If you're confused about what constitutes a civil ceremony as opposed to a "conventional" wedding ceremony, you're not alone. In short, a civil ceremony is simply a non religious ceremony. That's it, plain and simple. Civil ceremonies can be held anywhere, and include many people or just a few. They can be very formal or informal. These ceremonies are completely secular; they have no spiritual context or inferences.

 

Many couples, just like you, are surprised to learn that a civil ceremony is one of the types of weddings I perform in addition to Christian faith focused ceremonies, or Non Traditional ceremonies, as well as Traditional ceremonies. They ask how this can be so since they thought civil ceremonies were only performed in City Hall in front of a judge or other government official. I explain that yes, I am an ordained minister, but I also am authorized by The Office of the Marriage Registrar of Ontario to officiate at weddings. And so yes, I can perform civil ceremonies since this makes me a government official of sorts.

That clears up one point of confusion. The other is that should they engage me to unite them in a civil ceremony does it mean that instead of having a big joyful celebration shared with family and friends, it has to be done in my office with only two friends serving as witnesses? Sometimes this is fine with one partner but a source of contention with the other who has a big celebratory affair in mind. Well, you should see the smile on the holdout's face when she (yes it's usually a she, but not always) learns that I regularly perform a large festive wedding ceremony that is also a civil ceremony. The only difference is in the wording. And yes, I tell them before they even ask. You can write your own vows in a civil ceremony. In fact it's what I recommend for any wedding ceremony since creative heartfelt vows are the best way to start off on the life a couple envisions.

If a civil service is what you want, you do not have to have it in my office. When you book your wedding with me, just let me know the venue, and I will be there. In fact, many couples book me first and when they have firmly decided on a place to hold their wedding ceremony, they let me know where that will be. I've married couples in family homes, back yards, in parks,on lakefronts, both within Barrie city limits and beyond Barrie. However I do let them know in advance that my fee for performing their wedding ceremony will be based on how far I have to travel to the venue and how long it will take me.

If the two of you are still on the fence about just what type of wedding is right for you, or unsure about how much creativity and uniqueness to put into it, sometimes it helps to sum up all your nebulous ideas and pin them down so you can run past a third party. I can be that party. So I invite you to make an appointment so we can get together for a meet and greet hour. It's a great way to get an unbiased opinion and some advice. Plus it's a chance for you to decide if I'm the wedding officiant you want to perform your wedding ceremony and whether you want it to be a civil ceremony. There's no charge and no obligation. Information about how to arrange a meet and greet can be found on my website.
Hope to see you soon.