If you're looking for an alternative to the big boring conference centres and banquet halls, IRENE is an excellent wedding venue option. We were seeking something different and less traditional to push more of a fun, social party vibe for our big day while still keeping it classy and this turned out to be the perfect spot.

#1 The location is awesome. The restaurant is right on the water and has beautiful views of the island, but far enough from Harbourfront that it is a little quieter and not as busy as you would expect. It's close enough to union station that transit is an option for guests and there is plenty of green P parking. There happened to be a festival going on at Sugar beach the weekend of our wedding and guests still had no problem arriving on time and parking.

#2 The space itself doesn't need much decorative work if you're aiming for a more relaxed atmosphere than some of the more formal venues. We simply added a few florals/centerpieces around the indoor space to push a bit of our colour scheme but the space was great as-is. Tasteful, classy, vibrant, lots of greenery and the patio on the water is a BIG selling point. We would recommend bringing some minimal dancefloor lighting so you can dim the main lights and define a shift into party mode later in the evening.

#3 The Food is delicious! Many of the wedding package food options are available in some form on IRENE's actual lunch/dinner menu so it was easy to do a scouting mission ahead of time. We did a 3 food station setup at our wedding and everyone LOVED it. Poke bowls/fried chicken lettuce wraps/roast beef were a big hit and the staff was great in accommodating our guests with special dietary needs. The head chef came out to meet us at the canape tasting and worked with us to do some custom late night breakfast sandwiches which really hit the spot as well.

We were skeptical that some guests wouldn't enjoy the food station format but we found everyone enjoyed the change of scenery from traditional wedding setups. We also went with no assigned seating and had no problems. The restaurant is set up for lots of smaller tables and guests all mixed and mingled more than usual which was the goal. Highly recommend the "cocktail style" format.

We also realllly wanted to include proper cocktails in our big day. IRENE's staff helped us serve some custom creations as well as a few of their own signature options and guests were raving about the drinks all night.

#4 - The staff! Shastine their events coordinator was amazing and helped us work out all the details of our big day. We asked 900 questions and she never made us feel bad for getting into things like "how many dimmer settings do your light switches have". She is great at what she does and will make your planning process that much easier. Most weddings you'll see large lineups at the bar at some point in the night but IRENE's bar staff was so speedy making our cocktails from scratch we never saw anyone wait longer than a minute or two. Kitchen/serving staff had all of our food out on schedule and were so friendly to us and our guests.

Overall, 11/10! Many guests went out of their way to tell us it was the best wedding they had ever been to and it was mainly thanks to IRENE!

Whether it was our sunny day or rain plan, Marley-Jaye Watson the coordinator at Against the Grain had us covered! She helped me plan the perfect wedding in Toronto while I was in Halifax, which was no easy feat, and was so responsive, flexible, sweet and always accommodating. She also had the best ideas and thought of everything! I could NOT recommend her or the venue enough. Oh, and the food was outstanding- everyone kept saying! Cannot say enough good things about Marley and the venue. It's picture perfect in every way, rain or shine, indoors or outdoors!!

I HIGHLY recommend Against the Grain to ANY bride and groom! Firstly, Marley who is their Director of Sales, was amazing throughout the entire process. I actually approached her for another restaurant to host the reception, but that place got booked up. She took the time to look at other restaurants that she also managed, to see which venue would fit our vision best. She was so quick to respond to all my calls, and e-mails, I never felt like I was left in the dark (and with COVID there are so many unknowns). She walked us through the entire reception planning process, and thought of details I would have never thought of myself. The best part of working with Marley, was that I always knew that my wedding was in good hands, and she always kept me updated. From the little details of menu card to the big set up, Marley and her team was able to do everything! (This means a lot to a bride, because there's already so many other things they have to worry about). Secondly, the venue Against the Grain is GORGEOUS. My guests all loved the atmosphere and the views of the night! The patio, where we had our reception, is right beside the boardwalk and oversees the lake. We didn't have to get much decor, because that view did it all for us. Thirdly, the FOOD and the Servers! My guests RAVED about the food, how great it tasted, and how big the portions were. No one went home hungry that's for sure! Even the picky eaters made a note to tell us how amazing the food was. The servers at Against the Grain were so attentive and they made sure enough staff were on site so tables wouldn't have to wait for service. It was truly the most perfect day for my husband and I. The atmosphere was romantic and laidback, while all my guests had the best time enjoying the food & drinks, and the amazing view.

I should probably mention.. my husband and I got engaged on August 2020, and we got married in October 10, 2020. Marley and the Against the Grain team was able to give us the most perfect wedding reception in less than a month's time. THAT's how good they are. I highly recommend them to any bride and groom who loves great food, great vibes and a great view!