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As Valentine’s Day approaches and love is in the air, Port Colborne’s Legislative Services team is reminding couples that they can get married with a Civil Marriage Ceremony in the city.
Since first offering the chance for couples to tie the knot in 2024, City staff have performed 54 Civil Marriage Ceremonies, which are now available at three locations: City Hall, the Sugarloaf Marina Pavilion, and Roselawn Centre.
City Clerk Charlotte Madden is one of eight officiants who are certified to perform Civil Marriage Ceremonies at the Port Colborne sites — a role she says is the most heart-warming part of her job.
“It’s so lovely to see couples reach this next stage of their lives together,” says Madden. “It’s such a happy time and it can be very emotional, even for the officiant, to see people taking the next step in their relationship.”
For Amanda Emery and her new husband Spencer Purich, the Roselawn Centre provided a fantastic venue for their July 2025 wedding, which was only a stone’s throw from where the couple were first struck by Cupid’s arrow.
“Spencer and I met at Port Colborne High School, right next to Roselawn,” said Emery. “I always loved the front facade of the historical building. The garden is also a beautiful backdrop, and the City gardener does a great job with the flower arrangements.”
Aside from the location, Emery said the Civil Marriage Ceremony was also appealing due to its inclusivity.
“We have a variety of religious denominations within our families and preferred to go with a Civil Ceremony instead of choosing a specific religious ceremony or venue,” she says.
While couples like Emery and Purich chose a location that was familiar to them, Deputy Clerk Jessica Beaupre says the Civil Marriage Ceremonies also allow for people from further away to discover Port Colborne.
“It highlights the beauty of the City in a way folks might not have thought of before,” she says. “So many people know us from Canal Days, but the chance to get married at the marina next to the lake or in the classic confines of Roselawn Centre showcases this beautiful place in a different way.”
With ceremonies costing between $340 and $440, Beaupre said couples are also drawn to the affordability of a Civil Marriage Ceremony in Port Colborne.
“It’s nice that we can provide this service for people and make weddings more accessible and affordable,” she says. “You can have a nice wedding in a beautiful location without breaking the bank.”
For Emery, an additional highlight of the day was the obvious attention to detail and care provided by the City’s officiants.
“We had Charlotte Madden as our officiant and she was very kind,” says Emery. “She reached out to check in before the wedding and seemed just as excited as we were. There were several different vow options to choose from and we chose the one with the language and length we liked best. It was very modern and the ceremony was around half an hour, which was perfect for a hot day.”
With ceremonies ranging from formal dress to a Halloween-themed gathering, and audiences of anywhere between two and 100 people, Madden says the officiants make sure the day meets the couple’s expectations.
“We take great pride in making the day special and we do everything we can to make sure the couples feel truly happy with their experience,” she says. “There are only so many days in a person’s life that shine with pure joy - whether it’s marrying your best friend or celebrating any milestone that reflects love, commitment, and connection. It’s a gift to be a part of moments like that.”
Port Colborne’s Civil Marriage Ceremonies continue to grow as a welcoming option for couples both near and far. Whether it’s City Hall, the waterfront at Sugarloaf Marina, or the historic charm of Roselawn Centre, the City is pleased to offer a simple, inclusive way for couples to celebrate their commitment close to home.
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