Marriage services expand to Stouffville museum, arts centre
Weddings popular in council chambers

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 21, 2015
Sandra Bolan

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has expanded its civil marriage services to offer off-site ceremonies at the Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum.

Until council approved the changes last week, town staff only offered civil marriage ceremonies on Fridays, during business hours, in the council chambers.

Providing off-site civil marriage ceremonies will meet the growing demand, enhance front-line customer service and generate a new revenue stream, according to a staff report.

The first civil wedding ceremony performed in council chambers was in August 2007.

Eight ceremonies were performed that year, while 37 were conducted in 2014, according to the report.

The ceremonies will be offered as an add-on to the wedding packages already provided at Nineteen on the Park in Stouffville and the museum in Vandorf.

The current fee for a civil wedding service in council chambers is $287 plus HST. Off-site services would be subjected to a $100 surcharge to cover overtime, according to the report.