#TRAVEL: WEDDING DESTINATION IDEAS – THE DRAKE HOTEL AND DRAKE DEVONSHIRE

Wedding culture is shifting. Couples are stepping away from the “bigger is better” mentality and leaning into celebrations that actually feel like them: smaller, more personal, and worth every penny. A recent Global News report found the average Canadian wedding now runs between $30,000–$42,000 (and in Toronto? Way more than that). So it makes sense that people are getting more intentional about where that money goes. It’s becoming less about the headcount and more about the experience.

The venues winning right now are the ones with real character, genuine warmth, and a night that guests are still talking about months later.

That’s exactly what The Drake does, and has been doing for over 20 years.

In consideration for the best wedding venues this season, we have The Drake Hotel (Toronto) and Drake Devonshire (Prince Edward County).

The Drake Hotel: Toronto, Queen West

For couples who want their wedding to feel like a great night out, not a catered convention, The Drake Hotel is the answer. With spaces that each bring their own energy (a rooftop ceremony at Sky Yard, a reception in the Lounge, an afterparty at the legendary Drake Underground), no two weddings here look the same. Drake’s “Made from Scratch” approach to planning means every detail is custom, every menu is considered, and the whole thing feels distinctly them. Surrounded by original art, the vibrancy of Queen West, and boutique rooms for guests who want to stay and make a weekend of it.

Drake Devonshire: Wellington, Prince Edward County

For couples who want to escape the city and make a weekend (or a week) of it, Drake Devonshire offers something increasingly rare: a boutique lakeside setting with soul. Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, the property features sweeping waterfront views, artful rooms, an outdoor sauna and cold plunge, and a culinary program led by Executive Chef Amanda Ray, rooted in PEC’s best local ingredients. Whether it’s vows in the Pavilion with the lake as your backdrop, a long dinner at the waterfront patio, or fireside s’mores with your closest people, Drake Devonshire turns a wedding into a proper getaway. The County’s vineyards, galleries, and charming villages are right on the doorstep, making it a destination weekend as much as a wedding.

Together, these two properties offer something for every kind of couple: the city romantics and the countryside dreamers, the small and intimate and the full-on celebration. Both are unique, and both prove that the best weddings aren’t the biggest ones, they’re the ones that feel like you.

More at TheDrake.ca.