Hotel Arts Kensington

At Hotel Arts Kensington, a wedding feels like a private party in a small art-filled hotel, with a fire glowing in the lounge and the downtown skyline across the Bow River.

This 19-room boutique hotel sits in Calgary's Kensington neighbourhood, overlooking the river with views toward downtown. The Peace Bridge, Prince's Island Park and the Bow River pathways are only moments away, which makes for easy strolls and photos before the celebration.

Couples can hold the ceremony, the reception and the dinner here. A south-facing patio looks out over the city, and the fireside lounge offers a warm, elegant room for gathering the people closest to them.

The dining room seats up to 34 for dinner. With a full buyout of the hotel, including all 19 guest rooms and suites, receptions can grow to 90 guests, with up to 56 seated for dinner.

Food comes from the hotel's own award-winning restaurant. Menus can be shaped with the chef, from passed canapés or a five-course dinner to late-night bites, with wines chosen from the hotel cellar. Catering, décor and audiovisual equipment are all looked after by the team.

Wedding guests have exclusive use of the stylish, design-led guest rooms and suites, many with views of the city skyline, so a celebration can easily stretch into a whole weekend.

For couples who picture an intimate evening by the fire with river and skyline views, Hotel Arts Kensington offers a small, personal wedding that feels like having a boutique hotel all to themselves.