“Will my wedding be affected by the Ontario-wide shutdown?” and your other COVID wedding questions answered

[UPDATE January 12, 2021: The new stay-at-home orders from the Ontario government that will take effect as of 12:01am on Thursday, January 14, 2021 do not change the number of participants allowed at indoor/outdoor weddings (which is 10). However, face coverings are now expressly required for BOTH indoor and outdoor weddings. This means that all wedding participants, including brides and grooms, will have to keep their masks on during the entire ceremony and for photos. As always, physical distancing is required.]

The Ontario government made a significant announcement today, imposing a provincewide shutdown beginning on December 26, 2020 until “at least” January 23, 2020 for the Southern Ontario area (including the GTA).

As part of this announcement, the government released a document summarizing the details of how Ontarians will be affected. The restrictions for weddings and other rites and ceremonies is set out on Page 8.

For couples who plan to get married in early 2021, there’s great news: the gathering limit for weddings has NOT been affected by the shutdown!

Same as before, you are allowed to have up to 10 participants (including yourselves) at your wedding ceremony regardless of whether it’s indoor or outdoor, which is crucial considering we are entering the coldest season of the year. However, you must continue to follow COVID-19 requirements such as maintaining physical distancing of at least two-metres from anyone outside of your bubble and wearing masks in indoor locations.

What are the odds of wedding restrictions being tightened in the new year?

We don’t have a direct line to the Premier nor do we possess a crystal ball, but here’s some food for thought: in the early stages of the pandemic back in Spring 2020 when everything was shut down, weddings were still allowed to proceed with just the couple, their two witnesses, and the officiant (with social distancing)—going any lower would be effectively be banning all marriages, an extremely unlikely possibility. We don’t expect any difficulties in continuing to offer our “Socially-Distanced Wedding” Special to couples and you shouldn’t either.

Can my officiant marry me online, or can my witnesses attend virtually?

While that would definitely be the safer option, the answer is still “no”. Although the shutdown document says “virtual services permitted” [sic] for rites and ceremonies, there has been no legislative change to the Marriage Act, which still requires marriages to be conducted in-person among the couple, their two witnesses, and the officiant. (Wedding guests who are not legal witnesses can always attend virtually, like through Zoom.)

We’ve reached out to the government to obtain more clarity about whether they’ve now allowed online marriage officiating. Until then, N95 Nuptials will play it safe and require in-person marriage ceremonies so that we don’t break any laws. Be extremely wary of any officiant who claims to be able to legally marry you online!

Help! Because of the shutdown, my intended wedding venue in Toronto has now cancelled my booking. Where can I find a place ASAP to get married?

We’re happy to work with you to find a great spot to tie the knot without breaking the bank, or in some cases not having to spend a single dime.

Is your personal residence spacious enough to accommodate at least 5 participants socially distancing? Perhaps you could have the officiant and witnesses standing outside in the backyard while you and your spouse-to-be stand inside your house by the door, so that you can continue to show off that beautiful wedding gown without freezing. Or consider getting access to someone’s condo party room, which serves as a stylish backdrop.

If you’re willing to brave the cold like an old-school Canadian, there are plenty of scenic spots to choose from in Downtown Toronto:

• Distillery District Winter Village for a holiday theme

• Financial District if you want a modern, upscale look

• Riverdale Park on Broadview Ave. for a breathtaking Toronto skyline backdrop

• Chester Hill Lookout for an intimate, quiet place with the Toronto skyline

• U of T campus for the vintage, royal feel

• The lookout at Evergreen Brickworks

• Graffiti Alley in the Fashion District for a very unique scene

• Any park in Toronto, big or small - we particularly like the Casa Loma Parkette where you get to pose in front of a mini castle

• A condo or apartment’s courtyard or garden, which is typically well maintained

(Note: some of these suggestions are on private property, so ensure you get proper permission or permits first!)

Can I still get a Marriage Licence during this shutdown?

You’ll have to check with the municipality that you’re intending to obtain a Marriage Licence from. However, we’re keeping a very close eye on potential city hall shutdowns so that our Marriage Licence Tracker that tracks over 60 municipalities surrounding the GTA stays updated and helps you find the best municipality for your needs. (Click here if you’re wondering what the heck a Marriage Licence is.)

I’ve booked a wedding officiant but I don’t feel safe proceeding. Can I reschedule?

If you’ve booked with N95 Nuptials, OF COURSE! We say this all the time because we truly mean it: your safety is our #1 priority. In an age of extreme uncertainty, we want you to be 100% confident that proceeding with your wedding ceremony is the best choice. All of our wedding packages allow for a free rescheduling of your wedding date to accommodate for things like government announcements and potential exposure to infections. Wedding planning is stressful enough—don’t let us be a source of more stress!

If on the other hand you’re looking for reassurance that N95 Nuptials takes COVID risk seriously, we enforce a zero-tolerance policy for exposure to coronavirus—both our clients and our officiants are required to immediately notify all parties if they develop symptoms or come into close contact with anyone who develops symptoms or is suspected to have COVID-19. We expect our officiants to go above and beyond minimum legal requirements if our clients desire (e.g. continuing to wear masks even for outdoor weddings).

What if I have other questions or concerns?

Please reach out to us anytime via our Contact Form! We want you to be fully satisfied with our services before you book.

I’m ready to book an N95 Nuptials officiant! How do I proceed?

Our “Socially-Distanced Wedding” Special starting at $249 is a hit among couples. If you want an extended and customizable ceremony, recorded Zoom functionality, and a virtual dress rehearsal, the “K.I.S.S.” Wedding will suit you well. Still not sure? Give us a shout!