About Us
In the late 1970s Ted Simmons, a probation officer and
former clergyman, became concerned about the way wedding ceremonies outside the
church were performed. In his work in the courts, he saw couples arrive for a civil
ceremony with a Justice of the Peace. After only a very few minutes, they would
leave the office married, but looking crestfallen. The wedding ceremony was over.
He believed that many couples wanted a ceremony with more dignity, meaning and significance
than this brief legalizing event. This significance was traditionally found in church
related ceremony. However, in to-day's society, many people live their lives outside
the sphere of organized religion [and therefore, do not have access to these sacrilizing
events].
With his background as a clergyman, Ted felt that he could provide this service
in a non-church setting. Thus, with the assistance of his wife, who was a church
organist, he opened the Wedding Chapel in Hess Village . The first wedding ceremony
was held in May 1980. In 1988, a second chapel was opened in Kitchener in the old
village of Doon .
Wedding ceremonies are also performed at other locations.
For almost 25 years, the Wedding Chapels have been providing beautiful settings
and meaningful ceremonies for couples, their families and their friends.