FAQ
Got questions? We got answers!
Does Young Hip & Married handle obtaining our marriage licence for us?
Legally, we are not permitted to obtain marriage licences on behalf of couples. You can click below on your province/state for more information about where and how to get your marriage licence.
- BC Gov’t Website / London Drug Licence Office / BC – Marriage Licences Blog Post
- Alberta Gov’t Website / Alberta – Marriage Licences Blog Post
- Ontario Gov’t Website / Ontario – Marriage Licences Blog Post
You must connect with your county’s clerk office in order to obtain a marriage licence. Click the link below to find a list of your state’s county clerks.
What ID do we need to bring in order to obtain a marriage licence?
You will need to bring 2 pieces of valid, government issued identification. At least one of these pieces of ID should include a photo.
For example:
- Driver’s Licence
- Passport
- Credit Card
Please consult the links above for more details.
How long is our marriage licence valid for?
In British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, marriage licences are valid for 90 days from the day of issue. For other provinces, states and counties, please consult with your local issuing office.
In BC, AB and ON, there is no mandatory wait time between obtaining your licence and getting legally married. However, we suggest you get your licence at least a few days before your wedding, just in case there are any hiccups.
Do we need to bring witnesses to our wedding ceremony?
Yes! Legally, you must have two witnesses present to sign your marriage licence. Handy hint: Your photographer can definitely be one of your witnesses!
If you do not have two witnesses that you are able to bring, YH&M can assist in booking your witnesses. For more information about booking witnesses, please reach out to us directly.
Can you help us with our wedding vows?
Yes! We have an amazing vow writing course available at 50% off when you book with us. If you would rather not write your own wedding vows, our officiants can provide you with pre-written vows.
Do we have to write our own wedding vows?
We warmly encourage couples to write their own vows if they are looking to add that extra personal touch to their ceremony (and we have a vow writing course to help walk you through it!). You can also check out great wedding vow blog posts on our website for more guidance.
However, we totally understand that this is not for everyone. If you would like your officiant to provide vows for you, this is definitely an option!
Do you provide wedding planning services?
No, we are not wedding planners. Young Hip & Married contracts wedding officiants to perform elopement & wedding ceremonies, and photographers for our elopement packages.
If you are looking for wedding planners, we work with some amazing vendors that we would be more than happy to connect you with.
How soon should we book our officiant?
We always recommend sooner than later. We book anywhere from a year to a day out. If you have a specific officiant you’d like to work with, we definitely recommend reaching out as soon as you can to increase the likelihood of their availability.
And if you’re planning to get married on a holiday or a popular date (e.g. a Saturday in the summer or fall), we suggest booking as soon as possible.
In Canada, can our friend/family member perform our wedding ceremony?
This is a tricky one. Legally, no. It is required that you have a licensed officiant or commissioner sign your marriage licence and file it for processing if you want to be legally married.
If you have a friend or family member you would like to perform your ceremony, we have a package available where your loved one can lead the ceremony while we take care of the legal bit. Get in touch for more information!
What is the difference between a wedding officiant and a marriage commissioner?
We are often asked to explain the difference between a wedding officiant and a marriage commissioner. Shawn, the owner and founder of Young Hip and Married, recorded a little video to explain (click here to watch it).
We also have an awesome blog post about the differences between a wedding officiant and a marriage commissioner.
Can we choose our officiant and photographer?
Our customer service team will pair you with an awesome officiant and photographer (if needed) once they have all of your wedding day details. If there is an officiant or photographer that you would really like to work with, our team is more than happy to reach out to them specifically.
Our number one priority is to make sure that you are excited about the YH&M team you will be working with!
How many guests can we have at our elopement and who counts as a guest?
With our Intimate Elopement package, you can have up to 10 guests and with our Intimate Elopement Plus package, you can have up to 20 guests.
Yourselves (the couple getting married), your wedding vendors (e.g. your officiant, your photographer, your ceremony musician) and any children two years of age or younger do NOT count towards your guest limit.
Do we need a permit for our ceremony?
Depending on the location of your ceremony, the number of people attending, and your decor, music, and seating arrangements, you may or may not need a permit. Every city has different permit rules that can be found on the city website. If you’re unsure about your location, feel free to reach out to us.
We’ve married thousands of couples across Canada and have lots of firsthand experience! For popular Young Hip & Married cities, please follow the links below:
What happens if my officiant becomes unavailable the day of?
In the very unlikely event that an officiant becomes unavailable the day of a wedding, our customer service team will do their absolute best to find another officiant that is able to step in.
Our team takes each wedding very seriously, and only severe circumstances would cause an officiant to become unavailable the day of a wedding.
What sets Young Hip & Married apart from the competition?
We’re on a mission to eradicate boring wedding ceremonies from the face of the planet! Our wedding officiants would love to craft a ceremony that feels true to you, honours your beliefs and tells your love story.
Young Hip & Married will marry you YOUR way—creative and personalized ceremonies are our speciality.
We don’t just want you to have an amazing personal ceremony, we also want your marriage to be fun and exciting and to last forever. Our partner company, Thrive Couples Coaching, is designed to equip couples with the necessary knowledge, resources, and skills to not just stay married, but also love the journey.
Your marriage is one of the most important relationships you’ll ever have—let us help you start off strong and thrive for life.
I have another question!
We’d love to answer any questions you have. Head over to our Contact page to get in touch.
