Kitchener Public Library 

By: Melany Redman (she/her), WPICC, Social Enterprises Coordinator at Kitchener Public Library

Melany is Coordinator of Social Enterprises at the Kitchener Public Library, working on a variety of fundraising projects via events. She is a WPIC certified wedding planner and has been working in the Weddings and Events industry for over 15 years.

The New York Times recently wrote that conventional wedding venues are out and unconventional venues are trending.  What could be more unconventional than a library? 

People are always surprised to hear that we host weddings at the Kitchener Public Library.  To be honest, when I first applied to the job, I was surprised myself and a little bit jealous that I was already married and couldn’t have my own wedding in such a beautiful space. 

The Reading Lounge has floor to ceiling windows, 20ft ceilings and built in twinkle lights.  This venue definitely has my heart. 

We are a 100% accessible, non-denominational and inclusive space and all love is welcome here.  We want a couple’s wedding day to be an extension of them.  We don’t require the use of specific vendors and encourage couples to use the vendors that they feel most comfortable with.  

Kitchener Public Library is a community destination and what you spend here gets funnelled back into the community through our programs and services. 

Some of my favourite weddings we’ve had are the ones that haven’t felt so cookie-cutter.  They weren’t generic, they embraced colour and creativity and you could feel the couple’s personalities shine through. 

Rather than have a sit-down meal, one couple had various food stations set up with all of their favourite foods.  This encouraged the guests to get up and mingle and try things they might not have otherwise had.  This resulted in a lot of laughter and some great photos. 

When you get married at Kitchener Public Library, you are surrounded by the world’s greatest love stories.  What better place for a couple to start their next chapter? 

At WPIC, we love seeing couples rethink what a wedding venue can be. Spaces like Kitchener Public Library remind us that weddings are no longer about following a formula. They are about creating an experience that feels authentic, meaningful, and personal to the couple at the centre of it all.

The beauty of an unconventional venue is that it gives couples permission to tell their story differently. Whether it is a library, an art gallery, a brewery, or a family property, the most memorable weddings are often the ones that reflect personality, connection, and community.

We also love that a wedding at Kitchener Public Library supports a space that gives so much back to its community. It is a reminder that weddings can be beautiful, inclusive, creative, and impactful all at once.

Surrounded by books, stories, and endless possibilities, couples are not just celebrating a wedding day there. They are beginning a brand new chapter together, and we think that is one of the most romantic concepts of all.