Niagara Falls: The Honeymoon Capital or the Marriage Capital….or BOTH?
To most local residents, Niagara Falls is the obvious choice to declare its beautiful city as the Honeymoon capital-after all, thousands come each year and fill the local hotels, restaurants and attractions on their honeymoon. But for many wedding service providers, Niagara Falls has evolved into the Marriage Capital. Did you know that there are now over 15 places in Niagara Falls that provide either a Chapel or minister or both for couples on their special day? With growth over the years in the wedding industry, these Chapels have expanded to provide all inclusive packages, including: minister, photos, video, flowers and limo. Many also have a “on location” service, whereby the minister can come to the location of the couple’s choice to officiate the service. Two of the most popular on location sites are the Oakes Garden Theatre which has a view of the falls, and the beautiful Botanical Gardens, which is a photographer’s dream! Both of these locations are controlled by the Niagara Parks Commission, and can rented out in three (3) hour blocks for a set fee.
The Wedding Company of Niagara established in 1996, has amazingly performed over 11,000 weddings, both at their 80 year old Chapel on Franklin Ave. and at many of the local hotels, resorts, parks, and vineyards. They have even performed ceremonies on the Maid of the Mist and on helicopters and airplanes over the magnificent Falls. With 5 ministers (all inter-denominational) employed, they are sometimes able to perform up to 30 weddings on a Saturday in the busy summer months. But for tourists, every day is a Saturday and so don’t be surprised to see a bride and groom near the falls getting a photo taken on a Wednesday afternoon!
Booking a wedding is quite simple. All that is required is a marriage license which can be purchased from any city hall in Ontario and of course the marriage officiant to conduct the ceremony. According to local wedding websites, fees for a marriage license is $125, and the price for the minister’s fee can range anywhere from $150 to $400, depending on the location of the wedding. Location fees would be extra, such as a park rental or Chapel fee. The best scenario seems to be booking a Chapel that includes the minister’s fee. The all inclusive method of booking would save a bride and groom both time and money. One can only imagine having the gorgeous Falls as a backdrop for their wedding, and with the many choices available, there is something to offer each couple who may chose Niagara Falls as their destination for a romantic getaway.
Yes! Niagara Falls is open for Weddings……!