Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Canada? Province by Province

Here is the short answer: in Canada, whoever marries you must be authorized by the province or territory where your ceremony takes place. Everywhere, that includes registered religious officials. For a civil ceremony it is a marriage commissioner, a justice of the peace, a judge or another official, depending on where you are. And in several places, a friend or relative can apply for a one-day or one-time appointment to marry you.

Each province and territory sets its own rules, and the rules where you say your vows are the ones that count, even if you live somewhere else. My mom Debi and I hear this question all the time, usually as "can my best friend do it?" So here it is, province by province, from each government's own pages.

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Three kinds of officiant

✦Religious officials. Clergy or other religious representatives, authorized by their faith and registered with the province or territory.
✦Civil officiants. Marriage commissioners in much of the country, and in some places justices of the peace, judges, court clerks, municipal officials or notaries.
✦One-day or temporary appointments. In some provinces and territories, a person you choose can be appointed just for your wedding.

A civil ceremony is just as legal as a religious one. Alberta, for example, says there is no legal difference between its registered clergy and its marriage commissioners.

Can a friend or family member marry you?

Sometimes, yes. Here is where the official guidance offers a route:

✦Alberta: a temporary marriage commissioner is appointed for one day, for a civil ceremony only. They must be 18 or older and a permanent resident of Canada, have a connection to the couple and do no more than 3 ceremonies a calendar year. The province asks for the application at least 3 months before the wedding. There is no cost, and they cannot charge you.
✦Saskatchewan: a one-day term appointment costs $100. Applicants must be 18 or older, permanent residents of Saskatchewan and have a clean criminal record check. Processing takes four to six weeks, and the ceremony must be civil, with no reference to religion.
✦Manitoba: a one-time appointment covers one marriage ceremony and costs $100. Applicants confirm they are over 18 and legally entitled to work in Canada.
✦Quebec: a relative or friend, or even a neighbour or a favourite teacher, can apply to the registrar of civil status to become a designated officiant, with the same responsibilities as any other officiant.
✦Newfoundland and Labrador: a temporary marriage commissioner can be appointed in special circumstances, including special requests by family members or close friends. They must be 19 or older and a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant living in the province.
✦Yukon: a one-time, 24-hour appointment costs $50. Applicants must be 19 or older, Canadian citizens or permanent residents and fluent in English or French, and processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.
✦Northwest Territories: a temporary marriage commissioner appointment is available, and it is the only option for someone who lives outside the NWT. Applicants must be 19 or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and give your wedding date. There is no fee.
✦British Columbia: the province says it does not provide temporary appointments.

For Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut, the official guidance does not describe a one-day permit for a friend, so ask Vital Statistics if this matters to you. Wherever you are, start early.

Religious officials

A couple walking down the aisle of a church

In every province and territory, a religious official has to be authorized to perform marriages there, usually by being registered with Vital Statistics, or in Quebec, being authorized to solemnize marriages in accordance with the rites of their religion.

A few details worth knowing:

✦If your faith leader lives in another province, ask about temporary registration. British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories all provide for it.
✦Ontario also recognizes officiants from a band, First Nation, Métis or Inuit organization or community who are recognized to perform marriages.
✦Alberta has more than 10,000 registered clergy, so it does not publish a list. The province suggests contacting the church or religious organization directly.

Civil officiants, province by province

A couple on the stone steps of a city building

✦British Columbia: marriage commissioners, appointed to serve specific areas and registered with the Vital Statistics Agency. The base civil ceremony fee is $75 + GST for one hour. You will not find B.C. marriage commissioners on OpenDates, so use the province's search to find one.
✦Alberta: marriage commissioners appointed by the government. The province's lookup tool lists them, and registry agents can also give you names.
✦Saskatchewan: registered marriage commissioners, listed by community on the province's website. The province suggests at least a phone conversation before you make any payment.
✦Manitoba: marriage commissioners, listed for Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. Their fee is $50 plus reasonable expenses such as travel.
✦Ontario: a municipal clerk or their delegate, a judge, an associate judge, a justice of the peace, or an MPP who has given written notice. Ask your city hall, town hall or municipal office whether they offer civil ceremonies.
✦Quebec: a clerk or deputy clerk of the Superior Court, a notary, a mayor, a member of a municipal or borough council, or a municipal officer.
✦New Brunswick: civil officiants, who are members of the Law Society of New Brunswick appointed by the province, and clerks of the court during the court's normal office hours. Service New Brunswick publishes the list of civil officiants.
✦Nova Scotia: a justice of the peace or judge registered with Vital Statistics.
✦Prince Edward Island: the Prothonotary, judges, designated justices of the peace and licensed marriage commissioners.
✦Newfoundland and Labrador: marriage commissioners throughout the province, with a list on the government's website.
✦Yukon: a marriage commissioner or justice of the peace. Vital Statistics in Whitehorse sends the list of commissioners on request.
✦Northwest Territories: marriage commissioners, marked with an asterisk on the territory's list of licence issuers.
✦Nunavut: marriage commissioners and justices of the peace registered with the Government of Nunavut. For a justice of the peace, the territory says to contact the Nunavut Court of Justice.

How to check your officiant is registered

A good officiant will be glad you asked. Here is where to look:

✦Ontario: the province publishes a dataset of registered marriage officiants.
✦Quebec: the registrar of civil status keeps a register of officiants.
✦Yukon: the territory has a cleric registry you can check.
✦British Columbia: registered religious representatives are issued a certificate of registration, so it is fair to ask about it.
✦Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador: the official commissioner and officiant lists above.
✦Anywhere else, or if you are unsure: call Vital Statistics in the province or territory where you are marrying.

Finding an officiant who is free on your date

Once you know what kind of officiant you want, the next question is who is free. Officiants book up just like venues, especially on summer Saturdays.

On OpenDates you can browse officiants in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, with more joining. It is completely free for couples, always.

Find who's free on your date →

Frequently asked questions

Can a friend officiate a wedding in Canada?

In some places, yes. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories offer a one-day, one-time, temporary or designated appointment. British Columbia says it does not provide temporary appointments.

Who can marry us in a civil ceremony?

It depends on the province or territory. Marriage commissioners are common, while Ontario uses municipal clerks, judges and justices of the peace, Quebec uses court clerks, notaries and municipal officials, and Nova Scotia uses justices of the peace and judges.

Is a civil ceremony as legal as a religious one?

Yes. Either way, your officiant has to be authorized where you marry, and your marriage has to be registered afterwards.

Rules and fees can change. Please confirm the details with Vital Statistics, or Quebec's registrar of civil status, where you are marrying.

Happy planning! Kristina

Sources

Checked October 2026.

Photos from Pexels.