The Venue Hunt: Sticker Shock, Creative Pivots, and Finding Our Perfect Spot
About this Series: The Summit & Ivy Wedding Journey
Planning a wedding in Toronto is a big deal—we get it. To bring our professional advice to life, we're inviting you to follow along with "Jessica's Journey."
In this special series, we'll be sharing the story of Jessica and Mark—a fictional Toronto couple who are a composite of the many amazing clients we've worked with. Their mission is to create a dream wedding for 100 guests on a $35,000 budget.
As we guide them through every decision, from the venue hunt to the final toast, we’ll be sharing our pro tips, planning tools, and honest advice that you can steal for your own wedding. Let's get them to the altar!
From Jessica's Journal September 27, 2025
For the past few weeks, my evenings have consisted of two things: a glass of wine and about 50 open tabs of wedding venues. With our budget and guest list in hand, I was so excited to find the perfect place. I had visions of a trendy, industrial-chic loft space—exposed brick, fairy lights, the whole deal.
Last weekend, we toured our "dream" venue in Liberty Village. It was perfect, but the price was not. We left feeling completely deflated, experiencing a classic case of wedding sticker shock. How could we ever afford to get married in this region?
That night, we went back to the drawing board. If the trendy downtown lofts were out, our search exploded in every direction across the GTA.
We looked at the beautiful, all-inclusive banquet halls in Vaughan, and even classic, gorgeous estates like The Vaughan Estates at Sunnybrook. Our search even took us east into Durham Region, looking at amazing golf course venues like Deer Creek. We also explored stunning outdoor options closer to home, dreaming of a ceremony at a historic park in Scarborough like the wonderful Guild Inn Estate.
This process was so helpful because it made us realize what we truly wanted: the unique character and energy of a city venue. That’s when we pivoted one last time and started looking at creative spaces right in the heart of Toronto. Our focus shifted to restaurant buy-outs. We spent an evening drooling over the incredible Oliver & Bonacini portfolio, imagining the world-class food at places like Canoe or Jump.
While a full buy-out of those iconic spots was still a stretch, it inspired us to look for other unique venues that weren't traditional banquet halls. This led us to our final idea: breweries!
After another week of research, we found it. A mid-sized brewery in the city's west end with a private upstairs loft. It had the exposed brick I dreamed of, the relaxed party vibe Mark wanted, and a price that worked.
We signed the contract yesterday. We have a date! We have a venue! It’s all starting to feel real.
Summit & Ivy Planner's Note: The "sticker shock" Jessica experienced is real. The key is to think outside the banquet hall or really focus on what is important to you on the big day. Whether you're looking downtown, in Vaughan, Scarborough, or beyond, make sure you are armed with the right questions. Never sign a contract without knowing the answers to these:
What is the total cost? Ask for a full quote including rental fees, food & beverage minimums, staffing costs, gratuities, and taxes (HST).
What exactly is included? Do you get access to tables, chairs, linens, plates, and glassware, or are those extra rentals?
Can we bring our own vendors? Some venues have a strict list of required vendors which can limit your flexibility and budget.
What are the hidden fees? Ask specifically about corkage fees, cake-cutting fees, security costs, and landmark fees. In Canada, always ask about SOCAN & Re:Sound fees for music licensing.
Want to make sure you ask everything? These questions are a great start. For our complete, printable venue questionnaire with all the essential questions, check out the Summit & Ivy Ultimate Wedding Planner on Etsy! It's a lifesaver on tour days. The link is below.
With our date and venue officially locked in, we can finally book the other most important vendors—the ones who can only be in one place at a time. First on our list is the person who will capture all the memories.
Next time: Our search for the perfect wedding photographer!
What has been the most surprising part of your venue search? Share your hidden gem GTA venues or money-saving tips in the comments!
Cheers,
Please check out my Etsy page for more amazing wedding tips and journals
