Wedding Resources

Working with a Wedding Planner

A great wedding planner takes the stress out of the big day so you can be fully present for every moment. From full-service coordination to day-of management, planners handle the logistics — timelines, vendor communication, setup, and everything in between. Rob is happy to coordinate directly with your wedding planner or venue coordinator to help the ceremony run smoothly.

• LQ Events — Lindsay Quenneville, Cambridge & surrounding areas
• Wedding Planners Association of Canada
• Find a certified planner (WPIC directory)

Ontario Marriage Licence Checklist

You'll need a valid Ontario marriage licence before your ceremony. Licences are issued by any municipal clerk's office and are valid for three months from the date of issue. At least one partner must attend the municipal appointment and bring the required identification and supporting documents for both applicants. Additional documentation is required if either partner has previously been divorced. Requirements and fees vary, so check with your chosen municipality before applying.

• Ontario: Before getting married

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a typical ceremony?

Most personalized ceremonies run 20–30 minutes. Simple legal ceremonies are shorter.

How far in advance should I book?

Rob recommends booking as soon as your date and venue are confirmed — popular dates fill quickly.

Do I need a rehearsal?

Rehearsals are optional but strongly recommended for larger or more complex ceremonies.

Who is responsible for the marriage licence?

Couples are responsible for obtaining the licence. Rob handles submission for registration after the ceremony.

Does Rob travel?

Yes — the first 30 km is included, then $0.75/km round trip.

What happens if we need to postpone?

Contact Rob as early as possible. He will work with you to find a solution.

Legal Vows vs. Personal Vows

Ontario marriages include specific legal declarations that cannot be replaced by personal vows. Rob will incorporate the wording required for your ceremony and explain which parts can be personalized. Everything else — the welcome, readings, ring exchange, and personal vows — can be fully tailored to reflect your relationship and values.

• Ontario Marriage Act — prescribed forms

Witness and Signing Guide

Ontario law requires two witnesses to be physically present during the ceremony and sign the marriage documents. Rob will confirm the witness requirements with you before your wedding day. The marriage documents are usually signed near the end of the ceremony. Rob will determine the most natural placement within your ceremony timeline. After the ceremony, Rob submits the completed licence for registration, which can take approximately ten weeks. Once registered, you can order an official marriage certificate through ServiceOntario.

• Order your marriage certificate

Marriage Certificate and Name Changes

The Record of Solemnization is a keepsake document Rob provides on the day — it is not a legal certificate. The official Ontario marriage certificate is a separate document issued by ServiceOntario after your marriage is registered, and it is the document required for legal name changes and updating government records. Registration can take approximately ten weeks after the ceremony. Once you receive your certificate, you can begin the name-change process through ServiceOntario, your bank, passport office, and other institutions.

• ServiceOntario: Change your name

Writing Your Vows

Personal vows are one of the most memorable parts of any ceremony. Aim for 1–2 minutes when spoken aloud — roughly 150–250 words. Speak to your partner, not the crowd. Share a specific memory, a promise, and a vision for your future together. Avoid inside jokes that will leave guests confused, and steer clear of humour that could undercut the sincerity of the moment. Rob is happy to review your vows and offer feedback before the big day.

Vow-Writing Worksheet

Not sure where to start? Try this structure: open with what you love most about your partner (2–3 sentences), share a specific memory or moment that showed you this was right (2–3 sentences), make three concrete promises (one sentence each), and close with a forward-looking statement about your life together (1–2 sentences). Read your draft aloud — if it takes longer than two minutes, trim it. If it makes you cry, it's probably perfect. Send your draft to Rob at least two weeks before the wedding so he can weave your vows into the script naturally.

Unity Ceremonies & Rituals

Unity rituals add a beautiful symbolic moment to your ceremony. Popular choices include unity candle lighting, sand or pebble ceremonies, family ring exchanges, wine or whisky blending, and tree-planting ceremonies. Each can be woven seamlessly into your script. Rob will walk you through the options and help you choose what feels most meaningful for your relationship.

Blended-Family Ceremony Ideas

If children are part of your family, including them in the ceremony can be a powerful and moving moment. Options include family vows where you make promises directly to the children, a family medallion or ring exchange, a unity ritual the whole family participates in, or simply inviting children to stand with you at the altar. Rob will work with you to find an approach that feels natural for your family and age-appropriate for the children involved.

Memorial Acknowledgements

Honouring loved ones who have passed is a meaningful way to feel their presence on your wedding day. Options include a reserved seat with a photo or flower, a candle lit in their memory, a brief spoken acknowledgement in the welcome, a moment of silence, or a reading chosen in their honour. Rob will help you find the right words and the right moment in the ceremony so the acknowledgement feels warm and natural rather than somber.

Unplugged Ceremony Options

An unplugged ceremony — asking guests to put away phones and cameras during the vows — allows everyone to be fully present and ensures your photographer captures unobstructed moments. Rob can include a brief, warm announcement at the start of the ceremony inviting guests to silence their devices and simply enjoy the moment. You can choose a fully unplugged ceremony, a partially unplugged ceremony (vows only), or no restriction at all — whatever feels right for you.

Ceremony Music Cue Sheet

Music sets the emotional tone for each moment of your ceremony. Plan for four key cues: the processional (as the wedding party and couple enter), any music during readings or the unity ritual, the signing music (while the licence is signed), and the recessional (as you exit as a married couple). For each cue, note the song title, artist, the person responsible for playback, and the exact moment it should start and stop. Share the cue sheet with your DJ, musician, or sound operator at least one week before the wedding.

Sample Ceremony Timeline

A typical personalized ceremony follows this order: guests are seated (15–20 minutes before start), the wedding party processional, the couple's entrance, Rob's welcome and opening remarks, an optional reading, the declaration of intent (legal vows), personal vows, the ring exchange, an optional unity ritual, the pronouncement, the first kiss, the signing of the marriage licence, and the recessional. The full ceremony typically runs 20–30 minutes. Rob will build your final script around this structure and walk you through every moment.

Ceremony Rehearsal Guide

A rehearsal is strongly recommended for ceremonies with a wedding party of four or more, multiple readers, a unity ritual, or children participating. Plan for 30–45 minutes. Everyone who has a role in the ceremony should attend: the wedding party, readers, parents being escorted, and the person controlling music. The rehearsal covers processional order, walking pace, standing positions, when to hand off the bouquet, cue timing for readers and musicians, and the flow of the signing. If rehearsal services are booked, Rob leads the rehearsal and will make sure everyone feels confident.

Final Two-Week Checklist

Two weeks before your wedding, confirm the following: your marriage licence is in hand and valid, Rob has your final approved script, your two witnesses are confirmed and know their role, ceremony music cues are shared with your DJ or musician, readers have their final text, rings are with the best person or ring bearer, microphone and sound equipment is confirmed with your venue, and Rob has your venue address and a contact number for the day. Aim to have everything locked in by this point so the final days are calm.

Outdoor Ceremony Backup Plan

Ontario weather is unpredictable. If your ceremony is outdoors, have a clear backup plan in place before the wedding day — not the morning of. Identify an indoor or covered alternate location, confirm it is accessible for all guests, and decide at what point you will make the call to move (the day before is better than two hours before). Consider wind when placing candles or loose décor, shade and water for extreme heat, and whether your sound system is rated for outdoor use. Share the backup plan with Rob, your venue coordinator, and your wedding party.

Registering Your Marriage

After the ceremony, Rob submits the completed marriage licence for registration with the Province of Ontario. Registration can take approximately ten weeks. Once the marriage is registered, you can order an official marriage certificate through ServiceOntario — this is the document you will need for legal name changes and updating your records. The Record of Solemnization Rob provides on the day is a keepsake, not a legal certificate.

• Order your marriage certificate