In 2002, a small romantic comedy called My Big Fat Greek Wedding was released. It unexpectedly became one of the biggest hits of the year. While set in Chicago, most filming took place in Toronto. Specifically in the Danforth, which is the Greek area of the city. It’s success brought a sitcom as well as two sequels. Check out my look at My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which was filmed in Greece.
The Portokalos House
The house used in the film is an actual house in Toronto, however it was modified to appear in the film. The Portokalos Family house is located at 73 Glenwood Cres. While the house already had a distinct Greek influence, the production team wanted it to appear over the top. They added a full second floor, and added a larger fake garage to the left of the house, adorned with the Greek flag. The house has a garden in front, but a number of lawn ornaments were added as well.
The street is a quiet residential street, and some of the filming took place along the street as well. The house next door was used briefly at the end of the movie. When visiting a residential area, remember to follow my guidelines and to respect the area.
Ian’s Apartment
The exteriors for Ian’s apartment building were filmed at 5 Lonsdale Rd in Toronto. Interior scenes were not filmed on site, but used a local soundstage.
Ian’s School
As Ian is a school teacher, there is a scene where Toula visits him at his classroom. The production used Jarvis Collegiate, at 495 Jarvis St, for filming. Please remember to be respectful and keep your distance, as this is a real school.
Truman College
As part of making changes in her life, Toula enrolls in classes at Truman College. The college scenes were filmed at the Rogers Communication Centre, a part of Ryerson University.
The Wedding Church
When Toula and Ian get married at the end of the film, we see both the inside and outside of the church. The production used Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, located at 23 Henry St. in Toronto. When I stopped by in June 2023, the inside was not open to the public, but I was able to snap some pictures from the outside.
The Travel Agency
Both internal and external shots of the travel agency were filmed in an actual storefront. This location is 439 Danforth Ave, which is the main street in the Danforth area.
Across the street from the travel agency is Pappas Grill, a well-known Greek restaurant. While it was not specifically used in the film, it can be seen across the street when Ian is outside the travel agency’s window. The cast and crew of My Big Fat Greek Wedding also frequently visited during the production for meals.
