Since the pandemic caused by COVID-19 and travel restrictions, more and more people nonetheless want to have their marriage celebrated.
This is quite normal, civil marriage or religious marriage being a thoughtful project that has been prepared for a long time. It is an important step in the life of a couple.
Impossible to get married remotely or by proxy
Separated by distance and borders, we receive requests every week from future spouses where one of them is stranded abroad and cannot travel to Canada.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to celebrate a wedding remotely by videoconference or by proxy.
The directives of the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec are very clear on this subject:
“Note also that despite the current health crisis, the rules relating to the solemnization of marriages and civil unions remain unchanged and that it is impossible to carry out a ceremony in videoconference mode.”
The Quebec Ministry of Justice website clearly states that marriage by proxy is prohibited:
“No matter your situation, you have to be present at your own wedding. Indeed, marriage by proxy is prohibited in Quebec. This means that you cannot mandate a loved one to act on your behalf during the ceremony.”
The reasons for this prohibition
On the day of a marriage, the civil or religious marriage celebrant, both spouses and the two witnesses on the day of marriage must sign, in person, the Declaration of Marriage, after the exchange of consent of the spouses.
This moment allows the celebrant to attest to the free consent of the spouses to the marriage and to avoid forced marriages.