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About

On WeddingWire since 2019

Last update: April 2024

Waterfront Park is an elegant wedding venue located in Calgary, Alberta. Featuring beautiful indoor rooms and picturesque outdoor spaces, this versatile venue can accommodate events of many sizes and styles. Located at the Bow River Valley on the shore of a private lake and boasts many idyllic areas for your special day.

Facilities and Capacity

With its tranquil water features and vibrant greenery, Waterfront Park provides a stunning backdrop for your outdoor weddings. The grounds feature Waterfront Belvedere perched on the edge of the lake where you can tie the knot with your beloved. This location provides a stunning backdrop for photo opportunities and can accommodate 250 guests for your nuptials. Alternatively, you can host your event in the Lakeside Theatre, which boasts 5,000 square feet of contemporary space, including a private bar and attached patio. This spacious function room is suitable for 250 seated guests or up to 350 cocktail-style. If you are holding an intimate gathering, Valleyview Terrace and Fireside Lounge may be ideal for you. The rustic setting can comfortably seat 125 attendees for dinner, making it perfect for smaller celebrations. A massive copper hearth serves as the room’s main focal point, while exposed beams lend a rustic, cozy element to its atmosphere. Both indoor event spaces feature large windows that offer spectacular views of the water and surroundings. Our crown jewel is The Waterfront Pavilion which is available from May to September. This 40-foot by 100-foot clearspan tent comes with flooring, five-foot round tables, white resin chairs, lounge furniture, chandeliers and an eight-foot patio overlooking our lagoon.

Services Offered

The staff at Waterfront Park is a dedicated bunch and will put their best foot forward to help you realize your dream wedding. They will help with the setup, cleanup, and can even provide event rentals. We aim to make our venue as turn-key as possible and have in-house catering, bar, decor, flowers, and more! There is ample parking space and a shuttle can be arranged for added convenience.

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Contact Waterfront Park and their preferred vendors

Waterfront Park
Sharon Barwick Weddings
Nicole.Field Photography

Frequently asked questions

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

We have 2 indoor spaces, 1 tent, and an outdoor ceremony area

Describe your venue:

Ballroom

Country club

Historic

Park/zoo

Describe the style of your venue:

City

Classic

Country

Eclectic

Garden

Modern

Rustic

Vintage

Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Covered outdoor

Indoor

Uncovered outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony

Reception

Bridal shower

Engagement party

Rehearsal dinner

What event services do you offer?

Catering / bar

Clean up

Event planning

Event rentals

Lighting / sound

Set up

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet

Cocktail reception

Dessert

Family style

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?

Aisle markers

Aisle runners

Altar/arches

Audio equipment

Centerpieces

Chair covers

Dance floor

Decor

Drapery

Furniture

Lighting

Photobooth

Chairs

Tables

Tent accessories

Tents

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?

$3,500

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

$3,500

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

Parking

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

$75

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

$90

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$85

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

$25

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

Cake cutting

Server(s)

Dessert

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

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

Limited bar

Reviews

Write a review

4.2 out of 5 rating

9 reviews

Quality of service
4.1 out of 5 rating
Response time
4.1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.1 out of 5 rating
Value
4.2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.6 out of 5 rating

77% Recommended by couples

+8 User photos

Selena Sent on 02/10/2022

2 out of 5 rating

Great venue, horrible professionalism

I am saddened to be writing this review, after seeing so many positive ones. Unfortunately my experience with Simply Elegant has not been a pleasant one.
I had my wedding at Waterfront Park, hosted by Simply Elegant. It was the only day in August that there decided to be a rain storm. The staff at Simply Elegant worked very hard to get my event moved inside, after having set up outdoors like originally planned and paid for. I commend the staff for all their hard work in doing this. I am also grateful to the Shriners for allowing us to use the unrented space inside on last minute notice.
Weather aside, as that was only one very small problem in a circle of bigger problems.
Our wedding day naturally did not go as planned, but at the end of the day, we were paying for a service to be provided. Simply Elegant was in charge of hosting our event, and essentially were wedding planners for my special day. The communication throughout the entire 9 months leading up to the wedding was very minimal. It was not a smooth and stress free process. The day of the event, there was zero communication between staff at Simply Elegant and myself, or our contacts. The ceremony was supposed to be an organized process, where they would be letting me know exactly when to drive down and when to come into the building etc. in actuality, this process was a disaster, no one was in contact with us and I had no idea where to go. Yes, they worked hard to set up our space inside, BUT weather is no excuse for delivering a bad service to myself, the day of my wedding. I did not deserve to get a bad service, just because it was raining and the staff was in crisis mode.
The staff was not friendly, they did not smile or say hello to any guests. There was one bartender, and it was her second shift, and she was lovely, so friendly and always smiling, but besides that, you could tell the staff did not want to be there. Again, I am sure they were exhausted from their hard work moving everything indoors, but again, that is not an excuse for delivering us bad service.
The food was cold, and simply not what we ordered at our tasting. At the tasting, the food was presented beautifully, and was delicious. And I am saddened that it was not the same food presented at our actual event. Having cold food, and wrong food from what we ordered, cannot be excused by the weather. Had the event been outside like originally planned, the food still would not have been what we ordered, and would still have been cold.
I had originally posted a review about my experience, while we awaited a refund from Simply Elegant that was promised to us for our bad experience. After waiting a couple days with no refund received, I called and spoke to Robert myself. He indicated that if we wanted our refund, I was going to have to delete my Google review. Although I did not feel this was ethical, I deleted my review as I was asked. I was told our refund would be processed within 24 hours. We had guests that were unhappy with our event and how the situation was handled so they decided to write a negative review. We are not responsible for what other people do, nor are we going to contact our guests and tell them they aren’t allowed to share their opinions and experience just so we can get our money back. A couple more days go by, still no refund and Robert now indicates that our guests need to remove the review before we will get a refund.
I am very thankful for all the hard work Simply Elegant put into trying to make my special day perfect, however, I am still disappointed for the zero accountability taken for their wrongdoings. The weather was an unfortunate thing, but the weather should not have created havoc in all other aspects of my wedding, such as the organization, customer service and quality of the food.
It is simply impossible for a company to host a 10/10 experience every time, it is only natural that mistakes will happen and people will be left unhappy, all I am asking for, is for Simply Elegant to admit their wrongdoings, and provide the refund that they promised.

Kimberly E. Sent on 04/07/2021

1 out of 5 rating

Untrustworthy

We were bullied by Simply Elegant in to cancelling our contract. We have our event booked at Waterfront Parks (original venue at Skyline which apparently closed according to Simply Elegant) for July 2021 and they told us around 20 days before our event that there was a scheduling conflict so we cannot have the venue anymore on the date that we're suppose to have our event.

They offered us a refund of the venue cost if we move our date, or move us to Venue 308 or Brownstone but with no compensation for the trouble, or full refund to cancel our event. We don't understand how they can double book the venue and choose to kick us out instead. Either they accidentally double booked or a bigger client wanted our date so Simply Elegant chose to boot us out, which was a clear breach of contract.

We wanted a refund before (even just 75% of our money back) but they won't let us which I understood because we signed a contract but we asked them anyway just in case they will allow it. But for them to spring the news to us that we will not get the Waterfront Park venue 20 days before our event was so shady. They told us that there was a conflict with the Shriners which was a lie because we checked the Shriners website and they do not have an event at that venue on our date.

We were left scrambling and we felt cheated and bullied by this company. We would be okay with them moving us to a different venue if they would just refund us the venue cost but they did not budge. They didn't even try to meet us halfway, they did not want to negotiate.

We were suppose to have a skyline view, then they moved us to Waterfront Park which would have given us a lake view (so comparable to our original venue), but now they wanted to move us to another venue with no view - so we felt they should at least compensate us. Changing our date was not an option given how late it is already for us to ask our other vendors and our guests if they can work with that.

We chose to support them during the pandemic but as soon as everything opened up, they chose to screw us over.

I am 6 months pregnant and the emotional distress they have put me through is unbelievable - especially for a company that is supposed to be a champion in hospitality and client service.

We decided to deal directly with the venue that they were going to move us to as I couldn't imagine them still holding our event after how they treated us. As soon as I told them that we would opt for the full refund (after us trying to negotiate and them not making any counteroffers), they told me that they will mail me the cheque - knowing full well that we need the money right away so we can pay the new venue and new caterer. There was no sense of urgency on their end. When we paid them they were etransferred so they received our money instantly, and for the refund they wanted to just mail the cheque. We ended up picking up the cheque and that's how our relationship with them ended.

They're probably just going to delete this review....

Awards

Waterfront Park Real Weddings

Peter & Patricia

69 Photos · 10/Aug/2019

WHITE WINES
DOMAINE DE PELLEHAUT BLANC $35.00
JOSEPH DROUHIN MACON VILLAGES $48.00
PAUL JABOULET AINE PARALLELE 45 BLANC COTES DU RHONE $44.00
BALTHASAR RESS RIESLING, RHEINGAU $42.00
SIRIUS BORDEAUX BLANC $45.00
RICASOLI ALBIA BIANCA TOSCANA $46.00
SARTORI PINOT GRIGIO $45.00
CUNE MONOPOLE WHITE $38.00
BALTHASAR HATTENHEIMER SCHUTZENHAUS RIESLING, RHEINGAU $53.00
LUIGI BOSCA FINCA LA LINDA SWEET VIOGNIER $37.00
OXFORD LANDING CHARDONNAY $35.00
YALUMBA ORGANIC CHARDONNAY $45.00
TWIN ISLANDS SAUVIGNON BLANC $43.00
SACRED HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC $48.00
BUENA VISTA NORTH COAST CHARDONNAY $50.00
HENRY OF PELHAM RIESLING VQA $48.00
SIBLING RIVALRY WHITE VQA $42.00
DIRTY LAUNDRY VINEYARDS SAY YES PINOT GRIS VQA $56.00
JOSEPH DROUHIN CHABLIS DOMAINE DE VAUDON AOC $79.00
LE G DE CHATEAU GUIRAUD BORDEAUX BLANC $69.00
VIBERTI PIEMONTE CHARDONNAY DOC$59.00
JOSEPH DROUHIN POUILLY FUISSE $84.00

ROSE
L’OPALINE PROVENCE ROSE $48.00
GERARD BERTRAND COTE DES ROSES ROSE $59.00

RED WINES
DOMAINE DE PELLEHAUT ROUGE $36.00
JOSEPH DROUHIN BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES $46.00
PAUL JABOULET AINE PARALLELE 45 ROUGE COTES DU RHONE $44.00
SIRIUS BORDEAUX ROUGE $45.00
RICASOLI BARONE CHIANTI DOCG $42.00
SARTORI VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO $45.00
PAOLOLEO PRIMITIVO SALENTO IGP $38.00
CUNE CRIANZA TEMPRANILLO $42.00
LUIGI BOSCA FINCA LA LINDA OLD VINE MALBEC $43.00
OXFORD LANDING CABERNET SAUVIGNON $33.00
YALUMBA ORGANIC SHIRAZ $45.00
OPAWA PINOT NOIR $56.00
SACRED HILL PINOT NOIR $52.00
BUENA VISTA NORTH COAST CABERNET SAUVIGNON $55.00
HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR VQA $48.00
SIBLING RIVALRY RED VQA $42.00
DIRTY LAUNDRY VINEYARDS DANGEROUS LIASONS VQA $59.00
SARTORI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOC $99.00
PAUL JABOULET AINE CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE LES CEDRES $80.00
VIBERTI BAROLO BUON PADRE DOCG $119.00

PORT
FONSECA BIN 27 RESERVE PORT $54.00
TAYLOR LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2012 $59.00
TAYLOR 10 YEAR OLD TAWNY PORT $75.00
IMPORT BEERS
STELLA ARTOIS, HEINEKEN, CORONA $6.25
DOMESTIC BEERS
MOLSON CANADIAN, ALEXANDER KEITHS, BUDWEISER, COORS LITE $5.75

LOCAL BEERS
VILLAGE BLONDE, VILLAGE BLACKSMITH, BIG ROCK GRASS HOPPER, TRADITIONAL $6.75

Buffet Menus

Casual Buffet Menu 1
Chicken Breast Herbed (5oz)
Natural pan jus
Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes
Roasted fresh vegetable medley
Mandarin Berry Almond Spinach Salad
Raspberry vinaigrette
Trio of Sesame Kaiser, Piccolo & Grainy Rye Buns
compound butter
Mini Confections
a sweet array of scrumptious cakes, sinful brownies and irresistible squares
Fresh Brewed Single Origin Coffee
Herbal Tea
$67.21 per person (based on 150 guests)

Standard Buffet Menu 1
AAA Black Angus Alberta Beef Brisket Point Pot Roast
smoked in-house caramelized peppered onions
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
thyme, parsley, bacon, chives, sour cream
Fennel Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted fresh vegetable medley
Hand Torn Caesar Salad
garlic croutons & Asiago
Summer Artisan Greens
red wine vinaigrette
Trio of Sesame Kaiser, Piccolo & Grainy Rye Buns
compound butter
Mini Confections
a sweet array of scrumptious cakes, sinful brownies and irresistible squares
Fresh Brewed Single Origin Coffee
Herbal Tea
$76.40 per person (based on 150 guests)

Standard Buffet Menu 2
Dry Rubbed AAA Aged Black Angus Beef
Red wine & thyme au jus, horseradish
Braised Boneless Chicken Thigh
Natural pan jus
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Bomba Honey Roasted Carrots
Fennel Roasted Cauliflower
Hand Torn Caesar Salad
garlic croutons & Asiago
Spinach & Arugula Salad
cranberries, toasted almonds
Trio of Sesame Kaiser, Piccolo & Grainy Rye Buns
compound butter
Mini Confections
a sweet array of scrumptious cakes, sinful brownies and irresistible squares
Fresh Brewed Single Origin Coffee
Herbal Tea

$87.25 per person (based on 150 guests)

MENUS INCLUDE: Service staff site manager (1), servers (1/35 guests), and cooks (1/75 guests), dinner fork and knife, dessert fork, teaspoon, dessert plate, dinner plate, water glass, coffee mug, serving utensils and chafing dishes.

Based on 150 guests, cost will change depending on guest count and final staff hours necessary to complete your event. Operational Services Fee 18% and GST will be added to all prices quoted. Gratuity is not included.

Sit Down

Meet the team

Jade Gandasubrata

Event Production and Design

Jade has been active in event planning for both corporate and private functions since early 2006. In addition to years of related experience, Jade has pursued additional professional training and is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s Event Planner Certificate program. She continues to learn and build her event planning and management skills by interacting and consulting with other event professionals and peers. Her combination of creativity – anchored in many years in fashion design – energy, and experience contributes to Jade’s unique and thoughtful event designs.