Burlington wedding venues and the photo booth

Burlington is where Aura is based, so we get asked about local venues a lot. This is not a ranking and it is not a list of places we have worked. It is a plain guide to the kinds of wedding venue you will find in Burlington, with a few real examples of each, and what each kind means for where a photo booth goes, how much room it needs and when it should open.

What every venue needs for a booth

About 10 feet by 10 feet of floor and a standard 120V outlet within 25 feet. That covers the booth, the studio light, the white backdrop and a small prop table. The outlet matters more than people expect. If the only one near your preferred spot is already running the DJ, ask the venue whether there is another circuit close by. The full rundown, with ceilings, outdoor setups and a checklist to send your venue, is in how much space a photo booth needs.

We set up before your booked hours start, about 45 minutes, so you get every minute you pay for. Most couples open the booth as dessert clears and run it into the dancing. Three hours from that point covers most weddings.

Lakefront estates and heritage houses

Burlington's lakeshore has some of the most photographed wedding venues in the region. Paletta Mansion on Lakeshore Road is a three-storey heritage house on a 14-acre lakefront property. LaSalle Banquet Centre sits on Burlington Bay off North Shore Boulevard, in a 19th-century building. David Springer Estate on Dundas Street is a historic house on about five acres of grounds, with listings putting it at roughly 85 to 200 guests.

Heritage rooms tend to be smaller and full of character, which is great for photos and harder for floor space. A 10 by 10 corner is usually there, but it may be in a hallway, a side room or the tent rather than the main room. Ask the coordinator early, because these venues often have set spots for things like a booth or a dessert table. If you are outside, the booth needs cover and shade. A tent or covered terrace works. Direct sun on the backdrop makes every photo worse.

Waterfront restaurants and hotels

Spencer's at the Waterfront on Lakeshore Road is a glass-walled restaurant beside the lake, with listings giving roughly 10 to 120 guests. The Pearle Hotel and Spa on Elizabeth Street is a newer downtown waterfront hotel with on-site rooms. The Waterfront Boutique Venue, also on Lakeshore Road, lists capacity up to about 220.

Restaurant and hotel rooms are usually laid out tight around the tables. The booth works best near the bar or on the way to the dance floor, where people pass anyway. An open-air booth with no curtain fits these rooms well because it does not read as a big box in the corner. In a smaller room, the white backdrop can sit against a wall, which saves a few feet.

Banquet halls and the convention centre

For bigger guest lists, Burlington has proper banquet space. The Burlington Convention Centre on Burloak Drive has several rooms and is listed for groups of up to 1,200. Atrium Banquet Centre on North Service Road has three private rooms and lists 30 to 500 guests.

These rooms make the booth easy: a lot of floor, good power and a long reception. The thing to watch is guest count. Over about 200 guests, book four hours or half the room will miss it. An extra hour is $150.

Gardens, golf clubs and galleries

The Royal Botanical Gardens on Plains Road West is Canada's largest botanical garden and has several event spaces. Burlington Golf and Country Club lists receptions of up to about 240 guests with views over the course, and Indian Wells Golf Club in north Burlington also hosts weddings. The Art Gallery of Burlington has modern interiors and an outdoor courtyard, with listings up to about 250.

At garden and golf venues, the ceremony and photos often happen outside and the reception moves in. Put the booth inside, near the reception room, even if the day is beautiful. At a gallery, ask which walls and floors are off limits. The booth has a small footprint and needs nothing fixed to a wall.

Questions to ask your Burlington venue

• Where can a 10 by 10 foot booth go, and is there a 120V outlet within 25 feet?
• Is that outlet on the same circuit as the DJ or band?
• When can vendors load in, and where do they park?
• Is there an indoor backup if the reception is outdoors?
• Does the venue want a certificate of insurance from vendors? We send one if so.

What it costs

Essential is $550 for 2 hours, Signature is $650 for 3 hours and is the one most couples book, and Ultimate is $800 for 4 hours. An extra hour is $150. The digital self-operated booth is $350 for 2 hours in Burlington, Oakville and Waterdown. All plus HST. Burlington is inside our included travel area, so there is no travel fee anywhere in the city. Every attended package includes the attendant, unlimited prints, the custom strip with your names and date, and setup and teardown. Full detail is on the packages page, and there is more on Burlington itself on our Burlington photo booth page.

Planning the rest of the day? The wedding photo booth checklist covers timing, guest book ideas and backdrop lead times, and the weddings page has the rest.

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