Love, Sask., embraces name appeal with new wedding chapel

Love is in the air — and on the welcome sign — in a Saskatchewan village that is now embracing its name more than ever before.

The town of Love, Sask., located northeast of Prince Albert, has spent the last two years building a chapel so people can get married there.

"I want Love to live up to its name. That is what my goal is," said Shelley Vallier, the village's mayor. "I want to put Love on the map as a place that, when people are traveling through Saskatchewan, that they're going to want to come and see."

Leaning into the name

With a name like Love, it's no wonder that people have been getting married there for years, even without an official chapel. Vallier said people have found creative places around the village to get married: in front of the post office, at the community hall and in the park.

Now couples can use the chapel, which seats 50 people.

"Their wedding certificate is going to say that they were married in the Village of Love, and a lot of people think that's cool," said Vallier.

The inside of the newly designed chapel in Love, Sask. (Village of Love/Facebook)

The new chapel isn't the only way that the town has leaned into the name.

You can find street signs around the town featuring names like "Lovers Lane" or "Pucker Up Alley."

A building with a legacy

The chapel itself is built upon a piece of the area's history.

"It used to be the old bunkhouse that used to sit in Choiceland, which is not very far from here," said Vallier.

Fabian Krusinski and Venessa Arcand were married at the chapel in Love, Sask. (Submitted by Shelley Vallier)

She said the former bunkhouse, which was used for the Canadian Pacific Railway, belonged to a man who lived in Choiceland.

"When he found out what we were trying to do, he donated the building for us to use," she said.

Vallier said the work included gutting the building and adding a deck with ramp access.

A historic bell now also sits atop the building.

"[It's] an old CNR bell that used to sit on a train, and that's kind of how the village got its name, because of that first train conductor that came through town here, so that bell went up in our steeple in the Chapel," said Vallier.

The former railway bunkhouse, before it was transformed into Love's new chapel. (Submitted by Shelley Vallier)

Wedding bells are ringing

The town also has its own wedding commissioner.

"I think it's really good for our community because of our name in general," said Joe Harvey, the commissioner in question. "Shelley had that idea quite some time ago and she was very diligent at pursuing it and making it happen."

Harvey works at a general store in the neighbouring town of White Fox, Sask. He said he never planned on having this type of side gig, but one of his close friends asked him to officiate a wedding in August. Harvey got his licence and has officiated a few local weddings since.

"It's just kind of been marrying friends and families, is as far as I've taken it," said Harvey.

Now that the town chapel is up and running, Harvey may get a lot busier. He said the chapel has been a great addition to the village.

"It's been really nice for us to be part of it, to build a piece of lasting history that'll be there for many years to come," said Harvey.

The construction project for the chapel cost the town $65,000, collected at various community fundraisers and events. Next up, the plan is to build a new roof for the town hall, so people can use that space as well.

The town is also looking to the future and has plans in place to create a honeymoon cottage for newlyweds.