F A Q

Read our blog post for all the steps!

In both Ontario and Quebec, the only requirements to get your marriage licence are that you are both there willingly, you are not already married, and that you are both over the age of 16. Those between the ages of 16 and 18 will require written parental consent.

You can get your marriage licence at any municipal office in Ontario (like City Hall in Ottawa) - it doesn't have to be the same city that you plan to get married in.

The cost for a marriage licence varies by municipality. At city hall in Ottawa, a marriage licence currently costs $171.50*. Tip: You can save a little money if you're willing to drive outside the city! For example, in North Grenville you can get your marriage licence for $120*. *Note: these fees can change at any time - check your municipality's website for the most up to date info!

The application for a marriage licence does not ask for sex or gender information, and your marriage certificate has no gender markings on it. However, in order to get a marriage licence, you are required to provide 2 pieces of ID. The marriage licence will be granted with your legal name on it. If you legally change your name at a later date, you can obtain a new marriage certifcate with your new legal name. To do this, contact Service Ontario at 1-800-461-2156 and request an application for a correction to a Marriage Registratoin Form (form 23).

No. In Ontario, you are not required to provide any additional documentation if you are widowed.

Yes. If you have been divorced, you will need to bring your original court certified divorce documents to your marriage licence appointment. If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need a legal written opinion from an Ontario lawyer. Contact a lawyer for more information on this.

It really depends! If you are planning to get married on a Saturday in wedding season (May - October), we recommend getting in touch as soon as you have your date confirmed, as Saturdays in those months book up quickly. Off-season dates or non-Saturday dates tend to have a bit more flexibility... but it's best to book as soon as you can. Want to get married this afternoon? You never know until you ask, so reach out now to see if we have availability!

As soon as you want - we can even meet you at city hall and marry you that same day!

Sometimes things happen and plans change! We do our best to be flexible, especially in the era of COVID19. Up until 60 days before your wedding, send us your new date or time, and we will make the change free of charge, pending our availability. Changes can also be made after the 60 day mark (wherever possible!) but a $50 change fee will be added to your contract. Looking to cancel your contract completely? Contracts can be cancelled in writing at any time. Please note that there will be no refund of any payments made up until cancellation.

We certainly can! While not always necessary, it does add a little extra comfort for everyone involved if we walk through it a few times before the big day. Additional fees will apply, and availability is dependent on the date and time of your rehearsal.

Every person who is legally able to marry couples is listed on the provincial website. You can check the registries below to confirm that your officiant is legit! For Ontario, click here. For Quebec, click here.

Definitely! Getting married in a different province in Canada doesn't change the fact that your marriage is legal, Canada-wide. There are a few differences you should be aware of, though: - In Quebec, you pay a fee to your Officiant and get your licence through them. In Ontario, you pay the fee to City Hall and get your licence through them. - If you are obtaining a marriage licence, there are no requirements for publication of marriage in Ontario. - Should you ever seek to end your marriage, you would need to do so through the province of Ontario. - While Ontario residents are able to assume a new last name after marriage, Quebec residents are not - regardless of where they tie the knot!

We sure do! Our home office is located in the West end of Ottawa, and we are happy to host the two of you and your two witnesses for a paper signing ceremony in our backyard.

Absolutely! We can provide witnesses (pending availability) for your paper signing or elopement, for a fee of $50 per witness.

A marriage licence is what you obtain at city hall / a municipal office in Ontario, or through your officiant in Quebec. On the day of your wedding, the two of you will sign your licence, along with 2 witnesses and your officiant. Following your ceremony, your officiant will mail it into the province to register your marriage. Your marriage certificate is a document that can be ordered approximately 6 months following your ceremony. It looks a lot like a birth certificate - it's the official copy that you'll keep to act as proof that you are married. Read our blog post for more details about your marriage licence!