Planning an Elopement in Niagara Falls, Ontario: What You Need to Know

There is something wonderfully romantic about deciding that your wedding day doesn’t have to be big or complicated.

For many couples, an elopement is no longer about running away in secret. It is about choosing a wedding that feels more personal — fewer people, less stress, less expense, and more time to concentrate on each other.

And if there is one place that has been associated with romance and weddings for generations, it is Niagara Falls, Ontario.

At Niagara Wedding Chapel, we have welcomed couples who simply wanted to get married without turning their wedding into a huge production.

If you are thinking about eloping in Niagara Falls, here are a few things you should know.

Can You Really Have a Wedding With Just the Two of You?

Absolutely.

Some of the most touching weddings we have been part of have been just the couple. There is something very special about standing together, looking at the person you love and saying your vows without all the distractions that can come with a large wedding.

If you need witnesses for your legal marriage ceremony, don't let that stop you from planning a wedding for two. Niagara Wedding Chapel can help arrange witnesses when needed.

You don't have to invite people simply because you feel you are supposed to. This is your wedding, and it should be the day the two of you want.

What Do You Need to Get Legally Married in Ontario?

If you are planning a legal marriage in Niagara Falls, you will need an Ontario marriage licence and a licensed wedding officiant.

It is a good idea to arrange your marriage licence before your wedding day rather than leaving everything until the last minute.

And if you're not sure what you need, ask us. One of the nice things about choosing a small wedding chapel is having real people available to help you along the way. 

What Should You Wear to Your Niagara Falls Elopement?

One of the lovely things about an elopement is that there really aren't many rules.

Some of our brides arrive in a beautiful traditional wedding gown, while others choose something simple and comfortable that feels more like them. We have seen grooms in everything from a suit and tie to shorts on a warm summer day — and they were just as married at the end of the ceremony!

Your wedding day should feel like your wedding day, not somebody else's idea of what a wedding is supposed to look like.

If you have always dreamed of wearing a wedding gown, wear it. If the two of you would rather keep things relaxed and casual, that's perfectly fine too. What we remember isn't whether the groom wore a tie — it's the smiles, the laughter, the occasional happy tears and the way two people look at each other when they are about to say I do.

And if you're travelling to Niagara Falls and don't want to spend the trip wearing your wedding clothes, we have a private place where you can change before your ceremony.

Come as you are, dress in a way that makes you happy and enjoy your day.

After all, the person standing beside you is much more important than what's hanging in your closet.

Indoor or Outdoor Wedding?

Niagara Falls has four very different seasons, and each can bring something special to a wedding day.

At Niagara Wedding Chapel, couples can enjoy our charming indoor chapel as well as our seasonal outdoor garden chapel.

There is something beautiful about an outdoor ceremony surrounded by flowers and greenery, but we also know that Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate.

Having an indoor option available means you don't have to spend the days before your wedding worrying about every cloud in the forecast.

Your job that day is to get married and enjoy it. We'll worry about the rest. 

Don't Forget About the Photographs

An elopement may be small, but the memories are every bit as important.

Your wedding photographs become part of the story you take home from Niagara Falls. They also give you something wonderful to share with family and friends who weren't there to see you exchange your vows.

And Niagara Falls gives us some incredible possibilities for wedding photographs. The Falls themselves are only minutes away, along with beautiful gardens, the Niagara Parkway and many other lovely locations throughout the area.

Years from now, those photographs can bring back little things you may have forgotten — the way you looked at each other, the smile just after the ceremony and that wonderful feeling of realizing, we're married!

Turn Your Elopement Into a Niagara Falls Getaway

Why come to Niagara Falls for only a wedding ceremony when you can make a little honeymoon out of it too?

After your wedding, take a drive along the beautiful Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Enjoy a romantic dinner together. Visit one of our wineries, see a show, explore some of the area's War of 1812 history, walk beside the Falls or simply go back to your hotel and enjoy your first evening together as a married couple.

Niagara Falls has long been known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World, and there is still something very romantic about beginning married life here.

How Far Ahead Should You Book?

There really isn't one answer.

Some of our couples plan their Niagara Falls wedding months in advance. Others decide that they are ready to get married and don't want to wait.

If you have your heart set on a particular date or time, booking earlier is always a good idea. But if you're flexible, don't assume it is too late without giving us a call.

Sometimes a simple conversation is all it takes to start putting your wedding together. 

Your Elopement May Be Small — But It Can Still Be Beautiful

This may be the most important thing we can tell a bride considering an elopement.

Please don't think that choosing a small wedding means your wedding has to feel less special.

You don't need a ballroom filled with 150 people to have that moment when you look into the eyes of the person you love and realize this is really happening.

You don't need hundreds of invitations, elaborate decorations or a year of stressful planning.

You need each other.

Everything else should simply help make that moment a little more beautiful.

At Niagara Wedding Chapel, we specialize in intimate weddings, elopements, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals in the heart of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Our wedding options currently start at $599.95, giving couples the opportunity to have a beautiful Niagara Falls wedding without all the expense and stress that can come with a large traditional wedding.

And when you contact us, you aren't dealing with a large wedding company or an automated booking system. You'll be talking with real people who genuinely enjoy helping couples make their wedding day special.

Simple, Beautiful Niagara Falls Weddings — Without the Stress.

That really is what we believe a small wedding or elopement should be about.

A beautiful ceremony, the person you love and a wedding day you can actually enjoy.

Whether it's just the two of you or a small gathering of family and friends, your wedding can still be romantic, personal and filled with moments you'll remember for the rest of your lives.

At Niagara Wedding Chapel, we want you to arrive excited about getting married — not overwhelmed by everything that goes along with planning a large wedding.

Ready to Plan Your Niagara Falls Elopement?

If you're dreaming about saying I do in Niagara Falls, we'd love to hear what you have in mind.

Niagara Wedding Chapel | Small Weddings & Elopements
7973 Lundy’s Lane
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2H 1H3
Website: NiagaraWeddingChapel.com
Email: niagaraweddingchapel@gmail.com

Niagaraweddingchapel.com
Local: 905-354-8692
Toll-Free: 1-800-393-7270

Call 1-800-393-7270 today and talk to a real person about your special day.

Because Niagara Wedding Chapel isn't only about weddings. It's about the people we meet along the way.