A simple wedding ceremony script for Ontario, with the legal words

Before you start

This script is for a short, warm, non-religious ceremony of about 15 minutes. Replace Sam and Alex with your names, and Jordan with your officiant's. Each of you chooses the word you use for the other in the legal words: wife, husband, partner or spouse.

For a civil marriage, the Marriage Act sets three statements, in English or French, said in front of the officiant and your 2 witnesses. They are marked below, word for word. A registered officiant follows the rites of their religious body or organization; every Celebrance ceremony script includes the three statements. Everything else, you can change. The rules behind the legal words are in what must be said at an Ontario wedding.

1. Welcome (officiant)

Good afternoon, and welcome. My name is Jordan, and I have the joy of marrying Sam and Alex today. They asked me to thank you for being here: some of you travelled far, all of you made time, and it means a great deal to them. Today is about two people who chose each other, and about all of you, who helped them become who they are.

2. A few words about the couple (officiant)

Sam and Alex met on a rainy Tuesday, in a bookshop that has since closed, reaching for the same book. Neither of them let go. Since then, they have shared three apartments, one dog, many long drives and a very serious argument about how to load a dishwasher. What their friends say most about them is simple: they make each other braver, and they make each other laugh.

Replace this with your own story, in three or four sentences: how you met, what you love about each other, a detail that makes your guests smile.

3. A reading (a friend or relative)

A short poem or passage, of one or two minutes. Choose a text you love, or ask the reader to write a few lines of their own.

4. The declarations (legal words)

Jordan: Sam and Alex, before your families and friends, I will ask each of you to make a declaration. Sam, please repeat after me.

Sam: I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, Sam, may not be joined in matrimony to Alex.

Alex: I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, Alex, may not be joined in matrimony to Sam.

5. Your vows

Jordan: Sam and Alex have written their own promises to each other.

Each of you reads your vows, a minute or two each. Our guide on how to write wedding vows can help.

6. The statements of consent (legal words)

Jordan: Now, in front of these witnesses, please take each other as spouses. Sam, please repeat after me.

Sam: I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Sam, do take you, Alex, to be my lawful wedded spouse.

Alex: I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Alex, do take you, Sam, to be my lawful wedded spouse.

Each of you can say wife, husband, partner or spouse, and you don't have to use the same word.

7. The rings

Jordan: These rings are a circle, with no beginning and no end. Wear them as a reminder of what you promised today.

Sam: Alex, I give you this ring as a sign of my love, and of the promises I made to you today.

Alex: Sam, I give you this ring as a sign of my love, and of the promises I made to you today.

8. The pronouncement (legal words)

Jordan: Sam and Alex, you have made your declarations and your promises, in front of your families, your friends and your witnesses. I, Jordan, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Marriage Act, do hereby pronounce you Sam and Alex to be married.

You may kiss!

9. The signing

Jordan: Before we celebrate, Sam and Alex will sign their marriage licence, with their witnesses.

The two of you, your 2 witnesses and your officiant sign the licence right after the ceremony. Music works well here. Your officiant then sends the licence for registration within 2 days.

10. Closing (officiant)

Friends and family, it is my pleasure to present to you, for the first time as a married couple, Sam and Alex!

Make it yours

• Keep it short. Fifteen minutes holds everyone's attention; thirty is plenty.
• Read it aloud together before the day, and time it.
• Add a ritual if it means something to you: a handfasting, a unity candle, a ring warming.
• Two languages? The legal words exist in English and in French: see a French or bilingual wedding ceremony.

With Celebrance, your officiant writes your ceremony script with you in your ceremony space: the legal words are already in place, with your names, and can't be changed by mistake. See our wedding officiants in Ontario.

Sources: ontario.ca: 90m03 · forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca: on00459e.pdf