It was likely the happiest day of the newlywed couple’s life — but among the cake, presents and celebration, a wedding held in the courtyard of 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa this spring became the centre of a neighbour’s complaint for breaking the town’s bylaws and the subject of an investigation.

Now, a month and a half later, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake says it will not dole out any consequences to the business, because it has been co-operative in remedying the situation.

The town prohibits outdoor weddings near residential areas, including the location of the hotel, due to potential noise issues.

However, on June 6, 124 on Queen played host to an outdoor wedding, drawing the ire of some residents, including Brodie Townley, who has lived near the hotel with his wife, Maria, for 10 years.

As the celebration unfolded, Townley alerted Couns. Wendy Cheropita, Sandra O’Connor and Gary Burroughs about the situation.

Cheropita contacted Fire Chief Jay Plato, who’s also the town’s bylaw director. He’s launched an investigation into the violations: as of last Tuesday, Plato said the investigation is ongoing.

Town staff are working with Q124 to address “the concerns on the property,” said Marah Minor, the town’s communications co-ordinator, in an email.

Townley expressed frustration that residents have to monitor bylaw violations themselves.

“The response there was very quick. It hasn’t always been quick,” he said.

“What I object to, and what the neighbours object to, is that we’re the ones policing this. Every day … we’re the ones having to call. The town doesn’t seem to stay in touch with what’s going on.”

Plato said calls like this are not unprecedented.

“We do have calls and concerns that take place on properties every so often,” he said.

Minor said bylaw infractions of the kind at 124 on Queen can escalate into legal action if they are not dealt with quickly enough.

However, when zoning rules are broken, there’s no penalty fine issued and the town can’t shut down a business for non-compliance, she said.

Instead, the municipality has to go through the courts for “legal recourse.”

It starts with bylaw officers notifying the property owner and giving them a “notice of violation,” Minor said.

“If the owner co-operates, bylaw and planning staff work with them to bring the property into compliance. If the owner does not comply, the matter may be taken to the provincial offences court.”

If the owner in question breaks any more rules in the bylaws, they’re documented to build a case for legal action, she said.

However, “Immediate enforcement can only occur if there is a life safety concern, as determined by police, the fire department or the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.”

When it comes to the particular incident on June 6, all parties agree the wedding should not have happened in the hotel’s back courtyard.

Issues with zoning enforcement may explain why the hotel’s owner, David Jones, said he was quick to talk to council about it.

Jones said the event was mistakenly booked by a co-ordinator who joined the team nine months prior.

The co-ordinator misinterpreted a note from last year, where Jones had expressed hope that outdoor weddings might be permitted by this year.

Jones said the event was likely booked about a year ago and acknowledged both he and hotel general manager Eric Quesnal would have been aware of it, but not that it would be held outside.

“I found out about this on Friday (June 6), and I said, ‘Why are we doing this?’” Jones told The Lake Report. “I wrote an email to all the councillors apologizing, saying it was a mistake, and there will be no outdoor weddings for the rest of the summer.”

But for many residents, the issue runs deeper than a single wedding — it’s about how bylaws are enforced in NOTL.

Outdoor events at the hotel have sparked noise complaints for years, and many residents feel previous commitments to mitigate disruptions have been broken. A proposed hotel expansion has heightened concerns.

“In 2017, (Jones) came to the neighbours to ask for our support in the expansion of the hotel,” Brodie Townley said in an interview alongside his wife.

“We had concerns: no social functions, no receptions, no weddings, no food or beverage services … we wanted trees along the property line, baffles around the HVAC system to send noise up rather than down … and no use of the Smithy as a short-term rental.”

“(Jones) agreed to all of this stuff,” he added. “The expansion was approved, and he started saying, ‘Maybe I’d like to have weddings outside.’”

“When you make a deal, you have to live with some decisions,” said Maria Townley.

Jones said he didn’t recall making specific “assurances” in 2017 but did take part in open houses and worked with neighbours. He said he planted trees where possible and installed white noise water fountains.

He also cited his own frustrations with noise from idling trucks and said he paid for a 12-foot fence to address other concerns.

The matter has taken on greater urgency as Jones confirmed he applied for an expansion of 124 on Queen to 222 Gate St. The proposed development would include an 18-room hotel allowing “wedding ceremonies” — but without alcohol or amplified music.

At a planning committee of the whole meeting on June 3, just three days before the wedding, Cheropita questioned Jones’ representative, William Heikoop, on whether those ceremonies might violate existing bylaws.

Heikoop assured council they would not, a position Jones later reiterated to The Lake Report.

Three residents, including Brodie Townley, attended the meeting to oppose the development, expressing skepticism about future compliance.

“Given his past lack of follow-through on promises, I don’t really believe a lot of what he says,” said Townley.

Jones, however, said critics are in the minority.

“You can’t please everyone,” he said. “Most of the residents like what we’re doing.”