How to get married in Ontario: licence, witnesses and officiant

What do you need to get married legally in Ontario?

Three things: a valid marriage licence, an authorized officiant, and 2 witnesses at the ceremony. The licence comes from a municipal office, or online through ServiceOntario in the municipalities that offer it. It is valid for 3 months from the day it is issued, so plan to apply within the 3 months before your wedding.

In some limited cases, the publication of banns can replace a licence. Your officiant can tell you whether that applies to you.

When should you apply for your marriage licence?

Because the licence expires 3 months after it is issued, apply no earlier than 3 months before your date. Leave yourself a few weeks of margin: many municipal offices work by appointment, and busy wedding months fill up. In a hurry? There is no waiting period after the licence: see how fast you can get married in Ontario.

Our Ontario marriage licence planner gives you the exact dates for your wedding: when your licence window opens, when to apply, and when to order your marriage certificate.

How do you get the licence, step by step?

1. Choose your date and book your officiant. Their availability often decides your date.
2. Find your municipal office and check whether it takes appointments or offers the online application through ServiceOntario.
3. Prepare your documents (see the list below) and the completed marriage licence application.
4. Apply within the 3 months before the wedding and pay the fees.
5. Keep the licence safe and give it to your officiant before the ceremony.

What documents do you need?

• The completed and signed application.
• Original ID for each of you. Many municipal offices, such as the City of Toronto, ask for two pieces of original ID per person: check the list accepted by yours.
• Divorced in Canada: the official divorce decree, judgment or certificate.
• Divorced outside Canada: a Statement of Sole Responsibility, a legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer, and the divorce decree, translated by a certified translator if needed.
• Widowed: the death certificate, a funeral director's statement or a court order.
• 16 or 17 years old: written consent from your parents or legal guardians, sworn or affirmed before a commissioner for taking affidavits, or a court order.

Coming from outside Ontario? Our guide on getting married in Ontario when you don't live here covers ID, a divorce abroad and using your certificate back home.

How much does it cost?

The provincial fee can be waived for registered members under the Indian Act who live on a reserve or on Crown lands in Ontario.

Who can marry you in Ontario?

Only an authorized officiant can perform a marriage:

• a registered marriage officiant, recognized by a religious body or an Indigenous organization;
• or a civil officiant: a municipal clerk or delegate, a judge, an associate judge, a justice of the peace, or a Member of Provincial Parliament who has given written notice to the minister.

A friend can't perform the marriage unless they are already authorized, but they can still take part: see can a friend officiate your wedding in Ontario?

At Celebrance, every officiant is registered, the price is clear and all-in, and if your officiant can't make it, we send a replacement at no cost. See our wedding officiants in Ontario.

What happens on the wedding day?

Your 2 witnesses must be physically present. Right after the ceremony, you, your spouse, your witnesses and your officiant sign the licence. Your officiant then sends it to the Province of Ontario for registration.

In a civil ceremony, the Marriage Act requires three short statements, in English or French; a registered officiant follows the rites of their religious body or organization, and every Celebrance ceremony script includes the same statements. Our guide gives the exact legal words of an Ontario wedding and who says them.

How do you get your marriage certificate?

Once the marriage is registered, you can order your marriage certificate through ServiceOntario, about 10 to 12 weeks after the wedding: see your Ontario marriage certificate for the fees and how to apply. You will need it for many administrative steps, starting with changing your last name if you choose to.

Sources: ontario.ca: getting married · toronto.ca: preparing to get married