Best Places to Elope in Toronto: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing to elope in Toronto is a beautifully intimate way to exchange vows. It offers a sense of intimacy, freeing you from expectations and allowing you to focus on the most important aspect of your special day: your love. Throughout the years of photographing intimate weddings and elopements all over Toronto and beyond, I’ve curated a treasure trove of some of my favourite spots that serve as the perfect backdrop to your elopement. While planning your elopement, the location is one of the most important things to considert. Whether it be for ceremony, the getting ready or the portraits, choosing a location that resonates with you and is reflective of your personality and taste will be a key part to crafting an amazing elopement experience.

For the Love of Elopements: Why Intimate is In

Couples worldwide are redefining weddings. It’s not about running away to be wed secretly anymore; it’s about running towards each other. Toronto exemplifies this movement with its embracing of eclectic options for your elopement with each one promising an unforgettable ‘just-the-two-of-us’ experience filled with love, adventure, and everything in-between.

Outdoor Oasis: Nature’s Escapes in Toronto

Allan Gardens

Lush greenhouse romance. Wander into the serene, arched pathways of Allan Gardens. Imagine exchanging vows during your elopement under the canopy of lush rainforest foliage, listening to the echoes of cascading waterfalls. Allan Gardens’ Conservatory is a dreamy tropical escape nestled within the bustling city. As nature’s tranquil green cathedral, this luscious indoor conservatory boasts tropical foliage and year-round blooms. From the arid house to the vibrantly floral Palm House, you’ll find nooks tailor-made for intimate ceremonies. With the sun cascading through the glass (every elopement photographer’s dream), you’re carried away to a place and time where everything is green, and everything is love.

High Park

High Park, Toronto’s largest public park, is a natural wonderland where you can find the perfect balance of untamed beauty and urban accessibility. Each in-season holds its own serenades — the lush greenery of summer, the fiery hues of fall, and the iconic cherry blossoms that turn the park into a romantic idyll every spring and truly encapsulate the magic. High Park presents nature’s finest with its refreshing oak savannahs, serene ponds, and rustic gardens. Whether you choose the buzz of the Hillside Gardens, the grandeur of the Amphitheater or the seclusion of the Grenadier Pond, this park promises serene settings amidst the ephemeral beauty of nature.

Toronto Islands

Escape the mainland’s hustle with a ferry ride to the Toronto Islands. Here, you’ll find stretches of sandy beaches and endless horizons of Lake Ontario. Whether you seek the serenity of secluded beaches, the blooming gardens of Centre Island, or the panoramic skyline view from Wards Island, the islands offer a diverse palate for your elopement and an idyllic setting for a private ceremony for your elopement.

Scarborough Bluffs

For sheer grandeur and a touch of drama, the Scarborough Bluffs are unrivaled. With the dramatic white cliffs that plunge into the blue of Lake Ontario, it’s a majestic scene for a heart-stirring ceremony. At lesser-known enchanting lookouts like Cudia Park, privacy is much easier to come by—a luxury. These bluffs host an energy that echoes strength, commitment, and the unyielding force of nature — fitting for those embarking on life’s adventure together.

The Beaches

If you’re dreaming of a sand between your toes kind of day, but still want to Elope in Toronto, The Beaches are the perfect option. Think about renting a cute AirBNB nearby for the best getting ready photos and head off to the beach for a waterside elopement after. And the best part? There are plenty of amazing restaurants close by, ready to craft a post-ceremony meal for the evening.

Toronto City Hall

Where minimalism marries monumentality. Simplicity and grandeur merge seamlessly at Toronto City Hall. If your loving the idea of getting married at City Hall the surround space outside makes for amazing post ceremony elopement photos. The architectural wonder of this place needs little adornment, making it a favorite for minimalist couples infatuated with the brutalist architecture it’s renowned for.

Your Own/Friend or Family’s backyard

Intimate and Personal. Sometimes, the most memorable venue is one with familiarity and love baked into its very soil. If you’re thinking of the best place to elope in Toronto, this could be an unthought of option. It’s a guaranteed way to let intentionality and meaning shine. This option also offers creative freedom and intimacy that traditional venues often struggle to match and the ability to craft a day completely true to your vision.

Chic and Cozy: Indoor Elopement Sanctuaries in Toronto

Archive Studios

Archive Studios is a symphony of honeyed hues, sophisticated textures, and a modern vibe that radiates from its carefully composed spaces. It’s a space that exudes an air of luxury and timeless beauty. The play between light and shadow here is reminiscent of a Vermeer—a quiet brilliance that sets the scene for your intimate wedding or elopement. It offers an intimate, almost familial space, with its comfortable yet sophisticated décor. Here, conventional motifs meet contemporary spirit, providing a versatile backdrop that’s as much a part of your story as you are.

Junto Studio

For the artsy and heartfelt duo. For a retro, artsy elopement, look no further than Junto Studio. This offbeat, off-the-wall space is perfect for the couple that wants to make a statement with their day. Junto Studio is a hub of personality. The retro vibes and quirky decor lend an air of casual yet creative sincerity that’s perfect for couples who believe in love’s whimsy.

Preto Loft

The Preto Loft is a haven for lovers of light and space. With an unobstructed, south-facing view that fills the entire space with natural light, the Preto Loft is an ethereal setting for a love-lit ceremony. The modern-industrial aesthetic echoes the city’s cutting-edge style. Its capacity to transform to fit any theme making it the canvas on which you can etch out your beginnings or celebrate your ‘happily ever after’.

The Drake Hotel

Step into the lively heart of the city and into the creative beat of The Drake Hotel. A hotbed for contemporary arts and culture, The Drake Hotel offers bespoke elopement options that fit a multitude of tastes. The hotel’s commitment to the arts infuses every corner with a celebratory, avant-garde spirit, making your elopement anything but ordinary. This trendsetting location breeds bespoke ceremonies with its eclectic range of spaces—each ready to accommodate the nuance of your love.

Shangri-La Hotel: Opulence Unparalleled

For those who want their special day dripping in luxury, the Shangri-La Hotel is the epitome of exquisite grandeur. Treat yourselves to a corner room with unparalleled city views and head off to the rooftop to exchange vows with breathtaking views.

Kōst

Imagine exchanging glances as day turns to dusk at Kōst, where the cool, boho vibes seem tailor-made for lovebirds like you. This venue offers both group and private dining options so it’s perfect for those looking for a celebratory dinner post ceremony!

FAQ

Can my elopement include family and friends?

Totally! Elopements today aren’t some secret affair where no family can be invited or told. An elopement just gives a couple the freedom to just have exactly who they want there on their day.  For some couples, this means having just the two of you on your day and for others that means having a small group of their closest family and friends. Many couples also choose to share their vows and some time privately on their elopement day followed by a celebratory dinner, or similar afterwards!

Can we have a full day elopement? What would we do all day?

If you can dream it up, we want to plan it and photograph it. The best thing about elopements is that you can truly do whatever you want to. They open the door to personalized touches that make your day unmistakably yours. Dream of stopping at your favorite coffee shop, meandering through cherished neighborhoods, cool vintage shops, or soaring above the cityscape in a helicopter – the possibilities are limitless. Let’s design a day-long escapade that truly encapsulates the essence of your love story! I also have a full activities and planning guide to help you craft the perfect elopement timeline for you day/days.

Planning your own Toronto elopement or wedding? Contact me and I can help!