Question:

What do we need to get married?

Answer:

• You must obtain a mariage license from a license and registries office.
• Set a date, time, and place where the wedding will be held.
• Set a date, time and place for a pre-wedding meeting with myself.
• Must have two witnesses present at time of wedding.

Question:

What do we need to get a marriage license?

Answer:

• Proof of identification such as a drivers license, birth certificate, or passport.
• If either couple has been married before the 'Final Decree' papers for the divorce is to be presented to the registries office when applying for a license.
• A couple will be asked, at the registries office, for the respective name of each of their father and his birth place, and the maiden name of their mother and her birth place.

Question:

Where can we hold the wedding ceremony?

Answer:

• Generally anywhere that is suitable for the couple.
• Ceremonies can be held in the home or yard of the couple.
• A local Park.
• A local community hall.
• A local hotel.
• In my home, even in a limousine, virtually anywhere.

Question:

How long is the wedding ceremony?

Answer:

• The ceremony takes about 15 minutes itself, but also depends on the inclusion of other parts such as a candle light ceremony, hands of the bride and groom, the rose ceremony, readings or poems, the involvement of children in the ceremony, etc.

Question:

Do we have to have a large wedding?

Answer:

• The wedding can be as large as the couple shall choose, or it can be just the couple , their witnesses, and myself.

Question:

Does our wedding have to be formal?

Answer:

• The wedding can be as formal or informal as the couple wish it to be.

Question:

Do we have to take any pre-marriage counselling or classes?

Answer:

• No, however I do like to meet with the couple before the ceremony so that I can meet them, get the marriage license, go through the marriage ceremony and make it suitable to them, and to get other information for me in preparation for the ceremony.

Question:

Do we need to have a blood test to get our marriage license?

Answer:

• No, a blood test is not required in Alberta to get a marriage license.

Question:

How long do we have to wait to get married after we get our license?

Answer:

• There is no waiting period, so a couple can get married immediately after getting their license. I do like to talk to the couple first to make some arrangements such as time, place, to get witnesses, and to get other information.

Question:

Do we get a marriage certificate from me, as a wedding commissioner?

Answer:

• No, at the time of the wedding a Marriage Statement is issued. This Marriage Statement is signed by me and is valid for changing one's name on their drivers license, and for financial documents ie. bankaccounts, mortgages, etc.
• A Marriage Certificate can be obtained by getting an application form from the registries office and sending that in to Alberta Registries in Edmonton. There is a fee for this application. Note: A marriage certificate is required if the bride intends to get a Canadian passport under her maiden name.