Frequently Asked Questions
How long are the wedding ceremonies you officiate?
The ceremonies I officiate average 15 minutes in length. That said, I take pride in delivering exactly what each couple desires for their ceremony. Some couples wish to incorporate traditions from their family or culture that can extend a ceremony up to 30 minutes or more.
Are your ceremonies religious?
They are not, but I am happy to accommodate religious aspects of your faith should you wish to include them in your ceremony.
What packages do you offer and what do they cost?
Please visit the Packages page available here
What is your process for creating an easy, fun, and personalized ceremony?
I offer couples a Wedding Ceremony Template that provides 3-4 options for each of the main components of your ceremony. You are welcome to mix and match sentences or wording from different options to create new ones, or provide me with your own wording that you have heard in ceremonies you've attended or read about online.
How would you characterize your style?
Professional, emotionally present, joyful, and devoted to shining the spotlight on the couple. During the ceremony, I glance at my notes to ensure I stay on script, but deliver the majority of the ceremony with my head up, maintaining eye contact with you and your guests. In the unlikely event it is needed, I have a sense of humour that can aide in any unexpected awkward moments (rings that don't cooperate in the outdoor heat, ring bearer dogs that don't come on cue, winery cannons that go off unexpectedly to scare off birds...rare moments like that.).
How long have you been officiating and how many weddings have you performed?
I have been officiating since 2012 when my younger sister asked if I would officiate her wedding ceremony. I had zero plans of doing more weddings beyond hers, but I had so much fun with the process of crafting a fun ceremony, and received so much positive feedback from her wedding party and guests, it was easy for me to say yes when a friend of mine asked if I would be the second member of his officiating company. I have since officiated more than 100 weddings all over Southern Ontario, and recently ventured out on my own in the creation of Married By Michael.
Where are you based and how far from home do you travel to officiate?
I am based in Burlington, Ontario, and am willing to travel as far as needed based on my availability. I have performed weddings up to 120km from my home in Burlington, as well as a wedding for a friend in Birmingham, Alabama.
Where have you officiated weddings before?
-The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
-The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
-The Liberty Grand, Toronto
-Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto Island
-The X Hotel, Toronto
-Graydon Hall, Toronto
-Hart House, University of Toronto
-Kurtz Orchard, Niagara on the Lake
-Pillar and Post, Niagara on the Lake
-Navy Hall, Niagara on the Lake
-Mississauga Golf and Country Club
-Glen Abbey Golf Course, Oakville
-Spencers at the Waterfront, Burlington
-Carmens Banquet Centre, Hamilton
-The Spice Factory, Hamilton
-Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton
-The Cotton Factory, Hamilton
-Rivers Edge at the Arlington, Paris
-Cardinal Golf Club, King
-Copper Creek Golf and Country Club, Kleinberg
-Galt Golf and Country Club, Cambridge
-Cranberry Creek Gardens, Delhi
-The Middle of a Cornfield in Mildmay, On
-Living Rooms & Kitchens
-Backyard Weddings & More!
How early do you arrive before the ceremony?
On average, I arrive one hour before the ceremony (sometimes earlier if I’m travelling longer distances through Toronto traffic). This allows me a time buffer to reroute and still arrive on time should I encounter any unexpected traffic problems. The exception to these arrival times is when I am doing a backyard wedding or a wedding in somebody’s home. In those cases, I ask the couple what their preference is and arrive at that time. In over 130 weddings performed, I have not been late once.
Can we sign our licence before or after the ceremony?
Yes! More and more couples are choosing to sign their marriage licence before or after the ceremony. As with every part of your ceremony, you get to choose what you want…it’s your wedding!
Do you look after obtaining the marriage licence for us?
No, the government of Ontario requires both bride and groom to be to go in person to their town’s city hall or designated office to obtain a marriage licence within 90 days before the wedding date. You can learn more at https://www.ontario.ca/page/getting-married . Generally speaking, I ask for couples to hold on to the licence until the day of the wedding, and I’ll use some of my 60 minutes before the ceremony to fill out my portion of the licence and ensure it is ready to go for the ceremony.
Is there a backup plan if you get sick or are unable to perform our ceremony for any reason?
Yes. There are a number of options that allow for your ceremony to continue in the unlikely event this were to occur and I am happy to discuss them with you. I am pleased to report that I have never been in need of a backup plan even though we had one if needed.
Can you get out of the way for our first kiss photo?
YES! I always scoot out of range of the camera for that moment.
One of my wedding party members is attracted to bald guys. Are you single? I playfully made up that question so I can brag about the love of my life! I am happily married to my high school sweet heart and best friend and we have been happily married for 24 years (25 total…but our first year was spent trying to figure out how be good at being married…lol). Together, we have four awesome kids ranging in age from 16-24 years old).
What are the next steps if we would like to proceed?
1) Use the "Book an Appointment" button above to fill out some simple information and I will do my best to get in touch with you within 24 hours.
2) Have a meet and greet with me via video call or in person for a coffee to help you decide if you'd like to book
3) Let me know if you'd like to proceed after your meet and greet, and for which wedding package
4) I will send you a contract agreement as well as e-transfer info for the non-refundable $150 deposit (Balance due the day before your ceremony. Deposit can be applied to a re-scheduled date depending on my availability should you need to reschedule your ceremony for any reason).
5) Upon reception of signed contract and deposit, I will send you the Wedding Ceremony Template for you to get started in creating a wedding ceremony you and your guests will love. I am available to answer questions anytime leading up to your rehearsal and/or ceremony.
