restaurant wedding venues toronto Archives - Toronto Wedding Photographer

October 9, 2024

Best Restaurant Wedding Venues in Toronto Part 2

A while ago I shared a few (actually it was 3+1) of my favourite restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. Archeo was actually also a favourite pick of mine when I first wrote about restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. Today I’m going to share another three that I really like!

4. Archeo

Archeo is a restaurant in the Distillery District that offers Italian comfort food in a rustic urban setting. If you like the exposed brick walls at the Distillery, you will like Archeo.

Why I like the venue:

Both the indoor dinning space and the outdoor patio at Archeo is very nicely sized, and also very private. As such, you can easily have both your ceremony and reception at the venue.
The patio is decorated with string lights, which is also great for having your first dance outside in the warmer months.

Things to consider:

Booking your wedding here may also include a permit for taking photos around the Distillery!

5. Caffino

Caffino is an eclectic restaurant serving Italian fare nestled amongst 18th century buildings in the carpet factory district in Toronto.

Why I like the venue:

The unique decor and atmosphere.
The venue features both indoor and outdoor areas for wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.
The carpet factory area works nicely as a backdrop for some portraits as well.

Things to consider:

The outdoor area for wedding ceremonies is not strictly private, though it is very quiet.

6. Cluny Bistro

Cluny Bistro is another restaurant in the Distillery District, featuring modern French cuisine.

Why I like the venue:

Stylish modern French decor with exposed brick walls.
Also featuring indoor dinning space and a patio.
Can seat up to 80 people but can also be divided into two smaller spaces, each still with access to a part of the patio.

winter wedding photos in Distillery District

Things to consider:

The main dinning area at Cluny is not available for buyout but the event space is at the back of the restaurant and is still private.

That’s it for this round of top restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. I’d love to hear some of yours too!

September 16, 2024

Bandit Brewery Wedding // Jes & Kevin

candid wedding portrait by Janice Yi Photography

Today I’m sharing one of my favourite weddings from the past couple of years. Jes and Kevin’s Bandit Brewery wedding was so fun, and full of warmth. I had a huge smile on my face looking through the photos again as I put together this post.

Bandit Brewery is also one of my favourite restaurant/small wedding venues in Toronto, check out that blog post here.

Jes and Kevin met during the Covid years, both of them had been staying with their parents in their hometowns when both decided to get back to the city and start dating again. Jes had a goal of going on 5 dates. Kevin was date number 4, and she never did make it to number 5. Their timing was impeccable, and goes to show that some things are just meant to be. This was also the case when they contacted me about photographing their wedding. I was originally booked for their wedding date, but the other couple emailed me about postponing their wedding a couple of days before Jes’ email. And boy am I glad that I was able to capture their special day.

Thank you so much for having me be a part of your day Jes and Kevin! Here is the story of their intimate wedding at Bandit Brewery. xo

July 22, 2016July 22, 2016

George Restaurant Wedding // Dana & Jordy

Intimate Restaurant Wedding | George Restaurant, Toronto

Dana and Jordy had a very intimate and heartfelt George restaurant wedding at the end of May. It was an intimate affair of just twelve guests. George restaurant on Queen street east was the perfect space for the celebration.

As a lover of stories, I always love hearing about how my couples meet as well. And the story of how Dana and Jordy met is definitely one of my favourites. They are both Canadians, one lived in Toronto and one in B.C. They only met when they both happened to have stayed at the same hostel when they travelled to Rio in Brazil. Thus began their love story. As a hopeless romantic, I think sometimes we go to certain places because there is someone we are meant to meet.

Before I let the photos do the talking, here’s a snippet of a beautiful poem Jordy read as part of his vows:

And although I have not always understood

My blames & my breakdowns,

I know that in your arms

The world makes sense

And if I kiss the audacity & the

mystery of your lips

There will be no doubts or misunderstandings

I will still love you more.

~ Mario Benedetti

June 10, 2015

Canoe Restaurant Wedding // Eileen & Justin

Canoe Restaurant Wedding Toronto Wedding Photographer

When I met Eileen and Justin, Eileen told me that when she looks at my photos, she can really feel the emotions come through in each photo, just as if she was a part of that moment. I knew then that they would be the right couple for me.

September came and it was a beautiful day for Eileen and Justin’s wedding. We took their wedding portraits at the beautifully historic Spadina House, and the ceremony and reception was at the well-known Canoe restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD tower, with panoramic views of the city and the lake to boot. Canoe was also the place where Eileen and Justin had their first date – so it had come full circle for them.

To me, meaning and feeling is everything, and one of the things I love most about weddings is all those moments that touch my heart. They usually happen sometime during the ceremony or during the speeches at dinner. For this one, it was during the traditional tea ceremony, when Justin said to Eileen’s parents: “I will take care of Eileen from now on”. No ornate promises, no “til death do us part”, just a simple, and sincere sentence.

Here’s the story of Eileen & Justin’s wedding day.

Thank you Jessie of Flair Weddings for putting together such a stylish event!

Legend has it that each of us has an invisible “red string” attached to us, and that at the other end of the string is the person you are destined to marry.

Door games – aka. torment the boys :P

January 21, 2014November 24, 2016

Janine & Chris // Toronto Wedding Photography

Featured on La Bride | Restaurant Wedding in Toronto

Janine & Chris met in teacher’s college through mutual friends. And Chris just knew that she was the one for him. They seem to be opposites in a lot of ways, but I think they complement each other perfectly. They have been teaching overseas the past few years, from South Korea to Bangladesh, and traveling to many places while they taught. Now they are on their new adventure in Qatar. You know what they say, couples who travel together stay together. :)

So on a warm summer’s day at the end of July, Janine & Chris got married at the Earth Bloor West restaurant (sadly this location is now closed). It was nice and warm and the sky threatened to pour down on us all day, but it held off until after their wedding. Janine and her bridesmaids got ready at her parents’ house, then we went to the Evergreen Brickworks for her and Chris’ first look and some portraits before heading to Earth for their ceremony and reception.

Not only was it a day of happiness and love for the couple, it was also a reunion with friends & family alike. Thank you Janine & Chris, for inviting me into a small but significant chapter of your adventures together!

August 1, 2013November 24, 2016

Auberge du Pommier Wedding // Helen & Adam

Remember this sweet couple and their engagement session? Helen and Adam had a beautiful Auberge du Pommier wedding on a sunny day in May. It was an intimate and heartwarming celebration with their nearest & dearest.

I must confess that as a photographer, of all the different weddings I shoot, the smaller, more intimate weddings have a very special place in my heart (perhaps partly because that’s what M and I had). They are more relaxed, more intimate, allowing you to actually be able to spend some time with your guests, and focus on being present for that special day. It doesn’t just blur past you, and it doesn’t have to be.

I don’t even know what else to say, but that the people I get to meet, and the stories I get to tell, that’s what it’s all about.

Thank you, Helen & Adam, for being genuine, authentic, for being you; for being in love the way you are; for loving the way you do, each other, and your friends and family; and most of all, for inviting me into your story and trusting me to tell it. Here’s to love & laughter. xoxo

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Auberge du Pommier

Bride’s hair: Krista Lynn Samek

Bride’s makeup: Suzanne Mckay

Cake: I Do! Wedding Cakes