Toronto City Hall wedding bookings frozen through 2026 as renovation dispute stalls ceremonies

Couples who booked weddings at Toronto City Hall for 2027 have lost their ceremonies. The city ended its 30-year arrangement with Ministerial Associates, the third-party wedding provider, citing planned construction and modernization work. As of January 1, 2027, there will be no wedding provider operating at City Hall.

The news hit fast. Claire Franceschetti, Ministerial Associates' administrator, learned of the move "a couple of days ago" and called it "a real shock. A huge surprise to those who booked their weddings in 2027."

The city offered a short-term lease extension through March 31, 2027, but Ministerial Associates declined. City spokesperson Frédérique Mazerolle said the city is "looking at options to help ensure the long-term future of wedding ceremonies at city hall," but offered no timeline or details.

Couples can still marry in Toronto, but it requires more legwork. The city's Marriage Services website now directs people to North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, and York Civic Centre. The process involves picking up a marriage license from City Hall, booking a room at a civic centre, and arranging your own officiant — an option Franceschetti noted isn't always affordable for couples who want a simple, affordable ceremony.

Franceschetti said Ministerial Associates served a diverse population including new immigrants and people on tight budgets. "I'm concerned for those people who don't have a lot of other options. We also have a big population of people who choose not to spend their money on big weddings."

Reddit posts from couples this week show the frustration. One couple's ceremony couldn't go ahead "due to renovations." Another received a call about a June 2027 cancellation and called it "so frustrating" because their reception venue was within walking distance of City Hall.