Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The City of Oshawa is pleased to offer civil marriage services to those looking for a simple but tasteful non-religious ceremony. Ceremonies occur in the Council Chamber at Oshawa City Hall on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings..

Marriage Licence

Couples must obtain a valid marriage licence before the pre-ceremony meeting.

Applying for a Civil Ceremony

Civil marriage ceremonies will take place in the Council Chamber at Oshawa City Hall on:

Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturdays at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

The fee is $400 plus H.S.T. and includes a mandatory pre-ceremony meeting with the Officiant.

Ceremonies will be limited to 55 participants, including the couple, their two witnesses, our Officiant and 50 guests .

Booking your ceremony with us is easy - just two simple steps:

Step 1: Check the Availability Calendar

Step 2: Submit an online application

Note: we are currently accepting applications up to the end of December 2024 only - all other applications will be rejected.

After application submission:

City staff will review the application and confirm availability
You will receive an email with your booking details and a payment request. Confirmation and payment are due within five days, or the date and time are released
Once payment is received, the City will transfer your file to the Officiant
The Officiant will contact you to set up a pre-ceremony meeting; this may take place in person or over the phone

For more information: please contact Service Oshawa.

Service

Your booking will include the use of the Council Chamber for 45 minutes. Your service will take about 8-10 minutes. If the Council Chamber becomes unavailable, the ceremony will take place in the Committee Meeting Room, also located at Oshawa City Hall. Music appropriate to the occasion as approved by the Officiant and provided by the Applicants is permitted. Photography and/or videography are allowed before, during or after the ceremony.

The City offers the four following scripts (vows) for Applicants to choose from:

Rescheduling Requests

There is no fee if a request to reschedule is received 30 days or more in advance of the ceremony.

A fee of $50 (plus H.S.T.) will be charged if the request is received less than 30 days and up to 14 days before the ceremony.
Rescheduling is not permitted with less than 14 days notice before the ceremony. Customers will be required to cancel their service and forfeit any fees paid.

Contact Service Oshawa to reschedule a ceremony.

Cancellation Requests

Applicants will receive a full refund if the request is received 30 days or more before the ceremony.

Applicants will receive a refund of $300 (plus H.S.T.) if the request is received less than 30 days and up to 14 days before the ceremony.
No refunds will be issued for requests less than 14 days before the ceremony.

Contact Service Oshawa to cancel a ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

Accessibility – is the venue accessible?

Yes, the Council Chamber and Committee Meeting Room at Oshawa City Hall are fully accessible.

American Sign Language (A.S.L.) – can the City provide an A.S.L. interpreter?

If required, the City can provide an A.S.L. interpreter at no cost to the Applicants. The interpreter cannot act as a witness.

Arrival time – what time should we arrive for our scheduled ceremony?

Applicants are to arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled ceremony.

Attire – is there a dress code?

To maintain the dignity of the ceremony, appropriate attire should be worn for the occasion. Therefore, jeans, shorts or t-shirts are not allowed.

Bible or other religious readings – can we have a bible or other religious reading during our ceremony?

Civil ceremonies must be non-denominational; our Officiant cannot perform any religious reading.

Booking time – how long do we have the venue?

Your booking will include the use of the Council Chamber for 45 minutes. Your service will take about 20 minutes. If the Council Chamber becomes unavailable, the ceremony will take place in the Committee Meeting Room, also located at Oshawa City Hall.

Decorations – can we decorate the Council Chamber?

Unfortunately no. The Council Chamber or Committee Meeting Room will be tastefully decorated before your arrival. Candles, confetti, rice, incense, bubbles, birds, butterflies, flower petals (or anything similar) are not allowed in the Council Chamber or Committee Meeting Room at Oshawa City Hall or any City property.

Food – can we bring food and drinks into the Council Chamber?

Unfortunately no. Food and/or drinks are not allowed in the Council Chamber or Committee Meeting Room.

Guests – how many guests are allowed to attend our ceremony?

A maximum of 50 guests are permitted in the Council Chamber and Committee Meeting Room. Ceremonies are limited to 55 participants in total, including the couple, their two witnesses, our Officiant and 50 guests.

Language translation – does the City provide language translation?

The City does not provide language translation for civil marriage services. If required, Applicants are required to provide a translator at their cost. However, a translator cannot act as a witness.

Livestreaming – are we able to livestream our ceremony?

Wi-Fi is available in the Council Chamber and Committee Meeting Room at Oshawa City Hall, and live broadcast of the ceremony is permitted. Applicants are to provide and have someone operate their own device.

Music – can we play music during the ceremony?

Yes, music appropriate to the occasion and pre-approved by the Officiant is allowed. Applicants must provide the music and music player and have someone to operate the device.

Photographs – can photos be taken during the ceremony?

Photography and/or videography are allowed before, during or after the ceremony.

Parking – where is parking located?

Attendees can use nearby paid parking behind the Oshawa Public Library McLaughlin Branch, on-street or in the Centre Street Parkade. Note: parking is free on Saturdays.

Pre-ceremony meeting – what should we bring to our pre-ceremony meeting?

The Officiant will coordinate a mandatory brief meeting at Oshawa City Hall approximately two weeks before the ceremony. You are required to attend and prepared to bring the following:

Names and addresses of two witnesses who are 18 years of age or older
Marriage licence
Valid government-issued photo identification
Confirmation of your chosen script (vows)

Rehearsal – is a traditional rehearsal required before our civil marriage ceremony?

To ensure that your ceremony proceeds smoothly, both parties are required to attend a pre-ceremony meeting with the Officiant to arrange the details of your ceremony.

Smoking – is smoking allowed inside the Council Chamber?

Smoking is not allowed in the Council Chamber, Committee Meeting Room or in any other area of Oshawa City Hall.

Videography – can a video be recorded during our ceremony?

Videography and/or photography are allowed before, during or after the ceremony.

Wi-Fi – is Wi-Fi available in the Council Chamber?

Wi-Fi is available in the Council Chamber and Committee Meeting Room at Oshawa City Hall and live broadcast of the ceremony is permitted. Applicants are to provide and have someone operate their own device.

Witnesses – how many witnesses need to be present?

To legalize your marriage, two witnesses must be present during the ceremony.

Witnesses – how old do my witnesses need to be?

They should be at least 18 years of age or older.

After the Ceremony

Statement of Marriage

The statement of marriage is the permanent legal record of your marriage
It is signed by you, your witnesses and the Officiant during the ceremony
The Officiant will send the completed and signed document to the Office of the Registrar General, so your marriage is registered with the Province of Ontario

Record of Solemnization of Marriage

The Record of Solemnization of Marriage will have been completed, detached and given to you by the Officiant
The Record of Solemnization of Marriage is not an official marriage certificate

Proof of Marriage Registration (Marriage Certificate)

To have proof that the Province of Ontario has registered your marriage, it is recommended that you order a marriage certificate
A Marriage Certificate is the legal record of a marriage - it lists the date and place of the marriage and the names of the people who were married
You may need this document to, for example: change a last name, show legal proof that you are married, apply for certain social benefits, settle an estate
To obtain a marriage certificate: apply online at ServiceOntario.ca/gettingmarried or mail in the form provided when you got your marriage licence

Assuming your Spouse's name

Please visit Service Ontario for information regarding name changes for provincial documentation

Ineligibility

The Officiant will not formalize the marriage of any person if:

One or both parties are under physical or mental duress
One or both parties fail to meet the age requirements
The parties are related as grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, brother or sister
One or both parties are currently married
One or both parties are mentally ill or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs and incapable of understanding the nature of the marriage contract and the duties, obligations and responsibilities of the marriage

Locations for a private ceremony and/or photography?

Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens

The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens boast numerous features that make a perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony or photography. With stunning gardens, architectural features, serene water features and winding pathways, the scenery of the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is second to none. View the gardens virtual tour.

Visitors can enjoy the classically designed shade structure in the Memory Garden. This centrepiece provides the official formal gathering space for small weddings.

Groups looking to conduct a wedding or take formal photos on special occasions require a permit. Permits permit specific activities within the park; it does not grant exclusive rights to a specific area within the park. When multiple permit holders are at the same location at the same time, they must co-exist where possible or switch locations. Public access must not be restricted. Guests are asked to wait until a wedding ceremony is finished to take photos in the Memory Garden.

Lakeview Park

Nestled along the shore of Lake Ontario, Lakeview Park with its mature landscape setting, has views of the lake and is a beautiful community park. Connected to the recreational trails, Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path and the Waterfront Trail, visitors can connect to Oshawa's vibrant downtown, Oshawa Second Marsh, McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve, and the historic Oshawa Community Museum, among other attractions. View the Lakeview Park virtual tour.

Wedding ceremonies are permitted in Area D and at Lookout #3.

What do I need to know before booking a location?

A permit for/including photos is not restricted to one park area. Groups must work together, so all permit holders have an opportunity to take photos in several areas of the park.
During the permitted photo time, there may be wedding ceremonies in other park areas. As a result, areas of the park may be temporarily unavailable for photographs until the wedding ceremony is finished.
If you wish to rent chairs from an outside company for your ceremony, the chair information must be submitted to the Facility Booking Office. Ensure you include a photo of the chair and company information in the email. Note: if your guests prefer to bring their own chairs, they must be lawn chairs or camping chairs.
The permit holder must comply with any closures the City of Oshawa deems necessary.
No person may park, drive or operate a vehicle in any park except those designated for that use, including public parking areas, driveways, and roadways.
The permit holder is responsible for all set-up and take-down unless otherwise pre-arranged with the Facility Booking Office, including removing litter and restoring the wedding site. Note: set-up and take-down must be included in the permitted time.
All decorations must be approved by City of Oshawa staff before the rental date.
Smoking and the illegal consumption of alcohol are strictly forbidden in all City-owned and operated facilities.
There are no public washrooms available at Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens.
The Jubilee Pavilion hosts wedding ceremonies and receptions at Lakeview Park.
The Jubilee Pavilion has sole concession rights at Lakeview Park. Therefore, no outside catering/corporate food services are allowed.

Booking and fees

To inquire about booking your private wedding ceremony and/or photographs at Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens or Lakeview Park, submit an application or contact the Facility Booking Office.

Booking and fees
Description	Rate (per hour except where noted)
Photos in all City Parks	$65
Wedding Ceremonies (includes photography)	$131
Hydro at Lakeview Park (flat rate)	$36

Above rates are subject to H.S.T.

Photo Gallery: Civil Marriage Ceremonies will appear here on the public site.