Queen West, rated to be among the top 15 coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Not only has it hosted tons of high-profile events, but it also has a ton to offer to couples interested in having their wedding in this trendy, beautifully restored property.
We love this place, particularly for the look of the ceremony/reception hall. The room is spacious yet cozy and offers the perfect backdrop for any decor to come to life.
Burroughes also offers tons of space for guests to mingle during your cocktail hour. This is a prime opportunity for us as photographers to capture friends and family connecting. We think the best weddings are events where there are time and space for guests and the bridal party to socialize and celebrate together. This space lends to that perfectly.
Because of Burroughes prime location, it is also within walking distance of the famed “Graffiti Alley,” allowing a wide variety of looks for your wedding photos.
And you can not beat their magical outdoor space with these city views!
George Restaurant
111 Queen St. E Toronto, ON 416.368.6006 ext.272
Last but definitely not least is George Restaurant. There are quite a few reasons why we love this place, but at the top of the list is THE FOOD!!! OMG, you guys HAVE to eat here.
Photographers are foodies at heart (at least all the ones we know). One of the perks of this job is getting to taste and try food from so many diverse and eclectic spots. We would be hard-pressed to say that we’ve had better food anywhere else at a wedding in the city. It’s really that good!
It’s not just the food, although that would be enough in our books. This place is classy. If you’ve always dreamt of a classy place where you and your guests can be treated like royalty, definitely put George Restaurant on your list of places to consider.
How beautiful is this dining area?
We love George Restaurant as an option for smaller micro weddings, too, because they have always had packages tailored for groups as small as 10 and lack nothing in service, class or opulence.
Finally, there is definitely no shortage of amazing places to kick off the start of the next chapter of your life here in Toronto. In fact, while we were brainstorming and going over these top 5 best wedding venues downtown Toronto, we came up with so many others that we felt needed a mention or even their own blog post.
Check back with us often. Sharing what we’ve experienced, learned and highlighting the best of the best here in our diverse city is something we love doing for our clients.
Cheers!
