Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

High above downtown Halifax, stone walls and grassy ramparts set the scene. Here, a wedding day becomes part of a much longer story.

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, operated by Parks Canada, hosts weddings both outdoors within the fort and inside its historic rooms, with indoor events possible year-round.

For large celebrations, the Parade Square can be tented for a private wedding of up to approximately 1,000 guests. Tents of up to 120 by 80 feet can be set up there, with events from May to October.

More intimate ceremonies can take place on the grassy ramparts behind the North Magazine, a quiet spot for exchanging vows.

Indoors, the Garrison Room is a converted powder magazine with brick walls, period paintings and woodwork. The North Front Casemates, former soldiers' barracks, offer vaulted ceilings, fireplaces and in-floor lighting, while the Soldiers' Library and Coffee Bar feels historic and intimate.

The indoor venue is fully licensed and can provide catering to suit the occasion, from light hors d'oeuvres to a four-course dinner.

Couples can also add a touch of living history by arranging for a kilted soldier, a bagpiper or a drummer dressed in authentic period clothing. Photography throughout the site is possible with a permit, and after-hours photography can be arranged.

For couples who want vows, bagpipes and a celebration surrounded by living history, Halifax Citadel National Historic Site offers a Halifax wedding unlike any other.