Basic Requirements

• The couple being married must be one man and one woman.
• Both the bride and groom must be present. Alberta does not register marriages by proxy.
• The couple must have obtained and present to the marriage officiant a valid Alberta marriage licence.
• A marriage officiant, who is registered with Vital Statistics to perform marriages, must be present.
• Two adult witnesses are required to be present at the marriage ceremony.
• The Registration of Marriage must be signed by the bride, groom, marriage officiate and two adult witnesses.

Religious Ceremonies

Other than the above basic requirements, there are no government regulations with respect to the solemnization of the marriage by a member of the clergy.

Civil Ceremonies

Marriage ceremonies performed by a marriage commissioner require that during the ceremony, in the presence of the marriage commissioner and the two adult witnesses, the bride and groom must declare to each other:

I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, (name of bride/groom) may not be joined in matrimony to (name of groom/bride) I call upon those persons present to witness that I, (name of bride/groom), do take thee, (name of bride/groom) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband. With the exception of the above stated requirements, a ceremony may be tailored to the wishes of the bride and groom.

Specific inquiries regarding the ceremony should be directed to the marriage officiant.

Obtaining a Marriage License

• Before you get married in Alberta, you will need to purchase a Marriage Licence from any marriage licence issuer at a registry agent in Alberta.
• The couple being married must present their marriage licence to the marriage officiate prior to their wedding.
• A marriage licence is valid for three months from the date it is issued and is only valid to be married in the province of Alberta.
• Both parties to the marriage must apply together for their marriage licence.
• Both parties must provide the marriage licence issuer with valid identification.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age (persons under the age of 18 must obtain consent to marry. Consent forms for minors are available from the marriage licence issuer).
• If the marital status of either party to the marriage is divorced, copies of the final court documentation is required.
• The couple being married must consist of one man and one woman.
• The bride and groom cannot be related by lines of consanguinity (close relation or connection). Federal legislation prohibits people from marrying if they are related linearly or as brother and sister, whether by whole blood, half blood or by adoption. Specifically: a woman may not marry her grandfather, father, grandson, son or brother. A man may not marry his grandmother, mother, granddaughter, daughter or sister.
• Where either party are not fluent in English, they must provide a translator/interpreter who is over the age of 18 and is fluent in English as well as the language he is translating.
• Where an applicant is mentally challenged notice must be made by the marriage licence issuer to the appropriate trustee or guardian.
• There are no residency requirements; blood tests are not required.

Registration of Marriages

• The Registration of Marriage is the official permanent legal record of the marriage. The marriage registration is provided to the couple being married as part of their marriage licence. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom, in conjunction with the marriage officiant to ensure the document is completed accurately, in full and signed at the time of marriage.
• The Registration of Marriage form becomes a permanent legal record of the marriage event. The information recorded on the Registration of Marriage is used to produce marriage certificates, when ordered.
• Within 2 days after the marriage ceremony, it is the sole responsibility of the marriage officiant to submit the marriage registration (by mail or through a registry agent) to Vital Statistics.
• Once a marriage is registered with Vital Statistics, corrections or amendments can only be made with appropriate documentation and statutory declarations. If an amendment is requested within 90 days from the date of event (birth, marriage, death), there is no fee. Fees may be applicable on amendments requested after the 90 days.

Find more information at http://www3.gov.ab.ca