Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Rocky Mountain Wedding.
With its stunning mountain landscapes, charming venues, and romantic ambiance, Canmore offers an idyllic setting to say, “I do.” It’s no wonder there are so many beautiful Canmore wedding venues to choose from. But before you start sending out inquiries, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing the perfect venue for your big day.
To help, we’ve put together a list of questions to consider when exploring wedding venues in Canmore based on what we hear most from our couples.
Here is your guide to choosing the perfect Canmore wedding venue:
Location, Location, Location
Important Questions to Ask :
- Is the venue conveniently located for both you and your guests?
- Does the venue offer privacy for your ceremony or reception?
Our Cornerstone Theatre venue is located in the heart of Canmore’s accommodation district with hotels, rental condos, and Airbnbs right outside our door (literally).
The biggest perk to booking Cornerstone Theatre is that you and your guests have exclusive access to the venue on your big day, making it the perfect choice for those who value privacy. Plus, our Canmore Ranch ceremony location—available only to couples who book the Theatre—is Canmore’s only private, outdoor ceremony location with unobstructed mountain views.
Our other venues, The Vista and The Rundleview Room, are located at the Canmore Nordic Centre, a ten-minute drive from Canmore’s hotel district. These venues will require you or your guests to arrange a shuttle service, but the Canmore Nordic Centre offers lots of privacy and greenspace.
Minimum Spend Commitments
Important Questions to Ask:
- What is the venue’s minimum spend commitment?
- What is included in the minimum spend (e.g., catering, bar service, rentals)?
- Are there any additional fees or hidden costs to consider?
A minimum spend commitment is the dollar amount you are required to spend in order to book a venue on a specific date. This amount usually increases in high season or on high-demand dates, like Fridays and Saturdays.
Most wedding venues only count your food and beverage spend towards your minimum spend commitment. But that’s where our venues stand out. At Cornerstone Weddings, everything you book with us counts towards your commitment. That includes your food and beverage selections, your ceremony and reception packages, and add-ons like our in-house DJ or décor packages.
Set up and Tear Down
Important Questions to Ask:
- Who is responsible for setting up and tearing down décor, tables, and chairs?
- Is there a designated time frame for set up and tear down?
Most venues provide a designated window for you or your wedding planning team to come in and set up your décor. And many require that décor be torn down before the end of your venue rental (in other words, before you go back to your hotel for the night). Talk about a mood killer.
Cornerstone Weddings is one of the only venues in Canmore that includes set up and tear down in your service. Your Wedding Coordinator, provided as part of your booking, will meet with you the day before your wedding to collect your personal décor and our set up team will put everything together the day of.
The best part? You won’t have to stay after the party to tear everything down. We’ll take care of that for you so you can enjoy your wedding night (we even pack it up and have it ready for you to pick up in the morning).
Bar Service
Important Questions to Ask:
- What time does the venue’s bar close?
- Are there options for customizable drink menus or signature cocktails?
Fun fact: We have the latest last call in Canmore! Our bars at Cornerstone Theatre and The Vista venue close at 2 a.m. so you can soak up every last bit of fun at your reception (the bar at The Rundleview Room closes at 1 p.m.).
Other Important Questions
- Does the venue require you to have a wedding planner?
- Does the venue offer backup options for outdoor ceremonies?
- Are there any extra products or services available to make my day memorable?
It’s important to note that some venues require hiring a wedding planner to help coordinate your vendors, set up, and tear down. At Cornerstone Weddings, every package includes a dedicated Wedding Coordinator to help plan and execute your big day.
Because you will be our exclusive couple for the day, you’ll always have your reception space as a backup ceremony location should the weather ruin your plans.
And we also have décor packages, from minimal centrepieces to full stationery packages, to help bring your vision to life—all of which count towards your minimum spend!
Choosing the perfect wedding venue in Canmore is not just about finding a beautiful space; it’s about finding a place that resonates with your vision and can bring your dream wedding to life.
Having hosted over 700 weddings, our team knows what it takes to turn your Rocky Mountain wedding dreams into reality. Contact us today to book a venue tour and fall in love with us!