5 Essential Elements Every Wedding Requires

Photography by Danielle Meredith Photography
Celebrating at F’Amelia, Toronto

Planning a wedding is stressful. With so many people and opinions to consider, it can get really overwhelming. 

Last week I spoke with Kate from The Course for Brides on her Real Talk with Brides live on Instagram. It was so much fun to speak to her about my own wedding experience and what pressures exist around wedding planning for other couples.

When you’re stressed out, I want you to remember there are 5 things you need to have to get married, the rest is a choice. 

This isn’t something you’ll often see a wedding planner say, but it’s just the truth. 

Here are the 5 essential elements every wedding requires!

1.      Yourselves

2.      Marriage License 

3.      Licensed Officiant

4.      2 Witnesses (over the age of 18)

5.      A pen

 But wait? Is it really this simple? Honestly, yes.

This simplicity doesn’t make the details unimportant. It’s just a reminder about why you’re doing this. 

The purpose of your wedding is to marry the person that you wish to spend your life or at least the foreseeable future with. Marriage is the purpose, everything else is celebration! Everything from invitations to the bridesmaids shoe colour is the celebration. 

So take a moment, and breathe!

Photography by Ikonica
Officiant Lori Lytle
Celebrating at Berkeley Church

An understandable guide to Marriage Licences and Certificates in Ontario

One of the most important things that you, the couple, need to do when you are getting married is to get your Marriage LICENCE. Once you have set the date for your wedding, you need to look at your calendar, and within the 90 days before your signing day, you and/or your partner will need to go and get a Marriage Licence. It does expire after 90 days so keep in mind if you are signing on a different day other than your wedding day, you don't want to get it too early.

Please note that it is the sole responsibility of you as a couple to acquire your Marriage Licence. You can check the website for the city that you live in, to find the location. Generally in smaller cities, you would go to City Hall. In larger cities, like Toronto there are four locations where there are Registry Offices. Currently in the city of Toronto, the fee is $140.00 (no tax)*

You are responsible for this document until you hand it over to your wedding Officiant on the day of your wedding. Be sure to bring all three pages which includes your instruction sheet, the page with your personal information and the final page with your Record of Solemnization at the bottom.

It is very important for you to realize that if this license is not at your wedding, you are not getting married until you can produce it. Plain and simple.

Directly after your ceremony is over, you will be handed a Record of Solemnization. This is a small piece of paper which will act as legal proof of marriage until you are able to request your marriage certificate. Think of your Record of Solemnization as a receipt of your marriage!

The Officiant will take the second page of your license with all of your personal information on it, and send that to the government. This process can take between 10-12 weeks, so be patient. You will not be informed when this information has been processed, you will simply need to wait out the time.

Marriage CERTIFICATE

Three months have passed, and it's now time for you to apply for your Marriage Certificate! This is a document that is used for proof of marriage in legal matters, such as passport applications, and immigration purposes.

You can request this online for either $15 (short) or $22 (long)*

Information provided by the province regarding Ontario Marriage Licenses are available here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/getting-married

*Disclaimer: At the time of this blog publishing, the fee amount and locations are current. Although this information is provided to you through this blog, please check the website for your city to obtain current information and fees. This is public information, and not legal advice.