The Alberta government has made changes it says will make it easier for a family member or friend to officiate a wedding in the province.
A pilot project is underway in Alberta that removes some of the barriers for people seeking to serve as a temporary marriage commissioner.
The new guidelines specify that any Canadian resident who is 18 years or older can apply to perform a civil (non-religious) marriage ceremony for family or friends within Alberta.
The temporary appointment lasts for just one day, and the person cannot charge a fee to perform the ceremony. The guidelines also state the person performing the ceremony cannot represent themselves as a permanent marriage commissioner or advertise for business.
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The government said the pilot project, which launched in November 2019, was a direct response to Albertans’ feedback that there were too many restrictions around who could serve as a temporary marriage commissioner.
“We will be evaluating the pilot project this spring and will determine any next steps,” Service Alberta spokesperson Tricia Velthuizen said in an email to Global News.
There is no cost to become a temporary marriage commissioner. The province said an application takes up to one week to process.
For more information about the pilot project, or to apply to be a temporary marriage commissioner, visit the Alberta government’s website.