Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The City of Ottawa now offers civil marriage ceremonies at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. West. Previously, only Judges and Justices-of-the-Peace were allowed to solemnize civil marriages. Ceremonies, available in either English or French, are simple and dignified. The solemn service lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Civil Marriage pricing options
Important information and details
Requirements
Marriage Ineligibility
Gender
Ceremony room
Want to know more?

Civil Marriage pricing options

Couples may select from the following three pricing options.

• Option 1: $150 ($153 effective April 1, 2010). Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Option 2: $266 ($271 effective April 1, 2010). Friday evenings, between 5 and 7 p.m., and Saturday afternoons between 1 and 3 p.m. This option must be pre-arranged a minimum of 48 hours in advance.
• Option 3: $334 ($340 effective April 1, 2010). Same as option 2, but pre-arranged less than 48 hours in advance. This option is subject to the availability of staff.

All fees are subject to GST, and are in addition to the $150 non-refundable marriage licence fee. Fees are payable by cash, debit or credit cards. Personal cheques are not accepted.

Ceremonies are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or by appointment. Although every effort is made to accommodate last-minute requests, there can be situations in which demand regrettably exceeds availability. To avoid disappointment, especially if you are arriving from out-of-town or prefer a special date and time, couples are encouraged to make an appointment. Reservations must be made in-person at the City Hall Client Service Centre at 110 Laurier Ave. West, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; appointments will not be taken by telephone. Payment is due at the time of booking an appointment along with a valid Province of Ontario marriage licence. Certain dates and times throughout the year are not available for bookings, including Statutory Holidays. Please consult with a Client Service representative at the time of booking your appointment for further details.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

ANY booked civil marriage appointment can be cancelled, up to and including the day of the ceremony. All cancellations are subject to a non-refundable $50 fee. Marriage licence fees are non-refundable.

[ top ]

Important information and details

Requirements

• A valid Province of Ontario marriage licence. Couples are requested to obtain or supply a valid Ontario Marriage License. A marriage license may be obtained at any Client Service Centre in Ottawa. A marriage licence can be issued the same day as the civil ceremony at Ottawa City Hall, provided all legislative requirements are met. Marriage licenses are also available from any local municipality in Ontario. Visit our marriage licence section for more information and additional requirements.
• Two Witnesses: Couples must provide two witnesses (one for each partner) who must be present at the ceremony, as indicated in section 25 of the Marriage Act (e-laws). The City of Ottawa does not provide witnesses.
• Identification: Couples must present a valid piece of government-issued photo identification for each partner, which confirms full legal name and age. Parental consent is required for persons who are 16 or 17 years of age.
• Marriage after Divorce: If divorced in Canada, the couple must provide the original or a court-certified copy of the certificate of divorce, final decree or final judgement at the time of booking a ceremony. Photocopies will not be accepted. Visit our marriage licence section for more information and additional requirements if divorced outside of Canada.
• Language interpreter: Couples are responsible for bringing a language interpreter, if required, either for a language other than English or French, or due to physical restrictions, such as sight and hearing impairments.

Officiants and the ceremony itself:

City staff, trained and designated by the City Clerk, will act as officiants to solemnize the ceremony. The civil marriage service will be a non-denominational, and solemn, ceremony, which adheres to the requirements of the Ministry of Government Services.

[ top ]

Marriage Ineligibility

City staff will not solemnize the marriage of any person who he or she knows or has reasonable grounds to believe lacks capacity to marry. Circumstances rendering a person ineligible for the civil marriage include:

• One or both parties are under physical or mental duress
• One or both parties fail to meet the age requirements (both parties must be at least 18 years old to get married in Ontario. Parties who are 16 or 17 years old may marry only if they have the consent in writing of both parents)
• The parties are related as grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, brother or sister
• One of both parties are currently married
• One or both parties are mentally ill or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs and incapable of understanding the nature of the marriage contract and the duties, obligations and responsibilities that result from marriage.

If the person solemnizing a marriage has any doubts as to the mental capacity of the parties, or one of the parties, he/she may refuse to perform the ceremony.

[ top ]

Gender

The City of Ottawa offers civil marriage services to all eligible couples, following the June 10, 2003, Ontario Court of Appeal decision, making same-sex marriages legal in Ontario.

[ top ]

Ceremony room

The ceremony room is located on the second floor at City Hall. The room can hold a maximum of 10 people because of limited space. These 10 people include the five individuals participating in the ceremony and a videographer or photographer if you choose to record and capture your special moment.

[ top ]

Want to know more?

For more information about marriage ceremonies contact Client Service Centre staff by e-mail or call 3-1-1. To find out how to register your marriage or obtain a marriage certificate, visit Ontario's Ministry of Government Services or call 1-800-461-2156.

[ top ]