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About

On WeddingWire since 2018

Last update: February 2024

Carmens is the perfect venue for unforgettable wedding ceremonies and receptions, elegant galas, and sophisticated social events. Able to accommodate up to 800 guests, our ballrooms are a perfect blend of classic and modern design – a blank canvas suitable for any event type or style preference. The versatility of the space, combined with our all-inclusive packages and culinary offerings, provides endless possibilities for your next special occasion or event.

Carmens Event Centre is one of the most popular venues in Hamilton for hosting lavish, elegant events and weddings. Offering spacious interiors, sumptuous cuisines and boasting an inviting ambience, Carmens Event Centre located 45 minutes from both Toronto and Niagara, is easily accessible from the highway. The venue, which opened its doors in 1987, till date has hosted thousands of events. Carmens Event Centre features multiple function areas suitable for big and small events and personalized services for planning a unique celebration.

Facilities and capacity

Carmens Event Centre has four exquisite, multi-purpose ballrooms that can easily accommodate an event of up to 800 people. The halls feature towering 28-foot ceilings, a two-storey foyer space, a mezzanine for cocktail receptions, hardwood flooring, and sparkling chandeliers.

Services offered

The venue boasts three decades of impressive hospitality. Famous for excellent catering service, with inspired menus, Carmens Event Centre offers dedicated services with a great team, for perfectly planning your event.

Frequently asked questions

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet hall

Describe the style of your venue:

Classic
Glamorous
Vintage

What kind of settings are available?

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?

Accommodations
Bridal suite
Cake
Catering / bar
Clean up
Event planning
Lighting / sound
Outside vendors
Set up

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail reception
Dessert
Family style
French service
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
Liquor license
Open bar
Premium liquor
Signature drink
Specialty wine

What event items are available?

Altar/arches
Audio equipment
Centerpieces
Dance floor
Decor
Drapery
Lighting
Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Chocolate fountain
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?

$8,500

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

$8,500

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?

$1,250

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

$1,250

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Set up
Clean up
Event planning
Chairs
Tables
Linens
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/sound
Parking
Bridal suite

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

$74

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

$74

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$74

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

$74

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

Server(s)
Dessert
Wedding cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$20

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

Open bar
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Signature drink
Bartenders
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Any other questions?

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4.6 out of 5 rating
57 reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    4.4 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.7 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.7 out of 5 rating
87% Recommended by couples
Katrina
Katrina Sent on 15/01/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Ceremony and reception site

We booked Carmen's for our ceremony and reception and were so happy we did! They were within the budget we were looking for and they included so much more than we expected! The food, an open bar, the cake, the DJ, the hotel honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding, decorations, centerpieces.. I barely had to life a finger! (In fact I didn't lift a finger the day of the wedding!)
We met with Hector in 2021 just after getting engaged and he was very pleasant to work with. He gave us a tour of the venue space and on overview of all the packages and what they would include. We were lucky to visit on a day they were setting up a wedding so we got a sense of what it would look like for our day and it was beautiful.
We booked our wedding date for two years later so we really didn't have much to communicate the first year. Throughout the year leading up to our wedding we were in touch with Taylor and she was lovely. She answered every question we had and worked with us to create our vision. They were very professional through the entire planning process.
The day of the ceremony began right at the start time and in hindsight I should have asked that they give the guests a five minute window to trickle in as some people were still entering the hall when I was about to walk down the aisle, no big deal.
They quickly disassembled the ceremony space and opened up the reception area fairly quickly for the guests to enter. The DJ played all the music we requested, and we opted for the upgraded lighting system which was definitely worth it. (It allowed us to have a spotlight for our dances and it had moving lights around the room to at to the ambience).
The food was amazing. There was so much I couldn't even eat everything I wanted to!
The staff always checked in with us to make sure we had everything we needed and got us drinks from the bar so we didn't have to leave the head table too much during dinner.
Our coordinator Faye kept checking in on us as well to ensure everything was running smoothly and to keep our speeches running smooth and on time.
The cake was gorgeous and delicious! We didn't get to eat a full piece, just the small bit we fed each other but we have the top tier frozen and waiting for us to enjoy at our one year anniversary!
They provided a late night buffet which was a hit! They provided pizza, BBQ sliders, and poutine!
The bar staff was extremely friendly as well.
It was really a fantastic experience and I would recommend Carmen's to anyone getting married in Hamilton!
Monika
Monika D. Sent on 31/05/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend

My fiancé and I are getting married at Carmen's Banquet Centre in August 26, 2023, and let me tell you, the experience has been amazing so far. Working with Hector has been so amazing. We've encountered some personal issues but Hector was relentless to give us a good experience and be flexible to out situation. Highly recommend.
Christopher
Christopher R. Sent on 28/01/2024
5 out of 5 rating

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding day!

The staff at Carmen's from start to finish of our entire wedding process were so wonderful to us. We got married on our dream day in September of 2023 and every request was very easily accommodated. The food was delicious, and especially so for our guests with dietary restrictions. The venue is so charming and stunning and Carmen's just KNOWS weddings. Cannot recommend their services enough for your big day, as the photogenic venue, the acoustics, the outdoor ceremony terrace, the wonderful staff all contributed to making our perfect day possible. You won't regret hiring Carmen's!
Alex
Alex A. Sent on 19/09/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Dominika to save the day!

Our experience with Carmen’s was phenomenal, Dominika was absolutely the best! She was there until the last minute and never rushed us, even when our florist left without finishing up our cake , Dominika went and did the cake herself to ensure we had everything we dreamed of, talk about going above and beyond!

I will absolutely recommend Carmen’s to all my friends that are or will become engaged!

Thank you Carmen’s for hosting such a beautiful day!
Keily
Keily L. Sent on 24/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Amazing!

I had an amazing day! Carmens went above and beyond for us!! Very attentive, the maître d was absolutely amazing!! The servers were Soo nice and made sure we were well taken care of! All my guest would not stop talking about how much fun they had and of course they loved the bar! Our signature drink was the highlight of the night! If you are looking for a place to get married and almost everything included , the best people .. Carmens is the place to go! Thank you for an amazing night!
Judith
Judith A. Sent on 08/05/2023
1.8 out of 5 rating

Disappointing Experience

First I’d like to talk about the good…the food, cake, waitstaff were all were great! The venue is beautiful and the wedding packages are excellent. Miko, our Maitre’D was amazing. He was accommodating and attentive. He made us feel welcomed and comfortable. Really, a special thanks to those listed above they made the event what it was along with our external vendors. If it was based on these elements alone I would give a higher rating. They deserve 5 stars.

We do thank the set up team , the following is just a reflection of management and who ever is actually in charge. (We actually have no idea who is we weren’t able to get their information.)

The bad…up until the last week before the wedding (which would be the most important week) everything was fine.

But then things got sour. The coordinator Taylor gave us an unnecessarily hard time with a fairly simple change that in the end we got done ourselves on the day of the wedding. The worst part is she did not even TRY to solve the issue we had.

We just needed 4 tables to be switched around. We had forgot to make this change earlier due to all that we had going on (wedding and closing on our home at the exact same time) We were more than willing to pay the fee for last minute changes because we understood we were past the deadline and it wasn’t like we were adding a whole new table or something crazy.

Apparently, it was too much work for her to execute. Taylor made it seem like it was a huge task that could not be done and complained that it needed to be re-set and kept saying she could not assist. My husband asked to get in contact with upper management multiple times to get the issue resolved because we really needed it done but she never gave us that info. Note: he had to go back and forth with her through email to even allow us to get it done ourselves. He told her he would willing do it himself if it had to be done since her and her team could not assist.

It’s ridiculous that this could not have been resolved 3 days prior. We weren’t asking for the change to be done the day of the wedding. We couldn’t understand why it couldn’t be done because to our knowledge there was going to be a room flip anyway as the ceremony and reception was suppose to be in the same room. But lo and behold, it was not communicated to us that the ceremony would be in a completely different room until we mentioned the had the issue of needing tables moved.

On the day of the wedding my husband, best man and a couple my cousins ended up switching the four tables around in 5 minutes. By lifting the tables and switching them without disturbing the place setting. Easily.

The day of the wedding Taylor did not greet us, see how we were doing or even congratulate us (after working with her for 4 months I just think that was was strange? Maybe that’s just me)

Also, there seemed to be zero communication between staff from the decor drop off day and wedding day staff. We still had a couple of things to bring back on the day of the wedding (Friday) because we did not receive everything on time for decor drop off (Monday). I’m not sure how a lot of things were missed as the staff member on decor drop off day wrote down 2 pages of instruction notes.

Day of wedding a staff member was under stress and venting to my brother and cousin when they came by to drop of the rest of our items and told them that they were dropping things into her lap last minute. It was unprofessional because it’s not our issue that staff is not communicating properly as it was always planned that decor items were going to be dropped off the day of the wedding. It was a little chaotic, decor items were not put in the correct spot, led candles were not turned on, among other things. When coming down for the ceremony I turned on a neon light we had set up myself because it was not done.

We wanted to enjoy the cocktail hour but found it hard to do so as these errors were annoying to correct and deal with when we arrived. It’s bad when the venue creates the stress on your day instead of relieving you of it.

During cocktail hour lines were very long for drinks.
I don’t believe 1 bartender was sufficient for 140 guests and not enough passed hor d’oeuvres.

There were a lot of other issues and I can’t pin point everything but just wanted to get the main points out. And I’m aware that not everything is going to go perfect but some of it was a mess. And some of the team need to find better ways to communicate and execute.

I never leave negative reviews and don’t let a lot of things bother me but when you’re spending THOUSANDS of dollars it’s unacceptable.

These things did not completely ruin our wedding, but there are definitely improvements to be made. I just wish we had a better experience.

Sabrina
Sabrina I. Sent on 17/10/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The all in one, perfect venue for any event

My husband and I got married at Carmen's on October 14th and we could not have been more pleased with them! I was blown away when I found out almost everything was included - decor (although I upgraded to some premium options cause I'm extra lol), cake, DJ, food, our night of suite, bar (8 hours and open during dinner too!) and so much more! Carmen's helped to ease a lot of our stress as everything was kind of all in one place, not to mention the venue is stunning! I had a few coordinators over the time I was dealing with Carmen's (we had to push due to Covid so the wedding was a 2+ year process to plan) but each and every person I dealt with was kind, patient and so helpful. For the day of I ended up dealing with Pam and she was incredible! Even as the night was ending and she approached me with some things to be done while I was completely inebriated, she was still so patient and helpful. If you are considering Carmen's for your big day, this is your sign to DO IT! Thank you so much to everyone on the Carmen's team for making our day so special ❤️
Alassadi
Douaa Sent on 07/11/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing experience

Our wedding was amazing with the help of Brian he's an amazing person he made sure we were happy and delivered everything we asked for, and made sure our day went well. It was magical. Service was very good, food was amazing.
Lyndsay
Lyndsay W. Sent on 18/09/2022
4.8 out of 5 rating

Carmen's brought our vision to life!

Carmen's was the first of many wedding venues that we visited the summer of 2020. Its stunning interior, high ceilings, staircases, and gold accents stood out to me and set an extremely high bar for our classic glam wedding. Despite touring several venues from Hamilton to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Carmen's was the one that never left my mind.

Carmen’s is THE one-stop shop for your wedding. They will include almost everything, depending on your package: catering, continuous bar service, transportation, a hotel, DJ services, lighting, decorations, and even your wedding cake. We booked the venue in November 2020 after excellent communication with the Director of Sales at the time, Andi Pojani. Andi was an all-star and was extremely responsive, answered all of our questions in detail, and followed up with us at regular intervals to check in and ask how he could help us. We were devastated when he went on parental leave and even more so when he left Carmen's.

Our menu tasting was hosted in April 2022 by Karen Da Costa and Ashley Walker, which was such a fun experience, and the food was great. However, right after our menu tasting Karen went on maternal leave and replaced by Marian Clark. I reached out to Marian in April (and again in May) and unfortunately a full month went by with no response. I then contacted Miranda Dias, the new Director of Sales, who was very helpful and apologetic. She transferred the care of our wedding to Heather Fontez who helped us to arrange a meeting with our new event coordinator, Dakota Raycraft. For whatever reason, that meeting was cancelled last minute, and we were again transferred to a different event coordinator, Ashley, in June 2022. Around this time, we also received a message from Carmen’s regarding their staffing shortages and personnel changes, along with an apology and hospital credit to use at our wedding. From here, communication improved vastly, and we are beyond thankful to have had Ashley step in to fill the shoes of Andi.

Ashley was kind, accommodating, and extremely hardworking. She was so committed to making sure our wedding day was perfect that it felt like we were working with a friend or family member who wanted all of the same things that we did. Ashley helped us to customize our wedding exactly how we wanted – from the gold-accented décor, pink uplighting, and piano in the lobby, to the custom bar options like Rolling Rock, limoncello, and Irish coffee, to the extraordinary menu items like strawberry cheesecake for dessert and cannoli for our late-night table.

Of course, we also owe much of these accommodations to the incredibly dedicated and hardworking bar and kitchen staff, including Phillip, the bar manager, and John, the head chef. The food was excellent, and guests were raving about the cheesecake in particular. The 3-tiered wedding cake was also incredible. I know that people say not to worry about a wedding cake because nobody eats it, which in many cases might be true, but I was so happy to taste the cake and know that my guests had yet another incredible dessert option. We took the leftovers home and froze them to enjoy with our families later.

On the day of the wedding, Carmen’s set up all of our décor and signage for us so that all we had to do was walk in. It was such a great feeling to know that everything was taken care of, down to the smallest detail. It really was beautiful and such a load off of us as the couple. The reception was fantastic. There was a bit of confusion surrounding the start of the reception where the receiving line wasn’t ready and the guests were held back from the antipasto buffet, as the maître d’ (who we hadn’t met with or spoken to before) wasn’t aware of the receiving line, so she had to hurry and find the liqueurs once we arrived and told her. Otherwise, things went extremely well – our guests continuously commented on the food being excellent and the venue being beautiful.

Our DJ, Matt, also did an excellent job. He cued up our songs perfectly, his transitions were great, and he kept the party going. We’re especially thankful that he played “Celebration” as the first song after our speeches ended (it wasn’t on our song list) as we didn’t have any dance floor invitations in our speech, but it brought everybody to the dance floor! The only thing we were a bit disappointed by was that he didn’t play any slow songs until much later in the night after we asked him to, when a lot of the older guests had gone home. But other than that, we could tell that Matt had a blast doing what he does best, which made it easy for the guests on the dance floor to enjoy themselves too.

Overall, aside from some hiccups with communication, there is not one thing that I would change about my wedding at Carmen’s. The entire process, including the day of, was so smooth and I trusted them completely to bring our vision for a classic glam wedding to life. They delivered – and then some. We have been told by all of our friends that we have set the bar so high for their future weddings. We’re just glad to have been able to host such an incredible evening for our family and friends. Thank you, Carmen’s!!
Julie
Julie L. Sent on 29/08/2022
4.4 out of 5 rating

August 20th, 2022

Last week Carmen's hosted our wedding with 125 guests, to this day I am still hearing from people on how much they enjoyed the food! The food was the main thing that interested me in this venue as I am not from Hamilton but have had 2 prior cancelled covid weddings at other venues.
The food was amazing and there was TONS of it, the bartenders were also wonderful as they were serving drinks that weren't necessarily on the "menu" like blue Hawaiians and different flavored shooters for guests upon request or as a surprise.
I booked the last Saturday available of summer just four months before the actual date. This was quite concerning but looking back it was a very stress less process, they truly do it all for you. Right down to re arranging some of the minimal décor I had in the ceremony into the reception, I didn't ask them to do this but it looked amazing and was such a relief to me as I was stressed I may not have put enough thought/effort into the décor I brought on my own.

If you are looking for a one stop shop, this is the venue for you!
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Awards

57

Carmens Event Centre by Carmens Group Real Weddings

Katrina & Cody
14 Photos · 15/Oct/2023
Linda & Brent
7 Photos · 21/Oct/2022
Sabrina & Jesse
38 Photos · 14/Oct/2022
Lyndsay & Mike
116 Photos · 20/Aug/2022
Cynthia & Pawel
34 Photos · 13/Dec/2019
Julia & Michael
17 Photos · 21/Sep/2019

Map

1520 Stone Church Road East ON L8W 3P9 Hamilton (Ontario)
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