Fort Commons - Urban Wedding Venue in Victoria BC

Dec 10

Written By kim jay

Bright and airy, urban yet very private, the Fort Common feels like a secret find in the heart of downtown. One of Victoria’s coolest wedding venues, this open-air courtyard in the city centre is perfectly suited for couples seeking to have full creative direction for their day. Available for gatherings between June through until mid-September (Saturdays only), unique wedding venues like this are perfect for personalizing your celebration.

Make your mark. Lovely Edison lighting is strung up across the courtyard, to cast a warm glow on your guests; and, while patio furniture and umbrellas are included in the rental (and two inclusive washrooms are available), all other details are up to you! This might be a place where you get a wedding planner to help you pull off your vision.

The Fort Common feels intimate for a few without being cramped for a crowd. Guests find their way down a bright alleyway to the courtyard enclosure. The red brick walls create a nice sense of distance from the outside world while standing as a fantastic backdrop for photos no matter which direction you’re shooting in (a photographer’s dream!). The space is malleable, depending on your type and style of celebration; cocktail receptions can be up to as many as 200 people, while a sit-down dinner would top out around 140 guests. Check out this stunning fall wedding, that had 120 guests.

There’s no catering available from the Fort Common owners, however, a few businesses on the perimeter of the courtyard are happy to provide choice food services conveniently out their backdoor. A number of local caterers have worked in the Fort Commons and are well-acquainted with the facilities.

Note that the courtyard does have a curfew on its celebration hours, and the venue does need to be cleared out by midnight. Thankfully, the great location downtown makes moving the afterparty (or back to the hotel) anywhere else a cinch!