How do we get Married in Ontario?
You’re about to take an exciting step! Here are some important things to know when getting married in Ontario. Click the button below for more details.
Obtain a Marriage Licence
Marriage Licence Requirement:
You will need a Marriage Licence to get legally married in Ontario.
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You can pick up the licence at any City Hall in Ontario within 90 days of your wedding.
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How to Apply:
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Fill out the Marriage Licence Application.
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Bring it in person to a Marriage Licence issuer.
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Bring valid ID for both of you (e.g. birth certificate, change of name certificate, passport, Record of Immigrant Landing, or Canadian citizenship card, plus photo ID).
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On the Wedding Day:
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Bring the licence to your officiant.
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You, your partner, and two witnesses will sign the paperwork.
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The officiant will register the marriage with the government.
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Need Help?
Contact your local City or Municipal Clerk’s Office for locations and more info.
We know your time is valuable, so we’ve provided the Wedding Licence Application form for you to download.
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Simply fill it out and bring it to your local City Hall to get your licence.
The form asks for your wedding date and location, but if those details aren’t finalized yet, that’s perfectly fine. This information is just used to confirm the ceremony will take place within 90 days and within the province of Ontario.
You’ll receive the Record of Solemnization of Marriage — the detachable portion of the Marriage Licence — in a white envelope on your wedding day. This copy is for your records and is not a legal proof of marriage.
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I will send the completed Marriage Licence to the Registrar General’s Office, where your marriage will be officially recorded.
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Please be aware that you will not receive any confirmation or documents from the government after registration.
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If you need an official Marriage Certificate, you’ll have to request it yourself — it is notautomatically mailed out. For instructions on how to apply for the certificate or to learn more about name changes after marriage, please visit the Ontario government’s website.
​https://services.ontario.ca/oca-web/main
It is the married couple's responsibility to both obtain your Marriage Licence and apply for your Marriage Certificate — these steps are not handled by the officiant.
These are links that you may wish to use before and after your wedding ceremony:
​Certificate Application Information
Online Certificate Application
Online status inquiry for a Marriage Certificate Application in Ontario
Spousal Name Change Information
Additional Information available at:
Hopefully the links on this page are helpful to make the process easier!