12 queer couples tying the knot during Pride weekend
The Pop-Up Chapel Co. is hosting fully produced weddings June 27 and 28 at The Sutton Place Hotel, part of a celebration that drew over 80 applications.
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Twelve LGBTQ+ couples are set to be legally married this Pride weekend in Toronto, exchanging vows at ceremonies that promise to celebrate love openly and authentically.
The Pop-Up Chapel Co., a Toronto company with a mission of making weddings more accessible, is hosting what they're calling a wedding weekend on June 27 and 28 at The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto. The chapel uses a shared wedding model — couples split venues, decorations, and cost while receiving designated time slots for ceremonies.
Each of the 12 couples will receive a fully produced wedding celebration, including a complimentary ceremony experience with decor, professional photography, and a cocktail reception for their guests.
"We want people to feel like no matter what their gender, or how they express themselves, they are in a safe space and they can get married and celebrate their love," said Alicia Thurston, the chapel's CEO and creative director. "Especially in our day and age right now, and all the issues we're seeing around the world, I think [this opportunity] is even more important."
The Pop-Up Chapel Co. first hosted a Pride wedding event in 2024, marrying four couples during the Toronto Pride parade. This year's expanded celebration — with triple the number of nuptials — became possible through partnerships with Sutton Place and Abrielle Toronto.
When organizers opened the application process, more than 80 couples submitted their stories, vying for the opportunity. Submissions came from the Maritimes to the west coast and even from Germany. While organizers originally planned 14 weddings, two couples were ultimately unable to attend.
Thurston explained that couples were selected based on two elements: their love story and why getting married during Toronto's Pride weekend would be meaningful to them. Each couple represents a dozen unique, inspiring, and touching love stories — ranging from those who met years ago in Jamaica and built lives across continents, to couples celebrating their journey in the city.
This weekend's ceremonies coincide with Toronto Pride, which includes the annual Pride parade, the Trans March, the Dyke March, an epic street fair on Church Street, and dozens of parties and events throughout the city.