Wedding Customs in Ontario

An English Ontario wedding is a short ceremony and a long party after. The law is signed in the room. The dancing runs late.

The engagement

• A ring is given in private, or at a dinner. A big public ask is extra.
• Families meet if they have not already.
• A date is set a year out in many houses. Halls book early.
• A save-the-date card goes out. The full invite comes later.
• A registry is common. Guests buy from the list, or give money.

The ceremony

• It may be in a church, a garden, a barn, or a city hall.
• In Ontario the couple, two witnesses, and the person who marries them sign the register in the room. That paper is the legal marriage.
• Vows are spoken. Rings are exchanged. A kiss ends it.
• A parent often walks one partner in. Some couples walk in together.
• The service is short, about half an hour. Photos follow outside.

The wedding party

• A best man and a maid of honour stand closest. Bridesmaids and groomsmen line up.
• They help with the day. They do not pay for the wedding.
• Dresses match, or they do not. A suit is the usual men’s clothes.
• Children may carry flowers or rings. It is optional.
• The party sits at a head table, or they do not. Both are fine.

The reception

• Guests go to a hall, a golf club, or a tent. A drink hour comes first.
• Dinner is plated or served from a buffet. Chicken, beef, and a fish choice are common.
• Speeches follow the meal. Parents, the best man, and the maid of honour speak. They stay kind.
• A first dance opens the floor. A dance with a parent often follows.
• Cake is cut together. A bouquet toss is old and often skipped.
• The bar may be open, or guests buy their own drinks. The invite should say which.
• Music runs late. A send-off with sparklers is common. Rice is rare.

The next day

• Some families host a brunch for people who stayed over.
• Gifts are opened later, not at the head table.
• Thank-you notes go out in the weeks after.
• A honeymoon may follow. A weekend away is enough for many couples.
• The point is the signed register, the meal, and the people in the room.