City hall weddings are an intimate alternative to larger options. Less time-consuming and less stressful, city hall can be a perfect simpler option.
If the idea of a large, traditional wedding feels daunting, or if you’re looking for a way to celebrate your love more personally, consider a city hall wedding. As proven by Carrie Bradshaw when she *spoiler alert* finally gets hitched to Mr. Big, city hall weddings aren’t all business and no style, and more and more couples are using this option to tie the knot.
A city hall wedding is generally a smaller, less traditional ceremony option because there are limits to how many people you can invite, and you typically won’t be able to decorate or change the space you’re in. It’s a great option if your goal is to tie the knot in a civil ceremony that’s intimate and fuss-free, and is also an option for brides and grooms looking to elope.
HOW MUCH DO OTTAWA CITY HALL WEDDINGS COST?
The City of Ottawa civil marriage ceremony fee $156.06 plus HST (2023) for a Civil Ceremony.
City Hall officiants are not available for off-site private ceremonies. However, you can book other officiants to come to your home or location of choice. BeWedbyBarb.ca marriage ceremonies start at $150.00.
HOW DO YOU GET MARRIED AT THE CITY HALL?
How does a city hall wedding work, logistically-speaking? There are a few steps you’ll need to follow:
Get a Marriage License: First things first, you will need to get your marriage license. You’ll typically have to apply for and obtain your marriage license before you schedule your ceremony, although you may be able to book your ceremony at the same time as you schedule your license appointment. Confirm what you need to bring to this appointment but know that you’ll likely need at least two forms of a government-issued ID. Note that you are required to appear in person to obtain your marriage license.
Schedule Your Wedding Ceremony: Often, while you’re getting your marriage license, you’ll be able to schedule your city hall wedding and pay the fee (unless you were able to schedule it and pay beforehand). Typically, the city hall offers designated days and windows of times where they perform wedding ceremonies, so you may have a couple of choices for when to get married. Note that most jurisdictions do not perform weddings on weekends, so keep that in mind. Your marriage ceremony must be performed within 90 days after you receive your marriage license. This can be important if you are planning to invite guests from out of town who need to make travel arrangements, so be sure to try and give them as much notice as possible.
Ask the Important Questions: So many things about public wedding ceremonies depend on the jurisdiction, so make sure you’ve researched the below questions before scheduling your city hall wedding:
o How many people are allowed to attend the ceremony?
o Will we be walking down an aisle?
o Where in the city hall will the ceremony be held? Is it mostly private?
o Is there a place to get ready or touch up?
o Are there any good places to take pictures either before or after the ceremony?
o Do you offer a reception area on-site for cake or refreshments after the ceremony?
o Can we include our own written vows in the ceremony or special readings at all?
o Are we permitted to have either live or pre-recorded music for the ceremony?
Determine Who’s Invited: Your jurisdiction will probably have a limit on how many guests can attend a city hall wedding. It is most often somewhere between 10 or 15 guests. Given this small number and the potential difficulties in scheduling, you’ll want to reach out to your potential guests in advance of confirming your date to determine general availability and whether they’ll be likely to join in the celebration. If you’re hoping to make your city hall wedding a surprise, no sweat! Just be aware it may be more difficult for some special invitees to make it.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO A CITY HALL WEDDING?
What to wear to a city hall wedding: It’s a question as old as the city hall wedding itself. The truth is that there is no hard-and-fast rule here, and you can go as classic or nontraditional as you please with your wardrobe. Just note that, traditionally speaking, all city hall matters lend themselves to slightly dressy attire — no jeans or sneakers, for example. Most women opt for a “little white dress” or white jumpsuit or pantsuit, and most men opt for a jacket and slacks (tie optional). This is an area of bridal fashion that has gained significant traction over the past year, and you can see there are a variety of stunning looks that would rival that of a traditional wedding day.
All this in mind, ultra-formal attire like tuxes and ballgowns may be too much or look out of place at city hall but, if you have the confidence or want to overdress for kicks, there is nobody stopping you.
Wedding guests should follow your lead, but because a city hall wedding can mean a variety of dress codes, be sure to let them know how you will be dressed so they can feel comfortable.
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE YOUR CITY HALL WEDDING?
First off, before you leave the ceremony site, be sure to capture some photos of the event. You can consult or hire a local photographer to help you find the perfect location to shoot, whether it’s at the city hall or a nearby park or restaurant. You can choose to either share these photos on social media, print and keep them for your memories, or you can showcase them in a wedding announcement to share the good news with family and friends.
After the ceremony, many couples choose to host a small dinner or other reception at a local restaurant to celebrate the occasion, while some couples opt to delay a day-of event and celebrate with a larger group at a later date. Nonetheless, renting a private room and filling it with decorations to celebrate the new couple or heading to your favorite bar to enjoy a signature drink or glass of champagne can be the perfect end to the perfect day.
DOING IT YOUR WAY
At the end of the day, your city hall wedding should be about you and your partner, so tailor it to your vision and enjoy every moment, exactly as you dreamed.