Legally Wed: Everything you need to know about getting married in Ontario Favourite Moments with Music Central

Legally Wed: Everything you need to know about getting married in Ontario

EXPERT TIP BY:The Wedding Ring (www.theweddingring.ca/everything-need-know-getting-married-ontario) Getting legally married in Ontario involves more than just a dress and a fiancé. When it comes to getting legally hitched, you have two options: a marriage licence issued by a municipality of Ontario or, if you are being married in a religious ceremony, you may be eligible to be married by a publication of banns.

PUBLICATION OF BANNS: If you’re getting married in your church, you’ll have the option of skipping the licence (and the licence fee) and being married by a publication of banns. Banns are a lovely traditional religious way of both announcing your intention to marry and making sure it’s legal. The Banns are typically announced during church services 3 weeks in a row prior to your ceremony. Both you and your fiancé must be members of the church and attend regularly. Banns cannot be published if you or your intended spouse has been married before. Speak to the clergy of your church for more information on how a publication of banns works.

MARRIAGE LICENCE: Everyone else wishing to be legally married in Ontario will need a marriage licence. The application process is short and sweet, but you’ll need to know the right details.

A licence is valid anywhere in Ontario for 90 days from the date of issue. There is no waiting period between the date of issue of the marriage licence and the date of marriage. The Marriage Licence Application form must be completed and signed by both parties to the marriage. One party to the marriage may submit the completed application form to the City Clerk’s Office in-person in order to obtain the Marriage Licence, provided that one of the following documents is submitted in place of the absent party: (a) the absent party’s original birth certificate; (b) the absent party’s valid passport; (c) an Affidavit of Age (available from the City Clerk’s Office) completed and signed by the absent party and notarized. Costs for a marriage licence varies by municipality. For more information fees, office hours and contact information for your local municipality, be sure to check out our article Marriage Licence: How much does it cost and where can I get one? (www.theweddingring.ca/marriage-licence-costs-locations)

GETTING MARRIED IN ONTARIO AFTER A DIVORCE: If this is not your first trip down the aisle and if you were divorced in Canada, you’ll also need to bring official proof of the divorce with you when you apply for a marriage licence. This can the original or court-certified copy of one of three documents: the final divorce decree, the final divorce judgement, or a certificate of divorce.

If you were divorced in a country other then Canada, you’ll also need to provide additional documents to prove that you are no longer married and can legally remarry in Ontario. Since the government of Ontario needs to validate these documents, this process can take up to 4 weeks. You will need to send your completed marriage licence application form along with the following documents to ServiceOntario: • Statement of sole responsibility: for each divorce (signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness) • Legal opinion letter: from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario • Divorce decree or annulment: an original or court-certified copy in English or French. If the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

GETTING MARRIED OUTSIDE OF ONTARIO: For residents of Ontario who are getting married in another province or territory in Canada, you must contact the province’s or territory’s vital statistics office for information on licencing requirements in that province or territory.

To keep life simple, we always recommend taking care of the legal details here at home before you leave for your destination wedding. •

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Favourite Moments With Music Central

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EXPERT TIP BY MUSIC CENTRAL ENTERTAINMENT (♥) (www.musiccentral.ca) London, ON

A great Master of Ceremonies doesn’t just make announcements and introductions. A Master of Ceremonies orchestrates the entire evening making sure that when the newlyweds take the dance floor for their first dance, the venue lights dim, the music starts, and the guests are there to watch the couple enjoy their first dance together. A great Master of Ceremonies understands how to orchestrate your wedding with magic and emotion.

Rob from Music Central tells us, “The MC is the captain of your wedding ship. They make sure that you stay on track and steer the event along. They have 2 basic duties at your reception: first, they coordinate with vendors so that everyone is on the same page and then they communicate the day to your guests. But the truly great Master of Ceremonies doesn’t just coordinate and communicate. They help to tell the story of your wedding day; help to create moments you and your guests will never forget.”

Here are Music Central’s (and our) Top 3 Favourite Moments from Weddings…

1. Some of our favourite moments from weddings are just helping to explain the simple significance of a moment. “Brides and grooms often come to us with special moments they’d like to incorporate like playing the first dance song from mom and dad’s wedding. It is not enough that the newlyweds and the parents know the significance. We tell the story so that all of your guests get to experience the moment with you.”

2. One of our favourite stories from a recent wedding that Rob was the Master of Ceremonies at is this: “The father of the bride had come to see me before the wedding to enlist my help with a surprise he had for his daughter. He had recorded a song for her, but she didn’t know about it. When the time came for their dance, I introduced them and started the song that the bride had chosen. As they took to the dance floor, to the surprise of the bride and the guests, I faded out the song and while building the emotion of the moment said, “It’s an excellent song, but I’ve been searching and searching, and I think I’ve found something that you’ll like even more. What could be better than a father singing to his daughter?!” Then I played the song that the father had recorded just for his daughter’s wedding. There is time after the dance to explain to the guests how the song came to be. But first, I made sure that the bride and her father had their moment.”

3. A great Master of Ceremonies takes basic communication like introducing the wedding party and adds an element of entertainment. “When we are introducing the wedding party, we like to actually introduce the wedding party. It is not just about saying names and relationships to the bride/groom. It is about making people feel like they know them. “Our best man for the evening is Frank. Frank and Steve (groom) have been friends since childhood and Frank is the person responsible for us being here tonight as he introduced the happy couple back in high school. On a personal note, Frank is single and enjoys long walks on the beach.”

Your wedding is all about moments and memories. From introducing the wedding party to keeping the guests informed to setting the stage for all your wedding moments, your Master of Ceremonies is a valuable member of your wedding production team. “We are trained entertainers who have a passion for our role as Master of Ceremonies at your wedding. We take the time to make sure we have all the information to bring the extra touches to your special day.” •

ABOUT MUSIC CENTRAL: Music Central Entertainment is the area's most respected disc jockey service based out of London, ON. Music Central specializes in weddings as well as corporate events, and creating a unique event based on the client’s wishes, musicality, and suggestions. As well as their famous DJ services, they can also provide photo booths, lighting, special effects, audio/visual, karaoke, master of cermonies, and much more.