Couples scrambling as Toronto city hall cancels 2027 weddings

This couple is happy they booked their City Hall wedding when they did because it appears nobody will be walking down the aisle here in 2027. That would be really disappointing. I would have been really sad. It's an iconic location. Downtown is so important to me. I grew up in the city and I really wanted to be married here. So did about 30 to 50 other couples who had booked a wedding for 2027. But the company that marries people at City Hall says they had to clear their books. I was told that the city is planning renovations. Claire Francescatti works for the ministerial association. She says they were told by the city not to book weddings next year as the building will be under construction. Couldn't they just do it elsewhere in the building, she asked. I can't understand why we wouldn't have been accommodated. Francescatti and her team have been calling the prospective brides and grooms, telling them their options to consider getting married at other civic centers in Scarborough York or North York and it's not going over well it's been a real shock a shock to all of the staff um at the uh wedding chamber but uh a huge surprise to those who booked their weddings in 2027 Francescatti says for a range of couples their service is the best option. We also have a big population of people who choose not to spend their money on big weddings. We also service new immigrants who can't at that time organize an elaborate ceremony. And we also service same-sex and gender-diverse community and we treat everyone with dignity and respect. and I'm afraid that they're not going to be serviced when we're not doing our job. For its part, the city says they're not just renovating, they're modernizing and that they are not moving forward with the ministerial association performing weddings, which means after 30 years of marrying people at City Hall, the city is seeking a divorce. Quote, the city offered a short-term lease extension until March 31st in 2027, which was declined. As a result, there are currently no plans for a third-party wedding ceremony provider at City Hall after December 31, 2026. It's unclear if Toronto City Hall weddings will resume in 2027. Ali Chasson, CBC News, Toronto.