Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers

After same-sex marriage became legal in Ontario in 2003, gay and lesbian couples flocked to Toronto to marry. Although in July 2006, the Civil Marriage Act legalized same-sex marriage across Canada, pioneer Toronto remains one of the most in-demand wedding destinations for same-sex couples.

If you want to get married in Toronto, it's pretty simple: Go with your partner to the Registrar General's office at 900 Bay St. (at Wellesley), bring ID (including your passport and birth certificate), pay a small fee, and the marriage license will be yours; there's no residency requirement. Visit www.toronto.ca for details and an application form that you can download. For help organizing a wedding beyond the confines of city hall, check out the wedding-planner pages at www.toronto.com. One company that specializes in planning same-sex weddings is I Do in Toronto (tel. 888/418-1188; www.idointoronto.com). While many wedding ceremonies are conducted at the Toronto Civic Wedding Chambers (100 Queen St. W.; tel. 416/363-0316), couples are increasingly choosing to wed elsewhere. One popular place is the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (tel. 416/406-6228; www.mcctoronto.com), which has been very active in the battle for same-sex marriage rights.