Getting married is a big step, and it makes sense that you have some questions. What are the legal requirements? What does an Officiant charge? How do I book an officiant? Can you help us almost immediately and do you have a venue? You can reach out to me at any time at 613.851.3682 or nickoverduin@gmail.com.
When should I book my wedding officiant? For most weddings and signings of legal paper work in Ottawa, Nick Overduin schedules a few weeks and up to six months in advance. He also marries couples on very short notice. If you need same-day service to get the required signatures on your marriage forms, give Nick a call, but make sure you also lined up two witnesses!
What are your wedding officiant fees? Nick Overduin charges between $300 to $450 to be your wedding officiant. This includes local travel expenses and mailing cost of your legal wedding forms. He accepts cash or an e-transfer. (You avoid online platform costs and surcharges since you work directly with Nick as your licensed wedding officiant.) Generally, Nick charges a $50 deposit. The remainder of the fee is due within 24 hours of your wedding ceremony. Nick guarantees your legal forms will be mailed within 24 hours after he signs.
Where can we hold our wedding? Nick Overduin will travel to be your wedding officiant at your chosen location anywhere within 40 minutes of central Ottawa. If you plan a wedding location further away, Nick may charge you some mileage. Let’s discuss the details. You can get married at your own apartment, a park, a cottage, a banquet hall or hotel.
Do you have a venue where we can do our signing ceremony? Yes. Nick warmly invites you to complete your signing ceremony and vows at his residency in Old Ottawa South. Note: he can accommodate up to eight guests including the bride and groom and witnesses. The house is located a three-minute walk from the Rideau River (to take pictures!) and Bank Street Restaurants are around the corner.
Who needs to be at the wedding? You require two witnesses over the age of 18 and a licensed wedding officiant at your wedding ceremony. For more info Read this blog post.
How much time should I plan during a full-length, traditional wedding ceremony? In this case, how much time you need varies based on your “script” and any additional elements you add such as a handfasting ceremony, parental vows, or involving friends and relatives in meaningful ways. You can discuss your plans in detail with Nick when you feel ready. Just give him a shout at 613.851.3682 or nickoverduin@gmail.com. He is happy to meet with you over coffee or by Zoom.
How long does it normally take to complete a simple ceremony or just sign legal marriage forms? Plan on about 30 minutes to an hour if you seek to simply complete the signing of your legal wedding forms, exchange vows and take some photos. Even if you need same-day service, you should still plan on about 30 minutes.
Are photos allowed during the ceremony? Of course!
Can you recommend a photographer? The award-winning photographer Ava Margueritte, based in Ottawa, has done excellent work on several assignments for my partner’s businesses. She comes highly recommended by wedding couples. Visit her here.
Can we get married via Zoom or other video chat platforms? Remote wedding ceremonies via video chat platforms are not legally recognized in Ontario. Nick is an ordained minister who can only be an officiant at an in-person event within the province of Ontario.
We live in Ontario but want to get married in Quebec. You have two options. You can get an officiant who is licensed in Quebec to sign your legal wedding papers in Quebec on the day you get married during your ceremony. Your legal marriage papers will be processed in Quebec.
Or, the easier option may be to get an Ontario wedding officiant to sign your paper work in Ontario prior to the ceremony. Nick has done this often. You do the legal paper work some time shortly before the wedding day; the paper work gets processed in Ontario. You then proceed with the ceremony as planned. So, proceed with everything such as music, exchanging rings, saying your vows, involving family, etc. but skip signing documents because you already completed this step. Nick charges $595 + HST for this two-step process — first, documents are signed in Ottawa and, second, he comes to your ceremony at your Quebec venue on another day (or later on the same day) to officiate at the event.
Can we live-stream our ceremony? Absolutely! Nick Overduin is experienced working with many couples who live-streamed their ceremony. He will warmly welcome your virtual guests during the wedding ceremony. He gives you all the time you need for everybody to get ready on the other side of the country or the world.
Can my close friend officiate my ceremony? While your friends and family can play significant roles during your ceremony, only a licensed officiant authorized by the province of Ontario can officially marry you in Ontario. Nick is an an ordained minister who is registered by the province.
Can we personalize our wedding vows? Many couples Nick Overduin works with write their own vows and they are beautiful!
Do we need to memorize our vows? You can memorize your vows but that feels like a lot of pressure for some couples. Instead, you can read your vows. Or, many couples opt for Nick to read the vows (in short sound bites) and ask you to repeat the words after him. If saying vows feels intimidating, Nick Overduin can read the words as a question so you just answer: “I do” in response. Super romantic!!
Does Nick dress up for my ceremony? When working as an wedding officiant, Nick always wears a suit and tie unless you request a more informal outfit. Just let him know what you prefer. Nick matches his outfit to your colour scheme whenever possible.
When will our officiant arrive on our wedding day? Nick Overduin has an impeccable track record. He will arrive on time to be your wedding officiant at your ceremony. He’ll be at your location at least 20 minutes prior to the start of your wedding ceremony.
Is a gratuity for the officiant expected? Always appreciated but never obligatory!
How do we obtain a marriage certificate after the wedding? Many couples don’t actually need to get this certificate. You are legally married after your legal paper work has been signed by yourselves, your witnesses and Nick Overduin in his capacity as an ordained, registered, licensed wedding officiant. Talk to Nick or read his blog post on this topic. You will need the certificate for specific legal processes such as changing your name or when working with a lawyer regarding an immigration, adoption or estate settlement.
More questions? Just give Nick a shout at 613.851.3682 or contact him at nickoverduin@gmail.com. Wedding officiant Nick Overduin schedules wedding ceremonies up to six months in advance but has married couples on very short notice, even within hours or days. He’s happy to meet with you by phone, Zoom or in person if planning more complex ceremony.