Start an intimate city wedding and elopement venue

Couples planning small weddings or elopements, and sometimes families hosting rehearsal dinners or showers.

A hire fee per event or per block of hours. You can offer packages that include furniture, simple decor and a coordinator for the day. You can also rent the space for photo shoots and private parties between weddings.

• Organizing and scheduling
• Design eye for styling a space
• Customer service and negotiating
• Online marketing

• Zoning, occupancy limits, fire safety and accessibility for assembly use, so check with your municipality
• Lease terms that restrict events, noise or late hours
• Alcohol rules: check your provincial regulator about a licence or special occasion permits
• Commercial general liability insurance and any cover your landlord requires
• Lease costs must be covered even in slow months, so test demand before signing a long lease
• GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $10,000 to $45,000, depending on the space, styling and furnishings you need. Lease costs continue in slow months, so it is worth testing demand before you sign a long lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $14,000, depending on how often you book the space. Smaller weddings can also be booked on weekdays and in the off-season, which may help fill quieter periods.

Check zoning, occupancy limits, fire safety and accessibility for assembly use with your municipality. Also check lease limits on events and late hours, provincial alcohol licence or permit rules, insurance requirements, and GST/HST registration.