Couples looking to tie the knot in Simcoe County this Valentine's Day will have an unusual option in downtown Orillia: a restaurant converted into a wedding chapel for one afternoon.
Three local officiants — Rev. Carmen Novosky, Rev. Barb Shakell-Barkey and Rev. Julie Mori of Orillia Wedding Officiants — will host a pop-up wedding chapel on Feb. 14 inside the private dining room at FARE restaurant, BarrieToday reported. The space has been nicknamed the Swanmore Chapel, after the historic Swanmore Hall building that houses the restaurant, and for the symbolism of swans mating for life.
The plan came together quickly. Novosky told BarrieToday she had been looking for a private spot to quietly marry a single couple, but after connecting with FARE owner Sarah Butler — who was enthusiastic about the idea — the modest elopement grew into a full day of ceremonies.
Six ceremony slots, one flat price
Six two-hour ceremony slots will run from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Each $900 booking includes a licensed officiant, a customized ceremony, decor and florals, professional photography, and a post-ceremony celebration at the restaurant with a drink and a charcuterie board. Seating is limited to the couple and up to eight guests. Couples need only bring a valid marriage licence.
The price was set deliberately below typical elopement packages, which Novosky said can run between $1,500 and $2,000 elsewhere. She told BarrieToday the format is also meant to be inclusive of all couples, with Mori licensed to officiate those ceremonies.
The three officiants have conducted hundreds of weddings across Simcoe County and Muskoka between them, and Novosky said demand for smaller ceremonies has only grown. With fewer guests and less pressure, couples are often more at ease sharing personal vows and focusing on the commitment itself rather than the production around it, she said.
As a wedding officiant, I am very fond of small weddings, often in the backyard with children present. As a born romantic, I find the smaller, intimate gatherings allow the couple to express their love freely in front of their dearest guests.
Shakell-Barkey told BarrieToday the chapel also gives the officiants a chance to promote Orillia as the sunshine love capital of southern Ontario.
Photographer Nadine Bastien of Raven's Feather Photography will be on site all day, providing each couple with between 50 and 100 edited images through an online gallery. Novosky said the goal is for couples to leave not only legally married, but with memories of a day that felt special without being overwhelming.
Valentine's Day has long been a popular date for proposals and weddings, making it a natural fit for an elopement-style event, Novosky said. Several couples have already booked spots, including one whose marriage licence expires Feb. 14 — making the date both a practical and symbolic deadline.
While pop-up wedding chapels have popped up in larger cities, Novosky said bringing the concept to Orillia was important. The event showcases local businesses and the city's historic spaces.
Booking for the Feb. 14 pop-up chapel closes Feb. 10.
