Frequently Asked Questions

You may hold an outdoor ceremony anywhere on the site, provided the ceremony does not interfere with visitor access to the historic buildings. Some locations may also be challenging for guests and vendors to access. Your Parks Canada contact can discuss logistics for your preferred location with you.

With the exception of rooms in the Visitor Reception Centre and the Warehouse, the interior of historic buildings can only be used during the off-season or after hours during the regular operating season. Tents are only permitted on the Modern Grounds near the Picnic Shelter. Evening events, including tent receptions, must conclude by 10 pm.

You are responsible for acquiring and setting up your own tent(s).

In case of rain or other inclement weather, outdoor ceremonies may be moved into either the Multi-Purpose Room, Warehouse (less than 70 guests) or the theatre for no additional charge. Outdoor receptions can only be moved indoors if: there are fewer than 120 guests; no other events have been booked for the Multi-Purpose Room; and 24 hours' notice is given.

Yes, the facilities are licensed. You will be required to obtain an Occasional Permit, one Smart Choices-certified server per 50 guests, a licensed security guard during your reception, and the appropriate liability insurance.

Anything thrown or laid on the ground at the ceremony must be removed immediately following the ceremony. There will be an additional fee added to your bill for clean up if you do not arrange this yourself. Bubbles, streamers, or other means of celebrating are highly recommended. Please discuss your plans for the ceremony site with your Parks Canada contact.

You are welcome to use decorations at the ceremony and reception sites that do not damage or mar any of the buildings or walls. Thus, you may not use nails, tape or other adhesives – but you may tie decorations to pillars and gates or use the Stick-Tak on interior walls in the Visitor Centre.

The Big House and the Picnic Shelter, as well as the Multi-Purpose Room have sufficient electricity to supply most choices of music (portable speaker, live musicians, etc.). However, other outdoor venues will require long extension cords to reach an electrical source. All entertainment outside may need to have the volume reduced at 11 p.m. to comply with the RM of St. Andrews noise by-law.

The reception can last until 10 pm, at which point all guests and vendors must depart. No alcohol can be served after 9:30 pm. You must clean-up all decor, linens, catering and bar supplies by 10 pm, or you will need to book additional time for the following day.

Yes, you can use either the private bathroom located off the kitchenette in the Multi-Purpose Room, or you can reserve the second floor of the Warehouse for members of the wedding party to change and await the start of the ceremony. The Warehouse is the most convenient option for weddings within the fort walls.

Parks Canada recommends that all members of the wedding party complete their hair and makeup before arriving at Lower Fort Garry. Lower Fort Garry offers limited access to electrical outlets, adequate lighting and washrooms for these uses.

Staff members can either take you to your ceremony with an electric shuttle or you may drive out in a personal vehicle and park in a designated area. All vehicles accessing the historic grounds require advance permission and planning.

Please include information about the location of your wedding on your invitations, wedding website or other communication with your guests. Please inform your Parks Canada contact of any on-site signage you may wish to use prior to your event date.

For weddings on the historic grounds, a staff member will be making regular trips to the parking lot with the electric shuttle starting about 45 minutes before your ceremony.

Your guests have the option of walking through the grounds to your event or riding a Parks Canada-operated electric shuttle. Shuttle service begins about 45 minutes before your ceremony and concludes either at the specified ceremony start time, or when the wedding party is ready to be shuttled to the ceremony.

The shuttle is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Guests must be able to stand and step up onto the shuttle. Folded walkers, strollers or wheelchairs may be transported on the shuttle, but the spaces between seats are narrow and there are no enclosed storage areas.

For guests unable to transfer to the shuttle, please contact Parks Canada in advance to arrange vehicle access to the grounds and receive drop-off and parking instructions.

There are designated smoking areas on both the historic and non-historic grounds. No smoking is allowed in any of the buildings. There will be an additional fee added to your bill for cleanup if a large number of cigarette butts are found on the grounds.

Only one reception per day is permitted on the grounds. We will allow up to two (2) wedding ceremonies to occur on the site, so long as: they are separated geographically (one on the historic grounds, the other in the picnic shelter area); or they are at least three hours apart if they are to occur at the same location. Having multiple ceremonies on one day is also dependent on the number of chairs needed for either event.

Pets are welcome to be part of your ceremony provided they are on a leash no longer than three (3) metres long at all times and you clean up after them.