In Alberta, the person who performs a civil marriage ceremony is called a Marriage Commissioner. Marriage Commissioners are appointed and governed by the Alberta Government, but are neither subsidized nor salaried employees.
I am a Marriage Commissioner appointed in 2005 by the Province of Alberta to perform civil wedding ceremonies. Through your visiting of this Website though, I gather you have begun planning for one of the most memorable and important days of your life; your Wedding Day.
I perform a large variety of wedding ceremonies on a very frequent schedule, which vary from the large traditional to the smaller more intimate and personal in nature. My goal is to have your wedding ceremony reflect your desires as we work together to ensure this is your dream wedding. Every couple that stands before me deserves to have an extraordinary and memorable experience. Your ceremony is what makes this day the most unique in your life. No matter your choice of wedding package, I also take responsibility for filing your marriage registration upon the conclusion of your wedding.
I promote and encourage Family Ceremonies, for couples wishing to incorporate children, parents or siblings into their ceremony. My goal is to ensure these individuals understand that they are a crucial part of your life, and the bond of love being celebrated in your ceremony has a special place just for them.
It remains my privilege to also officiate over Same-Sex Marriages, ensuring that all couples are able to experience their dream wedding.
If you or your future spouse has an Ethnic Identity, then by all means proudly incorporate this into your wedding. I offer innovative methods in which we can acknowledge and celebrate this identity, while ensuring all legal requirements are observed. While the bulk of our ceremonies are conducted in English, I have been able to incorporate snippets of most requested languages into the service. Similarly, ethnic and family customs and traditions are typically easily accommodated within your custom ceremony. Should you desire your wedding to be conducted in a language other than English, it is very likely I am able to accommodate your wishes through the use of an interpreter.
Your wedding day must reflect the traits and beliefs that you hold true. Those characteristics that are special to you alone. Including these in your custom wedding ceremony helps ensure your marriage ceremony is truly custom and memorable. Having completed ~1500 unique and individualized weddings, I understand that each person, each couple, each venue, each service is indeed different and it is these differences that will help make your day truly special. This day belongs to you.
It would be my distinct honor to help make your Wedding Ceremony truly memorable and uniquely yours. I look forward to meeting with you and starting our unique CustomVows process. Together, with proper planning, preparation and perhaps even a little perspiration, we will ensure the details of your wedding are all addressed and you are free to relax and enjoy your day.
All costs are shown in Canadian dollars and are pre-taxes and levies. They should be viewed as planning estimates only and are subject to change. I recommend you confirm actual rates at the time of booking.
A non-refundable down-payment of $100.00 is required as a booking fee at the time of retention to hold your wedding date and fix the service price. Your wedding is NOT confirmed until this deposit is received. The remainder of my fee is due PRIOR to the starting of the actual ceremony.
While payment is typically made in CASH or by ETRANSFER, I am able to process VISA and MASTERCARD credit payments. I do NOT accept debit cards. All other direct and indirect direct wedding expenses, including but not limited to gowns, tuxedos, halls, caterers, décor, transportation, permits/licences, music, etal, fall within the purview of your planning and remain your direct responsibility.
WEDDINGS START ON TIME. This is very important due to the scheduling of multiple weddings throughout most days. While every effort will be made to accommodate delays resulting from truly unexpected emergencies, such can only be on a best effort basis and typically only to a maximum of 20 minutes. It is highly probable that if a wedding were more than 20 minutes late, the Officiant would not be able to accommodate it. Over the years the rude expression “Fashionably Late” seems to have infiltrated some people’s lives as an acceptable social practice. IT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE. To arrive late for your own wedding ceremony or as the guest at a wedding ceremony is rude and demonstrates a lack of manners. It is completely improper. To delay the start of the ceremony due to lateness from any member of the wedding party, demonstrates a lack of respect for the ceremony, your guests, your marriage commissioner and other involved. Furthermore, most marriage commissioners and venues have multiple weddings booked every day. If wedding groups are late, there is the distinct probability that their wedding time will have to be delayed until after all other weddings booked for that day have taken place. Your Officiant needs at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your wedding to review the service with the wedding party. Therefore, always plan to arrive a minimum of 20 minutes earlier than the set time for ceremony. Punctuality is absolutely essential.
Platinum Wedding Package $1,500.00 + GST
This service requires a $500.00 non-refundable deposit and at least twenty working days’ notice.
For small weddings (up to thirty people in total) at a Venue of our choice in St. Albert, this package includes a
sound system with selected background music, two bottles of Champagne, two commemorative glasses, a small wedding cake, a cake top and a cake knife. The use of complimentary glasses and plates for the use of your guests is also included. It also includes our planning meeting, rehearsal, customized vows and ring pledges, custom wedding ceremony, marriage certificate, registration of your wedding and a commemorative booklet. Aside from the
many specialized Ceremonies that may be included in your Platinum Wedding Ceremony, our unique CustomVows process enables us to write a truly unique specialized service based on your particular needs. We have
incorporated many different sentimental items and many unique family circumstances into these specialized services. We are limited only by your imagination!
Standard Wedding Package $280.00 + GST
This service requires a $100.00 non-refundable deposit. Travel charges MAY apply.
This is where you get married at a location of your choice. It includes access to a planning meeting, customized vows and ring pledges, access to background music selections, custom wedding ceremony, on-site coordination assistance, marriage certificate, registration of your wedding and a commemorative booklet. Aside from the many specialized Ceremonies that may be included in your Standard Wedding Ceremony, my unique CustomVows process enables us to write a truly unique specialized service based on your particular needs. We have incorporated many different sentimental items and many unique family circumstances into these specialized services. We are limited only by your imagination!
Classic Wedding Package $220.00 + GST
This service requires a $100.00 non-refundable deposit. Travel charges MAY apply.
This is your choice when you are looking for a classical wedding service that is elegant but simple and does not include any customization. It is based on a service I have developed over the past 17 years. We do not have a planning meeting, rather you will complete and return prior to your wedding a short form enabling me to write your service. It includes our standard vows and wedding ceremony, registration of your wedding and a marriage certificate.
Simple Wedding Package $180.00 + GST
This service requires a $100.00 non-refundable deposit. Travel charges MAY apply. Maximum of 6 people
This is for when you are looking for a simple, casual wedding ceremony with a maximum of 6 people in attendance, (Couple included). This service is usually conducted in a very casual manner, typically while seated around a table. We do not have a planning meeting, rather you will complete and return prior to your wedding a short form enabling me to write your service. It includes a VERY simple, casual ceremony, the registration of your wedding and a marriage certificate.
Rehearsal Bolt-on $80.00 + GST Travel charges MAY apply.
To hold a rehearsal is a personal preference. If you wish a rehearsal, we will use that time to go through the service and all related entrance/egress logistics, sight-lines, photographic considerations, music considerations, communication
logistics and of course your wedding service. Following the rehearsal, we will identify and adjust any portions of your service that can be enhanced to better reflect your desired experience.
Commitment or Vow Renewal Ceremony $240.00 + GST
This service requires a $100.00 non-refundable deposit. Travel charges MAY apply.
This is for that special occasion when you wish to affirm or reaffirm your love to each other in a formal venue without the legalities. A service to exclaim and share your love to each other in a formal venue with family and friends. It includes vows and ring pledges, access to background music selections, a commemorative certificate and a copy of your commitment ceremony.
Witnesses $30.00/each + GST
If you would like me to provide a witness or witnesses over the age of 18 to fulfill the legal requirements of your wedding, I can typically do so.
Rush Registration $60.00 + GST
For those instances when you require the registration of your marriage to occur the next working day, much faster than the typical process time of approximately 30 working days, I can expedite on your behalf.
PA System $60.00 + GST
If you require the use of a simple single speaker public address amplifier for your wedding ceremony, such can be
provided. This is for use during the wedding ceremony only and is not for use during other times.
Sound System $100.00 +GST
If you require the use of a multi-speaker sound system for your wedding ceremony, such can be provided. CustomVows can provide a selection of background music to be played prior to and briefly following your wedding service at no additional cost. Please note that this is for use prior to and during the wedding ceremony only. AC power is required.
Travel & Parking Surcharge $ See Text
Regrettably, we are now in a position of also having to levy a flat rate parking fee of $30.00 inclusive of GST for weddings held in Edmonton’s downtown core or University area. For those areas or times where parking fees are reduced, this parking surcharge will be waived.