After Your Wedding Ceremony in BC: Marriage Registration & Certificate Guide
You’ve signed the paperwork, completed your ceremony, and you’re officially married. So what happens next?
For many couples, especially those living outside Canada or needing proof of marriage for immigration, overseas registration, or other official purposes, the steps after the ceremony can be less clear than the ceremony itself.
Here’s what happens after a legal wedding ceremony in British Columbia, what your officiant takes care of, and what you may need to do yourself afterward.
What happens immediately after the ceremony?
During your legal marriage ceremony, the required marriage documents are signed by both parties, two witnesses, and the officiant.
After the ceremony, your officiant is responsible for completing the required marriage registration documents and submitting them to BC Vital Statistics.
Under British Columbia’s Vital Statistics Act, the person who solemnizes the marriage must provide the completed marriage statement to the Registrar General within two days of the marriage.
From there, BC Vital Statistics processes and registers the marriage.
Do we receive a Marriage Certificate on the wedding day?
No.
You do not leave your ceremony with the official government-issued BC Marriage Certificate.
At The Ensora, you may receive a keepsake Unity Certificate as part of your ceremony experience. This is a commemorative document only. It is not the government-issued Marriage Certificate and cannot be used as official legal proof of your marriage.
Your official BC Marriage Certificate is issued by BC Vital Statistics after your marriage has been registered. The Province of British Columbia identifies this certificate as the legal document proving that the marriage occurred.
Marriage Licence vs. Marriage Certificate
These are two different documents, and the names are easy to mix up.
Your Marriage Licence comes before the ceremony.
This is the legal document you obtain before getting married and provide to your officiant for the ceremony.
Your Marriage Certificate comes after the ceremony.
This is the official document issued after your marriage has been registered with BC Vital Statistics. It serves as legal proof of your marriage.
In simple terms:
Marriage Licence → Ceremony → Registration → Marriage Certificate
How do we receive our first BC Marriage Certificate?
Once your marriage has been registered, BC Vital Statistics mails one official Marriage Certificate to the couple automatically. You do not need to order your first certificate separately.
According to the Province of British Columbia, most couples receive it approximately three weeks after the wedding. It is mailed to the address provided when the Marriage Licence was purchased.
This timeline is an estimate rather than a guarantee, so couples with time-sensitive requirements should plan accordingly.
What if we need additional Marriage Certificates?
If you need more than one official Marriage Certificate, additional copies can be ordered from BC Vital Statistics after the marriage has been registered.
This may be relevant if you need separate original certificates for different government agencies, immigration processes, overseas authorities, or other official purposes.
Additional certificates can currently be ordered online, by mail, or in person through Service BC. Current fees, processing times, and ordering options are maintained by BC Vital Statistics.
What if we need our Marriage Certificate for immigration or overseas use?
This is where requirements can vary significantly.
A foreign government, immigration authority, consulate, legal professional, or other receiving organization may have its own requirements regarding:
how many original Marriage Certificates you need
certified copies or other marriage records
authentication or apostille requirements
translations
processing deadlines
how the document must be submitted
These requirements are separate from the wedding ceremony itself.
If you are getting married in British Columbia specifically for immigration, overseas registration, or another legal process, we recommend confirming the exact document requirements directly with the authority that will receive your documents.
The Ensora can complete your legal marriage ceremony and the required marriage paperwork, but we cannot determine what documents another country, immigration authority, consulate, or government agency will require for your individual situation.
Can The Ensora follow up with Vital Statistics for us?
Once the required marriage registration documents have been completed and submitted, the registration and Marriage Certificate process is handled by BC Vital Statistics.
The Ensora cannot contact Vital Statistics on your behalf to manage your registration, track your certificate, order additional certificates, make corrections, or handle other post-registration requests for you.
If you have concerns about your registration or Marriage Certificate, you will need to contact BC Vital Statistics directly.
It can also be helpful to keep a record of your Marriage Licence number before your ceremony in case you need it when making an inquiry.
Who is responsible for what?
A simple way to understand the process is:
The Ensora and your officiant
We perform your legal marriage ceremony, complete the required marriage paperwork, and submit the required registration documents.
BC Vital Statistics
Vital Statistics processes the registration of your marriage and issues the official BC Marriage Certificate.
You
After the documents have been submitted, you are responsible for any personal follow-up regarding your registration status, additional Marriage Certificates, delivery, corrections, authentication, overseas requirements, immigration requirements, or other post-marriage documentation.
What if we need proof of marriage urgently?
If you know before your ceremony that you will need proof of marriage quickly for immigration, travel, overseas registration, or another time-sensitive purpose, do not assume that you will receive legal proof on your wedding day.
The keepsake certificate provided at the ceremony is not a substitute for the official BC Marriage Certificate.
Because your marriage must first be registered before an official certificate can be issued, you should review the current BC Vital Statistics processing information and the requirements of the organization requesting your proof of marriage before making your plans.
The Province notes that most couples receive their first Marriage Certificate about three weeks after their wedding, while additional certificates have their own ordering and processing options once the marriage is registered.
Before you leave your ceremony
For most couples, there is very little you need to do immediately afterward.
However, if your marriage documents will be important for immigration, overseas use, or another time-sensitive legal process, it is helpful to:
Keep a record of your Marriage Licence number.
Make sure the mailing address associated with your Marriage Licence is correct.
Know which organization will require your Marriage Certificate.
Confirm directly with that organization whether it has additional documentation, authentication, translation, or timing requirements.
Follow up directly with BC Vital Statistics if you have questions about registration or your official Marriage Certificate.
Getting legally married at The Ensora
The Ensora offers intimate legal wedding ceremonies in Richmond, British Columbia, with the officiant and legal ceremony process included.
Our role is to make the ceremony itself simple and clear, including completing the required marriage paperwork and submitting the registration documents afterward.
For government registration, Marriage Certificates, and post-marriage documentation, BC Vital Statistics remains the official source of information.
If you are planning your legal wedding with us, you can focus on getting married. We’ll take care of the ceremony and the required paperwork on our end, and this guide will help you understand what happens next.
