In our previous post we shared 5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Ceremony Venue. Today we’re sharing 5 important questions to ask the venues you’re considering booking for your reception or wedding celebration.

1. What time must the event end? Are there any community noise bylaws that must be adhered to? Most commonly in Alberta we see a 1:00 AM bar closure time, but some venues choose to shut down a bit earlier than this. Other communities have noise bylaws that prohibit loud music past 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM. This can especially be true for venues located in residential areas, or backyard tented events. Check the bylaws in your area if you’re hosting an event at home.

Whyte Museum Grounds (Banff, AB) / Natalie Andrusiak

2. When can the venue be accessed for decorating? When must all items be removed? It may seem early to worry about logistics, but it is important to consider when you will be able to set up and decorate for your event, and when everything must be taken down and picked up. Most rental and decorating companies will charge a premium to come back late at night, so if your venue allows next-day pick up this can save you some cash.

50th Parallel Estate / Tara Peach

3. Is catering provided by the venue, or is external catering permitted? Are alcohol and bartending services provided by the venue, or can you bring your own alcohol and liquor license? It can be convenient when the venue provides all food and beverage services. On the other hand, choosing your own caterer and bar company offers you more control over your menu and budget. In either case, be sure to ask ahead about meal service styles (plated vs buffet vs family style) and any special must-have menu items or cultural dishes.

JW Marriott, Wayne Gretzky Ballroom / Mango Studios

4. What are the nearby options for guest parking? It is helpful to include parking details on your invitations or wedding website so guests have a heads up about parking locations, costs, walking distance to the venue, and whether they can leave their vehicles overnight. If your venue is outside of an area serviced by taxis or Uber, consider arranging shuttle bus service to provide your guests with a safe and convenient way to attend your wedding.

Aspen Valley Events / Andras Schram

5. What is included with the venue rental and what am I responsible for renting or supplying? Find out what the venue provides and what you must bring in yourselves or rent. Some examples of items you may require for your wedding reception include: chairs, tables (ask about sizes), linens, napkins, staging, dance floor, podium, AV equipment (microphones, sound system, projector, screen), dishware, flatware, glassware, candles, easels and coat racks.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge / Nicole Ashley Photography

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planners, Edmonton Event Planners

You can visualize yourself walking down the aisle, locking eyes with your partner, saying ‘I Do’ and sharing that first kiss as a married couple. You’re ready to sign on the dotted line to book your wedding ceremony venue! But wait – have you asked all the right questions?!

Not to worry, Team JBW has got your back! Here are 5 important questions to ask when booking your wedding ceremony venue.

1. Are there any décor restrictions? For example, many indoor venues do not allow real flower petals down the aisle. Some churches have restrictions on what (if any) décor can be placed at the altar. It’s important to find out what is and isn’t permitted before booking your wedding ceremony venue.

St.Joseph’s Basilica / Carey Nash Photography

2. What is included with the venue rental and what am I responsible for renting or supplying? Find out what the venue is providing and what you must bring in yourselves or rent. Some examples of items you may require for your wedding ceremony include: chairs or bench seating, a signing table for the registry, a ceremony arch or arbour, a sound system with a wireless or lapel microphone, and easels for directional signage.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise / Stoffer Photography

3. When can a rehearsal date and time be confirmed? Some venues will allow you to schedule this upon booking, while others will only confirm your rehearsal a couple weeks in advance. This is important to ask, as it may take some juggling to coordinate the availability of your Officiant, Wedding Party, Wedding Coordinator and rehearsal dinner venue.

The Lake House / Infused Studios

4. Is there an indoor or covered backup space in case of inclement weather? Always have a Plan B! If weather is poor, is there an on site backup space you can move the ceremony into? And when must you make the weather call? Often times this can be done on the day of the event, as late as a few hours prior to your ceremony start time, but some venues require 24 hours notice if utilizing the backup space.

University of Alberta, Botanic Gardens / Kelly Redinger

5. Is only one wedding held per day? Some ceremony venues book multiple weddings on a single day (we’ve seen as many as 4 different timeslots), while others provide exclusivity to a single wedding couple. It’s important to understand if you are restricted to a specific ceremony time, and whether you have to hustle out of there following your nuptials or if you can stick around to take photos.

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald / Romy Young

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We hope this is a helpful resource for you when booking your wedding ceremony venue. Stay tuned for our next blog post outlining 5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Reception Venue!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planners, Edmonton Wedding Designers

Finding your wedding venue can be one of the toughest parts of the wedding planning journey. We speak with so many couples who are overwhelmed at this stage, so we’re sharing some of the best Edmonton (and area) wedding venues in 2022.

Downtown Luxury  |  JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

• Capacity: up to 400 guests in the Wayne Gretzky Ballroom
• Highlights: From the moment you enter the lobby of the JW Marriott, you’re transported to a luxurious “big city” hotel – something we’ve been missing in Edmonton…hallelujah, it’s been found! The Wayne Gretzky Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows (hello natural light) and its streamlined, modern aesthetic make it the perfect canvas to hold your elegant, upscale event. We love designing in this space and working with the entire JW Marriott Edmonton team – the service is truly top-notch.
• IG: @jwmarriottedm

Mango Studios (top) / Nicole Ashley Photography  (btm)

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Unique  |  The Hive

• Capacity: up to 180 guests
• Highlights: An industrial blank canvas, The Hive is a gem on the west end of Edmonton that wins huge bonus points for flexibility. You can bring your own caterer and alcohol…did we mention there’s a built-in stage and onsite AV? Light and airy with a dash of fun, The Hive is a great choice for couples looking to customize an event to their own unique tastes.
• IG: @creativehiveyeg

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Intimate  | Glasshouse Kitchen + Bar

• Capacity: up to 90 guests
• Highlights: Located inside St. Albert’s Enjoy Centre, Glasshouse Kitchen + Bar is an intimate venue perfect for foodies. Chef Julia Kundera’s custom menus feature local cuisine with a focus on fine flavours. The corkage bar option gives you flexibility with your bar offerings and budget. With uninterrupted views of Lois Hole Provincial Park, Glasshouse offers the perfect blend of an indoor venue that feels like you are surrounded by nature (no need to worry about Alberta’s temperamental weather)!
• IG: @glasshousekitchenbaratenjoy

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Newly Renovated  |  Royal Glenora Club

• Capacity: up to 250 in the Braemar Ballroom; up to 140 in the Strathcona/Glenrose Ballroom
• Highlights: We couldn’t be more excited about the renovations at RGC! Floor-to-ceiling windows in each ballroom offer enviable views of Edmonton’s River Valley. Each space has its own private patio for your guests to enjoy the outdoors. Ample free parking is available, along with a private events entrance. Centrally located, Royal Glenora Club ticks all the boxes for us.
• IG: @royalglenoraclub

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Best Party Vibe  |  Polar Park Brewing Co.

• Capacity: up to 140 guests
• Highlights: Polar Park Brewing Co. is a delightful addition to the city’s venue roster. The second floor event space features gorgeous hardwood floors, stylish arched windows, an exposed industrial ceiling and a small outdoor patio. If you’re considering live music, look no further! The built-in stage and state-of-the-art sound system give Polar Park top marks in the party department. Buying out the main level’s resto-brewery will give you the flexibility to have your ceremony, dinner and dance all under one roof.
• IG: @polarparkbrewco

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Up & Coming  |  Sparrow Lane Weddings & Events

• Capacity: up to 200 guests
• Highlights: Brand new and opening in May 2022, Sparrow Lane features stunning arched windows, tall ceilings, luxe finishes and an elegant fireplace. With both ceremony and reception spaces, a bridal suite and an expansive covered patio, this countryside estate has everything you need to host the perfect wedding day. Located 45 minutes from Downtown Edmonton, 25 minutes from west Edmonton.
• IG: @sparrowlane.events

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We hope you found our round-up of the Best Edmonton Wedding Venues helpful.

– Team JBW –
Edmonton Wedding and Event Planners

Alyshea and Al-Karim’s Gala Reception was the very first event held at the new JW Marriott in Edmonton’s trendy ICE District. The spectacular hotel opened just days earlier, providing a truly unique and luxurious experience for guests – most of whom had travelled to Edmonton to attend the weekend celebration.

When designing this signature event, we chose a white-on-white palette with accents of greenery and gold to provide a timeless look, while using clean lines and modern elements to coordinate with the ballroom. The evening was filled with superb food and entertainment, including 10-piece band Billboard Collective and an encore performance by Shweta Pandit.

To wrap up the weekend’s events, the couple hosted a next-day brunch in the iconic Wedgwood Room at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.

This wedding is not only featured on Wedluxe, but it was also honoured as a finalist for Best Wedding over $150,000 at the 2020 Canadian Event Awards!

Credits:

• Reception Venue: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
• Photography: Mango Studios
• Cinematography: A Love Story
• Cake: The Art of Cake
• Florist: Fabloomosity
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Dress My Day
• Stationery: J. Gartner Studio
• Transportation: Exxotic Cars
• Cocktail Hour Musician: Marc Beaudin
• Singer: Shweta Pandit
• Band: Billboard Collective
• Dancers: Desert Rose Dance Studio
• Lighting, Rigging and AV: Freeman Audio Visual
• Dance Floor Wrap + Dry Ice: Talent Productions
• Photo Booth: DJ Kwake Entertainment
• Hair + Makeup: Nickol Walkemeyer
• Bridal Attire: Pooja Boutique
• Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
• Jewelry + Rings: Zameer Kassam

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District Wedding
Luxury Wedding Planner Edmonton

On the heels of their Mehndi celebration, Alyshea and Al-Karim’s wedding ceremony was held at the new 4.8-hectare Aga Khan Garden – gifted by His Highness the Aga Khan. With a stunning waterfall set as the backdrop to their vows, nearly 400 guests gathered to witness their beautiful Ismaili ceremony. Bollywood singer-actor Shweta Pandit sang the couple down the aisle, and a Rubab-Tabla duo filled the gardens with traditional music.

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed appetizers and refreshing rose sharbat as they mingled with the newlyweds before heading to the Gala Reception later that evening. You don’t want to miss the final post in this series – coming soon!

This wedding is not only featured on Wedluxe, but it was also honoured as a finalist for Best Wedding over $150,000 at the 2020 Canadian Event Awards!

Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings 
• Getting Ready Location: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District 
• Ceremony Venue: Aga Khan Garden, University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Photography: Mango Studios
• Cinematography: A Love Story
• Ceremony Catering: Culina To Go
• Ceremony Audio: FMAV
• Ceremony Singer: Shweta Pandit
• Ceremony Musicians: Barkat Ali and Ojas
• Florist: Fabloomosity
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Dress My Day
• Stationery: J. Gartner Studio
• Transportation: Exxotic Cars
• Headband Wigs + Makeup: Niawigs
• Bridal Attire: Pooja Boutique
• Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
• Jewelry + Rings: Zameer Kassam

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Aga Khan Garden Wedding Ceremony Edmonton

Alyshea and Al-Karim celebrated their union with multiple events over a weekend in Edmonton – a destination they chose because of the recently opened Aga Khan Garden at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.

This wedding weekend was such a delight to plan and design (and there are so many incredible details to share!) that we’re breaking it into three blog posts:

• Part 1 – The Mehndi Party at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
• Part 2 – The Wedding Ceremony at Aga Khan Garden
• Part 3 – The Gala Reception at JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

The festivities kicked off with a Bollywood Chic Mehndi party at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Guests enjoyed a custom ‘Flavours of India’ menu and could visit a draped Mehndi tent to have professional henna artists adorn their hands with beautiful designs.

The event featured dance performances, traditional Ismaili ceremonies and Vancouver’s Juno-nominated DJ A-SLAM. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 coming soon…

This wedding is not only featured on Wedluxe, but it was also honoured as a finalist for Best Wedding over $150,000 at the 2020 Canadian Event Awards!

Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings 
• Getting Ready Location: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District 
• Mehndi Party Venue: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
• Photography: Mango Studios
• Cinematography: A Love Story
• Live Trio: Indian Music Academy
• DJ: Divinity DJs (DJ A-SLAM)
• Florist: Fabloomosity
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Dress My Day, M Weddings
• Stationery: J. Gartner Studio
• Henna Artists: YEG Henna
• Transportation: Exxotic Cars
• Hair + Makeup: Nickol Walkemeyer
• Bridal Attire: Pooja Boutique
• Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
• Jewelry + Rings: Zameer Kassam

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Mehndi and Sangeet Event Planner, Edmonton