Description
Whether you are looking for a historic or modern wedding venue in Waterloo offering an affordable package, Emmanuel United Church ticks all the boxes. From simple ceremonies to full-day wedding programs with reception and ceremony, Emmanuel United Church accommodates it all.
Wedding Ceremonies at Emmanuel United Church
Emmanuel United Church is a versatile and inclusive wedding venue, welcoming LGBTQ2IA+ couples and supporting creative ceremonies. You don’t have to be a member of the United Church to get married there.
The Church’s dedicated ceremony space – Sanctuary can accommodate small occasional with two witnesses and a minister and larger ceremonies with up to 400 guests.
The typical ceremony package at Emmanuel United Church includes:
- Consultation: Discuss options for your ceremony
- Rehearsal: Practicing details and adjusting the ceremony according to your needs
- Ceremony: Most ceremonies last between 20 and 45 minutes
- Document preparation: The Church prepares the documents and provides a temporary marriage license, forwards the documents to the Ontario Register
For an additional fee, you can sign up for a pre-marriage course, and the minister can perform outdoor wedding ceremonies within 30 km.
Receptions at Emmanuel United Church
Emmanuel United Church also has two event spaces for receptions – The Heart Room and Fellowship Hall. The venue doesn’t provide catering, and you can choose local catering companies. They will have access to the commercial kitchen with all the necessary facilities.
Heart Room is suited for small coffee services and intimate receptions. The use of the Heart room for three hours is included in the basic ceremony and reception package and is one of the most affordable options in the area.
Larger receptions of up to 200 seated guests happen at the Fellowship Hall.
Packages featuring larger reception and ceremony at Emmanuel United Church include:
- Ceremony and Cocktail Reception: Includes access to Sanctuary for ceremony and rehearsal, bridal suite and Fellowship hall for cocktail reception with decoration and clean up, use of commercial kitchen
- Afternoon or Evening Wedding: Half-day wedding package featuring ceremony and rehearsal with prolonged use of facilities, including bridal suite, event space, typical access time for Fellowship halls is from 2 pm to 1 am
- Full-Day Wedding Event: Includes access to the venue from 8 am to 1 am for decorating, ceremony, cleaning, set up, full meal and all facilities.
Additional fees apply to every package such as the marriage officiant fee, special occasion permit (if you are having a reception with alcohol) and insurance. You can hire the Church organist, or a DJ for entertainment.
Contact someone from the Emmanuel United Church team for inquiries.
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Experience
Overview of Emmanuel United Church
Pricing for Emmanuel United Church
Reviews (1)
- SShifa and Jarrod15/04/2026We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!We had an absolutely wonderful experience at Emmanuel United Church. Every detail was thoughtfully managed, making our special day seamless and memorable. A huge thank you to Neal, who went above and beyond to assist us throughout the entire process. His professionalism, patience, and guidance kept us calm and confident, and he made sure everything ran smoothly. From setup to coordination on the big day, Neal’s dedication truly made a difference. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!We had an absolutely wonderful experience at Emmanuel United Church. Every detail was thoughtfully managed, making our special day seamless and memorable. A huge thank you to Neal, who went above and beyond to assist us throughout the entire process. His professionalism, patience, and guidance kept us calm and confident, and he made sure everything ran smoothly. From setup to coordination on the big day, Neal’s dedication truly made a difference. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Location & Contact Details for Emmanuel United Church
Do you perform same-gender marriages?
Absolutely. Emmanuel United is an Affirming Ministry. We welcome all LGBTQ2IA+ relationships. However you identify, you are welcome and celebrated here.
Do I or my partner need to be a member with Emmanuel?
No, membership with Emmanuel is not required.
Do you offer multi-faith options?
Yes, in coordination with our minister, we can incorporate other faith traditions in the ceremony.
How much does a wedding cost at Emmanuel United Church?
We offer a variety of packages as seen above. A 50% deposit is due upon booking. The package fees listed in BrideBook do not include the minister, accompanist, or sound technician. A detailed fee schedule is available upon request. Contact us for more details.
Do you offer marriage preparation classes?
Our minister offers individual preparation sessions. Contact us for more details.
Are you open to creative ceremonies?
Yes, definitely. We’d love to help you create a one-of-a-kind of ceremony.
Can we have an outdoor ceremony?
We’re flexible and our minister can perform your ceremony off-site. We’ll meet you where you’re at. For travel beyond a 30km radius from Emmanuel, an additional travel fee is charged depending on the location of your service.
How many people can fit in your church?
We can accommodate groups as small as 5 to as high as 250 in our Sanctuary. To be legal, your ceremony must include the minister, the couple to be married, and two witnesses. We cannot provide witnesses.
Can I have my reception at Emmanuel United Church?
Yes, our Fellowship Hall is available for an additional fee. It can seat between 120 and 200 people depending on your preferred configuration. We do not currently offer catering but would be happy to share some preferred caterers. Potluck receptions are also welcome.
Can I serve alcohol at my reception?
Yes, as long as you purchase a liquor license Special Event Permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario through the LCBO and additional special event insurance listing Emmanuel United Church as an additional insured. Special event insurance can be obtained in consultation with your preferred insurance broker.
