How To Become A Wedding Officiant In Ontario

If you want to become a wedding officiant in Ontario, you must be legally allowed to officiate weddings. This means you must be a Judge or Justice of the Peace, a City clerk employee, or a religious officiant. If you want to be a religious officiant, you must be trained and ordained by an approved religious body. This process can be costly and time-consuming, taking over a year to complete.

Requirements to marry people in Ontario

To be a wedding officiant in Ontario, you must be ordained by an organisation that the province has approved and has a contract with to license members to perform weddings. This is because weddings in Canada are governed provincially and vary from province to province.

To qualify as an officiant applicant, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A minimum of one year of continuous paid membership in Humanist Canada.
• A post-secondary degree, diploma or equivalent training and life experience.
• You must embrace a Humanist philosophy and be familiar with Humanist core values and principles.
• Candidates must have a genuine commitment to Humanism and demonstrate this through active involvement in Humanist Canada.
• An ability to comfortably explain the philosophy of Secular Humanism to others, especially clients and the general public whom you will meet at ceremonies.

In addition, candidates must have highly developed interpersonal, interviewing, writing, organisation, and presentation skills, and effectively communicate Humanist principles.

You must also abide by the Ontario Marriage Act, which states that:

• Celebrants must be members of a recognised religious society or organisation (i.e. they must be authorised to perform marriages by their religious body).
• The civil ceremony must take place in the presence of two witnesses who are not related to the couple.
• The civil ceremony must take place in the municipality where the celebrants' religious society has its registration office (i.e. their headquarters).
• The celebrants must provide a certificate that confirms their authority to perform marriages in the case of a civil authority inquiry.
• All marriage certificates issued by a religious body contain the information that the marriage was solemnised under the authority of that body and by persons authorised by it to do so.

Online ordination

It is possible to become an officiant online in Ontario, but there are some important points to note. Firstly, weddings in Canada are governed by individual provinces, so the rules vary across the country. Secondly, only religious organizations such as churches, temples, or mosques can solemnize marriages in Ontario. This means that if you are ordained online, you cannot be a legally recognized officiant, but you can perform a symbolic ceremony.

There are several organizations that offer online ordination, such as the Universal Life Church (ULC), a nondenominational global organization. The ULC provides free online ordinations that never need to be renewed, and the process is simple and quick. However, it is important to note that the ULC is not recognized in all areas, and there may be some legal uncertainty around their online ordinations. The ULC is actively seeking global recognition to strengthen its legal status.

If you are planning to perform a wedding in Ontario, it is recommended to contact the office issuing the marriage license and inquire about the requirements for officiants. You may need to provide documentation to establish your credentials as a valid religious minister. It is also important to be aware of the Ontario Marriage Act, which outlines the legal requirements for marriage in the province.

While online ordination can be a convenient way to become an officiant, it is important to understand the limitations, especially in Ontario, where the requirements are more stringent. By familiarizing yourself with the local laws and working with a licensed officiant, you can ensure that the wedding ceremony is legally recognized while still allowing you to play a meaningful role in the celebration.

Humanist officiant training

To be a wedding officiant in Ontario, you must be ordained by an organisation approved by the province with a contract to license members to perform weddings. Humanist officiants are ambassadors for Humanism, and they conduct humanist, non-religious, and interreligious weddings, same-sex unions, memorials, baby namings, and other life cycle ceremonies.

Humanist Canada offers a rigorous training program for individuals who wish to become Humanist officiants. The process generally takes 12 months or more, from the receipt of your membership to completing your application. The application process includes writing an essay on Humanism, reference checks, interviews, and successfully completing the training. Every candidate must complete all the training modules, which cover:

• Writing a ceremony (incorporating Humanist values, sources, and examples)
• Performing a ceremony (best practices, professional conduct, role play)
• Becoming a celebrant (laws, etc.)
• Promoting yourself (website, business cards, etc.)
• Meeting with/working with clients (questions to ask, contracts, etc.)
• Following up with the client after a ceremony (feedback, reviews, etc.)

To qualify as an officiant applicant, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A minimum of one year of continuous paid membership in Humanist Canada
• A post-secondary degree, diploma, or equivalent training and life experience
• You must embrace a Humanist philosophy and be familiar with Humanist core values and principles
• Candidates must have a genuine commitment to Humanism and demonstrate this through active involvement in Humanist Canada
• An ability to comfortably explain the philosophy of Secular Humanism to others, especially clients and the general public

Legal responsibilities of officiants

To become a wedding officiant in Ontario, one must be ordained by an organization that has been approved by the province and has a contract with the province to license their members to perform weddings. The province recognizes three categories of officiants: religious officiants, judges, and municipal clerks.

Wedding officiants have several legal responsibilities that they must fulfill to ensure the marriage is legally valid. These responsibilities include:

• Solemnizing Marriages: Officiants must conduct the marriage ceremony in accordance with Ontario's marriage laws and regulations. This includes obtaining the necessary marriage license and completing the marriage register. The officiant must also abide by any other legal requirements set forth by the province, such as ensuring the ceremony takes place in a permitted location.
• Customizing Ceremonies: Officiants work with the couple to create a personalized ceremony that reflects their values, beliefs, and cultural traditions. This may involve incorporating special readings, rituals, or vows. However, it is the responsibility of the officiant to ensure that all aspects of the ceremony, including the wording of the vows, comply with Ontario's marriage laws.
• Obtaining Required Documents: Officiants are responsible for ensuring that all necessary documents are signed and submitted to the appropriate authorities. This includes the marriage license, the marriage register, and the Record of Solemnization.
• Witnessing the Ceremony: The law requires two witnesses who are not related to the couple to be present during the ceremony. The officiant must ensure that these witnesses sign the necessary documents, such as the marriage license and the registrar's book.
• Declaring the Couple Married: After the couple has exchanged their vows and completed the necessary paperwork, the officiant must declare them married. This declaration is a crucial part of the legal process.
• Adhering to the Ontario Marriage Act: All licensed wedding officiants must abide by the Ontario Marriage Act. This includes using the correct wording when asking for the couple's consent to be married, as outlined in the Act.
• Registration: Officiants must register with the Office of the Registrar General to be legally recognized to solemnize marriages. This involves submitting an application, providing personal information, confirming eligibility, and agreeing to abide by the province's marriage laws.

Where to officiate

To become a wedding officiant in Ontario, you must be ordained by an organisation that has been approved by the province and has a contract with the province to license their members to perform weddings. This means that you can only officiate weddings in certain locations.

Religious Buildings

Only religious organisations such as a church, temple, or mosque can solemnise marriages in Ontario. The civil ceremony must take place in the municipality where the celebrants' religious society has its registration office (i.e. its headquarters).

Registry Office

You can officiate a civil wedding ceremony for free at any registry office.

Private Spaces

You can also rent a hall or room from a private party or venue.

Outdoors

Outdoor weddings can take place at a registry office, city park, or beach.

Where You Cannot Officiate

There are some places where you may not perform a wedding ceremony, such as inside or in the immediate area around a church or religious building, inside public buildings, in public schools or universities, on university property, at athletic facilities, and in theatres.

Working with an Officiant

If you are not a licensed officiant, you can still perform a symbolic ceremony. During the ceremony, you would say that you are facilitating or performing the wedding, rather than officiating it. To make the marriage legally binding, the couple and two witnesses can meet with a licensed officiant before or after the wedding to sign the paperwork. Alternatively, the officiant can travel to the wedding venue to sign the marriage license during the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions