UNDERSTANDING THE WEDDING PROCESS AND DOCUMENTS
by Rev. Ray Cross

In preparation for your wedding you must purchase a marriage license from your local municipality. This license may be purchased anywhere in Ontario for a wedding anywhere in Ontario. Once purchased the license is immediately valid for three months. This license, along with the large postage-paid envelope addressed to the Registrar General, must be given to your officiant prior to your wedding so that he may enter the information it contains into a Register book that he is required to keep. The officiant brings the license and Register with him to the ceremony. The license and Register are signed by the couple and their two witnesses following the ceremony. The officiant tears the " Record of Solemnization of Marriage" off the license and gives it to the couple following the signing (Usually it is actually given to the Best Man for safe keeping for the couple until after the reception.) This " Record of Solemnization of Marriage", bearing the signature of the two witnesses and the officiant verifies the marriage for travel purposes and is usually adequate for name changes to accounts and the like, but not for crucial identify documents such as a passport, drivers license or health card. Following the ceremony, the officiant mails the completed marriage license to the Registrar General of Ontario for registration. Your Marriage Certificate will be available some weeks after your ceremony. You may tract its status on the internet and order and pay for it on the internet as well. 

For more specific information visit the government sites listed below. 

1.      Ontario list of Registered Religious Wedding Officiants

2.      Assuming your Husband’s Last Name

3.      Obtaining a Marriage Certificate after your wedding

a.     By internet

b.     By mail or fax

4.      Checking the status and availability of your marriage certificate

5.      Requirements for Purchasing a Wedding License

In  Clarington

In  Pickering

In  Port Hope

In  Port Perry

In  Oshawa  

In  Toronto 

In  Uxbridge

In  Whitby