Getting Married in Ontario
A Step-by-Step Guide
If you are planning to tie the knot in Ontario, follow this comprehensive, guide:
Get a marriage license from your town hall, city hall or municipal office. A marriage license is valid for three months from the date it was issued. To get a license, you must:
complete an application
provide two pieces of government-issued ID for each person getting married (one must include their photo)
provide supporting documentation (e.g. proof of divorce) if applicable
have at least one of you attend in person to pick up the license, and
pay a fee. Please note: Fees vary depending on the municipality.
Hire an authorized officiant to perform your marriage (pick me!). This can be a:
Registered marriage officiant. This could be a person recognized by a religious organization to perform marriages in Ontario or someone who belongs to a band, First Nation, Métis or Inuit organization or community or Indigenous entity located in whole or in part in Ontario. Click here for a list of officiants who are licensed in Ontario.
Civil marriage officiant. This could be a municipal clerk and/or their delegate, a judge, an Ontario associate judge or a justice of the peace. Contact a local city hall, town hall or municipal office to find out if they provide civil marriage services.
