Queer Couples Say 'I Do' with The Pop-Up Chapel Co. at Toronto Pride Parade (Copy)
Grace Graham I The Pop-Up Chapel Co.Published I Friday, December 13 2024 
We Popped-Up at Toronto’s Biggest Street Festival
What started as a powerful protest for human rights has grown into one of Toronto’s most anticipated events: the Toronto Pride Parade. Every June, millions of supporters gather to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and party at the ultimate street festival for queer lovebirds and besties! In 2024, The Pop-Up Chapel Co. added an exciting twist to the celebration by giving queer couples the chance to get married right in the middle of the Pride Parade.
Let Love Be Free: A Wedding Giveaway for 2SLGBTQIA+ Couples
In contrast to the small, intimate weddings The Pop-Up Chapel Co. is popularly known for, this giveaway campaign opened the guest list to over 2 million Pride-goers, making it the ultimate public celebration of love and inclusivity. With Pop-Up Chapel Co.'s theme, ‘Let Love Be Free’ these couples unlocked the perfect way to showcase their pride, and let love shine in the heart of the parade. This one-of-a-kind wedding experience, where four lucky couples exchanged vows on a mobile Chapel float, celebrating their love in solidarity with the entire community!
Fun-Loving Couples Speak Their Truth
For high school sweethearts Joelle and Drew, returning to the Pride parade marked the one-year anniversary of their engagement.
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We’ve been together for 10 years and got ‘en-gay-ged’ at Pride Toronto last year. We met in grade 10 and have been inseparable ever since. We've always been loud and proud advocates for pride and inclusivity… It’s been our dream to marry at Pride, and this opportunity feels serendipitous. We’re a non-traditional couple seeking a non-traditional wedding, and it means everything to share it with the queer and trans community in the place where we feel most at home.
It made perfect sense then for their high school teacher to join The Pop-Up Chapel Co.’s marching group, celebrating as part of their chosen family.
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It was the most incredible day we could have ever asked for. They are a wonderful team whose dedication is evident in every aspect. From the initial emails to the big day, everything was stress-free and delightful. These people know weddings and are extremely good at it… still in awe of the beautiful celebration they put on for us!
Joelle and Drew popped the question at Pride, and we popped up to make their marriage official, coming full circle! Reflecting on the experience, they shared:
The Most Queer Friendly Place You Could Get Married
The weddings were a modern celebration of love, sustainability, and joy. In the typical Pop-Up Chapel Co. fashion, the decor was eco-friendly, custom-built from scratch by the Chapel owner and our couples’ photographer, Alicia Thurston. Each piece was designed with inclusivity and our planet's future in mind. Fresh florals from Snowberry Botanicals allowed each couple to personalize their arrangements, making space to express their individual style.
Professional officiant services from The Marry Men (Michael and Jason) also brought a touch of personality to each custom ceremony, especially since they were celebrating their own 8th wedding anniversary on the very same day!
Media sponsors like The Bow and Eventsource.ca shared these heartwarming love stories, amplifying the voices of the couples who exchanged vows in front of 2 million Pride-goers.
While Alicia Thurston captured the emotional moments for couples from atop the float, event photographer Chantale Viens worked her magic from the ground, offering an authentic, artistic perspective of the crowd’s reactions. From expecting bellies to families, friends, lovers, and marchers, these photos instantly bring back the vibrant energy of everyone united in love and solidarity.
Past Pop-Up Chapel Couples Joined in Solidarity
Behind the float, a proud group of marchers included Angela and Rachel, a couple who married with Pop-Up Chapel in 2020 (try not to cry when you watch their adorable story here), handed out handmade Chapel friendship bracelets and Pop-Up Chapel swag, spreading love throughout the parade route. This wasn’t just a wedding ( or four for that matter) it was a bold social statement of freedom and the right to be seen and loved.
Another couple selected for the Giveaway experience, Holli and Chloe, took "adorable" to the next level with matching bows in their veils. Holli shared their excitement:
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We’ve been together for 6 years, and our anniversary is right after Pride. We were looking for a small, unique way to get married, and nothing felt more fitting than getting married during Pride, where our second date took place!
… We could not have asked for a better wedding experience! Everything went perfect, and the communication leading up to the ceremony was super helpful!
Bold Couples Belong Here
This campaign's community spark sent a bold message to the traditional wedding world: Your love belongs here, and you’re never alone in celebrating it! The Pop-Up Chapel brought that message to life with a promise that there’s more love, pride, and spontaneous experiences yet to come.
Want to Get on Board the next Chapel Float?
Shout out to our Besties who worked with us on this Chapel - only the best venues and vendors!
