Planning a Vancouver Micro Wedding? 5 Reasons to Get Married at a Restaurant
Dreaming of an intimate wedding that feels just like a dinner party with all your favourite people? A wedding where your guests can mix, mingle, laugh, cry, and celebrate, all while enjoying some incredible food? A restaurant might just be the perfect fit!
Over the last few years, I’ve been seeing more and more couples choose restaurants over a more traditional wedding venue and I am all for it. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider a restaurant wedding too!
1. You want a wedding venue with incredible ambiance and gorgeous aesthetics
Restaurants are designed with guest comfort in mind! They generally have a welcoming, warm, chic, and sometimes even quirky ambiance. Vancouver has a vibrant and diverse food scene, so there are endless options to choose from. I’d recommend narrowing your options down by neighbourhood and the type of cuisine you like. Then choose a restaurant with a vibe that suits your personalities, and lean into the aesthetics.
As a photographer, I gravitate to funky and cinematic lighting - not only do they look amazing in pictures, they provide the best ambiance! Restaurants are the perfect place to find retro lamps and neon lights. I recently shot Katherine and Seamus’ wedding at Cafe Medina in Downtown Vancouver. The restaurant not only has funky upcycled light fixtures, but also features gorgeous antique mirrors and deco panel molding. Katherine and Seamus skipped formal seating and opted for a cocktail style reception, so during their first dance, I was able to capture the couple’s reactions while their smiling guests surrounded them!
2. Exceptional food and drink are non-negotiables for your wedding day
If you and your partner share a love of food and want to treat your guests to an epic night out, then having a restaurant wedding makes perfect sense! You know the food is going to be fantastic because, well, that’s what restaurants do! Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to book the most upscale restaurant in town. Choose a restaurant that you and your partner both love! In my opinion, casual, quirky, and fun restaurants often make the most memorable venues.
Whether you want a family-style meal, a plated dinner, or just canapes all night long, restaurants are often flexible and willing to create a curated experience for you and your guests. They are also well-versed in accommodating dietary restrictions. While more of your budget will go towards food and drinks at a restaurant wedding, some places have a food and beverage minimum spend rather than a rental fee.
3. You value convenience and want a simplified wedding planning experience
Restaurants are a great option for couples who want a smoother, lower-stress wedding planning experience. There are fewer moving parts compared to a more traditional wedding venue, where you often have to bring in all the vendors yourself. Restaurants come equipped with tables, chairs, and dishware. Some will even provide candles! Since there is already a fully equipped kitchen and bar, you don’t need to stress about the logistics of bringing in a caterer and creating a bar setup.
It’s also a bonus that restaurants are already beautifully decorated and have great lighting, so you won’t need to bring in much decor. Places like Maxine’s Cafe and Bar are a great example of this! That being said, I do love to see how couples put their personal touches on their restaurant weddings. While restaurants usually have built-in sound systems, bringing in a DJ is still the best way to get the party started. It’s also a smart idea to hire a wedding planner, even if the restaurant has an in-house coordinator, as venue coordinators are typically more focused on anything venue-related.
4. You’re dreaming of an intimate wedding with your closest friends and family
Restaurants often have a smaller capacity for guests than more traditional wedding venues, but that just means more quality time with each of your loved ones. The layout of restaurants are made for gathering, so it invites guests to gather and mingle, creating a cozy atmosphere. This also allows couples to feel comfortable to let their true selves shine which lead to more intentional moments.
I photographed a wedding at La Fabrique St. George, a winery in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, where one of the couple’s friends read a “speech” from the couple's dog (a.k.a. their child), scrawled on the back of a Milkbone box. It had everyone in stitches, especially the couple! This was a perfect example of how having a more intimate vibe for your wedding feels more personal and laid-back because it’s all your closest people!
5. You want a wedding venue with more flexibility
Restaurants are often able to offer more customization than traditional wedding venues. I really love Koerner’s Pub at UBC in Vancouver, so much so that I got married there! It’s very spacious, the food is delicious, and Koerner’s has a gorgeous two-story patio! You have the option to have a fully outdoor wedding, a fully indoor wedding, or both! I recently shot two weddings here, and they both utilized the space differently. For Kait and Rob’s wedding, they had their dinner outdoors and dancing indoors. Then at Maud and Marc’s wedding, they had dinner indoors and dancing outdoors.
Choosing a restaurant for your wedding also opens up possibilities like hosting a pre-wedding rehearsal dinner or even a post-wedding brunch the next day!
If you love the idea of an intimate, delicious, and effortlessly stylish wedding, then you should definitely explore the idea of getting married at one of Vancouver’s amazing restaurants. Not sure where to start? If there is a restaurant that’s significant to your relationship, ask if they will do your wedding! It could be the perfect spot to host your wedding and make your venue meaningful to your story.
Ready to start planning your restaurant wedding?
Want more micro wedding inspiration? Have a look at these blogs:
I may just have a blog post coming soon with my list of favourite restaurant wedding venues in Vancouver, so keep an eye out for that!
