Category: Inspiration & Resources

Planning a Toronto elopement? Let us help you find the perfect venue. From city skylines, green parks and waterfront spots to luxury hotel rooms and swanky restaurants, this list has it all!

Back in the day, an elopement was two people running off to City Hall for a spontaneous mini wedding. These days, couples are still looking for that intimacy, but they aren’t resigning themselves to a City Hall wedding in a drab office. Couples know they have lots of gorgeous options for their Toronto elopement.

Without further ado, our favourite Toronto elopement locations!

Note that not all of these Toronto elopement locations are free. Some will require you to rent the space and book ahead. Check with the venue first, and confirm your guest size, before making any plans! 

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The Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum or ROM is the place to go for history, dinosaurs and the infamous bat cave. But it’s also one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Toronto. While it will cost money to hold your wedding inside the ROM, who is to say you can’t elope in front of the building?

Riverdale Park

The ultimate Toronto elopement spot is always going to be one with a beautiful view of the CN Tower. We’re big fans of Riverdale Park in Cabbagetown.

Toronto Islands

Take your Toronto elopement out on the water with a visit to the Toronto Islands. There are tons of gorgeous outdoor spaces, with views of the city. If you’re looking for something indoors or more formal for your day, check out this list of venues.

Sunnyside Pavilion

While Sunnyside Pavilion often hosts big weddings, it could also be the perfect spot for an elopement. Contact Sunnyside if you’d like to use the indoor space or work with your officiant to find an outdoor spot with Sunnyside Pavilion in the background.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

Trinity Bellwoods Park is a popular spot just outside of Little Italy – meaning you’ll be able to grab some delicious food after your elopement! While this park can get busy on a nice sunny day, we’re sure you’ll be able to find a beautiful spot (with a view!) for your Toronto elopement.

Palais Royale

Palais Royale isn’t just for big weddings. Get in touch with them to book your elopement!

High Park

High Park is one of the most gorgeous places to elope outdoors in Toronto. This park is huge, so you should have no problem finding your perfect spot. And if you’re looking for something special, like cherry blossoms in the spring or foliage in the fall, you’ll find it here!

The Henley Room

The Henley Room at the Toronto Argonauts Rowing Club is a stunning space for weddings both big and small. If you’re looking for something more formal, check this one out.

The Beaches

Torontonians love walking along the boardwalk at the beach. Why not choose that for your Toronto elopement location?

Rosetta McClain Gardens

If you love the Beaches but don’t actually want to get married on the beach, check out the Rosetta McClain Gardens. They’re right by the beach, but give you a more floral and green atmosphere.

U of T

U of T, or the University of Toronto, is home to not only some great book learning – but also to some beautiful spaces to tie the knot! Be warned, these spaces do require you to pay a fee and book ahead of time. Other universities, like Ryerson, also have some beautiful elopement locations. If you’re an alumni, check to see if there’s a discount available!

Allan Gardens Conservatory

The Allan Gardens Conservatory is a great spot to get married in nature while actually holding your wedding indoors. So if your elopement day is rainy or in the middle of winter, this is a great choice. Be sure to contact the Parks Department to make your booking.

St Lawrence Market Kitchen

St. Lawrence Market is a staple in Toronto. But did you know that you can actually rent out the St. Lawrence Market Kitchen, which overlooks the market, for your nuptials?

CN Tower

Okay, you don’t actually have to say your I do’s on the edge of the CN Tower, but apparently that is an option! You can also opt to elope on the ground in front of the CN Tower or maybe up in the restaurant with a view of the entire city.

Ripley’s Aquarium

by Photo Kitch
Want to go under the sea for your elopement? Well, here’s a way to do it while keeping your clothes dry. Make sure you get in touch with the aquarium in order to book the space.

Humber Bay Park West

Via TripAdvisor

Humber Bay Park West is an awesome spot for a Toronto elopement, just west of downtown in Mimico, south Etobicoke. As our Officiant Billy says, “There are some nice little parks further west just off the Lakeshore at Mimico; Humber Bay Park West would be a good spot. There are views looking out on the lake. The Waterfront Trail there has lots of quiet rocky promontories sticking out into the lake with two yacht clubs as a backdrop, and a sweet little gazebo if it rains.” Sounds perfect!

Tranzac Club

If parks and skylines aren’t really your style, check out the Tranzac Club for a very different vibe. While this venue could hold more people, we see no reason why it wouldn’t work for a more intimate elopement.

Polson Pier

Polson Pier is one of the most popular spots for photos in Toronto thanks to the beautiful view in the background. Who wouldn’t want to tie the knot here?

Osgoode Hall

Osgoode Hall, a beautiful law school in downtown Toronto, is a stunning option for your Toronto elopement. If you want exclusive access or the ability to take photos inside, you’ll need to get in touch with the venue. But the outside is just as beautiful!

Bickford Park

Toronto is lousy with pretty parks perfect for an outdoor elopement. Check out Bickford Park, just south of Christie Pitts, for another great option.

Distillery District

One of the most stunning, and most popular, places in Toronto to get married has got to be the Distillery District. And while you will need to obtain a permit, it may be worth the cost for this beautiful spot!

Casa Loma

Have you always dreamt of getting married in a castle? Well, you can do just that at Casa Loma! Of course, you’ll need to pay a fee and book ahead of time. While Casa Loma can hold large weddings, it’s also a charming spot for a more intimate elopement.

Art Gallery of Ontario

If you want to get married amongst some of the most beautiful pieces of art, look into renting the Art Gallery of Ontario for your Toronto elopement. In addition to art, there are some awesome spaces with large windows and cool architecture.

A Toronto hotel

We usually think that hotels are only used for large weddings and events. But they can be the perfect place for small elopements too! You can tie the knot in your hotel room, in front of the hotel or even in the lobby. You may even be able to sweet talk the concierge into letting you use the event space for a quick five minute elopement!

A Toronto restaurant

Getting married at a restaurant is another awesome option for elopement couples. You can go all out and rent an entire space. Or you can keep things really intimate and just elope at your table or in a private room. Nothing follows an elopement better than a delicious meal!

Outside of Toronto elopement

Of course, if you want to travel a little farther outside of the city, there are lots of gorgeous places to elope near Toronto. Some of our favourites include Niagara on the Lake, Prince Edward County and Stratford.

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Have we inspired your Toronto elopement?

We’d love to know where you’re holding it and everything you have planned for your amazing Toronto elopement. And if you need a wedding officiant for your elopement, get in touch!

This summer, our team set a new wedding record. We married more couples in one day than we ever had before! On August 18, 2018, our team married 25 couples across BC, Alberta, Ontario and California.

Talk about a day filled with love!

So what made August 18, 2018 so special? All the eights! August 18, 2018, or 8-18-18, was the most popular wedding day of the year. In many cultures, eight is a lucky number. So when you have a Saturday in the summer with three eights, you know it’s going to be busy!

Our day started at 11:30 AM with a ceremony at Hycroft Manor in Vancouver and ended with a 7:15 PM ceremony on Grouse Mountain. We officiated on islands, in parks, on golf courses, in art galleries, on mountaintops and even at a zoo!

August 18, 2018 was one crazy, busy, joy-filled day for our team and all of the amazing couples, friends and family we got to celebrate with. Here’s a look at some of what went down on #81818!

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Officiant Jane started August 18, 2018 off strong marrying Helen & Brian at Hycroft Manor in Vancouver.

Next up was Officiant Kadee marrying Karli & Sid at Queen Elizabeth Park. How awesome is her dress? We love bright colours that show off your personality!

Over at Cleveland Dam Park in North Vancouver, Officiant Kristen married Annie & Bob.

Ceremonies #4 and #5 took place in Sooke and Van Dusen. Then it was up to Whistler for Officiant Erika’s first wedding of the day with M & J!

Over in Calgary, Officiant Jodi was marrying Mickellie & Charles while Officiant Jane helped Eleanor and Dave tie the knot in their backyard in Vancouver.

At Bear Creek Park in Surrey, Jesse & Karen said I do with Officiant Kadee.

For weddings #10 and #11 we officiated at the Calgary Zoo and the Fort Langley Golf Course. Then it was time for Steph and Chris to tie the knot at Nita Lake Lodge. Check out all of the stunning details that went into their big day.

We passed the halfway point of August 18, 2018: Wedding #13 happened with Officiant Brian on Lake Cowichan. Next, Officiant Beth married Alison and Chantal in Pemberton. They had an Aboriginal dancer at their ceremony.

Officiant Jon married Dee & Bear at T&T Ranch. Congrats, newlyweds!

Officiant Kadee made her way to North Vancouver for the wedding of Brit and Geoff.

At the same time, Officiant Marilyn was busy marrying Sarah and Tyler at UBC while Officiant Peter married Tamryn & Devynn on Gambier Island.

Officiant Denise helped Aliez and Jeff tie the knot at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Downtown, Officiant Jane was getting ready for Brenda and Ronald’s wedding at the Fairmont.

Don’t forget about Shawn! Officiant Shawn married Melissa and Frederick in a backyard ceremony in Abbotsford as our 21st wedding of the day.

Sarah and Paul tied the knot in Whistler with Officiant Kristen. How gorgeous are those tables?

Rounding out our day, we had Jodi officiate at a restaurant in Calgary and Kadee officiate a home wedding in Port Moody for Carole and Jay.

Our last wedding of August 18, 2018! We finished off #81818 with our 25th wedding: Lisa Marie and Melvern with Officiant Erika. These two got married on Grouse Mountain, did a beautiful handfasting and ring warming ceremony, and danced to a string trio. How romantic!

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Phew, we made it! We survived August 18, 2018 – our busiest day of weddings ever! Even though it was a busy day for all of us, we wouldn’t have traded it for the world. It was such an honour to stand alongside so many couples as they exchanged their vows and became married spouses!

If bringing religious or cultural elements into your wedding ceremony is important to you, you may want to consider adding a wedding prayer or wedding blessing. A wedding prayer is a great way to honour your faith and connect your ceremony to something spiritual. It can be delivered by your officiant or by a guest of honour.

Wedding blessings are not reserved for traditional religious or Christian weddings. Couples of all faiths can include prayers into their ceremony. You may even find some prayers on this list that work for a secular (non-religious) ceremony.

Like with all things in your wedding, we believe it should be done your way. If you love one of the prayers here and want to use it in your ceremony, go for it! If you like bits and pieces of different prayers, go ahead and create your own. If the language is outdated, the pronouns don’t fit or you want to address your prayer to a different name, change whatever you want. There’s no one right way to say a wedding prayer.

And if a wedding prayer isn’t for you, you may want to consider adding a reading or a quote to your ceremony. Check out our readings (romantic, offbeat, from songs, from literature, and from TV/movies) and quote options.

Here are 27 wedding prayers that could work perfectly for your ceremony:

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Opening wedding prayer:

Lord God Almighty,

Creator of the heavens and earth.

Thank you for the gift of marriage

For all the joy and love that it brings us.

We thank you for NAME and NAME

Thank you that you have brought them together for this special day,

And that you hold them safely in Your hands.

We pray that you would richly bless them as they exchange their vows and their wedding rings,

And from this day forward they would walk hand in hand into everything that you have destined them to be.

We give our hearts and beings to You now in adoration,

And welcome Your Holy Spirit amongst us.

Amen.

Closing wedding prayer:

Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this the wedding day of NAME and NAME. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another.

Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage.

Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friend and guide, and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely.

May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.

Short wedding blessing:

Lord bless this beautiful couple with love and hope we pray.

Keep alive forever more the vows they’ve pledged today.

May you bless their dreams and visions,

And keep them always safe.

May peace and joy be with them now

On this their wedding day.

Benediction for Christian wedding wishes:

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you;

the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you,

and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace;

that you may faithfully live together in this life,

and in the age to come have life everlasting.

Amen.

Episcopal wedding prayer:

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace:

Look with favor upon the world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life,

and especially upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony.

Amen.

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life,

that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity,

a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.

Amen.

Celtic wedding blessing:

May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine upon your window pane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near to you and

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Irish wedding blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish blessing for wedding:

Happy is the bride that rain falls on

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.

May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.

May the saddest day of your future

Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May your hands be forever clasped in friendship

And your hearts joined forever in love.

Your lives are very special,

God has touched you in many ways.

May his blessings rest upon you

And fill all your coming days.

We swear by peace and love to stand,

Heart to heart and hand to hand.

Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,

Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

Scottish wedding blessing 1:

A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,

May you be healthy all your days.

May you be blessed with long life and peace,

May you grow old with goodness, and with riches.

Scottish wedding blessing 2:

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.

And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you, may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly.

Bless this union wedding prayer:

Dear God, thank you for this joyous day.

Thank you for Your Light that has entered NAME and NAME’s life.

Thank you for all the miracles and blessings.

Please bless this union.

Help NAME and NAME find the perfect place in this world for their love to flourish.

Let the radiant light of their love shine on all those around them.

May all their future creations be blessed.

God, bless them with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth that they may live and grow together in love and peace.

Amen.

Nature of love wedding prayer:

Father of mankind, whose nature is love, look with favor upon this woman and this man who desire to make their vows before you.

We are grateful for the providence that has led to this union.

Grant this to be more than an outward union, but also the blending of hearts and spirits and purposes.

Bless each with the inward qualities of integrity, trust, cooperation and forgiveness, that they may live together in love and peace.

Amen.

Blessed wedding prayer:

Blessed are the man and the woman who have grown beyond themselves and have seen through their separations.

They delight in the way things are and keep their hearts open, day and night.

They are like trees planted near flowing rivers, which bear fruit when they are ready.

Their leaves will not fall or wither.

Everything they do will succeed.

Blessed is one who comes in the name of Love.

Greek wedding prayer:

I invoke Thee, Who art the greatest of all, Who created all, Who generated it from thyself, Who sees all and is never seen.

We ask Your blessing for NAME and NAME today as they enter into this cherished covenant.

We ask You to bless this community of friends and family who pledge their love and support of NAME and NAME’s marriage.

Infinite One, fly ahead of them

Open the way

Prepare the path

Spirity of the sun

Mother of the light

Come to them!

Amen.

Cherokee wedding prayer:

God in heaven above, please protect the ones we love.

We honor all You created as they pledge their hearts and lives together.

We honor mother-earth and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons.

We honor fire and ask that our their union be warm and glowing with love in their  hearts.

We honor wind and ask that their sail through life safe and calm as in their Father’s arms.

We honor water to clean and soothe their relationship that it may never thirst for love.

With all the forces of the universe You created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as their forever grow young together.

Amen.

Christian wedding wishes, 1st Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.

Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong.

Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs.

You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them.

Family wedding prayer:

Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank you for this place in which we dwell,

for the love that unites us,

for the peace accorded us this day,

for the hope with which we expect the morrow,

for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;

for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Amen

Hebrew wedding blessing:

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship.

May there soon be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding canopy, and of youths from their feasts of song.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gives the Bridegroom joy in his bride.

Song of Solomon:

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine .

My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely. Set me as a seal upon your heart and seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy cruel as the grave.

It flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

Muslim wedding Dua (for the couple):

Oh Allah, bless our marriage and let it be a means for us to become closer to You in love and devotion. Let it be a source of untold blessings, happiness and joy.

Oh Allah, let our marriage be a way for us and our families to enter Jannah.

Ya Allah, protect our marriage from the whisperings of Shaytan. Give us the strength to live together in justice, equity, love and, mercy.

My Lord, let this marriage bring untold blessings to us individually, to our families, and our children Insha Allah.

My Creator, bless us with children who will be a source of great joy and happiness.

Oh Allah, give us the love which you had blessed Muhammad, Allah’s Peace and blessings be upon him, and Khadija with, May Allah be pleased with her.

Muslim wedding Dua (for the guests):

Oh Allah, bless this couple with faith, love and happiness in this world and the Next.

O Allah, You are the Loving (Al Wadud) and the Merciful (Al Rehman). Please put love and mercy in the hearts of this couple for each other.

Our Creator, strengthen the hearts of the bride and groom with faith, and let them increase in their love and commitment to You through their bond.

Oh Lord of the Universe, all power is with You. Let this couple’s marriage become a beautiful example to other couples.

My God, protect this couple from the misguidance and planning of Shaytan. Help them resist his call to break their bond.

Oh Allah, bless this couple with children who will be a source of happiness and joy to them and the world.

Oh Allah, unite the couple and their families in faith and love.

Oh Lord, You are the Just. Let this couple live their lives being fair and just to each other.

Oh Forgiver (Ghafoor), bless this couple with the strength to forgive each other’s shortcomings.

Oh Allah, give them the loving relationship which Muhammad and Aisha had. May Allah be pleased with them.

Buddhist wedding prayer:

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.

In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.

The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

A Blessing for The Journey (Buddhist wedding prayer):

Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life, realizing the completeness of each and every thing.

Embracing our differences, I shall know myself as you, and you as myself.

May we serve each other for all our days, here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to open ourselves to the abundance of life.

Freely giving and receiving, I shall care for you, for the trees and stars, as treasures of my very own.

May we be grateful for all our days, here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to forgive all hurt, caused by ourselves and others, and to never condone hurtful ways.

Being responsible for my actions, I shall free myself and you.

Will you free me, too?

May we be kind for all our days, here, there, and everywhere.

Let us vow to remember that all that appears will disappear.

In the midst of uncertainty, I shall sow love.

Here! Now! I call to you:

Let us together live

The Great Peace that we are.

May we give no fear for all our days, here, there, and everywhere.

Hindu wedding prayer:

To the Holy Son of Shiva and Parvati,

To the remover of all obstacles, Lord Ganesha,

We Petition for Blessings,

To sanctify this ceremony of marriage,

And to bless this marriage in all ways.

Lord Ganesha.

You are the speaker.

You are the listener.

You are the giver.

You are the sustainer.

Please protect us from all directions.

Let us listen with our ears to that which is auspicious, adorable one.

Let us perceive with our eyes what is holy.

With strong, stable body and limbs, may we seek divine grace and accept the noble order of all our lives.

O Lord Ganesha, please provide for the welfare of this family.

Guide prosperity and abundance to their door.

Please help them feel your goodness and Divinity within their home.

We place any challenges of married life at your feet

And trust you will always help.

We thank you with all of our hearts.

Prayer of St. Francis:

Eternal One, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Wedding prayer from Al-Fatiha, the Holy Qur’an:

In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.

Praise be to God, Sovereign of all the worlds.

The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.

You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.

Guide us on the straight path, the path of those who have received your grace;

not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.

Amen.

Prayer for no rain on wedding day

On our wedding day, we come to you,
With hope in our hearts and skies so blue.
We ask for a day without rain’s embrace,
So our joy can shine in the perfect space.

With love and gratitude, we make this plea,
For clear skies and a rain-free decree.
Bless our union with sunshine’s ray,
On this cherished day, we humbly pray.

Amen

Opening prayer for wedding reception (Catholic)

Loving Father,

As we gather here to celebrate the sacred bond of marriage, we thank you for the love that has brought us together. Bless this joyful occasion as we share in the happiness of [Couple’s Names] and their commitment to each other.

May your grace continue to guide them on their journey of love and unity. Let this celebration be a reflection of the joy and blessings that come from your divine love. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray.

Amen.

Prayer before meals at a wedding reception

On this day of celebration and love, we gather around this table with grateful hearts. We thank you for the union of [Couple’s Names] and for the love that has brought us together.

As we partake in this meal, bless the hands that have prepared it and the hearts that will enjoy it. May this food nourish our bodies and remind us of the abundance of your blessings. Let the joy of this occasion fill our hearts and may your presence be felt among us.

Short prayer for blessing food at wedding reception

Bless this meal before us, a symbol of your abundant provision and the love that brings us together.

May this food nourish our bodies and remind us of the blessings you bestow upon us each day.

We thank you for the gift of community, for the love that binds us, and for the moments of joy that we share. Amen.

Prayer for the bride on her wedding day 

Today, as we celebrate the radiant spirit of [Bride’s Name] on her wedding day, we are reminded of the beauty of love and commitment. We thank you for the joy she brings into our lives.

Bless her with a marriage filled with laughter, shared dreams, and a deep connection. May her days be bright, her nights be peaceful, and her heart be ever open to the blessings you provide. Grant her the strength to face challenges hand in hand with [Partner’s Name], and may their love be a testament to your grace.

As she stands at the threshold of this new adventure, fill her heart with your divine peace and surround her with your loving presence. May her journey be marked by your guidance and boundless love. Amen.

Prayer for those with us in spirit at the wedding ceremony

As we gather to celebrate this union of hearts, we are mindful of those who are no longer with us in body but remain forever in our hearts. We lift up their memory and the love they brought into our lives.

May their spirits surround us today, a gentle presence that reminds us of the love that transcends time and space. We are grateful for the joy they added to our lives and the memories we hold dear.

In this moment of celebration, we acknowledge their absence and hold them close in our thoughts. We are comforted knowing that they are watching over us, and their love lives on in the stories we share and the bonds we cherish.

In their honor, we continue this journey of love and celebration, knowing that they are with us in spirit.

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Which wedding prayer or blessing are you choosing for your ceremony? Let us know when you get in touch to book your wedding officiant for your ceremony! 

Get A Quote 

At Young Hip & Married, we always preach: your wedding, your way. We believe every element you add into your day should represent who you are and speak to you as a couple. And that includes any wedding traditions you decide to include.

How did wedding traditions become traditions? Someone decided to do something, someone else copied them and no one questioned it for years and years. If you ask us, that’s not a good enough reason to include something in your wedding!

You don’t need to keep all of the wedding traditions in your wedding in order to get married. You can still have a beautiful wedding by going against the grain and doing your own thing. Below are 13 wedding traditions you can absolutely skip if you want to. Don’t love them? Throw them out!

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The big wedding

You do not have to have the big wedding in order to get married. If the idea of planning a party for hundreds of people stresses you (or your wallet) out, don’t do it. You can absolutely plan an intimate wedding with just your closest loved ones or even an elopement with just you two!

Pre-wedding parties

Pre-wedding parties traditionally include an engagement party, bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal showers and more. But all of those parties are totally optional. You’re allowed to get married without having an alcohol-infused bachelorette weekend in Vegas. If it’s not your thing, don’t do it. Or change these events so that they fit your style. Trade the cigars and strip club for BBQ and go-karting if that’s more your bachelor party style.

Inviting people you don’t want to

One of the oldest and strongest wedding traditions is inviting people to your wedding party who you don’t actually want to be there. You do not have to invite people to your wedding just because they invited you to theirs. You don’t have to invite people just because your parents want them there. You don’t have to invite people just because you work with them, went to school with them or even if you’re related to them.

Everyone at your wedding should bring you joy and add to your love. You shouldn’t have to fake smile at any obligation guests (as Bridechilla founder, Aleisha, calls them) on your wedding day.

Spending the night before apart

Wedding traditions tell us that the couple needs to spend the night before their wedding apart. But…why? If you’re like most couples getting married, you likely already live together and have been intimate together long before your wedding day. So why can’t you spend the night before together? Wouldn’t it be awesome to wake up with your spouse-to-be on your wedding day? If you think you might be anxious the morning of, who better to calm your nerves than your best friend and future spouse?

Flower girls and ring bearers

Yes, flower girls and ring bearers can be adorable. But if you don’t have any children in your life that you’re close to, don’t force this wedding tradition to happen. Coordinating kids in a wedding party can be a nightmare. It can also be very overwhelming for young kids to have to perform in front of a big group. They can cry, throw a tantrum, refuse to go down the aisle and kick up a fuss during photo time. Who wants that?

Plus, more people in your wedding party just means more money for you. And whatever you do, don’t actually give any young child your wedding rings before the ceremony. Odds are those rings won’t make it to you!

Wedding party

That’s right – even the wedding party can be crossed off your list of wedding traditions. If you don’t like the idea of choosing between friends, forcing them into matching outfits and asking them to pose for photos, you don’t have to do. You can skip the wedding party altogether or change it up to suit you.

Giving the bride away

You don’t need us to tell you that this is one of the most outdated wedding traditions. Handing the bride over like property from father to new husband gives most couples the icks. We get it. So, skip it! You don’t have to throw out the bride’s walk all together but you can change up the processional. Check out this link for some awesome processional options.

Registering for stuff you don’t need

Back in the day, couples got married young and moved from their parent’s home into their first house together. These days, many couples already live together or have lived on their own pre-marriage. So why are we still being told we have to run through IKEA and register for every blender, microwave and towel set available?

If you already have your home established, you don’t need to register for more stuff. Instead, register for things you really want – like a gift card to your favourite restaurant, a scuba diving trip on your honeymoon or relationship coaching to help enrich your marriage!

Bouquet and garter toss

Can we just say it? It’s weird that we force all of our single friends to stand in a bunch and fight over a bouquet or a garter in hopes of getting married next. It’s awkward for single people to be singled out (pun intended). And why are we saying that marriage is the ultimate prize? If someone is perfectly happy being single, why do they need to fight for the prize of being married next?

And then, if that weren’t weird enough, we have the process of getting the garter. Who decided it would be appropriate to climb under someone’s dress and remove an article of clothing with our teeth? In front of all of our guests, including grandma? Yikes!

Guys speaking first

Wedding traditions dictate that the men speak first. Traditionally, men say their vows first and only the groom, not the bride, gives a toast at the reception. But if that doesn’t sound right to you, mix it up! Infuse a little bit more feminist power into your wedding.

White dress and black tux

When you think of wedding attire, you probably picture a full white dress and a sleek black tuxedo. But you know what, you don’t have to wear that. You can wear whatever you want to tie the knot – wedding traditions be damned! If you’re most comfortable in pants instead of a dress, go for pants. And if you feel gorgeous in a plaid shirt or leather jacket, include that in your wedding day outfit!

Wedding night

Traditionally, a couple’s first night together is their wedding night. And even though that isn’t the case for most couples anymore, many couples still feel the pressure to have sex on their wedding night. But let us just remind you: the success of your marriage is not dependant on whether or not you do the deed on your wedding night. You can still have a very happy and intimate marriage even if you skip out on wedding night sex.

Honeymoon right away

Wedding traditions tell us that right after the wedding, the couple must get into a limo and drive off to the airport to go on an extravagant honeymoon vacation. But for many couples, that’s just not an option. It’s hard to pay for a big vacation after just having paid for a wedding. And it’s hard to get time off if you already had to take some time off for the wedding.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with going on your honeymoon later. You could even make it a one year anniversary trip! Or you could do a mini-moon and just spend a few days at a local hotel or go on a weekend getaway. Lastly, you can put your honeymoon on your wedding registry and have guests contribute to your honeymoon (instead of buying you another toaster).

Bottom line:

You can skip anything you’re doing if the only reason you’re doing it is because you think you should be. Truth is: you don’t have to. If you don’t want to add certain wedding traditions, skip them.

At the end of the day, to get married you only need yourself, a willing partner, your marriage licence and an officiant (that’s us!). Everything else you add is up to you and should be meaningful and bring you joy. If you’re only doing something because that’s what your cousin did at her wedding or what you saw in a magazine, we totally give you permission to drop it.

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Wedding traditions are those things we see at almost every wedding and don’t even blink an eye at: the cake cutting, the flower girl, the bouquet toss, etc. But at some point it’s important to ask yourself, “Why are we including this in our wedding?” If the tradition doesn’t resonate with you, get rid of it! You don’t need to keep something in your wedding just because most people do.

But if you do want to include some classic wedding traditions, that’s great! We’re not anti wedding traditions. We’re just anti anything in your wedding that doesn’t feel like you. But if you love some of these wedding traditions and can find personal meaning in them, absolutely include them in your big day!

What wedding traditions will you be skipping? Let us know below & book your wedding officiant for your ceremony today!

written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Emily Nicole Photos

When you think of ceremony songs, do you immediately start humming, “Here Comes the Bride?” No? Just us?

Well, there’s actually a lot more to ceremony music and many more songs for you to pick from. There are a number of big moments during the ceremony where you can add music. And there’s so many different ceremony songs you can choose. If you’re not into classical music or anything you can waltz to, throw it out! If you’re more Taylor Swift than Beethoven, let Tay play!

A while back we gave you our pick for top wedding ceremony songs. But we’d thought we’d give you a few more suggestions in this complete list.

Play on, maestro!

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Processional

The processional is when your bridal party or other important people (perhaps some grandparents) make their way down the aisle. The ceremony songs below are usually the first tunes your guests will hear to let them know that the ceremony is starting.

• I Was Married – Tegan & Sara
• Home – Phillip Phillips
• Love On Top – Beyonce
• Marry You – Bruno Mars
• 100 Years – Five for Fighting
• Your Song – Elton John
• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
• Everything – Lifehouse
• Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
• Love Someone – Jason Mraz
• Only Time – Enya
• Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
• Canon in D – Pachelbel
• Fur Elise – Beethoven
• A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
• Yellow – Vitamin String Quartet
• Ave Maria – Celine Dion
• Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
• The One – Gary Allan
• Can’t Help Falling In Love With You – Elvis
• Makin Plans – Miranda Lambert
• Your Everything – Keith Urban
• All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
• I Choose You – Sarah Bareilles
• Is This Love – Bob Marley
• Reign of Love – Coldplay
• Best Day of My Life – American Authors
• Hey Ho – The Lumineers

Groom’s Entrance

We’re all about giving the groom his time in the spotlight. While traditionally the ceremony was all about waiting for the bride to come down the aisle, we say: why can’t the groom have his own aisle moment too? Check out these ceremony songs perfect for a groom’s grand entrance.

• Star Wars Theme Song (or the theme song to any show you love!)
• Back in Black – AC/DC
• The Best Day – George Strait
• On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
• Your Song – Elton John
• Men in Black – Will Smith
• Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
• Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s
• Let’s Hear it for the Boy – Denise Williams
• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
• Marry Me – Jason Derulo
• Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
• Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Michael Buble
• Somebody Like You – Keith Urban
• Show Me What You Got – Jay Z
• I Feel Good (I Got You) – James Brown
• Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
• Want to Want Me – Jason Derulo

Bride’s Entrance

The finale of the processional usually belongs to the bride coming down the aisle. This is often the big moment where everyone rises and turns to catch a glimpse of the beautiful bride coming to the front. If any of these ceremony songs are going to be remembered, it will be this one.

• At Last – Etta James
• Make You Feel My Love – Adele
• By Your Side – Sade
• Crazy In Love – Beyonce
• I Do – Colbie Caillat
• Love Story – Taylor Swift
• Ribbon in the Sky – Stevie Wonder
• Beautiful Surprise – India Arie
• All of Me – John Legend
• Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
• I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
• Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
• One Love – Bob Marley
• Marry Me – Train
• Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
• Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
• Paradise – Coldplay
• How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
• Kiss from a Rose – Seal
• Tale as Old as Time – Beauty and the Beast
• I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
• The Luckiest – Ben Folds
• She Keeps Me Warm – Miranda Lambert

Signing the Licence

You might be thinking, “We need a song to sign our licence!?!” Of course, it’s not mandatory. But it can be a little bit awkward to leave your guests in silence while you two, your witnesses and your officiant head to the side to sign your marriage licence. If you’re already setting up audio for your other ceremony songs, you might as well add one here too!

• Seasons of Love – Rent
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
• By My Side – Ben Harper
• One Hand, One Heart – West Side Story
• Pictures of You – The Cure
• The Good Life – Kanye West
• This I Promise You – N’Sync
• All I Want Is You – U2
• Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
• Love Me Tender – Elton Presley
• These Words – Natasha Bedingfield
• What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
• Silver & Gold – Neil Young
• The Rose – Bette Midler
• Stand By Me – Ben E King

Recessional

Finally, we have your ceremony songs for the recessional. This is when the ceremony is coming to a close, you’ve just shared your first kiss, you’ve been announced as newlyweds, and you’re headed back up the aisle beaming from ear to ear. Don’t be afraid to have some fun and play something really joyous that your guests can dance on out to.

• Everything Is Awesome – Tegan & Sara
• Thinking Bout You – Frank Ocean
• Everything – Michael Buble
• Safe and Sound – Capital Cities
• Dancing Queen – ABBA
• Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
• You and I – Ingrid Michaelson
• Just the Two of Us – Bill Withers
• This Magic Moment – The Drifters
• The Best is Yet to Come – Frank Sinatra
• Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
• Us – Regina Spektor
• Happy – Pharrell Williams
• Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
• Amazed – Lonestar
• Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland
• You Send Me – Aretha Franklin
• Head Over Boots – Jon Pardi
• No One – Alicia Keys
• Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
• Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
• Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
• Happy Together – The Turtles

Now that you’ve got your ceremony songs figured out, don’t forget to book your wedding officiant for the ceremony! 

 

written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Kaoverii Silva

Today we’re talking all about outdoor wedding venues with Meghan and Julia of Credit Valley Conservation, who are the experts on wedding venues in nature. How do you choose your wedding venue? What questions do you need to ask? What considerations do you need to make for an outdoor venue?

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About Meghan & Julia

Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

We’re Meghan and Julia and we work for Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). Julia books wedding ceremonies and receptions at Belfountain and Terra Cotta Conservation Areas, and Meghan handles bookings at Island Lake Conservation Area. We also book wedding photography sessions at these parks.

How long have you been in the wedding industry?

CVC started offering formal wedding venue packages in 2017; however couples have used the park spaces for ceremonies or small receptions since 2006.

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

The demand for outdoor green weddings is a growing trend and with so many people inquiring we figured we better jump on board! We both work outdoors in the park and handle group picnic bookings so it was a relatively easy transition into wedding bookings. It’s really great to be able to provide the perfect space for nature-loving couples. We hope that our couples have such a great experience that they come back to visit our parks and relive their happy memories again and again.

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

Meghan loves to spend her time outside even when not working! Camping and exploring new places is her greatest past time. Julia can always be found running the trails at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, playing shinny on Wolf Lake in the winter time or improving her cross-country skiing skills.

About your business

What does Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) do?

CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. We lead the protection, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed, and we strive to inspire a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. Our conservation areas are great spaces to highlight the many ecosystems we protect, and they offer recreational use to the public.

What makes your venue stand out from others?

Our three parks offer very different outdoor green venue options. Island Lake has a floating amphitheatre that can hold up to 200 people. Belfountain’s ceremony location is a terrace next to a waterfall and offers unique photo opportunities. Terra Cotta is on the Niagara Escarpment and offers a beautiful natural background for ceremonies and receptions of various sizes.

What is the process of booking a wedding at CVC? How can couples work with you?

Couples can reach out to either of us to inquire about dates and the specific location they are interested in (emails below!). Then couples can come out to meet us and see the location. We’ll talk about services we offer to make sure it’s a perfect fit for them. We’re a venue-only location so we often recommend couples get a wedding planner to help with organizing and set-up on their big day.

Share a wedding story! What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked on?

Two summers ago, a couple at Terra Cotta was convinced that it would NOT rain on their wedding day and had not come up with a rain-day plan. As luck would have it, that day was the worst thunderstorm of the summer and threatened to ruin the whole ceremony. Luckily, we were able to work quickly and get our indoor venue prepared for the couple. The bridal party decorated the space and we had everything ready for the couple to get married.

Even though it was a last-minute switch, everyone stayed dry and safe, and even enjoyed air conditioning on that hot and humid day. Lesson learned that a rain back-up is needed for outdoor weddings!

What couples need to know

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for wedding venues, what would it be?

Make sure you visit the venue a couple of times, ask a lot of questions and be sure that it’s what you really want! We meet a lot of couples who look at the space because they like the idea of getting married outside. Keep in mind that not all of your family and friends may feel the same way! Always remind your guests to be prepared, dress according to the weather and have a good sense of humour when it comes to being outside in a natural environment.

What are the current trends you’re seeing in weddings? What’s on its way out?

Rustic outdoor weddings are continuing to be the most popular trend so far. We’ve also noticed some weddings are becoming quite large with over 175 people. Having a space that can accommodate that at Island Lake has been very popular. CVC offers a variety of venues that can accommodate different group sizes up to 200 people.

What are the biggest mistakes couples make when choosing wedding venues?

We haven’t had any experience here but not having a place big enough for your guests would definitely be a mistake. No guest wants to stand in the back and feel like an extra.

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge?

Couples can save on making their own decorations, especially for that rustic feel. We think couples should splurge on the perfect venue and a wedding planner if they plan to have an elaborate wedding.

What’s something people need to understand about wedding venues?

There will probably always be one thing they have to compromise on, as long as it’s not a main factor, don’t stress over it.

Any other tips for couples planning a wedding?

Be flexible and always consider the unpredictability of nature when thinking about outdoor wedding venues. Think about rain, wind, hot days or cool nights when planning your ceremony and reception. Even a wedding in the rain can be a fun and beautiful experience, as long as you are prepared!

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To learn more about CVC:

Website:
www.cvc.ca

Email:
meghan.mcintosh@cvc.ca or julia.kole@cvc.ca

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/creditvalleyconservation/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cvc_ca/

Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cvca/albums/72157669968511636

Upcoming event:
Visit us at The Ultimate Bridal Show March 24th, 2018 from 9am-4pm in Mississauga!

When putting together a wedding ceremony, some couples like to use quotes. Short lines about love and marriage are great additions to a ceremony. Wedding love quotes can be inserted into your vows, printed on your programs or read aloud by your officiant or a reader. It’s a nice way to include some words that are meaningful to you and represent your marriage.

Quotes can come from almost anywhere. You can include a quote from a famous love poem or your favourite episode of Seinfeld. There’s no wrong way to use a quote. Below we’ve included 33 wedding love quotes that we’re big fans of. Feel free to use these quotes in your ceremony or allow them to inspire you to find your own quotes.

And if you’re looking for something longer to include in your ceremony, check out our blog posts on readings:

• 10 Best Romantic Ceremony Readings
• 10 Best Ceremony Readings from Songs
• 10 Best Ceremony Readings from Literature
• 10 Best Ceremony Readings from TV & Movies
• 10 Best Offbeat Ceremony Readings

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“It isn’t enough to love; we must prove it.” ― St. Therese of Lisieux

“When one loves, one does not calculate.” ― St. Therese of Lisieux

“The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” ― Joseph Addison

“We are all born for love . . . It is the principle of existence, and its only end.” ― Benjamin Disraeli

“If you make it a habit not to blame others, you will feel the growth of the ability to love in your soul, and you will see the growth of goodness in your life.” ― Leo Tolstoy

“In fact, “soul mate” isn’t a pre-existing condition. It’s an earned title.” ― Pamela Druckerman, New York Times, “What You Learn in Your 40s”

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ― Dr. Seuss

“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” ― Stephanie Perkins, Anna And The French Kiss

“One word
Frees us of all the weight and pain of life:
That word is love.” ― Sophocles

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.” ― Oscar Wilde

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” ― Nicole Krauss, The History Of Love

“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything.” ― Katharine Hepburn, Me: Stories Of My Life

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That’s what I hope to give you forever.” — The Notebook

“I look at you and see the rest of my life in front of my eyes.” — (Unknown)

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” — Victor Hugo

“All, everything that I understand, I only understand because I love.” — Leo Tolstoy

“I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” — Angelita Lim

“There’s no substitute for a great love who says, ‘No matter what’s wrong with you, you’re welcome at this table.'” — Tom Hanks

“I swear I couldn’t love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow.” — Leo Christopher

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” — A. A. Milne

“I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.” — Lord of The Rings

“If I know what love is, it is because of you.” — Herman Hesse

“I choose you. And I’ll choose you over and over and over. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I’ll keep choosing you.” — (Unknown)

“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” — When Harry Met Sally

“I realized I was thinking of you, and I began to wonder how long you’d been on my mind. Then it occurred to me: Since I met you, you’ve never left.” — (Unknown)

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao-Tzu

“Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive.” — (Unknown)

“You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I LOVE YOU.” — Pride & Prejudice

“When I say I love you more, I don’t mean I love you more than you love me. I mean I love you more than the bad days ahead of us, I love you more than any fight we will ever have. I love you more than the distance between us, I love you more than any obstacle that could try and come between us. I love you the most.” — (Unknown)

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” — Charles Schulz

“All of me loves all of you.” — John Legend, All of Me

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Which wedding love quote speaks to you? 

written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Erica Miller Photography