Wedding Officiant

How to Legally Get Married in Quebec: What Every Engaged Couple Needs to Know

24/09/2026

By Stephanie Courte, Founder and President, Rose Gold Celebrations

Congratulations, you are engaged! Between the celebrating, the ring photos, and the flood of questions from family, there is one part of wedding planning that catches almost every couple off guard: the legal side. In Quebec, getting married involves a few important steps that do not exist in quite the same way anywhere else in Canada. The good news is that once you understand them, they are simple. Here is everything you need to know, in plain language.

Who can legally marry you in Quebec?

In Quebec, a legal wedding can be performed by a professional wedding officiant, a notary, a court clerk or deputy clerk, a mayor or municipal council member, a minister of religion, or a designated officiant such as a friend or family member who is granted temporary authorization. Here is what each option looks like:

A Professional Wedding Officiant. This is what most couples picture when they imagine their ceremony: someone who takes the time to know you, writes a ceremony around your story, and brings warmth and presence to the moment you say yes. Every officiant on the Rose Gold Celebrations team is authorized by the Directeur de l'état civil to celebrate legal marriages anywhere in Quebec, on any day, in English, in French, both, or other. Your ceremony is shaped entirely around you, whether that means an elegant vineyard ceremony, an intimate celebration at home, just the legal requirements at our office, or a grand ballroom wedding, with or without any spiritual or cultural elements. You choose.

A Notary. Notaries who are authorized to celebrate marriages can also perform ceremonies in the province.

A Court Clerk or Deputy Clerk (greffier). This is the courthouse option. Clerks can perform civil marriages at the local courthouse, such as a nearby Palais de justice. The ceremony is brief and standard, with little flexibility on the date, time, and location.

A Mayor or Municipal Officer. Mayors and municipal council members who are authorized can perform marriages, usually within the boundaries of their specific municipality.

A Minister of Religion. Priests, rabbis, imams, and other religious officials authorized by a recognized religious body can celebrate legal marriages. For those who like the fine print, this is also the official category under which professional officiant teams like ours are authorized, though as you read above, our ceremonies are built entirely around each couple. A Designated Officiant, sometimes called a One-day Officiant. Yes, your best friend, family member, or any loved one can legally marry you in Quebec, but not by clicking a button online. They must apply for and receive temporary authorization through the Directeur de l'état civil, and this process takes several months, so plan well ahead. The authorization is valid only for that person and that specific date.

One important tip: whoever you choose, verify that they are authorized. You can confirm any officiant's authorization directly with the Directeur de l'état civil. A ceremony celebrated by someone without authorization is not a legal marriage, no matter how beautiful it was.

What is the difference between a civil and a religious marriage?

Both have exactly the same legal value in Quebec, and this is the part that matters: the legal weight of your marriage comes from your officiant being authorized and the legal steps being followed, not from the style of your ceremony. Whether your ceremony is celebrated at a courthouse, in a place of worship, or by a professional officiant at the venue of your dreams, you are equally married. Most of the couples we celebrate simply want a ceremony that feels like them, and that is exactly what a personalized ceremony offers: complete freedom to include spiritual touches, cultural traditions, or none at all, with full legal validity either way.

What is the publication of a notice of marriage?

This is the step that surprises couples most. Before you can be legally married in Quebec, a notice of marriage must be published for 20 days before your ceremony. The notice includes basic information about you both and the details of your ceremony, and it gives anyone with a legal objection the opportunity to come forward. In practice, objections are extremely rare, but the publication itself is mandatory.

Your officiant takes care of requesting this publication on your behalf. What matters for you is the timing. Because of the 20 day requirement and processing times, you should never leave the legal paperwork to the last few weeks. When you book with an experienced officiant, this timeline is managed for you from the start.

In certain exceptional situations, a dispensation from publication may be granted, but be aware that this is very strict and approved only under very specific circumstances. It is not a backup plan if the publication deadline was missed, and a request made for that reason will not be approved. Plan your timeline properly from the start and you will never need to worry about it.

What documents do you need?

Each of you will need to provide official documents proving your identity, your age, and your civil status. This typically means valid government issued photo identification and your birth certificate. If either of you has been married before, you will need to prove that you are free to marry, for example with a divorce certificate. If your documents come from outside Canada, ask your officiant early, since translations or additional steps may be required.

What must happen during the ceremony itself?

For your marriage to be valid, a few elements are required by law. Two witnesses must be present for all of it. Your officiant must read aloud, to you and your witnesses, certain articles of the Civil Code of Québec, you must each give your consent freely and publicly, and your officiant, acting under the authority of the law, must declare you married. Then the couple, the officiant, and the two witnesses all sign your declaration of marriage. Everything else, the music, the vows, the guests, the readings, the rituals, the laughter and the tears, is entirely yours to design. This is exactly why so many couples choose a personalized ceremony: the legal framework takes only a few minutes, and the rest of the ceremony is your love story.

What happens after you say, "I Do"?

After the ceremony, your officiant sends the signed declaration of marriage to the Directeur de l'état civil so your marriage can be officially registered. Once it is registered, you can request your marriage certificate, the official document you will use to update your accounts, your insurance, and anything else that needs your new marital status. Your certificate is not handed to you at the ceremony, so build a little patience into your plans if you need it for travel or immigration purposes.

One more thing that surprises many couples: in Quebec, spouses keep their legal name after marriage. In fact, taking your spouse's surname is not allowed if you reside in Quebec, unlike in some other provinces and Countries where it happens routinely.

When should you book your officiant?

Earlier than you think. Experienced officiants book quickly, especially for Saturdays between May and October, and many couples now reserve their officiant 12 to 18 months ahead, right after their venue. Booking early does more than secure your date. It gives you time to build a real relationship with the person who will stand beside you at the most important moment of your day, and it means every legal deadline is handled calmly, with no stress in the final weeks.

YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Can we get married anywhere in Quebec? Yes, as long as your officiant is authorized to celebrate at that location and the setting respects the solemn nature of a marriage ceremony. Vineyards, gardens, hotels, sugar shacks, your own backyard, we have celebrated love in all of them.

Can we marry on a weekday or in the evening? Absolutely. More and more couples are choosing Fridays, Sundays, and even weekday celebrations.

Is a small wedding or elopement legally valid? Completely. As long as the legal requirements are met, an intimate ceremony with your officiant and two witnesses is every bit as valid as a wedding with 200 guests. And if it is truly a party of two, we can even supply the witnesses for you.

We are not Canadian citizens. Can we marry in Quebec? Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to marry in Quebec, though you will need to provide the same official documents.

Is a marriage celebrated in Quebec recognized elsewhere? Yes. Any legal marriage performed in Quebec is valid in every other Canadian province and territory. Internationally, most countries recognize marriages legally performed in Canada, and you generally do not need to register your Quebec marriage in the country you are visiting or moving to. There are two exceptions to keep in mind. Same sex marriage is recognized throughout Canada and in many other countries, but some nations still do not legally recognize same sex marriages performed abroad. And a civil union, which is a separate option in Quebec, is not recognized elsewhere in Canada or internationally. If you plan to settle abroad, it is always wise to confirm the requirements of that country.

The bottom line

Getting legally married in Quebec comes down to four things: an authorized officiant, a published notice of marriage, the right documents, and a ceremony that meets the legal requirements. Everything beyond that is celebration.

At Rose Gold Celebrations, our team of officiants guides couples through every one of these steps, in English, in French, both, or other, so that by the time your wedding day arrives, the only thing left to feel is joy. If you are newly engaged and wondering where to begin, we would love to hear your story.