Getting married

These are steps you must take to get married in Alberta.

Before the marriage ceremony

* Get an Alberta marriage license.

* Choose the style of marriage ceremony: religious or civil.

* If you choose a religious ceremony, Rev Joseph DODJRO will perform your religious ceremony. Rev. Joseph DODJRO only performs Christian Marriage Ceremony

Marriage License

* To be married in Alberta, a couple must apply for a marriage License at an Alberta registry agent office.

* A marriage licence shows the marriage officiant that a couple meets the laws to get married in Alberta.

* The registry agent issues a two-part document. The top part is a Registration of Marriage and the bottom part is the Marriage Licence.

* The full document (Registration of Marriage and Marriage Licence) must be given to the marriage officiant that will be performing the marriage.

The document must be kept in good condition and not folded because once the marriage is performed, the Registration of Marriage portion becomes the legal marriage record and is permanently archived.

Religious ceremony

A religious ceremony is performed by a religious marriage officiant (religious representative or clergy person) who is registered with Vital Statistics to perform marriages in Alberta according to the rites and usages of their religious organization.

* All marriage ceremony requirements apply.

* A valid Alberta marriage license is always needed.

* The Registration of Marriage/Marriage Licence document must be given to the marriage officiant.

* The ceremony must take place in Alberta.

* The marriage officiant must be authorized/registered with the Alberta Government to perform marriages in Alberta.

* The couple and two adult witnesses must be physically in the presence of the marriage officiant.

* Marriage by proxy is not permitted.

* The witnesses must meet the following requirements:

       (i) The witnesses must be 18 years of age or older

       (ii) The witnesses cannot be cognitively impaired.

* The couple and the witnesses must be fluent in the languages being spoken at the wedding ceremony and fully understand the English documents they will be required to

 * if a person in the wedding party (couple and/or witnesses) are not  fluent  in English, an interpreter/translator may be required; talk to your Marriage Officiant

* when an interpreter/translator is required, it is the couple’s responsibility to provide one

* none of the wedding party may be under the influence of a drug or alcohol

* during the ceremony, the Registration of Marriage form must be signed by the couple, the 2 witnesses and the marriage officiant

* At the conclusion of the marriage ceremony, the marriage officiant will provide the couple with a proof of marriage document.

* In Alberta it is traditionally acceptable for a　married person to　keep his/her own last name or assume a married last name.

Marriage Certificate

The Alberta Government keeps a record of all registered marriages that take place in Alberta and can only issue documents for these marriages.

Elopements and Destinations Weddings

Eloping is considered to being a last-minute decision to get married. Elopement is used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and discreet fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one’s place of residence together with one’s beloved with the intention of getting married.
The term “elopement” is used for any marriage performed quietly with or without family presence. These ceremonies may take place in the privacy of your own home, local park, back yard, living room, favorite restaurant, on top of a mountain or beside a riverbank or your home with a limited public engagement.

When it comes to Destination; couples take care of all of their legal documentation before or after their BIG day. Whether it be down South in the sun, England, Europe, India, China, Japan or even by African Safari sceneries, couples would be legally married in Alberta reducing substantial legal documentation in foreign countries, higher costs, time, stress and ensuring Marriage is in fact legal.

The BIG Wedding Day would then be either a renewal of vows ceremony, symbolic marriage ceremony or blessing in the church. And of course – this would be your celebrated Anniversary

FEES

Standard Marriage Ceremony $375 (within Calgary city limits) with guest list under 500 people.

Ceremonies outside Calgary-City limits: $375 plus +85cents for round-trip mileage

Includes

* Pre-Wedding consultation

* Working together via email/phone/online conference with Couples to customize Marriage Ceremony

* Assistance with choice of scripture readings (if needed)

* Officiating Marriage Ceremony

* Proof of Marriage Certificate

* Submission of completed Marriage License to Alberta Vital Statistics (legal component)

* Follow-up with Couples after Wedding Day every three month up to one calendar year.

Elopement Ceremony $375 (Calgary City Limits) – plus 85 cents for round-trip mileage for out of town ceremonies

* Officiating Marriage Ceremony

* Proof of Marriage Certificate (legal component)

* Submission of completed Marriage License to Alberta Vital Statistics (legal component)

* Follow-up with Couples after Wedding Day quarterly up to one calendar year

 

Destination Ceremony $375 (Calgary City Limits) + 85 cents for round-trip mileage for out of town ceremonies

* Officiating Marriage Ceremony. Every effort will be made to ensure that we do not take away from your BIG Wedding Day.

* Civil Marriage Statement (this is a legal component)

* Submission of completed Marriage License to Alberta Vital Statistics (legal component)

* Follow-up with Couples after Wedding Day

* If location is needed – Tamara opens her home to couples for this service (up to 10 people)

 

Rush Registration Fee $45

Rev. DODJRO will personally register completed Marriage License next business day (after Marriage Ceremony) at local registries office, to save time as opposed mailing completed Marriage License to Edmonton, Alberta Vital Statistics.

Fees are payable by either: Email etransfer, Cash or Cheque

If location is needed – Rev. DODJRO opens the main Sanctuary hall of Balm of Gilead Church in Calgary (for a fee) for your ceremony up to 100 people.

Legal Matters

How do I apply for a Marriage License?

How it works

You must get an Alberta marriage license before you can get married in Alberta.

A marriage license shows a marriage officiant that all the laws in Alberta have been met and the couple can get married.

Alberta Marriage Licences are available from a registry agent office.

A registry agent issues a 2-part document. The top part is a Registration of Marriage and the bottom part is the marriage licence:

* the full document (Registration of Marriage and Marriage Licence) must be given to the marriage officiant that will be performing the marriage

* the document must be kept in good condition and not folded as the document will be permanently archived

 

Application Guidelines

* a couple must apply together for their marriage licence – some exceptions may apply, check with a registry agent for details

* a couple cannot be under the influence of a drug or alcohol when applying

* there’s no time period that must pass between the date a couple arrives in Alberta and the date a licence is issued

* there are no residency requirements

* there are no citizenship requirements

* blood tests are not required

* banns, which are postings or announcements in a church, aren’t acceptable in place of a marriage licence

* in Alberta a person cannot marry his/her grandparent, parent, child, sibling or grandchild that is related by whole blood, half blood or adoption

* the couple getting married must swear/affirm one or more affidavits

* the couple getting married must provide their parents’ birth places and full names (including mother’s maiden name)

* when either person getting married is hearing, speech or visually impaired, additional requirements may apply – check with a registry agent for details

* When either person getting married is cognitively impaired and has a court ordered guardian appointed, additional requirements apply – check with a registry agent for detail 

 

  • After you receive your marriage licence 
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  • * a licence is valid for 3 months from the date it’s issued
  • * an Alberta Marriage Licence is only valid for an Alberta marriage – the wedding must take place in Alberta
  • * a wedding may take place the same day a marriage licence is issued – there is no waiting time
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Interpreters

* both persons getting married must be fluent in English; otherwise an interpreter is needed

    (i) when the registry agent employee issuing the marriage, licence is fluent in  the other language, then that registry agent employee may be the interpreter and issue the marriage licence

* when an interpreter is needed, it’s the couple’s responsibility to provide one

(i) an interpreter must be 18 years of age or older

(ii) the interpreter must be fluent in both English and the language requiring translation

*the couple applying for a marriage licence cannot interpret/translate for each other

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  • Costs
  • * There is a $40 government fee for the Marriage Licence.
  • * Registry agents will charge a service fee.
  • * Contact a registry agent office as service fees vary.
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