If you’re considering having a temporary marriage commissioner perform your wedding in Alberta, this is for you. Having a friend or family member legally officiate your wedding can be so special. I’ve been on all sides of this experience. My brother officiated my wedding, and I officiated his. And, as an intimate wedding and elopement photographer with 7 years of experience, I’ve photographed countless weddings that went this route. Its very simple once you understand the requirements and steps, and it can be so meaningful to have someone close to you make it official!
Finding all the information in one place, as well as real life experience can be hard (I searched all the same Facebook and Reddit pages you did!), so I have compiled all the logistics as well as tips and advice in my experience to help you navigate having a temporary marriage commissioner perform your wedding smoothly!
What are temporary marriage commissioners in Alberta?
Introduced in 2020 as a response to concerns over too much restriction on who can perform marriage ceremonies, the program is designed to make it easier for couples to have a friend or family member perform their marriage ceremony. A temporary marriage commissioner is someone who is appointed by the Alberta government to legally perform a single and specific marriage ceremony. So, instead of finding and paying an Alberta-appointed professional marriage commissioner, you can have a family or friend perform your legal ceremony.
What are the requirements?
From the Alberta website, the commissioner:
- must be 18 years or older
- must be a permanent resident of Canada
- is appointed for one day (24 hours)
- may only perform up to 3 marriage ceremonies per calendar year
- may only perform a marriage for a couple with whom they have a relationship/connection
- is only authorized to perform a civil (non-religious) marriage ceremony in Alberta
- cannot charge a fee to perform a marriage
- cannot represent themselves as a permanent marriage commissioner or solicit business of this nature
The requirements for the ceremony are that it must take place in Alberta, on the date listed on both the application and appointment. Just like ceremonies with a professional commissioner, two witnesses 18 or older need to be present. All parties must be sober and understand the language in which the ceremony is being performed.
How do you apply to be a temporary marriage commissioner in Alberta?
First, fill out this application form
(https://formsmgmt.gov.ab.ca/Public/DVS3246.xdp)
, and then submit the completed application to Vital Statistics by email to sartr.tmca@gov.ab.ca, or mail to Vital Statistics, Box 2023, Edmonton, AB T5J 4W7.
Remember, you’re applying for your specific wedding date and your specific two names, with your commissioners name, so this doesn’t allow them to perform just any ceremony, and it must take place on that date listed.
After your application is processed and appointment is granted, you will receive an information package by email, including:
- a Temporary Marriage Commissioner Certificate, listing your commissioner number which will be written on the license,
- a Civil Marriage Ceremony booklet, outlining the script and necessary wording,
- Procedures to be reviewed prior to the ceremony, and
- Civil Marriage Ceremony Statement to be given to the couple after the marriage.
How long does it take?
Vital Statistics will process applications by date of ceremony. You’ll want to wait until you have all details concrete so you don’t have to make edits, but as early as possible so you don’t get missed. So, as soon as you know your date and location for sure, go ahead and apply.
From the Alberta website (https://www.alberta.ca/temporary-marriage-commissioner) : When your appointment is granted, a Certificate of Marriage Commissioner Appointment, only valid for the intended date of marriage, and an instruction package will be emailed to you 2 weeks before the intended date of marriage.
Remember, marrying persons must still apply for their marriage license on their own, with information matching your application!
What do you say during the ceremony?
Your information email will include a Civil Marriage Ceremony booklet; a script you can follow to perform the ceremony. If you want, you can just read this exactly as written. Alternatively, you can add personalized introductions, stories, or sentiments before continuing with the official parts, or add personalization throughout.
I asked Vital Statistics about saying personal or custom vows, and they said you may add but not remove. However, the ring section is optional! Other inclusion ideas you could do are someone else reading something like a passage, poem, letter, etc. Ring warming passes well wishes from family and friends onto your rings. Hand fasting, lighting a unity candle, mixing sand, or planting a plant, can symbolize the joining of two lives. If you have a big group of guests, or if you want the ceremony to be quick, you could exit the ceremony and sign after.
If you have any questions about what may be edited, you can email Vital Statistics. They were helpful and quick to respond.
What are the steps afterward?
The Commissioner is responsible for delivering the signed document to a registry within 2 days of the ceremony. This can be done by mail or in person. After some time has passed to allow processing, usually about 3 weeks, the couple can go into a registry and order their marriage certificate.
A common concern is that it won’t arrive within that time frame, as weddings are often on weekends. But as long as its posted in a reasonable time frame, they are forgiving. For example, my wedding was on a Friday of a long weekend in a remote location. On Saturday, we put a stamp on the envelope and put it in a roadside Canada Post deposit box near Cardston and hoped for the best. We waited a few weeks for processing, and when I went in to order our certificate, all was well.
What are the common mistakes or oversights?
I’ve never witnessed this, but incorrectly filling out personal information, or waiting too long to send the paperwork to a registry, could cause issues.
If you have guests at your wedding and want to ask them to “please rise” for someone entering, remind your commissioner to ask them to sit before proceeding with the ceremony. This is the most common hiccup I see in temporary commissioner run ceremonies – forgetting to tell people to sit!
A note about mic stands – they are important for everyone to hear the ceremony! But, they can look pretty obstructive between you two and your beautiful background. If possible, nudge the stand to the side so its behind one of you, rather than right in between. This looks so much nicer in photos! Even better, use a battery powered or cordless mic so there are no cords or stands at all.
If its important to you, remind your commissioner to step aside before pronouncing you married. This way, they’re out of the way before your kiss, rather than being mid-bolt behind you during it. This looks like stepping aside, then saying “Now upon the authority vested in me by the Province of Alberta, I pronounce you legally married” , rather than waiting until you’re in motion before stepping out.
What are some alternatives to a temporary marriage commissioner?
If you’d like, you could use a professional commissioner for the legal signing, and have a family member or friend do a symbolic or celebration ceremony on your wedding day. This is popular for destination weddings. This would also allow for more religious inclusions in your ceremony, since its not the legally binding one! Some people also do the legal part separate from their elopement. This way, they can read personal vows and exchange rings as the ceremony they consider official in a special spot, and not need to bring an officiant along.
Of course, professional marriage commissioners are experts in this field; they know how to craft a beautiful ceremony, they know how to make it all flow together, they understand beautiful timing and cadence, and best of all, they take care of ALL the logistics and paperwork. So, if you prefer to leave the official stuff to the professionals, you cannot go wrong with finding a professional marriage commissioner thats right for you.
In Summary
If you have any more questions, the Alberta website has lots of information, as well as registry websites. You can always call your local registry office or the one that you’ll be using for the process too! And finally, I am an open book when it comes to planning. I’m passionate about helping my couples create the most personalized, true-to-them wedding day.
In summary, the process of having a friend or family member legally marry you is really very simple: ensure all requirements are met, apply, perform the ceremony, and mail in or deliver the paperwork to a registry. That’s it!
You can contact me here to start planning your intimate wedding. I can’t wait to help you bring your dreams to life!
