Getting Married at The Well
WEDDING GUIDE
Please complete this required form to confirm your wedding details.
Congratulations on your engagement!
We are excited to share in this important step of your future together. Below you’ll find answers to some key questions about getting married at The Well. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at hello@thewellbinbrook.church or call the church at 905-518-0168.
In this guide, you’ll find helpful information about premarital sessions, marriage licenses, facility rentals, honorarium expectations, and more. Simply expand the sections below to explore each topic.
One of our key priorities at The Well is to equip newly engaged couples with tools and wisdom to help them build a strong foundation for marriage. We use a program called SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) as part of our premarital preparation.
This includes an online questionnaire that you and your fiancé will complete before your second session. This is one of the tools that we use to gather basic information about yourself and your relationship together. The results are used as a guideline for discussion and to cover essential topics like budgeting, communication, conflict resolution, personality differences, etc. All information gathered is kept in confidence.
- The cost for the program is $35 USD (financial assistance is available if needed).
- After your initial meeting with the pastor, you will receive an email invitation with a link to complete the questionnaire via SYMBIS.
Banns of Marriage
In certain cases, couples who are regular attendees of The Well and are getting married for the first time (as stipulated by the Province of Ontario) may use a Banns of Marriage instead of a marriage license.
This option requires specific eligibility criteria and involves additional coordination.
If you’re considering this option, please contact the church for more information.
Note: Due to the extra steps involved, we generally recommend proceeding with a marriage license.
Marriage License
All couples need a marriage license unless they are having their Banns of Marriage read. Each couple is responsible to purchase a marriage license through a Municipal Service Centre location. For those who have experienced divorce, proof of divorce is required by the government of Ontario prior to the purchase of the marriage license.
Marriage licenses in Hamilton cost approximately $178.
If either person has been previously divorced, proof of divorce is required by the Province of Ontario.
A marriage license is valid for 90 days, so you must apply within three months of your wedding date.
We are honoured to officiate weddings and offer premarital sessions, but it’s important to note that this is outside of a pastor’s regular ministry duties. As such, an honorarium is expected and is typically given as a way to express appreciation.
- The average honorarium is $300–$500.
- If financial hardship makes this difficult, please speak with us—we do not want finances to be a barrier to your wedding.
- In some cases, you may wish to have one pastor lead the premarital sessions and another officiate the ceremony. If that’s the case, we encourage you to consider a separate honorarium for each, based on their time and level of involvement.
Once your wedding date is confirmed, here’s what happens next:
- Attend your SYMBIS premarital sessions.
- Complete the Banns of Marriage form or purchase a marriage license.
- If you wish to hold the wedding ceremony at The Well, contact the church to begin this process.
- Schedule a Ceremony Planning Meeting about one month before your wedding. This is when you and your officiant will finalize details and the Order of Ceremony.
- Plan your wedding rehearsal (usually Thursday or Friday evening before the wedding).
- Rehearsals typically start around 4:30 pm (subject to change based on location).
- The entire wedding party should attend.
- Expect the rehearsal to last about one hour.
Enjoy your special day!
The order of ceremony will be finalized with the Pastor as your wedding date approaches.
In the meantime, it may be helpful to begin thinking through some of these details so your day reflects everything that’s important to you.
- Prelude (pre-service music)
- How will guests be seated? (ushers, family members, self-seating)
- Would you like mothers or grandparents formally seated?
- Minister, groom, and groomsmen
- Bridesmaids and maid/matron of honour
- Ring bearer(s) and flower girl(s)
- Entrance of the bride with escort (often father of the bride)
- Welcome & opening comments (e.g. would you like it to be an unplugged ceremony)
- Invocation (opening prayer)
- What scripture or reading would you like included?
- Short message
- What kind of vows would you like to exchange? (traditional, personal, or both)
- Exchange of rings
- Prayer of blessing
- Pronouncement of marriage & first kiss
- Signing of the register (will there be music or a special performance)
- Do you want to include a symbol of unity (candle, sand, communion, parental prayer, etc.)
- Announcements (e.g. photos, reception details)
- Benediction (final blessing)
- How would you like to be presented as a married couple?
- Recessional (wedding party exits)
- What music will play during the recessional?
- The officiant will ensure that all legal documents are properly signed and sent to the appropriate government office.
- The Well Community Church is unable to track the status of your marriage certificate after submission. Any follow-up inquiries must be directed to Service Ontario.
We’d also love to hear from you! A couple months after your wedding, we will reach out to check in and gather your feedback.
Get in touch.
We're honoured to be part of your wedding journey as you prepare for this special day. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
This form is required to confirm your wedding details and prepare your marriage license.