The Basics

Thank you for asking me to be your Marriage Commissioner. It’s a privilege to be able to marry you both. In order to make your wedding ceremony planning experience the best it can be, I would ask you to consider the following:

In order to book me as your Marriage Commissioner, I require you to complete the Booking Form found on my website. Once I receive it I will then A) secure the date and time of your wedding into my appointment book and B) start a wedding file for you.
I'm required to meet with you prior to your actual wedding date. At this meeting we will go over the civil ceremony wording and legal documentation, as well as any other wedding details. I use a Zoom meeting format.
You will need to purchase a Marriage License. Please note: A Marriage License is only valid for 90 days and must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to your wedding date.
You will need to complete the MA-1 Form from my website and submit it to me electronically. I use this information to create your Marriage Registration so everything on your MA-1 Form MUST be accurate with correct spellings and all applicable boxes filled in. (Note: If for some reason your witnesses' information changes between now and the day of your wedding, it is very important that you contact me regarding this change so I can adjust your documents in preparation for signing during your ceremony.)
As a Marriage Commissioner, I find that there are often times where I am scheduled to do more than one wedding on the same day. Therefore, it is important that we start your wedding ceremony on time. In the same vein, many weddings are booked with me months in advance. If for some reason you have to change the time, it is again important that you get in touch with me as soon as possible. I cannot guarantee that I will still be able to do your wedding if I have worked in other weddings around yours. Thank you for your consideration in both these requests.
The fee for my services as a Marriage Commissioner is $125.00 and E-transfer is preferred as method of payment. Thank you. There is an additional $25.00 charge if you would like me to attend your wedding rehearsal. Also I have had on occasion, requests from couples to set up a meet and greet before booking with me. I am more than happy to do so however there is a $25.00 charge for this additional meeting.
To put your mind at ease, I am always at the wedding venue well in advance and am able to familiarize myself with where I need to be etc.
If you are planning any additions to your wedding i.e. readings, etc. I would appreciate having a copy of the reading and the name of the reader. You can email me this information.
On occasions, I have been asked to use a microphone in the larger venues. I don’t mind doing this at all, however, if you could consider in your planning the possibility of getting a cordless, clip on lapel microphone, it works much better for me than a microphone on a stand. I have also been asked if I would mind holding a microphone. For me this is very difficult as I have papers to hold and read from and therefore I choose not to hold a mic. Again, this is information that will help you with your planning. Ideally, using a podium is what I find most helpful in larger venues. Thank you again for your understanding.
Some couples feel it appropriate to have a few alcoholic drinks prior to their wedding ceremony and consider it a non issue. However, the interpretation of the phrase a "few drinks" may become the issue. As a Marriage Commissioner, I am licensed to perform civil wedding ceremonies for those parties who I feel are not impaired or influenced by the use of alcohol or drugs. I do not wish to be put in a position, prior to your wedding ceremony, to have to make a decision as to whether we continue with the ceremony because of this concern. I am therefore recommending, based on Section 5 of The Marriage Act, 2021 that couples save their consumption of alcohol or drug use to after the civil ceremony.
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"Party under influence of alcohol or drugs 5‑6 No religious official or marriage commissioner who knows or has reason to believe that the judgment of either party to the intended marriage is impaired by the use of alcohol or drugs shall solemnize a marriage between those persons." The Marriage Act 2021, c16, s.5-6.