Attend pop-up weddings that streamline the complete planning process for a single fee. When you book a pop-up wedding, you share the date and venue with other couples and opened up your events throughout the day. We spoke to Alicia Thurston, CEO and Creative Director of Pop-up chapelCanada’s first all-inclusive micro wedding company to learn the way this contemporary model is shaking up the marriage industry.
How much does a marriage cost in Canada?
Between the venue, best man, flowers, photographer, music and entertainment, food and wedding cake, and formal attire, the marriage costs add up. The average traditional wedding in Canada now costs around $40,000, with prices even higher in major cities or for higher-end events.
“The traditional wedding industry in Toronto is huge and weddings can cost a lot here. It’s overwhelming. Of course there are ways around that, but that often requires more work for the couple (crafted and DIY) and potentially de-prioritizing things.”
– Ashley, Pop-Up Chapel Bride
These high costs could be difficult to avoid for those who work with different providers as a pair. Accordingly The True Wedding Study of the Knot (2026)On average, couples hire 13 vendors to perform their wedding. That means juggling 13 different contacts and 13 different costs, all of which determine whether a pair stays inside or exceeds budget.
As Thurston said, “There is so much decision fatigue and overwhelm when planning a wedding.” Couples soon find that paying for individual vendors seems unavoidable, and lots of feel like the marriage of their dreams seems too expensive.
“In my area, traditional weddings are very expensive and the costs add up quickly,” said Miranda, a bride on the pop-up chapel. Just take a look at a few of the average wedding costs by province to grasp what she means:
| province | Average Wedding Costs |
|---|---|
| Ontario (Greater Toronto Area) | $50,000-$70,000 |
| Ontario (outside GTA) | $35,000-$50,000 |
| BC (Metro Vancouver) | $45,000-$65,000 |
| BC (outside Vancouver) | $30,000-$45,000 |
| Alberta | $30,000-$45,000 |
| Quebec | $25,000-$40,000 |
| Atlantic Provinces | $25,000-$35,000 |
| Prairies | $25,000-$35,000 |
| Canadian average | $30,000-$45,000 |
Micro weddings have gotten increasingly popular
The high costs and challenges of hosting large weddings in the course of the pandemic gave rise to the micro wedding trend. A micro wedding is a small wedding with a limited or exclusive guest list. Weddings could be short events comparable to a town hall wedding or a more intimate occasion comparable to a brief ceremony followed by a proper dinner with chosen friends.
“The micro-wedding trend is necessary, especially in Toronto and Vancouver, as most people can’t afford an average wedding,” Thurston said. The town halls in these metropolitan areas are aware of this and have made weddings within the courthouse easier.
Vancouver City Hall began expanding its offerings in 2020. You can book a 30-minute micro wedding for between $332.75 and $998.25 plus taxes, depending on the variety of guests. The City of Toronto recently began offering micro weddings at several locations, including Old City Hall. You can book a 30-minute micro wedding for $441.95 plus tax, but reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
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How the joint wedding model is changing the industry
Although town hall could be a viable option for some couples, it isn’t right for everybody. “We didn’t feel like we needed the big traditional wedding; ultimately we just wanted to get married but with a beautiful and memorable day. The town hall didn’t feel right for us,” said Miranda, who booked on the pop-up chapel.
Pop-up weddings have similarities to micro weddings, but they’re a significantly different model. When you book a pop-up chapel wedding, you select from a listing of wedding dates already booked at select venues. You simply determine which package you wish– how long your event should last, what number of guests you prefer to to have and what needs to be included. Custom date packages are also available.
| The Mini | The classic | The party spot |
|---|---|---|
| Up to twenty guests plus the couple | Up to 40 guests plus the couple | Up to 60 guests plus the couple |
| 15 minute ceremony + 45 minutes for celebration and photography | 15 minute ceremony + 1 hour and 40 minutes to rejoice (including a 30 minute portrait session while guests chat) | 15 minute ceremony + 2 hours and 40 minutes to rejoice (including a 30 minute portrait session while guests rejoice) |
| Includes line coordination, venue, decoration, officer, live ceremony music, photographer, toast | Includes leadership coordination, venue, decorations, master of ceremonies, live ceremony music, photographer, toast and lightweight snacks, and private flowers | Includes leadership coordination, venue, decorations, officiant, live ceremony music, photographer, personal flowers, charcuterie and snacks, and open bar |
| Price starting at $2,799 plus tax | Price starting at $5,999 plus tax | Price starting at $10,799 plus taxes |
Your pop-up wedding coordinator will work with their partners, so that you do not have to fret about decorations, a groomsman, the photographer, or the food. This model is right for many who struggle with decision fatigue. “All you need is your outfit and your marriage license,” Thurston said. Your company will handle the whole lot else to make sure your big day is fun and stress-free.
The pop-up chapel shared wedding experience model is estimated to scale back traditional wedding costs by 70% and reduce traditional wedding waste by 90%. This is because multiple couples are using the identical venue, services and decorations for this wedding day. Since the prices are essentially shared between the couples and the pop-up chapel has partnership offers, weddings at exclusive locations are suddenly also possible for couples on a budget.
“The Pop-Up Chapel made it affordable for us to have our wedding in a desirable, beautiful location at a fraction of the cost,” said Ashley, a Pop-Up Chapel bride. “Being able to pay just one amount for everything related to the ceremony and reception made everything much clearer and allowed us to spend money on other things.”
To date, the pop-up chapel has married over 800 couples and raised over $200,000 for charity. The company donates not less than $100 per couple to a chosen charity at every wedding. The simplified model is catching on and Thurston plans to expand the pop-up chapel across Canada.
“Our pop-up chapel wedding was very affordable AND the best day ever, which makes us feel like we won!” Ashley said.
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