Couples having to change wedding plans because of ALR crackdown on farm weddings

Some brides and grooms across the lower mainland are scrambling to find alternative plans for their upcoming nuptials because of a crackdown by the agriculture ministry.

Serena Miller is one of those brides. After months of planning her dream wedding, she recently found out the farm she’d booked more than a year ago is not allowed to host weddings anymore.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do if we can’t host our weddings at the garden. We have no idea. We’ve got no plan B,” Miller said .

READ MORE: B.C. farmers fear ALR ban on holding weddings on their property

Her ‘Plan A’ was a wedding at CPM Farms in Abbotsford, where the owners said they’ve been hosting ceremonies for the last few years. However, a complaint this summer to the Agricultural Land Commission prompted a letter from the regulatory body, telling the owners they were not authorized to host weddings. In September, they were given a cease-and-desist order.

Miller says she contacted the ALC, who told her the City of Abbotsford also has some concerns.

“The ALC has sent me paperwork saying these are the issues that the city has, but they haven’t told me what their issue is,” said Miller. “The ALC is just not talking to people.”

This comes as the ALC is in the midst of a crackdown. This fall, the province told farm owners they’re reviewing the regulations surrounding Agri-tourism and Farm Retail Sales. That review includes looking closely at the rules surrounding weddings on farms – essentially, agricultural land.

Caroline Mostertman, co-owner of CPM Farms, says weddings have become a great source of supplemental income for her others like her. She’s questioning the proposed changes.

“We’re not converting valuable ALR land to a venue. In our particular case, we’re simply using a green house that is unoccupied in the summer to host events,” said Mostertman. “There seems to be some real inequities in that, for example, wineries all over the Okanagan are hosting weddings on ALR land and yet, here, there seems to be no tolerance for that.”

Farmers have until January 15th to make a submission to the government about the proposed changes.

In the meantime, experts say brides should be cautious.

“Nowadays, especially in light of what’s happening now…they should make sure their venue is solid,” said Sharon Bonner, who’s been planning events in Metro Vancouver for the past 30 years.

She said the best thing a bride can do to protect herself from sudden venue changes is to have a wedding planner and a solid contract.

“Read the contract, make sure the contract has good cancellation clauses. Also, if the farm doesn’t offer a contract, make one up yourself.”

In the meantime, Miller and Mostertman are appealing to the ALR for an exemption. She said her search so far to find a new venue has turned up nothing.

“I refuse to be sad about it because if I’m sad about it, it means nothing’s gonna happen,” said Miller.