At River Café, a wedding takes place on an island in the Bow River, with a crackling stone fireplace inside and the trees of Prince's Island Park all around.
The restaurant began in the summer of 1991, when an aging park concession on Prince's Island was turned into a small seasonal café. In 1995 it was enclosed with windows and walls so it could stay open all year. The aim was a place that felt as if it had always belonged in this setting by the river.
Inside, it has the feel of an old Rocky Mountain lodge, with an open hearth fieldstone fireplace, an oven and grill fuelled by orchard wood, and a bar built from a real boat. Outside, a large terrace overlooks the lagoon and is planted mostly with native plants, with views across the park to the city skyline.
Ceremonies can be held right on site. The café seats up to 100 guests for a lunch, brunch or dinner, and holds up to 150 for a standing cocktail reception. For dancing, tables are cleared to open up a dance floor.
Menus follow the seasons and focus on regional Canadian ingredients, with vegetarian and vegan options always available and a kids menu for younger guests. Candles, table numbers, personalized menus, chalkboards and a podium with microphone are all included, and an events manager guides couples through the planning.
On cooler evenings, patio heaters and blankets keep guests comfortable outside under the market umbrellas.
For couples who picture a lodge by the river, a fire glowing and the park in every season outside the windows, River Café offers a wedding that feels like a peaceful escape in the heart of Calgary.
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