Your Ontario marriage licence, step by step

Let’s talk about the least romantic part of your wedding. I promise to keep it short.

Your marriage licence is one sheet of paper, and without it, all the flowers and first kisses in the world won’t make you legally married. The good news? It’s easier than most couples expect. After 18 years and more than 1,800 ceremonies, I’ve walked a lot of people through this, and the ones who sort it out early are always the most relaxed on the day.

So grab a coffee. Here’s how it works.

First, the timing

In Ontario, a licence is good for three months from the day it’s issued. Get it too early and it expires before you say “I do.” Leave it too late and… well, let’s not.

My sweet spot is four to eight weeks before the wedding. That gives you breathing room if something comes up, like a lost passport or a typo.

A few other things to know. You both need to be 18 or older (16 or 17 is possible with parental consent). There’s no waiting period, but give yourselves at least one business day between applying and the wedding. And the licence works anywhere in Ontario, so you can pick it up in Toronto and get married in cottage country.

Gather your ID (this is where people get tripped up)

Each of you needs two pieces of government-issued ID, originals and not expired, showing your legal name and date of birth. At least one should have your photo. A passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card all work.

What doesn’t work: your health card, your SIN card, or a photocopy of anything. And please check those expiry dates now. You’d be amazed how many passports quietly lapse a few weeks before a wedding.

If you’ve been married before, you’ll need paperwork for that too:

• Divorced in Canada: the original or court-certified Certificate of Divorce. The divorce order or judgment looks official, but it isn’t accepted.
• Divorced outside Canada: you’ll need a Foreign Divorce Authorization from the province before you can even book. Start this first, because it can take up to four weeks.
• Widowed: a death certificate or a funeral director’s statement of death.

If your ID isn’t in English or French, bring a certified translation.

Apply, then book your appointment

You start online and finish in person. The online part takes about half an hour, through ServiceOntario or your city’s own form.

Here in Toronto, you fill in the City’s application, print it, and both sign it in ink. Then one of you books an appointment at City Hall (100 Queen St. W.) or the North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge St.) and brings the signed form, all four pieces of ID and any divorce papers. Only one of you has to go, which is handy if the other is still wrestling with the seating chart.

Toronto charges $180, debit or credit only. Other towns set their own fee, so check before you go.

Read it before you leave the counter

When they hand you the licence, read every line. Names, birth dates, parents’ names, all of it. I spent 20 years as a flight attendant before I became an officiant, and if that job taught me anything, it’s that the small details are the ones that come back to bite you. A typo is easy to fix at the counter. Later, it’s a headache.

Then snap a photo and send it to me so I can double-check it too. Keep the original flat and dry (no folding, no laminating, no coffee rings), and hand it to me before the ceremony.

Signing on the day

Right after the ceremony, the two of you, your two witnesses and I sign the licence together. It takes about five minutes, and it makes a lovely photo. Pick witnesses you know will be there and who can sign their name clearly.

I’ll also give you a Record of Solemnization of Marriage. Think of it as your keepsake. It’s lovely to have, but it isn’t your official marriage certificate.

After the wedding

This part is on me. I send your signed licence to the province by tracked courier, and that’s included in my fee. Once your marriage is registered, you can order your marriage certificate online.

Give it time: processing can take up to eight weeks after registration. A regular certificate is $15 (or $22 for a certified copy of the registration), and premium service with courier delivery is $45 (or $52). If you’re changing your name, applying for a passport or doing immigration paperwork, you’ll usually need one of these.

One last thing

Every couple I marry gets help with the licence as part of our planning, so you’re never figuring this out alone. If you’re looking for a ceremony that feels like the two of you, with someone keeping an eye on the paperwork, I’d love to hear your story. Call me at 416-738-4529 or email robb@robbmcdonald.ca.

Warmly, Robb