How do we know our marriage
will be legal?
You want to know that your wedding ceremony will be a legal one. To confirm this, you can find me on the Ontario Government website for wedding officiants. This assures you I am properly licensed to perform your marriage in Ontario. My jurisdiction to perform weddings comes through the Registrar General of Ontario. You can find a link here for the Government of Ontario Wedding Officiants website.
How do I apply for a Marriage License?
You apply for your Marriage License in person at your local municipal office. One or both of you can attend. Each of you will have to provide identification documents, such as a passport, birth certificate Record of Immigration Landing, or Canadian Citizenship Card.
Only you can apply for your license. I am not permitted to do that for you. Since the license is only valid for a 90-day period, you have to time this so the license is valid on your wedding day. It usually takes between 5 and 21 days to get your license, depending on the municipality, and it is valid to use anywhere in Ontario.
Please note that the municipality charges a fee for purchasing a Marriage Licence.
Contact your municipal office for the current fee.
What if I have been married before?
If you have been married before, you will need to provide extra documentation to the municipal clerk, to show you are no longer married. Your previous marriage may have ended in death or divorce. The clerk will advise you about what documents you will need.
How do we get proof that our marriage
is registered?
After your marriage ceremony, you will be given the Record of Solemnization of Marriage from your Officiant. However, it is considered a ‘souvenir document’ and it holds no legal value. It is not a legal record.
The Wedding Officiant who performed your marriage ensures that your marriage is legal, by forwarding the Marriage License you and your witnesses signed on your wedding day to the Office of the Registrar General. This properly registers your marriage.
However, the Province of Ontario does NOT provide any notice to you that your marriage has been registered.
If you want to receive legal proof of your marriage, you must apply for a Marriage Certificate. You can order a Marriage Certificate 6 to 8 weeks following your wedding day. A Marriage Certificate is the legal record of your marriage. Only YOU are permitted to apply for your Marriage Certificate.
See “How do I obtain a Marriage Certificate” above.
What is a Humanist Wedding Officiant?
A Humanist wedding officiant is licensed through the organization Humanist Canada. Humanist ceremonies are non-religious. They are secular in nature. We receive continuing training to ensure we are educated and aware of any changes to the law. You can use this link to find out more about Humanist Canada.
In Ontario, Humanist Officiants are licensed by the Province to solemnize marriages pursuant to the Marriage Act of Ontario. All officiants are required to maintain membership in the Humanist Association of Canada. You can find me in the Directory for wedding officiants for Humanist Canada.
You can find out more about Humanist Wedding Officiants and my registration by using this link. The Directory for Officiants is alphabetical.
How do I obtain a Marriage Certificate?
A Marriage Certificate is the legal record of your marriage.
A Marriage Certificate is not a required document; however, I strongly recommend that couples order one. It is the proof that a marriage has taken place and that the marriage is recognized in law. You can order your Marriage Certificate about 6-8 weeks from the date of your marriage.
You can purchase your Marriage Certificate online or you can complete the Request for Marriage Certificate and then mail or fax the application with the appropriate fees to the address below.
Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 4600
3rd Floor
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6L8
When I get married does my name automatically change?
Your surname name does not automatically change when you get married. If you elect to change your name to that of your spouse, or you wish to have some combination of names, you must apply to Office of the Registrar General. If you elect to change your name and you apply within 90 days of your marriage, there currently is no fee for the name change.
How much does a Wedding Officiant cost?
The cost for your Wedding Officiant is remarkably little, relative to the other costs in a typical wedding. Venue, food, flowers and photographers all cost substantially more than your Wedding Officiant, which can be surprising to some couples, given that you can’t get married without an Officiant.
My costs for services to perform your marriage range from $400 to $950, depending on what services you need provided for your wedding. Once I understand what your needs are, I will provide you with a fee for services upfront, so you will understand exactly what you are paying. Most marriages fall into the upper range, especially if the couple wants to have a wedding Rehearsal. Almost all do.
What is the format for a Wedding Ceremony?
Each wedding is unique and special. Here is the basic structure of a ceremony, but what is most important is that the ceremony is exactly what you want it to be. We can achieve that together. We can include or exclude what you want, to make it your own. I have put an asterisk* next to the sections that are required to make the marriage legally binding in Ontario. Here are the basics:
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Opening Words and the Introduction of ceremony “We are gathered here today…”
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Declaration of Intentions *
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Recognition of the Guests as Witnesses
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Words to the Couple
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Readings-non-religious
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Betrothal
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Exchange of Vows*
- formal vows
- personal vows -
Exchange of Rings
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Signing of the Register and License*
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Pronouncement*
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Closing Words and Announcement of the couple as married
Humanist Officiants also perform End-of-Life Celebrations, Baby Naming Ceremonies, Renewal of Vows Ceremonies and any other non-religious rituals meaningful to you!
ALL ARE WELCOME