How do I get married in Ontario?

To get married in Ontario, you must:

Who can perform a marriage ceremony?

You can choose a civil or a religious ceremony.

In a civil ceremony, you can be married by a judge or justice of the peace. Contact your municipal office or city hall to arrange a civil ceremony.

In a religious ceremony, you can be married by an officiant who is recognized by your faith group and is registered to perform marriages in Ontario under the Marriage Act.

View a list of religious officiants who can perform marriage ceremonies in Ontario.

Plan a Wedding

A wedding can take a lot of planning, especially if you choose to have a reception or another celebration.

If you want to get married or have a wedding celebration at a popular place, you might need to reserve it many months in advance.

In some communities it is common to plan marriage ceremonies and celebrations in a very short time, such as a few months.

If you know friends or family who have been married in Ontario, they might have suggestions or recommendations for you. Many websites offer tips about planning weddings. It is a good idea to compare prices before you make decisions on services and products for your wedding.

For More Information

  • Getting Married - Tips and information about financial planning and managing your money with a spouse. From the GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca.
  • Sponsoring Your Family - General information about sponsoring a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to immigrate to Canada. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Last updated: July 13, 2016 4000065