For the most current information on getting married in the Province of Alberta, I encourage you to visit the Government of Alberta website.  This link is included on my “Links” page.   In general, to get married you require a valid Province of Alberta marriage licence, a marriage officiate, at least two witnesses over the age of 18, a date, time and location.  Marriage Licences are issued by Provincial Registries Offices and only valid for about three months.  There is no waiting period following receipt of your licence to get married and you are able to get married at virtually anywhere suitable to you.   Marriage licences from other Provinces are not acceptable.  Further, I am unable to conduct your wedding if in my sole and absolute discretionary opinion you are under the influence of any altering substance including but not limited to alcohol and/or any drugs or if the ceremony location subjects your Officiate to second-hand or transfer cannabis smoke.

For special circumstances, such as having been married in a jurisdiction outside of Alberta or Canada, or being divorced or widowed, I strongly recommend you contact a Registries Office as early as possible in your planning process to determine if any special information or process requirements apply to you.

Please note that weddings do start on time.  Given Officiants and venues schedule multiple events per day, delays cannot usually be accommodated. As your Officiant needs about 15 minutes prior to the start of your wedding to review the service with the wedding party, always plan to arrive a minimum of 20 minutes earlier than the set time for ceremony.

Your wedding can be as formal or informal as you wish it to be, however please remember that this is a civil, not-religious, ceremony.  With the exception of two statements required by Law, your entire marriage ceremony may be customized.  The two statements which must be made be each party and which cannot be altered in any way are:

(1) “I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, (name) may not be  joined in matrimony to (name).”

(2)  “I call upon those persons present to witness that I, (name), do take you, (name), to be my  lawful wedded spouse (or partner).”

While each wedding service is unique to my couples, a typical length is 20 – 45 minutes depending upon the nature of the service. You have significant flexibility in the planning of your service, rings may/may-not be exchanged, pets may/may-not be involved, the ceremony may be outside or inside, it may be conventional, casual or even themed.  I will provide you with an unofficial Statement of Marriage at the conclusion of the ceremony.  Please note that ONLY the Provincial Government (Ordered via Registries) can provide you with a formal Statement of Marriage.

Weddings encompass the entire range of emotions, joys and stresses.  They reflect your uniqueness and characteristics.  While no two weddings are the same, there are many commonalities in the planning, deciding and managing of each.  Our unique CustomVows planning meeting has consistently proven invaluable in providing you many tools to help make your wedding day as perfect as you have imagined.