Marriage ceremony requirements
When getting married in Alberta, the following requirements must be met:
- The Alberta marriage licence must be valid on the date of marriage
- The Registration of Marriage/Marriage Licence form must be given to the marriage officiant before the marriage ceremony starts
- The ceremony must take place in Alberta
- The marriage officiant must be authorized through Vital Statistics to perform marriages in Alberta
- The couple getting married and 2 adult witnesses must be physically in the presence of the marriage officiant
- marriage by proxy (someone standing in place for the person getting married via teleconferencing, Skype, etc.) is not allowed
- Witnesses must meet the following requirements:
- be 18 years of age or older
- 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 forms they have to sign
- 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.
Following your wedding ceremony, the completed marriage licence will be submitted to Alberta Vital Statistics by the Marriage Commissioner. If you want a marriage certificate which is a legal document issued by Alberta Vital Statistics, you must apply for it at a Alberta registry agent office and it will be mailed to you in approximately 3-4 weeks. You can apply for your marriage certificate anytime after the ceremony (i.e., 1 day, 6 weeks, 1 year, 25 years, etc.). Marriage certificates are not automatically mailed to you. If you do not apply for a marriage certificate you are still legally married but nothing will come to you from the government.