Getting Legally Married in Ontario

Choosing Your Officiant

Marriage Officiants trained and certified by the Ontario Humanist Society are secular clergy licensed by the Province of Ontario to provide ethical marriage ceremonies. These marriages are legally equivalent to a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Marriage Commissioner or City Hall wedding/Civil wedding.
I will ensure your wedding follows the regulations in the Ontario Marriage Act.
The Government of Ontario keeps an up to date and accurate list of everyone who is licenced to perform legal marriages in the Province. No matter who you select, ensure their name is on the list.

Keeping It Legal

In order for your wedding to be legally solemnized there are key elements that must be present in each ceremony. The Marriage Act of Ontario requires a specific verbal legal ceremony that takes place front of at least two witnesses and, that is conducted by a licensed officiant.

You must follow the required marriage ceremony in the Marriage Act of Ontario. This includes;

  • stating your legal names,
  • a verbal declaration of Intention of purpose and Non-impediment,
  • your spoken legal vows,
  • a declaration and pronouncement, and then
  • recording the ceremony by signing various documents.

The Government of Ontario has very specific words that each person marrying in the province must state before witnesses.

Once the required legal ceremony requirements are met, the wedding service may be further customized to your individual wishes, including personal vows, music, readings and cultural rituals, and the inclusion of friends and family.

Please Be Aware

Although a friend or relative may ‘participate’ in a ceremony, the actual legal ceremony itself MUST be conducted by a licensed officiant in the presence of your legal witnesses, following the Marriage Act requirements. No one but the legal officiant can administer the declaration of non-impediment, the legal vows, and pronounce you to be legally married. If another officiant has offered you different information regarding participation of family or friends in this regard, please check with the Marriage Office for further clarification.