Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Before you get married, you need either:

• a Marriage Licence, or

• A banns form that you get from a church when you publicly announce your commitment during a divine service (a church publishes this declaration, called “the publication of banns”)

Banns cannot be published if you or your spouse have been married before. You will need to get a Marriage Licence.

You do not have to be a resident of Canada to obtain a Marriage Licence.

You must be at least 16 years old to get married in Ontario. Applicants under 18 years old will need written consent from their parents or legal guardians.

A Marriage Licence is valid for use anywhere in Ontario for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of issue.

You will be required to show two (2) pieces of government-issued identification for each person getting married. One piece of identification must include your photo. Details and examples of government-issued identification, as prescribed by the Provincial Government, are outlined below:

• Identification must be valid and original (we will not accept photocopies, scanned images or pictures on electronic devices).
• Identification must provide your legal name and date of birth.
• Your first and last names must match on the two pieces of ID that are presented.
• To have your middle name(s) included on your marriage licence, it must also appear on both pieces of ID.
• ID on the list can be from any country, as long as it is government issued.
• If the ID is not in English, a written translation from a certified translator is required.
• S.I.N. cards will not be accepted.
• Expired identification will not be accepted

Acceptable identification

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s Licence
• Ontario Photo Card (Purple photo ID card)Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (Canadian Citizenship Card)
• Canadian Government Refugee Travel Document
• Conditional Release Identification Card
• United States Green Card
• Native Status Card
• Record of Immigration Landing
• Confirmation of Permanent Residency
• Permanent Residency Card
• Citizenship Card
• Identity Card
• Nexus Card
• Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC)
• Possession & Acquisition Licence (PAL)

The Marriage Licence Application must be completed and signed by both applicants. Either one or both applicants may bring in the completed application and two (2) pieces of government-issued identification (driver's licence, passport etc.) for both applicants. One piece of identification for each applicant must be photo identification.

If you were divorced in Canada, you will need to bring official proof of the divorce with you when you apply for a marriage licence. This will be the original or a court-certified copy of one of three documents:

• the final decree

• the final judgment

• a certificate of divorce

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to bring official proof of the divorce with you when you apply for a marriage licence. This will be a document from the Ontario Government confirming that they have validated your divorce and that you are free to marry. To apply for this document from the province you will need to provide specific documents to prove that you are no longer married. This process can take up to four (4) weeks. Please refer to the ServiceOntario website

An authorized official needs to marry you to ensure that a marriage is performed properly and legally. There are two (2) types of marriage ceremonies performed in Ontario; Religious marriage: a recognized religious official marries you; and Civil marriage: a judge, justice of the peace or authorized municipal clerk marries you, often at a local municipal office or city hall

Wedding rings are not a requirement for a marriage celebration.

The Town provides a non-religious ceremony that reflect the couple's choices and desires. All elements of the ceremony are thoroughly discussed with the couple in the pre-ceremony consultation. Remember, this is your day and you get to choose how you want it celebrated!

That is up to you. You can wear anything from jeans to a wedding dress or a tuxedo; we have performed very casual to fully formal ceremonies and many in between.

Please call us to check our availability any time. Some months are busier than others so you should book your date as soon as you decide you wish to have a Civil Marriage Solemnization Ceremony.

If you wish to marry as soon as possible, that can usually be accommodated within a week or so.

Two witnesses must be present during the ceremony; they can be family or friends. If you wish to have Town staff act as a witness, there is a fee of $50.00 per witness.

 You may expand upon the required vows by reading your own personal non-religious vows to one another. In addition, you may choose to include non-religious readings of your choice throughout the ceremony.

Photographs and video may be taken at any time. The Council Chamber has WiFi and you may connect to a video call.

 Music may be played; Please arrange for this during the pre-ceremony appointment.

 No confetti, rice or any other material/item that will require clean up by municipal staff is permitted.

To ensure that your Wedding Ceremony proceeds smoothly, both parties are required to attend a pre-ceremony consultation with Town staff to arrange the details of your ceremony; customizing to your wishes.

Following the Ceremony, you will receive a "Record of Solemnization of Marriage"; this is not a marriage certificate. Before you can apply for your marriage certificate, your marriage needs to be registered. The officiant who performs the marriage will send the signed marriage licence to ServiceOntario. Twelve (12) weeks after your ceremony, you may apply for your official Certificate of Marriage from the province; this is NOT sent to you automatically. For more information please visit ServiceOntario

A marriage certificate is the legal record of a marriage. It lists the date and place of the marriage, and names of the people who were married.

You need this document to:

• show legal proof you are married

• apply for certain social benefits

• settle an estate

• change a last name

When you get married, you don't have to legally change your last name (surname). But if you choose to legally change your last name, you can do so through ServiceOntario.