Hamilton wedding venues and the photo booth

Hamilton has some of the most interesting wedding venues in the region, and a lot of them were built for something else first. That is great for photos. It also means every venue has its own quirks for a photo booth: dark rooms, brick walls, old wiring, stairs. This guide walks through the main kinds of Hamilton venue, with real examples, and what each means for the booth. It is not a list of places we have worked.

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 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 about 45 minutes before your booked hours start. Most couples open the booth as dessert clears and run it into the dancing, and three hours from that point covers most weddings.

Converted factories and industrial spaces

The Spice Factory on Hughson Street North is an 1889 building over three floors, with exposed brick throughout. The Cotton Factory on Sherman Avenue North is a converted industrial complex with large open rooms and a rustic interior.

These rooms are often dim, and that is where the camera matters. Our booth uses a DSLR with studio strobes, so the flash freezes movement and lights faces evenly even when the room is lit by string lights. The white backdrop also gives the photos a clean look against the brick. Ask about stairs and freight access, because multi-floor venues sometimes put the reception upstairs.

Historic halls and landmark buildings

LIUNA Station on James Street North is a former train station turned into a grand event venue. Dundurn Castle on York Boulevard is a historic Italianate mansion with gardens. Ancaster Old Town Hall on Wilson Street East is a restored 19th-century hall with high ceilings and large windows, suited to smaller weddings. McMaster Alumni House on Main Street West mixes older architecture with green space.

Big historic rooms usually have plenty of floor. The question is where the venue allows equipment and how the power runs. Older buildings can have fewer outlets in the spots you would want, so ask the coordinator to point to one within 25 feet of where the booth will go.

Ancaster, Dundas and the escarpment

Ancaster Mill on Old Dundas Road has historic buildings, landscaped gardens and a real waterfall, plus a smaller 1812 Room for intimate weddings. Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club has a clubhouse above the course with views over the valley. Knollwood Golf and Country Club in Ancaster offers a barn and a marquee tent as well as the clubhouse.

At these venues the ceremony and photos often happen outdoors and the reception moves inside or under a tent. The booth goes with the reception. Under a marquee it needs to be sheltered from rain and out of direct sun, with the stands weighted on uneven ground, which we handle.

On the water

The Lakeview by Carmen's on Van Wagners Beach Road has a second-floor ballroom with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. The Waterfront Centre on Bay Street North sits beside the marina. Along the lake in Stoney Creek, The Edgewater Manor is a 1920 mansion on the shore.

Waterfront ballrooms are usually straightforward. The one thing to check is the elevator or loading route to a second-floor room, so load-in does not clash with the caterer.

Barns and farms around Hamilton

Out in Flamborough and Dundas there are farm venues like Earth to Table Farm in Millgrove, with a large barn on farmland, and Dyment's Glen Drummond Farm in Dundas, with a barn and a century-old farmhouse. Barns photograph well and run late. Power is the thing to ask about first. If the barn runs on a generator, tell us, and we will confirm the booth can share it.

Questions to ask your Hamilton venue

• Where can a 10 by 10 foot booth go, and is there a 120V outlet within 25 feet?
• Which floor is the reception on, and is there an elevator or loading door?
• Is power from the building or a generator?
• 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. Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas and Stoney Creek are inside our included travel area. Every attended package includes the attendant, unlimited prints, your names and date on the strip, and setup and teardown. See the packages page for the full list and our Hamilton photo booth page for more on the city.

Planning the rest of it? The wedding photo booth checklist covers timing and guest book ideas, and the weddings page covers the rest.

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