Oliver has been performing ceremonies that adhere to City and Provincial gathering guidelines since March 2020. Indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies are permitted to take place as long as health and safety precautions and physical distancing measures are enforced. While the planning and enforcement of these measures is your responsibility, Oliver would be happy to discuss and suggest options for you that will allow you to be safe and comfortable at your special event.

Outdoor events are preferable, but not strictly necessary. The most important aspect is the physical distancing. Larger open rooms with less furniture are best. Two meters of distance must be maintained between all persons, or between each household/cohort group. Staggering your guests’ arrival times will also help with distancing. A separate sanitized area for the preparation and signing of the legal documents is very helpful. A desk or table that is near the location of the ceremony is best.

It is often possible for masks to be removed for the couple and the Marriage Commissioner during the ceremony itself to allow for better communication and photo opportunities. This will be allowed if all other safety measures are followed and if there is room to physically distance.

Live streams are highly encouraged! You can invite your family and friends to observe and participate by Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or combination of any technology you wish. Many wedding photographers or videographers can support this as well with specialty equipment. We can build in a welcome and acknowledgment to your online virtual guests into the ceremony script. The only people that must be physically present are the couple, the two adult witnesses and the Marriage Commissioner.

Provincial restrictions as of June 10, 2021: Wedding ceremonies with up to 20 people permitted, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only). This number includes the couple, the two witnesses and the Marriage Commissioner.

Complete and up-to-date information on Alberta Public Health Orders is available here.
General COVID-19 info for Albertans is available here.

All participants and guests are required to wear masks at all times. Any person who has any of the following new or worsening symptoms is not permitted to attend in person:

Any person who meets any of the following conditions is not permitted to attend in person:

• Have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 without wearing appropriate PPE.
• Have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days.