Getting Married in Quebec as an Ontario Resident (and Vice Versa): What You Need to Know

Ottawa sits right on the Ontario-Quebec border, which means we work with cross-province couples more than almost any other officiant team in Canada. Here's everything we've learned about making it work.

Photo by Grace & Gold Studios

A couple of important notes to start:

• No matter where you live, you can get married in any Canadian province, and your marriage will be fully legal Canada-wide.

• The marriage licence you need is obtained through the province in which you get married — not the province where you live.

• Officiants are certified per province. You need an officiant who is licensed to perform marriages in the province where your ceremony takes place. On our team, Karen, Kat, and JL are all licensed to perform marriages in both Ontario and Quebec.

• You can verify that your officiant is legally certified online: check the Ontario register here and check the Quebec register here.

• One practical thing to keep in mind: if you ever experience any issues with your licence or certificate — or if you ever needed to end your marriage — this would be handled through the province that issued your licence. If you're considering a Quebec wedding but don't speak French, this is worth thinking about carefully, as many Quebec government services are provided in French only.

Getting married in Ontario

These rules apply to anyone getting married in Ontario, regardless of which province they live in.

The Ontario process is straightforward. You'll complete a marriage licence application online, and at least one of you will need to go to a municipal office to pick it up.

During your legal ceremony, in front of at least two witnesses, your officiant is legally required to:

• Ask you both to consent to the marriage (this is usually your "I do!" moment)

• Have both of you and your witnesses sign the marriage licence documents, and sign them themselves

• Proclaim you as married

  
  

Following the ceremony, your officiant will mail the necessary documents to the province to register your marriage. You can then order your marriage certificate through ServiceOntario — note that it can take six months or more for your marriage to be registered in the system before the certificate is issued.

Getting married in Quebec 

These rules apply to anyone getting married in Quebec, regardless of which province they live in.

Your officiant will gather your information and must post a "Publication of a Notice of Marriage" on the Directeur de l'état civil website. This notice must be posted for 20 days within the three months leading up to your wedding date — so make sure you book your officiant well in advance!

Important: If you were born outside of Quebec, you must provide your long-form birth certificate. If you don't have one, you can order it here. This can take several months to arrive, so order it as early as possible.

Your officiant will prepare and bring your marriage licence to the ceremony. During your legal ceremony, in front of at least two witnesses, your officiant is legally required to:

• Ask you both to consent to the marriage

• Read the required articles of the Civil Code of Québec

• Have both of you and your witnesses sign the documents, and sign them themselves

• Proclaim you as married

  
  

Following the ceremony, your officiant will mail the necessary documents to the province. The province will then contact you directly with instructions on how to order your marriage certificate — this typically takes about 8 to 12 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if I want an Ontario licence but I'm having my wedding in Quebec, or vice versa?

  The simplest solution is a "paper signing" ceremony on a separate date. You get legally married in the province of your choice, and then your officiant — or truly anyone you like — can perform a symbolic ceremony on your actual wedding day. Just be aware that your marriage certificate will reflect the date of your legal ceremony only. It is not legal for an officiant to post-date paperwork to reflect a different date.

• Can my friend or family member legally marry us?

  It depends on the province. In Ontario, it is not possible to obtain a one-day licence to perform a ceremony — only registered officiants can legally solemnize a marriage. In Quebec, it is possible for someone to obtain a one-day licence, but they must apply and pass an interview. More info here.

  
  

  In both provinces, there's a great workaround: talk to your officiant about a DIY ceremony. The officiant must legally handle the required elements listed above, but someone else can perform the rest of the ceremony. We offer a DIY Ceremony package where we take care of the legal portion — either on a different date or on-site at your wedding — and provide a guide, templates, and coaching to help your friend or family member lead a beautiful non-legal ceremony. Learn more about our services here.

• Can I assume a new last name after marriage?

  The ability to assume a new name after marriage is based on where you reside, not where you got married — the opposite of the licensing process.

  
  

  • Quebec residents are unable to assume a new name after marriage, regardless of where the wedding takes place.

    
    

  • Ontario residents can assume a new name after marriage if they wish, regardless of where the wedding takes place. Once you have your marriage certificate, you can do this through ServiceOntario.

    
    

Still have questions about your cross-province wedding near Ottawa or Gatineau? We'd love to help — we marry couples in both Ontario and Quebec and know this process inside and out. Get in touch here.