Quebec

Department of Tourism Website: www.bonjourquebec.com
Image:  Courtesy of CTC – Ice Hotel

Partly due to its vast size, Quebec’s diversity is amazing.  From the beauty of its natural wonders to sophisticated cities, the potential locations for a destination wedding north of the border are limitless.  This is one of the few places in the world that you can exchange vows completely surrounded by ice!

The official language of Quebec is French, and this strongly influences the cultural feel of the area.   But, each season brings new ways to explore and discover Quebec with outdoor activities that bring you close to unspoiled nature.  Historical sights, botanical gardens, theme parks and casinos will entertain guests of all ages, and that is just the beginning. 

A destination wedding in Quebec will certainly be unique and memorable, but be sure you study the marriage regulations and work with someone who is familiar with the legalities as they are a little different than in other provinces. 

Quick Facts

• Language:      French
• Passport:        Yes
• Currency:        Canadian Dollar
• Time Zone:       Eastern Quebec is in the Atlantic and Western Quebec is in the Eastern Time Zones
• Airports:         Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport of Montreal, Mont-Tremblant International Airport, Jean Lesage International Airport , Montreal - Mirabel International Airport
• Weather:         The weather in Quebec has varies due to its size.  In the southern part of the province there are four distinct seasons with warm summers (June to August) and cold, snowy winters with lots of rain. In the central region the winters are colder and the summers are shorter and enjoy cooler temperatures.  In the far north, the climate is Artic with severe temperatures and continuous permafrost. Duration of the winter ranges from five months in the south to eight months in the north, with temperatures averaging between 14º and -13ºF.

Marriage Regulations

It is recommended that you work with a wedding planner who is familiar with the marriage regulations of Quebec as they are very specific and may vary by locale. 

In general, both civil and religious ceremonies are recognized in Quebec and may be conducted by an officiant who completes “Request for the Designation of an Officiant of a Marriage or Civil Union.” This form must be completed 3-4 months before the ceremony is to take place.  The officiant must the post bans 20 days before the ceremony at the location the ceremony will take place to give opportunity for anyone who opposes the marriage to come forward. With both types of ceremonies, two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and it must be held in a place that is open to the public. 

You will be required to submit the following documents:

• Birth certificate
• A passport and an ID photo
• If previously married, a certified copy of the final divorce decree, or death certificate if marriage ended due to death of spouse.
• Documents written in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by an official translation.