I have performed many nikkahs at ISNA Canada, and it is one of my favourite masjid settings in the GTA for a classy and beautiful Islamic ceremony. The natural light coming through the dome is great for photos, the updated carpet looks beautiful, the microphone system works well, and The Hub café gives guests somewhere to grab a drink or spend some time before or after the ceremony.
That being said, there are a few things I always recommend couples, families, and vendors know before the day.
Your Start Time Is Important
ISNA is quite strict with nikkah time slots, especially on weekends. Sometimes there is a buffer between weddings, but other times the bookings are back-to-back. I have seen one wedding finish only five or ten minutes before the next one needs to begin.
My recommendation is simple: if you want to make use of your full hour, tell your guests that the arrival time is 30 minutes before your actual booking time.
If your booking begins at 2:00 PM, for example, I would tell your guests to arrive by 1:30 PM. You do not want to spend the first 20 or 30 minutes of your booking waiting for family members to arrive.
If there is no prayer, event, or another wedding immediately after yours, going over by a few minutes may sometimes be fine, but you should never rely on that.
For a typical one-hour booking, I would plan approximately:
- 20–30 minutes for the nikkah ceremony
- 10–20 minutes for photos and congratulations
- The remaining time for getting everyone seated, signing, transitions, and any delays
You can also speak to your imam beforehand about how long you want the actual ceremony to be. Some couples want a very short nikkah, while others want a longer reminder or khutbah.
Seating and the Prayer Space
ISNA can normally arrange a certain number of chairs beforehand depending on the size of your group.
Men generally sit on one side and women on the other. The prayer hall is fairly open, so there is not a full wall separating the men's and women's sections. The divider is quite low, which keeps the ceremony visually open while still maintaining the normal masjid arrangement.
Keep in mind that the masjid remains open during your nikkah. There may be other people praying, reading Qur'an, or sitting off to the side. In my experience, people are generally very respectful and avoid walking directly behind the ceremony or interfering with the wedding party.
With back-to-back bookings, however, the next wedding group may begin arriving while you are still finishing. This is another reason I recommend having one family member or coordinator communicate with ISNA staff if necessary rather than having the bride or groom deal with it.
Remember That It Is Still a Masjid
The prayer space makes for beautiful photos, but it is still a masjid first.
I recommend letting your photographer, videographer, decorator, and other vendors know this before they arrive. Guests and vendors should dress appropriately for the masjid, including wearing loose and sufficiently long clothing.
Normal couple and family photos are fine, but certain intimate poses or photos are better done somewhere else. There are plenty of outdoor locations within a short drive, including parks and areas closer to the lakeshore.
If you want a large number of family portraits, I would especially recommend planning those somewhere else. With a one-hour weekend booking, there often simply isn't enough time.
Children, Phones and Distractions
I highly recommend having the imam make a short announcement before the ceremony begins:
Please silence your phones, and if a young child becomes disruptive, kindly take them aside until they regain their composure.
This sounds minor, but it makes a big difference. I have performed nikkahs where a child is making loud noises throughout much of the ceremony. Once the nikkah has begun, it should not become the imam's responsibility to stop the ceremony and ask a parent to tend to their child.
A simple reminder beforehand usually prevents the issue.
Give Your Decorator a Plan
If you are bringing décor, make sure your decorator understands that there may be another wedding immediately before yours.
They may not have a long empty window to build an elaborate setup inside the prayer hall. Wherever possible, I recommend assembling décor outside the hall beforehand so that completed pieces can simply be brought in and positioned once the previous group leaves.
This is especially important for busy Friday, Saturday, and Sunday bookings.
Monday to Thursday nikkahs are generally much calmer. If your schedule allows for a weekday ceremony, you are more likely to have a quieter experience with less pressure from back-to-back events.
Food and Refreshments
Food and drinks are not for the prayer area.
It is common for the families of the bride and groom to serve something in the hallway after the nikkah. Light desserts, sweets, coffee, or simple refreshments can work very well.
I would not plan a full meal there. There is not really enough seating or space in the hallway for everyone to comfortably sit with plates of food.
If you want to host a proper dinner or larger reception at ISNA, ask about renting the gym or another event space.
And of course, guests can also visit The Hub café inside ISNA before or after the ceremony.
Have One Person Running the Logistics
One of my biggest recommendations is to designate one person to handle logistics on the day.
It can be a sibling, friend, wedding planner, or family member. That person can communicate with ISNA staff, the decorator, photographer, videographer, imam, and guests.
The bride and groom should not be watching the clock, figuring out where the witnesses are, asking people to sit down, or worrying about whether the next wedding party is waiting outside.
The Takeaway
ISNA is a beautiful place to have a nikkah. The dome, natural light, prayer space, and Islamic atmosphere create something very different from a typical banquet hall. The key is simply understanding that you are booking a masjid ceremony with a defined time slot, not an open-ended wedding venue.
Arrive early, have your guests come early, plan your photos realistically, brief your vendors beforehand, and the experience can be beautiful without feeling rushed.
Always confirm current booking times, rules, capacity, décor requirements, and other venue policies directly with ISNA Canada, as these can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should guests arrive for an ISNA Canada nikkah?
I recommend telling guests to arrive 30 minutes before the actual booking time so the ceremony can begin promptly and the couple can make full use of the reserved hour.
How long should the nikkah ceremony itself take?
A typical ceremony can take approximately 20–30 minutes, leaving time for signing, congratulations, photographs, seating, and transitions within a one-hour booking.
Can we serve food after the nikkah?
Light refreshments can work well in the hallway, but food and drinks should not be brought into the prayer area. Ask ISNA about another event space if you are planning a full dinner or reception.
What should photographers and decorators know beforehand?
They should understand that the ceremony takes place in an active masjid and may be scheduled between other bookings. They should plan respectful photography and prepare décor for a quick setup.