Skip to main content
Weddings
This venue is popular with couples. Start a conversation

About

On WeddingWire since 2015

The Walper Hotel is a hotel and wedding venue located in Kitchener, Ontario. Since its inception in 1893, the hotel has been a staple of the downtown cityscape. This historic venue specializes in hosting luxurious weddings that balance style, elegance, and sophistication with the modern comforts of a contemporary full-service hotel.

The building is home to many stories that make it an exciting place to exchange vows. For example, Louis Armstrong played his trumpet off the Oak Lobby balcony and Al Capone used to run spirits from the hotel to Prohibition America. One of the terraces is named after Eleanor Roosevelt because she took her tea there and Lennox Lewis’s first boxing match took place in the ballroom. Duke Ellington, Bob Hope, James Brown, Lady Gaga, Sarah McLaughlin, and several Canadian Prime Ministers are just some of the notable figures who have frequented the hotel. To say it’s one of the most sought-after locations for an individual to host their dream wedding is an understatement!

Facilities & Capacity

From larger celebrations of up to 190 guests to smaller, more intimate gatherings, The Walper Hotel is an ideal venue for customized occasions. It offers 6,000 square feet suited to weddings. You can choose from one of their many enchanting ceremony locations, such as the grand and spacious Crystal Ballroom. It offers hardwood floors, Victorian architectural features, and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The Oak Room is rich in character thanks to dark wood panelling and oodles of charm. There is also the bright and airy Oak Lobby, with its crown moldings and antique gold chandeliers that create a sense of romance. The hotel also features:

  • Two interior courtyards
  • The restaurant, TWH Social
  • The Lokal, a cocktail lounge
  • Gym

Services Offered

The Walper Hotel’s complete wedding packages offer many services, including setup to your specifications - they create so you can celebrate! On the special day, dressing rooms are provided for your convenience. The hotel’s on-site catering services, led by a dedicated and seasoned culinary team, offer a number of customizable options for your wedding menu. Meals can be served as plated dinners, food stations, and more, and dessert options are available. Additional services include:

  • Complimentary wireless internet
  • Pet-friendly accommodation

Frequently asked questions

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

8

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet hall
Historic
Hotel
Inn/B&B
Restaurant

Describe the style of your venue:

City
Classic
Eclectic
Glamorous
Modern
Vintage

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal shower
Engagement party
Rehearsal dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bridal suite
Catering / bar
Clean up
Event rentals
Outside vendors
Set up

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash bar
Champagne toast
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Limited bar
Liquor license
Open bar
Premium liquor
Signature drink
Specialty beer
Specialty wine

What event items are available?

Altar/arches
Audio equipment
Centerpieces
Decor
Drapery
Furniture
Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair access

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,000

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Set up
Clean up
Chairs
Tables
Linens
China
Flatware
Glassware

What is the average catering price per person for plated service?

$115

What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?

$70

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$50

What is the average catering price per person for hors d'oeurves?

$10

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)
Dessert

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$25

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Limited bar
Open bar
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Bartenders
illustration notebook

Any other questions?

Reviews for Walper Hotel

Carly
Carly Sent on 02/04/2024
5 out of 5 rating

We couldn't have chosen a better venue.

If you're looking to show up, relax, get married, and enjoy your weekend, we could not have been happier with our decision to choose The Walper Hotel. It was the first and only venue we toured, and the experience was absolutely wonderful from start to finish.

We did everything in the hotel, from the rehearsal to our breakfast the morning after, and right from the time we walked into the lobby with all of our wedding stuff, we were treated like royalty. ALL of the staff were helpful and kind, they were sweet enough to upgrade our suite for the wedding, the getting ready rooms were set up the day before with steamers and water and hangers, and everything else we'd need, and that attention to detail continued through the weekend.

Caely, our event coordinator was the SWEETEST, leaving notes and gifts (including a little hangover kit!) in our room, the catering managers were amazing and ON TOP of everything on wedding day, our food and drinks were incredible, and we came down the morning after the wedding to find that all of our stuff had been corralled into one of the rooms for us to easily pack up.

They made our day flow SO smoothly, and we felt like guests, rather than hosts. If you're considering it, absolutely set up a tour.
Alison
Alison Sent on 16/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The. Best. Venue. Ever.

We originally were on the fence about whether we should elope, or have a more formal wedding at a venue. The Walper Hotel, and namely, Caely (Weddings and Social Events Sales Manager) immediately sold us on having a more formal wedding.

We had a small, intimate day where some of our guests stayed overnight the day before, and day of. We also had our rehearsal dinner the day before, and brunch the morning after, in the restaurant below (TWH).

ALL of our guests could not stop raving about how incredible the service was - they genuinely thought of every single detail.

I need to give a shout out to Caely specifically as she was incredibly accommodating, life-saving, and just so kind throughout the entire process. Wedding planning can be so stressful, and it's rare to find people that really HELP in such an overwhelming time. She went above and beyond in so many aspects and really made our day even more special.
A
Anna Sent on 02/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing!!!

The Walper was a great choice for my reception. Caely was an amazing coordinator. Having her and my day of coordinator made me feel like I had the dream team. From the start Caely did everything to help me with my budgeting. From adjusting cost to changing numbers she was beyond flexible. On the day of, the team was attentive and spot on. They did not hesitate to help and make everything very seamless. The food was amazing. The only feedback I heard from guests was that they wished there was more gravy for the beef. I was very pleased with the service I received.
Kai
Kai Sent on 19/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Historic Venue, Rich Atmosphere, Stellar Staff. Amazing Value. A treasure in downtown Kitchener!

We had been looking at venues all over the area for our smaller wedding. At the end of the day, we were looking for a space.. a vibe. And wow, does this place have it. they have a number of venues within the hotel for smaller and larger weddings- each with their own individual character. All of them warm and inviting. We were in the Oak Lobby and the Oak Room, and it was absolutely fab. Caely and her team were phenomenal! She helped us design the day that was not only within our budget, but was so much more than we imagined it could be. These people care about what they do, and we felt they cared about... us. She walked us through every detail. Melissa, the restaurant manager coordinated a sampling of the wedding food choices, and Sarah made sure we felt special. Karolina the mixologist even designed a special drink for our toast! We even got a chance to meet Laura, the General Manager of the hotel, and were truly treated like royalty. Thank you Sahil and the rest of the serving staff for your care as well. Loved that we were able to stay there for the wedding night.. and it's always fun to be in an historic place where Al Capone ran liquor! Again, thank you Caely for your expertise, attention to detail, your ideas and innovation and your heart. I realize that this review is full of superlatives, and is rather a love fest, but I'm not exaggerating... this was truly an absolutely beautiful, and wonderful experience.
Emma
Emma Sent on 16/01/2025
5 out of 5 rating

5 stars!!! What an incredible team and venue!!

I can't express how happy we are with our choice to go with the Walper for our wedding in November. The hotel and wedding team at the Walper were beyond amazing. From the moment we had our first meeting, I found they were flexible in accommodating what we needed for the day and worked so well with our different vendors. Caely, our coordinator, was a pleasure to work with, she was so so helpful through different stages of the planning and for any last minute needs or details on the day. Our guests said the food/drink and hotel were all fantastic. Aside from the planning and service, the hotel is so pretty and has a very unique vibe (the lokal bar area was a huge hit for our guests). The photos turned out great in different areas in and around the hotel! If you need a sign to book with them, here it is!
J
Josh Sent on 29/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The Most Amazing Venue

We recently had our wedding at The Walper Hotel and we cannot recommend this venue enough.

First, our wedding coordinator Caely was absolutely AMAZING. From day one Caely’s attention to detail, experience and responsiveness made her an absolute pleasure to work with. Caely helped to provide feedback and advice on many aspects of our wedding day from layouts, to flow and timelines. Come to our wedding day and Caely did a phenomenal job at coordinating all of our vendors, helping to set up and ensuring that my wife and I were able to relax and focus on our big day. We could not imagine our wedding day without Caely and we are so thankful for her and all of her work.

Not only did we have a great experience planning our wedding with The Walper but we had the most amazing wedding day. The spaces and decor in the hotel are so beautiful and all of our guests kept commenting on how beautiful the wedding spaces were. The food was also amazing - the beef short rib was especially delicious and many of our guests have commented on how much they loved the food throughout the night (whether that be hors d’oeuvres, dinner or late night snack).

Finally, all of the staff were absolutely amazing all weekend. From the front desk staff to bartenders and servers all staff went above and beyond and were amazing to deal with.

We are so happy that we chose to have our special day at The Walper and we would not change one thing about our day.

Thank you to everyone at the Walper that made our day so enjoyable!
Kiara
Kiara Sent on 23/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

5 Star Wedding Venue, Staff and Food!

I cannot emphasize enough how extraordinary this hotel and the staff are as a wedding venue. Let’s start with the venue coordinator, Caely. She went above and beyond with communication, ensuring that every detail the hotel could control, was to our liking. She’s extremely organized, accommodating and super bubbly, making her such a pleasure to work with the past 9 months. From the front desk staff (shout out to Jared who was so helpful in our check out / taking our decor out the next day) to the cleaning staff, to the wait staff and bartender who worked our wedding (unfortunately we can’t remember the bartender’s name but he worked the Noel-Mackay wedding on 09/20/2024) - everyone was so, so sweet, helpful, professional and kind. It is the EXACT service and hospitality I would expect from an establishment when you’re paying thousands of dollars for your big day - though they exceeded my expectations. The building itself is STUNNING, offering numerous rooms/spaces for photo opps, and you don’t have to do too much with decorations because the event spaces are already beautifully decorated. This was a big money saver. Lastly, the FOOD - oh my god, the food. We had so many guests come up to us, including our photographer, to tell us that that was some of the best wedding food they have ever tasted. Shout out to the chef and his braised beef short rib dish! That was the fan favourite. Thank you x a million to Caely and the Walper staff for ensuring our day went as beautifully and seamlessly as it did.
J
Jessica Sent on 20/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing time at The Walper!

If we could give The Walper 10/5 stars we would. We had an incredible wedding here. The event coordinator, Caely, was an absolute DREAM to work with. She was responsive, professional, and helped reduce any stress we had right up until the day of the wedding. Even on the day of when minor details had to be adjusted or the timeline had to be altered, there were no issues whatsover. We opted for four food stations as opposed to a sit down dinner and the food was incredible! Our guests had nothing but great things to say about the venue as well as the rest of the hotel staff who were super accommodating to them and to us. Seriously could not have asked for a better place to get married. Thank you Caely and The Walper team!
Paula
Paula Sent on 29/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Rehearsal Party - Pre wedding event and hotel stay

As parents of the groom ( who was getting married in St. Jacob's) We chose to host the rehearsal dinner at The Walper Hotel in Kitchener. It was close enough to the wedding and it has so much to offer. The biggest motivator for using The Walper was because their Wedding Planner Caely P was outstanding. She made everything easier and she was so attentive to our needs and wishes. We truly appreciated all the extra care that Carly took to assist the elderly guests who were coming to the party.
The hotel looks great and the space in the Lokal lounge was so bright and stylish. I’m sorry I didn’t take more photos to show how classy the set up was, very welcoming, and open, comfortable and modern with all the high ceilings and big windows. It was perfect for our group of 42- family members and close friends- aging from 8 yrs to 91 yrs. The staff, especially the bartender, were helpful and friendly and the food was great. We had the pasta station and BBQ station, salads and charcuterie boards, and there was more than enough food! Caely helped us choose the menu, arrange the space and she took extra time, going “over and above” to make things happen smoothly. In all, 24 family members chose to stay at The Walper for whole weekend, and we had a great post wedding breakfast on Sunday morning.
Thank you to Caely and all the food staff and hotel staff for a fantastic event and a successful weekend.
Kelly
Kelly Sent on 21/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Welcome Reception - 10/10 Experience

We hosted our Welcome Reception at The Walper a few weeks back and we were blown away by the quality of service, attention to detail, and overall delivery of the event. We worked directly with Caely to coordinate the details & she was responsive, professional, and accomodating from the get-go. Day-of, The Walper staff was absolutely wonderful to work with, the food & drinks were delicious, and the space (we rented the Lokal Lounge) was exactly what we were looking for! I highly recommend looking at The Walper for any event - large or small - you plan to host in the Kitchener/Waterloo area! Fabulous team - 10/10 experience :)
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

78
WeddingWire Wedding Awards 2016 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Walper Hotel Real Weddings

Leycee & Coleton
53 Photos · 24/Aug/2024
John & Ray
50 Photos · 21/Aug/2022
Jessica & Trevor
21 Photos · 15/Sep/2018
CANAPES
ENHANCEMENTS
APPETIZERS
MAINS + SAUCES
SIDES
DESSERT
LATE NIGHT
STANDARD BAR
PREMIUM BAR

Map

20 Queen Street South N2G 1V6 Kitchener (Ontario)
illustration visit

Would you like to visit?

Other vendors in Ontario for your wedding

Wedding Venues