What must be said at an Ontario wedding? The legal words, and everything you can choose

What does the law require at an Ontario wedding?

Very little, which leaves you a lot of freedom. For a civil marriage, performed by a civil officiant such as a judge, a justice of the peace or a municipal clerk, section 24 of Ontario's Marriage Act says that no particular form of ceremony is required. It only asks that, in some part of the ceremony, three statements are made in front of the person solemnizing the marriage and the witnesses:

1. each of you declares that you know of no lawful impediment to the marriage;
2. each of you takes the other as your lawful wedded spouse, calling on those present to witness it;
3. the officiant pronounces you married under the Marriage Act.

The Act adds that it is sufficient to use only English or only French for these statements. For a ceremony in both languages, see a French or bilingual wedding ceremony in Ontario.

A registered officiant, recognized by a religious body or an Indigenous organization, marries you according to its rites and usages, or customs and traditions, and the Act recognizes that marriage as valid. Ask your officiant which words they use. Every Celebrance ceremony script includes the three statements of the Act, so your ceremony has them whoever leads it.

The exact words, in English

In the Act, AB and CD stand for your names, and EF for your officiant's.

Each of you declares:

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

Then each of you says to the other:

I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, AB, do take you, CD, to be my lawful wedded wife (or to be my lawful wedded husband, or to be my lawful wedded partner, or to be my lawful wedded spouse).

After which your officiant says:

I, EF, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Marriage Act, do hereby pronounce you AB and CD to be married.

The exact words, in French

Je déclare solennellement que moi, AB, je ne connais aucun empêchement légal à mon mariage avec CD.

Je demande aux personnes qui sont ici présentes d'être témoins que moi, AB, je prends CD comme légitime épouse (ou comme légitime époux, ou comme partenaire conjugal légitime, ou comme légitime conjoint(e)).

En vertu des pouvoirs qui me sont conférés par la Loi sur le mariage, moi, EF, je vous déclare mariés(ées), AB et CD.

Who says what, and in what order?

In a civil marriage, the order is set by the Act: first the two declarations, then the two statements of consent, then the pronouncement. You each say your own declaration and your own statement of consent, usually repeating after your officiant. Only the officiant pronounces you married.

You choose the word each of you uses for the other: wife, husband, partner or spouse. See also LGBTQ+ weddings in Ontario.

Witnesses and signatures

Every marriage must take place in the presence of the two of you and at least two witnesses, who sign as witnesses in the officiant's register (sections 25 and 28 of the Act). Who can be one: see wedding witnesses in Ontario.

Right after the ceremony, the two of you, your witnesses and your officiant sign the marriage licence. Your officiant records the marriage in their register and sends it to the Province for registration. If either of you asks, the officiant must also give you a record of the marriage at the time of the ceremony, with your names, the date and the names of your witnesses.

What you are free to choose

Everything else is yours: how you enter, who welcomes your guests, how long it lasts, whether you tell your story, readings or poems, music, a ring exchange, rituals such as a unity candle or a handfasting, and personal vows (see how to write your wedding vows). You can also decide where the legal words sit in the ceremony, as long as they are all said.

A simple ceremony outline

1. Entrance and welcome.
2. A few words about the two of you, a reading or a song.
3. The declarations (legal words).
4. Your personal vows, if you want them.
5. The statements of consent (legal words).
6. The exchange of rings.
7. The pronouncement (legal words), and the kiss if you like.
8. The signing of the licence, with your witnesses.
9. The exit.

An elopement can keep only the legal words and take a few minutes. For a full example with every word, see a simple wedding ceremony script for Ontario.

How Celebrance helps

Celebrance officiants are registered to perform marriages in Ontario. In your ceremony space, the ceremony script already includes the legal words, with your names filled in: they can't be removed or changed by mistake. You and your officiant write everything around them together.

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