Yorath House

There is something quietly moving about celebrating in a family home that has watched the river valley change for decades.

Yorath House was built in 1949 and was home to the Yorath family until 1992, when it was sold to the City of Edmonton. Believed to be one of the few remaining homes on the river flats, it now serves as one of the City's rental facilities for weddings, retreats and family events.

The house sits in Buena Vista Park, beside Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park and the Edmonton Valley Zoo, so the celebration is surrounded by the green of the river valley.

The redeveloped two-storey house includes a main floor event space, a second-floor multi-purpose room with a large terrace, a second-floor meeting room with a smaller terrace and a large outdoor event space.

Every rental includes full use of the venue. The main floor holds up to approximately 56 guests at round tables, with a break-out area of cocktail tables, while the second floor accommodates around 48 at banquet tables.

Tables and chairs are provided, along with a servery and free on-site parking. Couples bring in their own linens, dishes and audiovisual equipment, which leaves the house a blank canvas for their own style.

Catering comes from a licensed caterer of the couple's choosing, and a ProServe-certified bartender or the caterer's bartender manages the bar. A facility host is included with each rental.

Family might gather upstairs on the terrace while the main floor is set for dinner, with the park waiting just outside the door.

For couples who picture a smaller wedding with history, river valley surroundings and room to make every detail their own, Yorath House offers a home-like setting in the heart of Edmonton's parkland.