All-Inclusive Signing Ceremony vs City Hall Micro Wedding: Key Differences for Vancouver Couples | Vancity Officiant Wedding Guide

Vancity Officiant Team
Sep 18
2 min read

Micro-wedding ceremony at Vancouver City Hall. A couple holds hands, smiling, during a wedding ceremony in a wood-paneled room performed by Kevin Leung from Vancity Officiant. An officiant stands nearby with a tablet.

When couples in Vancouver consider a small and simple wedding, the choice often comes down to a City Hall micro wedding or an all-inclusive Signing Ceremony. Both lead to a legal marriage, but they differ in capacity, availability, cost, and experience. This guide will help you compare the two options clearly.

WHAT IS A CITY HALL MICRO WEDDING?

A City Hall micro wedding is a 30 minute ceremony inside the historic Council Chamber at Vancouver City Hall. Depending on the chosen package, couples can invite 10, 20, or up to 30 guests, including their witnesses. The City provides the venue and basic seating, but couples must arrange their own marriage licence, officiant, and photographer. Availability is limited to designated weekdays and timeslots between 9:30am and 3:30pm.

Couple holding 2 dogs at signing ceremony performed at Vancity Officiant signing room in Vancouver, BC.

WHAT IS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE SIGNING CEREMONY?

Our Signing Ceremony is designed purely for legalization and intimacy. It is a very small gathering with only 6 seats available. The focus is on signing your marriage licence and making your union official. Unlike City Hall, this package is fully all inclusive: officiant services, legal paperwork, photography support, and Signing Room rental are already covered. Couples can relax knowing every detail is taken care of. And did we mention that our signing room is also a pet-friendly space?

KEY DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE

Guest Capacity: City Hall up to 30 guests vs Signing Ceremony up to 6 guests.
Availability: City Hall only on designated dates and times vs Signing Ceremony with more flexible scheduling.
Costs: City Hall fees start around $300 plus GST but cover venue rental only vs Signing Ceremony all inclusive with officiant, legalization, photography, and room rental included.
Experience: City Hall is formal and public in the Council Chamber vs Signing Ceremony which is private, intimate, and focused solely on the couple.

WHICH OPTION FITS YOUR WEDDING VISION?

Choose a City Hall Micro Wedding if you want a larger guest capacity, the tradition of marrying inside Vancouver’s Council Chamber, and you don’t mind arranging some details yourself.
Choose an All-Inclusive Signing Ceremony if you prefer a very intimate experience, limited to six seats, with every essential service already included.

For more insights, read our comparison here: Vancouver City Hall Civil Ceremony vs Signing Ceremony: Which Is Right for You?

FINAL THOUGHTS

Both options are legal and meaningful, but they serve different needs. City Hall suits couples who want a public yet simple ceremony with more guests. The Signing Ceremony is perfect for couples who want an intimate, all inclusive approach focused on legalization and love.

Ready to take the next step? Reach us through our contact form or WhatsApp.