Canada has recently experienced a serge in the number of marriages officiate in its Provinces. This is because Canada is one of the few countries in the world that legally recognizes same sex marriages. If you are a
same sex couple that is seeking a location to make your union legal, or if you are simply looking for a unique destination wedding, then consider tying the knot in one of Canada's thirteen provinces.
Canadian Marriage Licenses
Getting married in Canada is both easy and complicated. It is easy in the sense that the just about anyone who meets basic requirements can get married in Canada, and difficult in the sense that each Province of Canada has its own set of rules for marriages. If you want to get married in Canada and are from the United States, then you will need to learn what requirements the Province you plan to get married in has for marriage licenses and marriage services.
The first consideration that you need to learn about is whether your Province requires both people interested in marriage to be present when getting the marriage license. The Provinces that require both the bride and groom to be present at the marriage license agent include: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territory, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. The remaining regions only require one person to go to the licensing agent.
Generally you will need to have an official photo ID, passport, divorce decree if you are divorced, death certificate if you are widowed and a birth certificate to get your Canadian marriage license. If you are under 19, then you may also need written permission from your parents to get married. If you are under 16, then you generally will be prohibited from getting married unless you have written permission from your parent, the bride is pregnant or if the bride is already a mother.
Special Requirements
In addition to the normal requirements to get your wedding license in Canada, some provinces also have a few special requirements that you will need to meet before getting married.
In New Brunswick you will need the date your marriage is planned for and the name of the person who will be performing the ceremony for you. This province also requires people under 16 to have an official declaration
from the province's Court of Queen's Bench before a license will be issued.
In Newfoundland only one person has to be present to submit the marriage license application, however, both parties must sign the application and both must also complete an affidavit that is sword to and signed by a Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths or a Justice of the Peace. This province also requires applicants who have been divorced outside of Newfoundland to have a statement from a Newfoundland attorney that confirms they are eligible to get married in the province.
Ontario has a similar requirement if you are divorced and the divorce took place outside of Canada. If you were divorced outside of Canada, then you will need to request the Minster of Consumer and Commercial Relations to authorize your marriage.
In the Northwest Territory of Canada, applicants will also need to print the full names of their parents on their application. This means that the full names of the bride's parents and the full names of the groom's parents will need to be on the application.
Nunavut has a similar requirement, however, they also require the place of birth for the bride and groom's parents as well. Immigration documents will also be required if applicable to your situation.
Waiting Periods
The waiting period for Canadian marriages, again, will vary by province. There are no waiting periods in the following provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territory, Nunavut, Ontario and PEI. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon all have a 24 hour waiting period between getting your license and getting married. Newfoundland and Labrador have a two stage waiting process. You will need to wait four days between applying for your license and getting your license, and then wait an additional four day between getting your license and getting married. In Nova Scotia you will have a five day wait and in Quebec you will have a 20 day wait.
In Canada there are specific rules for who can officiate a wedding. If you are interested in a civil ceremony, then you will need to find a civil official who is authorized to perform marriages in your chosen province.
Next, if you are interested in a religious ceremony, then you will need to find a religious representative who has been recognized and authorized by a religion to perform marriages.
source. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/606199/get_married_in_canada_how_to_make_it.html?cat=41
same sex couple that is seeking a location to make your union legal, or if you are simply looking for a unique destination wedding, then consider tying the knot in one of Canada's thirteen provinces.
Canadian Marriage Licenses
Getting married in Canada is both easy and complicated. It is easy in the sense that the just about anyone who meets basic requirements can get married in Canada, and difficult in the sense that each Province of Canada has its own set of rules for marriages. If you want to get married in Canada and are from the United States, then you will need to learn what requirements the Province you plan to get married in has for marriage licenses and marriage services.
The first consideration that you need to learn about is whether your Province requires both people interested in marriage to be present when getting the marriage license. The Provinces that require both the bride and groom to be present at the marriage license agent include: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territory, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. The remaining regions only require one person to go to the licensing agent.
Generally you will need to have an official photo ID, passport, divorce decree if you are divorced, death certificate if you are widowed and a birth certificate to get your Canadian marriage license. If you are under 19, then you may also need written permission from your parents to get married. If you are under 16, then you generally will be prohibited from getting married unless you have written permission from your parent, the bride is pregnant or if the bride is already a mother.
Special Requirements
In addition to the normal requirements to get your wedding license in Canada, some provinces also have a few special requirements that you will need to meet before getting married.
In New Brunswick you will need the date your marriage is planned for and the name of the person who will be performing the ceremony for you. This province also requires people under 16 to have an official declaration
from the province's Court of Queen's Bench before a license will be issued.
In Newfoundland only one person has to be present to submit the marriage license application, however, both parties must sign the application and both must also complete an affidavit that is sword to and signed by a Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths or a Justice of the Peace. This province also requires applicants who have been divorced outside of Newfoundland to have a statement from a Newfoundland attorney that confirms they are eligible to get married in the province.
Ontario has a similar requirement if you are divorced and the divorce took place outside of Canada. If you were divorced outside of Canada, then you will need to request the Minster of Consumer and Commercial Relations to authorize your marriage.
In the Northwest Territory of Canada, applicants will also need to print the full names of their parents on their application. This means that the full names of the bride's parents and the full names of the groom's parents will need to be on the application.
Nunavut has a similar requirement, however, they also require the place of birth for the bride and groom's parents as well. Immigration documents will also be required if applicable to your situation.
Waiting Periods
The waiting period for Canadian marriages, again, will vary by province. There are no waiting periods in the following provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territory, Nunavut, Ontario and PEI. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon all have a 24 hour waiting period between getting your license and getting married. Newfoundland and Labrador have a two stage waiting process. You will need to wait four days between applying for your license and getting your license, and then wait an additional four day between getting your license and getting married. In Nova Scotia you will have a five day wait and in Quebec you will have a 20 day wait.
In Canada there are specific rules for who can officiate a wedding. If you are interested in a civil ceremony, then you will need to find a civil official who is authorized to perform marriages in your chosen province.
Next, if you are interested in a religious ceremony, then you will need to find a religious representative who has been recognized and authorized by a religion to perform marriages.
source. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/606199/get_married_in_canada_how_to_make_it.html?cat=41
