If you were planning to get married at Toronto City Hall next year, you might have seen the news. Starting January 1, 2027, wedding ceremonies in the City Hall chambers are on pause.
I've photographed weddings at City Hall, and I totally get why couples love it. It's quick, it's simple, and the whole square is right there for photos after. The good news is you still have great options, including one right across the street!
What's changing at Toronto City Hall
The wedding chambers on the third floor of City Hall's East Tower have been run by a private company, Ministerial Associates, for about 30 years. Their lease ends on December 31, 2026, and the City is getting ready for construction in the building, so ceremonies there stop on January 1.
- Weddings already booked at City Hall for 2026 are still going ahead.
- Weddings at Old City Hall aren't affected.
- There's no reopening date yet. The City says it's still looking at options for the long term.
- If your 2027 date was affected, the City says it will help you find another downtown spot. You can reach them at marriage@toronto.ca.
You can read the full story in CP24's report on the City Hall wedding pause.
Get married at Old City Hall instead
This is the one I'd look at first if you love the downtown feel. The City is running civil ceremonies as a pilot in the former Council Chamber at Old City Hall, 60 Queen Street West, on Thursdays between 10 am and 3:30 pm.
- A City officiant marries you, so you don't need to find your own.
- Each ceremony is 30 minutes, with room for up to 25 people.
- Dates open six months ahead, a week at a time, and there's no waiting list. The 2026 Thursdays are already full, and January to March 2027 are open now.
- Photos inside are limited to 30 minutes, in set areas, with hand-held, battery-powered gear. That's very doable, we just plan the inside photos around it.
You can check the current fee and book on the City of Toronto's civil weddings page.
Where to take photos after an Old City Hall wedding
The best part of a downtown wedding is the walk after. Old City Hall's clock tower, Nathan Phillips Square, the City Hall podium and Osgoode Hall next door are all a few minutes apart on foot. An hour is usually plenty to get to all of them without rushing. You can see that walk in this City Hall wedding with portraits at Osgoode Hall.
In the winter the light goes early, so an earlier Thursday slot gives us more daylight for photos outside.
Or get married in your hometown
If Toronto was the plan just because it seemed like the obvious choice, this is your sign to look closer to home. A lot of towns have their own civil ceremonies, and they're often calmer and easier to plan around (parking included!).
One of my favourite small days started with a ceremony at the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre and ended with lunch at Joia on Main in Newmarket, with close family around one long table. Nobody was rushing, and the couple got to actually enjoy their day. You can see more of that East Gwillimbury elopement here.
Newmarket
The Town of Newmarket's officiants marry couples at the Municipal Offices on Mulock Drive on Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm, or out in the courtyards there. They'll also come to you, at home, in a park or at a restaurant, any day of the week, holidays included. The Town doesn't cap the guest list, but the space you pick will have its own limit. Booking details are on the Town of Newmarket's civil ceremonies page, and I walk through the whole day in my guide to a civil wedding in Newmarket.
East Gwillimbury
East Gwillimbury holds ceremonies in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre in Sharon, most Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm. They usually take 5 to 20 minutes, and photos are allowed the whole time. The Town paused ceremonies after August 2026 and says they'll be back in 2027, so check the Town of East Gwillimbury's marriage page before you pick a date.
Your own hometown
Your marriage licence works anywhere in Ontario, so your hometown doesn't have to be Newmarket or East Gwillimbury. Most towns and cities have their own civil ceremonies, and I'm happy to travel to yours, anywhere within my usual travel area.
Then lunch or dinner somewhere you love
Book a private room or a long table at a restaurant you already love and keep it simple. A ceremony in the morning and a long lunch after is one of my favourite ways to do it, and it gives us a relaxed hour for photos in between.
A few other Toronto options
- North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, has City civil ceremonies on Thursdays and Fridays, plus a few Saturdays, with the officiant included.
- The North York (up to 40 people), Scarborough (22) and York (25) civic centres rent out wedding chambers by the half hour. You bring your own officiant, and they're open evenings and weekends.
- The Palm House at Allan Gardens is an indoor spot for up to 20 people, which makes it a nice winter option. It needs a City park ceremony permit, and photos there need their own permit too.
- The City has also named St. Lawrence Market North as a downtown option for couples affected by the pause.
What you need, wherever you get married
- A marriage licence. You can pick it up at your town's office, and it's good anywhere in Ontario for 3 months.
- Someone who's allowed to marry you, like a municipal officiant, a judge, a justice of the peace, or a registered religious officiant.
- Two witnesses who are there in person.
- Permission from whoever owns the space, if you're not getting married at a city or town hall.
The full rules are on Ontario's getting married page.
Planning your elopement?
Whether it's a Thursday at Old City Hall or a Friday in your hometown with lunch after, I'd love to photograph it! I'm happy to help with the timeline, where to go for photos and making the most of the light.
Take a look at my elopement coverage, or tell me about your date and we'll go from there. Let me know if you have any questions!
