Guide
A French or bilingual wedding ceremony in Ontario
In short
Yes. In Ontario you can get married in French, in English, or in both. For a civil marriage, the Marriage Act gives its three statements in English and in French, and using only one of the two is enough; a registered officiant follows the rites of their religious body or organization. Everything else, from the welcome to your vows, can be in the languages of your families. For a bilingual ceremony, choose an officiant who speaks both, decide which language each part is in, and make sure your 2 witnesses understand what they are witnessing.
Written by Sofiane B. · Founder, Celebrance
- Legal statements (civil marriage)
- In English or in French: one is enough
- Witnesses
- 2, who understand what they witness
- Rest of the ceremony
- In the languages you choose
On this page
Can you get married in French in Ontario?
Yes. For a civil marriage, section 24 of Ontario's Marriage Act sets three statements during the ceremony: each of you declares that you know of no lawful impediment to the marriage, each of you takes the other as your spouse, and the officiant pronounces you married. The Act gives these statements in English and in French, and adds that using only one of the two is enough.
A registered officiant marries you according to the rites of their religious body or Indigenous organization, so ask them about the language. Every Celebrance ceremony script includes the three statements, in the language of your ceremony.
So you can have a ceremony entirely in French, entirely in English, or in both. Our guide gives the exact legal words, in English and in French.
Choose witnesses who understand
Every marriage needs 2 witnesses, present at the ceremony, who understand what they are witnessing and sign the licence with you. In a French ceremony with an English-speaking witness, say the legal statements in English as well, or in English only. That part takes a few minutes, and it protects your marriage.
How to build a bilingual ceremony
Saying everything twice makes a ceremony long and a little flat. A few ways to do better:
- Alternate by part. The welcome in one language, your story in the other, and so on.
- One main language, with summaries. The ceremony mostly in one language, with a sentence or two in the other at each step.
- Your vows in your own words. Each of you speaks in your own language, or switches between the two.
- Readings in each language. One reading in French, one in English, read by someone from each family.
- A printed program. A short translation of each part lets every guest follow, without repeating it aloud.
- The legal statements, clearly. Say them in the language that both witnesses understand, or once in each.
A sample outline
- Welcome, in both languages: a sentence in each.
- Your story, in the main language, with a short summary in the other.
- A reading in French, then a reading in English.
- The declarations and the vows: the legal statements in one language, or in both, then your own vows in your own languages.
- The rings and the pronouncement, in both languages.
- The signing of the licence, with music.
- The closing, in both languages.
Finding a bilingual officiant
With Celebrance, you choose the ceremony language when you book, where our officiants speak several languages. A ceremony in both English and French is an option you can add, with its price shown before you book. We offer it only where enough of our officiants speak both languages, so that if your officiant can't make it, the replacement speaks both too.
See our wedding officiants in Ontario. For the rest, from the licence to the certificate, see how to get married in Ontario.
And other languages?
The welcome, the readings, the music and your vows can be in any language your families speak. For the legal statements, the Act gives English and French versions: if you would like them in another language too, ask your officiant how they can help, and keep English or French for your witnesses.
Sources: ontario.ca: 90m03 · ontario.ca: getting married · forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca: on00459e.pdf
Frequently asked questions
Can the legal part of the ceremony be in French?
Yes. For a civil marriage, the Marriage Act gives its three statements in English and in French, and says that using only one of the two is enough. A registered officiant follows the rites of their religious body or organization: ask them about the language. Every Celebrance ceremony script includes the statements, in the language of your ceremony.
Can we say the legal statements in both languages?
Yes. Only one language is required, so you can say them once in each, or say them in one language and summarize them in the other. Ask your officiant how they usually do it.
Our witnesses don't speak French. Is that a problem?
Your 2 witnesses must understand what they are witnessing. If one of them doesn't speak French, say the legal statements in English as well, or in English only.
Can the vows be in two languages?
Yes. Your personal vows aren't set by law: each of you can speak in your own language, or switch between the two.
How long is a bilingual ceremony?
A little longer than a ceremony in one language, but not twice as long, as long as you don't repeat everything. Alternate the parts, and print a short program in the other language.